It has been some time since my last update on Synology, and several developments regarding their hardware and software ecosystem haven taken place since then.
One of the primary concerns for users over the last year has been the potential for hard drive restrictions on their newer devices. Synology was considering requiring the use of their own branded drives vs allowing users to pick their own. In my recent testing, I have found that these restrictions have not been put into effect for the consumer-facing Plus series. I have been running a DS225+ (compensated affiliate link) with a mix of third-party drives and the system functions without issue.
This flexibility extends to memory as well. While these devices often come with a modest amount of base RAM—2 GB in the case of the DS225+—it is possible to use off-brand non-ECC DDR4 modules to increase capacity. I successfully upgraded a test unit to 8 GB using a standard stick of RAM I had available. This extra memory is particularly useful for those looking to run multiple Docker containers or server applications.
When selecting a device for use as a media server, the choice of processor is a significant factor. The models equipped with Intel J4125 chips, such as the 225+ and 425+, are better suited for hardware transcoding than the Ryzen-based models like the 1525+ or 1825+. All of them will function well as Plex servers if transcoding is not needed, but I do consider hardware transcoding to be a core Plex function that every server should support.
The Beestation Plus supports hardware transcoding for Plex immediately upon installation. However, the 225+ and 425+ require a different approach. While they have the necessary Intel hardware to handle transcoding with minimal CPU strain, this feature is not enabled by Synology out of the box for Plex. To access this functionality, users must utilize an unofficial community patch from sources like the Black Void Club. By adding this third-party repository to the Synology Package Center, users can install the necessary drivers. It is important to note that this is an unsupported modification, though in my tests, it allowed the Intel processor to handle heavy transcoding tasks efficiently.
Beyond media streaming, these devices function as a comprehensive alternative to cloud-based office suites. Synology’s software includes tools for word processing and spreadsheets, allowing for a self-hosted ecosystem that mirrors the functionality of services like Google Apps or Dropbox. I have used these systems to manage decades of personal data and to run automation servers for various tasks. The security and backup options are a core part of the appeal. Tools like HyperBackup allow for incremental data snapshots that can be sent to external drives, offsite Synology units, or cloud storage like Amazon S3.
Synology has been very good over the years supporting their hardware with consistent and free software updates. For those who want to maintain control over their data without the constant overhead of manual server management, these units provide a stable middle ground. The ability to integrate VPN services like Tailscale further simplifies remote access, making it possible to manage a personal server from anywhere without complex network configurations or having to open router ports.
An upcoming promotion, scheduled for September 21 through September 25, 2026 for Plex Server Week, will see 15% discounts on several models, including the BeeStation Plus, the DS225+, and the DS425+. There will also be a 10% discount on certain rack station models. You can find the deals here on this Newegg page (compensated affiliate link). During this same window, discounts of 20% will be available for annual, five-year, and lifetime Plex Pass subscriptions with the coupon code SERVERWEEK20.
It is disappointing that Synology chose to disable hardware transcoding on their new devices, although it’s not very difficult to get that feature back. But beyond that issue Synology makes very robust nearly turn-key self hosted server solutions that will continue to be part of my workflow.