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Using Unverified HDD/SSD on a Synology 2025 NAS – A COMPLETE STEP BY STEP WALKTHROUGH
Use Whatever Hard Drives or SSDs on Your Synology NAS (2025 Guide)
Note – there is a YouTube tutorial version of this guide HERE on the NASCompares YouTube Channel
Synology’s 2025 generation of NAS systems, such as the DS925+ and other Plus series models, introduced a more restrictive approach to drive compatibility. Unlike previous generations, these devices enforce a compatibility check that blocks or limits functionality when non-Synology hard drives or SSDs are used. As a result, users are unable to install DSM, create storage pools, or configure caching volumes using unverified drives. Even drives that work in earlier Synology models are now flagged as unsupported, resulting in persistent alerts or outright refusal to function. This guide provides a complete walkthrough for users who want to bypass those restrictions and enable full usage of third-party SATA and NVMe drives, including for pools, volumes, hot spares, and cache. It includes step-by-step instructions on how to install DSM with only unverified drives, how to remove system warnings, and how to automate the process for future updates or drive additions. The solutions here rely on trusted scripts developed by the Synology community and require minimal system modification, allowing users to regain control over their own hardware.
Special Thanks to Dave Russell
The ability to bypass Synology’s restrictive drive compatibility checks would not be possible without the extensive work of Dave Russell, widely known in the Synology community as 007revad. His GitHub project, Synology_HDD_db, is the basis for all the procedures outlined in this guide. The script he developed modifies DSM’s internal compatibility database, enabling full functionality for otherwise unsupported HDDs, SSDs, and NVMe drives. Dave has not only written and maintained this complex script, but also ensured that it works across different NAS models and DSM versions, including DSM 7.2 and newer. He continues to improve the tool in response to Synology firmware changes, regularly providing updates and extended options such as M.2 volume support and WDDA disablement. Users are strongly encouraged to consult the official GitHub repository, follow the provided documentation, and, where possible, support his ongoing work HERE, which remains freely available to the broader NAS community.
MASSIVE Disclaimer
Modifying your Synology NAS to allow the use of unverified drives is not officially supported by Synology. By applying the changes described in this guide, you will be altering system files and bypassing built-in compatibility checks within DSM. While these changes are reversible and have been widely tested, doing so may void your Synology warranty or affect your ability to receive technical support from the manufacturer, even in cases unrelated to storage. Additionally, although the script-based method described here is non-destructive and has proven safe for many users, there is always a minimal risk of issues following DSM updates or hardware changes. You should not proceed unless you have full backups of your data and are comfortable with SSH and terminal operations. This guide is intended for advanced users, system integrators, or home NAS enthusiasts who understand the risks and accept responsibility for operating outside of official Synology support channels.
How to Set Up a Synology NAS with No Drives Installed to Allow DSM Installation
Synology’s 2025 and later Plus-series NAS systems will not allow DSM installation if only unverified drives are present. However, it is possible to bypass this limitation and install DSM without using any Synology-branded or officially supported drives. The method involves enabling Telnet access and overriding the drive compatibility check during the DSM installation process.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
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Physically set up your NAS
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Connect the NAS to your local network using Ethernet.
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Ensure the device is powered on, even if no drives are installed or only unverified drives are present.
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Attempt initial DSM setup
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Use Synology Assistant or go to
http://find.synology.comto locate your NAS. -
Proceed through the DSM installation wizard. You will likely encounter an error indicating that the inserted drive(s) are unsupported.
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Enable Telnet access
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In a browser, navigate to:
http://<NAS-IP>:5000/webman/start_telnet.cgi
Replace<NAS-IP>with the actual IP address of your NAS.
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Connect via Telnet
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Open a Telnet client like PuTTY.
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Enter your NAS IP address and connect via Telnet.
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When prompted, use:
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Username:
root -
Password:
101-0101(default for this Telnet interface)
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Bypass installation check
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Enter the following command into the Telnet window:
while true; do touch /tmp/installable_check_pass; sleep 1; done
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This creates a temporary flag that bypasses the system’s compatibility verification loop.
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Return to the DSM install page
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Refresh the browser window where you began the DSM setup.
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DSM will now allow installation to proceed, even on unverified drives.
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Finish DSM setup
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Complete the DSM installation.
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Create your admin user account when prompted.
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You can now access the full DSM interface.
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Once DSM is installed, you can proceed to apply the permanent drive compatibility fixes, create storage pools, and remove warning banners—all covered in the next section.
How to Allow Unverified HDDs or SSDs to Be Used for Storage Pools, Volumes, and Caching (and Remove Warnings)
Once DSM is installed, unverified drives will still be blocked from creating storage pools, volumes, or caches. Even if the system boots, Storage Manager will display warnings or greyed-out options. To unlock full functionality, you must apply a community-developed script that updates DSM’s internal drive compatibility database. This section outlines how to download, apply, and validate that change.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Enable SSH on your NAS
- In DSM, go to Control Panel > Terminal & SNMP > Terminal.
- Enable SSH service and click Apply.
- Prepare SSH access
- Use PuTTY (or your preferred SSH client) to connect to your NAS.
- Log in using your DSM administrator username and password (not
rootat this stage).
- Create working directory
- Once connected, elevate to root:
sudo -i - Create the required folder:
mkdir -m775 /opt cd /opt
- Once connected, elevate to root:
- Download the required scripts
- Run the following commands to download the latest versions directly from Dave Russell’s GitHub:
curl -O "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/007revad/Synology_HDD_db/refs/heads/main/syno_hdd_db.sh" curl -O "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/007revad/Synology_HDD_db/refs/heads/main/syno_hdd_vendor_ids.txt" chmod 750 /opt/syno_hdd_db.sh
- Run the following commands to download the latest versions directly from Dave Russell’s GitHub:
- Run the script
- Execute the script to patch the drive database:
/opt/syno_hdd_db.sh - The script will detect your NAS model, DSM version, and connected drives. It will then add those drives to the compatibility database and back up the original files.
