Bypassing Synology's dumb drive restrictions

If you have a synology, of course bypass. But do not buy Synology with the goal of using this bypass. One it continues to support Synology and these practices, and two you have no guarantee it will continue to function. A firmware update could destroy your array.

> With the 2025 generation of NAS models, Synology has officially crossed into locked-down territory. No more plug-and-play flexibility. Unless your hard drives are on a short list of approved models, mostly Synology’s own rather expensive models, DSM throws up warning messages and disables key features like the ability to install DSM and get started with using your NAS.

> Moreover, unsupported drives do not have access to drive health stats and can't be used to create new storage pools. But the worst part is that Synology will refuse technical support for using incompatible drives. It’s not about performance or reliability — it’s about control. The company claims that technical support claims arising out of incompatible hard drives are not worth the hassle, so Synology wants to turn your NAS into a walled garden. The same company that once encouraged customization now wants to sell you overpriced, rebranded drives or penalize you for going elsewhere. If that sounds harsh, it is, and I say that as someone who has invested thousands of dollars in Synology hardware.

Build your own (not hard) or go QNAP

https://www.qnap.com/en-us/product/ts-432x