Week 16 Tech Roundup – Synology Locks Down Drives, TrueNAS Fangtooth Launches, QNAP Dual-Controller NAS, CalDigit TS5 Plus, CVE Program at Risk

April 2025 has been packed with major updates and announcements across the NAS and tech ecosystem. Synology rolled out critical updates to Note Station, Cloud Sync, Photos, and DS finder, enhancing security, AI features, and cloud performance. TrueNAS launched its highly anticipated 25.04 “Fangtooth” release, unifying CORE and SCALE with powerful new enterprise features. ASUSTOR debuted Surveillance Center 3.0 Beta with a cross-platform interface and enhanced security. Meanwhile, QNAP introduced the high-availability ES1686dc R2 dual-controller NAS for enterprise workloads. On the hardware side, CalDigit unveiled the TS5 Plus Thunderbolt 5 dock, and Infortrend released the GSx series for AI/HPC storage. Synology faced backlash over new drive compatibility restrictions, TP-Link became an official CVE Numbering Authority, and MITRE issued a warning about the potential shutdown of the critical CVE program.

1. Synology Note Station 2.6.6-3905 Update (April 15, 2025)

Synology’s latest Note Station update focuses on enhanced security and bug fixes. A key improvement is the upgraded key derivation algorithm for encrypted notebooks, boosting protection against brute-force attacks. Issues addressed include improper note rendering in new tabs, faulty link redirections, and general stability fixes. This update reflects Synology’s commitment to data security and usability in its note-taking solution.

2. Synology Cloud Sync 2.7.2-2714 Update (April 14, 2025)

This Cloud Sync release brings several significant enhancements:

• Sync task prioritization allows better control over bandwidth usage.

• Compatibility with NFD characters improves cross-platform sync integrity, especially with macOS systems.

• Performance boosts for many cloud providers, including AWS S3, Azure, Backblaze B2, and more.

• Specific syncing rules were added to handle problematic filenames (e.g., “Windows” prefix or trailing periods).

• Dropbox team space behavior changes now archive removed folders rather than deleting them.

• Multiple bug fixes enhance task reliability and reauthentication processes, particularly for Microsoft and Google integrations.

3. Synology Photos 1.8.0-10070 (April 16, 2025)

A feature-packed release, Synology Photos 1.8.0 adds:

• Face tagging and item stacking

• Manual generation of thumbnails

• Expanded object recognition support for x86 and RTD1619B NAS models

• Streaming support for VP9-encoded MP4s

• Custom login backgrounds

The update also addresses multiple UI, metadata, file access, and performance bugs, especially around 360° photos, ZIP archives, and lightbox navigation. This positions Synology Photos as a more robust, AI-capable media platform.

4. DS finder 2.5.4-468 Update (April 15, 2025)

Synology’s mobile management tool receives bug fixes focused on drive status consistency and better installation flow for 25-series NAS models. The app is a critical component for users managing NAS on the go, and this update further aligns mobile UX with DSM’s reporting.

5. TrueNAS 25.04 “Fangtooth” Released (April 14, 2025)

The long-awaited release of TrueNAS 25.04 marks the unification of CORE and SCALE under a single “Fangtooth” codebase:

• Built on Linux Kernel 6.12 with over 1,000 improvements

• Features like fast deduplication, RAID-Z expansion (5x speedup), and advanced virtualization (LXC, QEMU)

• Enterprise-focused features include Fibre Channel support, RDMA, 10x iSCSI cloning, and fast file copy

• NFS snapshot access and government-grade security enhancements (STIG compliance)

This release is considered stable for early adopters and a major leap for TrueNAS users demanding performance and enterprise flexibility.

6. ASUSTOR Surveillance Center 3.0 Beta Launched

Surveillance Center 3.0 introduces a fully cross-platform interface compatible with all major browsers. Key improvements:

• Support for TLS 1.1–1.3 encryption

• Real-time PTZ control, role-based access, and advanced recording modes (motion/alarm triggered)

• Supports over 900+ IP camera models and ONVIF Profiles S and T

• Three streaming modes optimize bandwidth usage

• RTSP support allows generic camera integration

Note: This beta version does not support all legacy features like maps and sequence views, which are expected in future builds.

7. MITRE CVE Program Funding Crisis (April 16, 2025)

MITRE warns that funding for the CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures) program has expired, risking disruption of global cybersecurity coordination. CVE provides a universal standard for identifying vulnerabilities, used across tools and incident response systems. Without renewed government support, services like CVE API access and vulnerability tracking may halt. The cybersecurity community has raised alarms about a potential “blind spot” if the CVE system collapses.

8. Synology Locks Down Drive Compatibility for 2025+ Plus Series NAS

Synology confirmed that starting in 2025, new Plus series NAS models will only support:

• Synology-branded hard drives

• Certified third-party drives

Using non-certified drives will restrict features such as:

• Storage pool creation

• Deduplication

• Drive lifespan analysis

• Firmware auto-updates

While older models and drive migrations remain unaffected, the move has drawn criticism over potential vendor lock-in, higher drive costs, and reduced user flexibility.

9. QNAP Launches ES1686dc R2 Dual-Controller NAS (April 16, 2025)

QNAP’s new ZFS-based ES1686dc R2 targets mission-critical enterprise deployments:

• Features dual active controllers for uninterrupted uptime

• Runs QES v2.2 with NFS 4.1, iSER, Fibre Channel, and SnapSync support

• Offers 16x SAS 12Gb/s bays, four 10GbE SFP+ ports per controller, and PCIe slots

• Up to PB-level storage expansion via SAS JBODs

• VMware SRM and VDI compatibility

Ideal for virtualized storage environments needing high-speed failover and deduplication.

10. CalDigit TS5 Plus Thunderbolt 5 Docking Station (April/May 2025)

CalDigit’s TS5 Plus dock introduces:

• 20 total ports with 140W laptop charging

• Three external monitor support (Windows Thunderbolt 5)

• 10GbE networking and 64Gb/s PCIe bandwidth

• Dual USB controllers and 36W high-power USB-C port

• SD/microSD UHS-II card slots

This flagship dock is built for power users with high-performance peripherals, including external SSDs, monitors, and networked systems.

11. Infortrend EonStor GSx Storage Family Released (April 14, 2025)

Infortrend unveiled its EonStor GSx line, tailored for AI and HPC use cases:

• Includes NVMe all-flash and high-capacity SAS HDD models

• A single GSx delivers up to 43 GB/s; clusters scale linearly

• Eliminates the need for dedicated metadata servers via integrated parallel file system logic

• Supports Linux and Windows clients natively

This launch highlights Infortrend’s ambition to target AI labs and performance-heavy research institutions.

12. TP-Link Becomes a CVE Numbering Authority (April 15, 2025)

TP-Link has been designated as an official CVE Numbering Authority (CNA), enabling it to assign CVE IDs to vulnerabilities in its products. This move:

• Reinforces its cybersecurity commitment

• Enhances transparency and faster vulnerability resolution

• Aligns with its Secure-by-Design initiative and CISA partnerships

TP-Link joins major tech players in being trusted with direct vulnerability disclosure responsibilities.

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