- Execute the script to patch the drive database:
- Check Storage Manager
- Return to DSM’s Storage Manager.
- If changes are not immediately visible, reboot your NAS.
- You should now be able to create storage pools, volumes, and SSD caches with unverified drives, without warning messages.
- Optional: Disable compatibility warnings completely
- To stop future drive alerts from DSM, you may also want to run:
/usr/syno/bin/synosetkeyvalue /etc.defaults/synoinfo.conf support_disk_compatibility no
- To stop future drive alerts from DSM, you may also want to run:
At this point, all third-party drives currently installed in the system will be fully usable and recognized as supported. The next section explains how to add additional unverified drives later and have them automatically accepted.
What to Do When Adding New HDDs or SSDs Later for Expansion, Replacement, or Hot Spares
After your initial setup and database modification, any newly added unverified drives will still appear as unsupported in DSM until they are explicitly added to the modified compatibility database. This section outlines how to safely introduce new drives for RAID expansion, hot spare assignment, or disk replacement without encountering blockages or warning messages.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Physically install the new drive(s)
- Power down your NAS if required (for systems that don’t support hot-swapping).
- Insert the new unverified HDDs or SSDs into available bays.
- Power the NAS back on and log in to DSM.
- Check Storage Manager
- Go to Storage Manager > HDD/SSD.
- Newly added drives will appear but will be marked as “Not supported” or “Unverified.”
- They will not be usable for volume expansion or as hot spares until added to the compatibility list.
- Reconnect via SSH
- Use PuTTY or your SSH client to log into DSM with your admin credentials.
- Elevate to root access:
sudo -i
- Navigate to the working directory
- Assuming you previously created
/optand stored the script there:cd /opt
- Assuming you previously created
- Run the update script again
- This re-applies the database patch and includes newly inserted drives:
./syno_hdd_db.sh
- This re-applies the database patch and includes newly inserted drives:
- Verify drive status
- Go back to Storage Manager.
- Refresh the page or reboot the NAS if needed.
- The newly added drives should now appear as compatible and can be used for expansion, drive replacement, or assigned as hot spares.
This process can be repeated anytime new unverified drives are introduced. However, to avoid having to manually re-run the script every time, the next section covers how to set up a scheduled task that automates this during every system boot.
How to Set Up a Scheduled Task to Re-Apply the Fix on Every Reboot
Synology DSM updates or certain system operations can overwrite or reset the internal compatibility database, especially after version upgrades or service restarts. To ensure that unverified drives remain recognized and fully functional even after a reboot, you can configure a scheduled task that automatically re-applies the compatibility script at every startup.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Log in to DSM and open Task Scheduler
- Go to Control Panel > Task Scheduler.
- Click Create > Triggered Task > User-defined script.
- Configure the general settings
- Task Name: Name it something descriptive like
Drive Compatibility Patch. - User: Select
rootfrom the dropdown (this is essential for full system access). - Event: Select
Boot-upso the script runs every time the NAS starts. - Leave Enabled checked.
- Task Name: Name it something descriptive like
- Set the script action
- Click on the Task Settings tab.
- In the User-defined script box, enter the following command:
mkdir -m775 /opt cd /opt || (echo "Failed to CD to /opt"; exit 1) curl -O "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/007revad/Synology_HDD_db/refs/heads/main/syno_hdd_db.sh" curl -O "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/007revad/Synology_HDD_db/refs/heads/main/syno_hdd_vendor_ids.txt" chmod 750 /opt/syno_hdd_db.sh /opt/syno_hdd_db.sh -e - This ensures the script is always downloaded fresh and applied with the
-eflag for compatibility with scheduled tasks and email output (if enabled).
- Optional email notifications
- Still under Task Settings, you can enable email alerts to be notified if the script fails or terminates abnormally.
- Save and test
- Click OK to save the task.
- You can manually run the task to confirm it executes correctly.
- Reboot the NAS to ensure the script is applied at boot and unverified drives remain fully usable.
This scheduled task ensures long-term reliability and reduces the need for manual intervention whenever DSM is restarted, updated, or new drives are introduced.
Synology’s decision to restrict drive compatibility in its 2025 and later NAS models has complicated matters for users who prefer flexibility in their storage choices. However, through a combination of Telnet access, SSH scripting, and community-built tools like Dave Russell’s syno_hdd_db.sh, it is entirely possible to restore full drive functionality—even when using completely unverified SATA or NVMe devices. By following the steps outlined in this guide, users can install DSM on unverified drives, create storage pools, use SSDs for caching, and expand or modify their RAID configurations without limitations. Setting up an automated scheduled task further ensures these capabilities persist through reboots and DSM updates. While Synology may eventually broaden official support, this method provides a reliable and reversible way to maintain full control over your hardware today.
Should You Buy the Synology DS925+ NAS?
In practical terms, the DS925+ is the stronger out-of-the-box choice, especially for users who value simplicity, improved default performance, and do not anticipate needing higher-than-2.5GbE networking down the line. However, the long-term value proposition becomes murkier when you factor in the DS923+’s PCIe expansion, broader drive compatibility, and the potential price drops that will follow its ageing status in Synology’s lineup. In short, the DS925+ is the better NAS on day one—more powerful, faster, and quieter. But if you’re planning for day 1,000, it’s worth pausing to consider whether the expandability and media flexibility of the DS923+ may be a better fit for your storage and networking needs over the next five to seven years.
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