DS725+ Connection to UPS?

[CPL2]

Hello everyone,

New to the forum so I hope I'm posting this in the right location.

I'm considering purchasing a DS725+ but I'm wondering about connecting a UPS with a USB cable to allow for a proper shutdown if the power fails. On the back of the DS725+ there's a USB type C port but it's labelled "expansion" and there's no other USB port on the back. There's a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port on the front but I don't want to connect the UPS to that port since I want to use it to connect to USB drives.

Is this "expansion" USB port strictly for expansion, or can it be used to connect to a UPS?

Thank you.

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[White Bear]

Only standard USB ports (not the special expansion interface) can be used for a UPS connection. Expansion ports are, for all practical purposes, proprietary - even though they use a standard USB-C connector. Then there is a question about whether Synology NAS will support a UPS via a USB Hub. Others will weigh in; but I have read that UPS must be connected directly. The DS1522+ might be a better choice for UPS. Welcome to the forum!

 

[fredbert]

Can’t say for the DS725+ but, my older NAS work with USB 3 ‘A’ hubs. I’ve connected drives and UPS via them. Even with the unofficial 2.5 GbE USB driver, I’ve got the connected via the hubs.

But hopefully someone with a ‘25 series NAS can provide specific feedback.

 

[CPL2]

Only standard USB ports (not the special expansion interface) can be used for a UPS connection. Expansion ports are, for all practical purposes, proprietary - even though they use a standard USB-C connector. Then there is a question about whether Synology NAS will support a UPS via a USB Hub. Others will weigh in; but I have read that UPS must be connected directly. The DS1522+ might be a better choice for UPS. Welcome to the forum!

Hello White Bear,

Thank you for the welcome!

I have a DS1522+ and purchased a USP from a Synology list of models that they tested to trigger the NAS to shut down properly in the event of a power failure. I purchased a CyberPower 1000VA and it works great with a USB connection from the back of the UPS to the back of the NAS. I would have to check the manual, but I believe the USB Hubs on the front of the UPS don't shut down NAS devices which makes me think the back USB connection is propietary as you mentioned.

Thank you for the information on the expansion port.

 

[CPL2]

Can’t say for the DS725+ but, my older NAS work with USB 3 ‘A’ hubs. I’ve connected drives and UPS via them. Even with the unofficial 2.5 GbE USB driver, I’ve got the connected via the hubs.

But hopefully someone with a ‘25 series NAS can provide specific feedback.

Thank you fredbert.

 

[Rusty]

Also, do note, that the official statement from Synology (covered by the KB articles as well) is that UPS via HUB is an unsupported method across the board.

 

[fredbert]

Also, do note, that the official statement from Synology (covered by the KB articles as well) is that UPS via HUB is an unsupported method across the board.

True. I wasn't buying kit assuming it would work, rather I had the hubs and hoped I could connect more devices that I had ports. For me this worked. This is why I added that it would be good if someone with a '25 NAS to confirm, one way or the other.

My DS218+ has three external drives and 2.5 GbE ethernet* dongle on the hub, plus the UPS is direct via the second rear USB port. Whereas the DS1520+ only has one rear USB port, it has two 2.5 GbE ethernet dongles (in LAG) and the UPS on the hub.

A quick look and the '25 series NAS retain the USB A ports [officially] for external drives and UPS; the USB C are specific for Synology DX525 expansion units. So that would suggest to me that the DS725+'s front USB port should work like a rear port, if it had one. Indeed, my DS1520+'s front port works like the rear port, it just seems to be thought to be more accessible.


*which survived the DSM 7.3 update without me having to reactive it or any other activity. It just took a little longer to be active (ping-able) than the onboard LAN port.

 

[CPL2]

Also, do note, that the official statement from Synology (covered by the KB articles as well) is that UPS via HUB is an unsupported method across the board.

Hello Rusty,

Thank you for the information. I was thinking about replies to my post so I went back to the "Synology Products Compatibility List" to see if there's more information about connecting a UPS and you're correct as they state "Connecting USB devices via a USB hub is not supported." For anyone that's interested, here's a link to the Synology website page for the DS725+ and a UPS.

Compatibility List | Synology Inc.

Although the front USB port is a standard port, it's not in an ideal location to connect to a UPS. Plus, if you use the port for a UPS connection, then you can't use the port for copying information to and from other devices. I guess you could but then there's a problem if the power fails.

The Synology Compatibililty List for a UPS states the following:

• Any UPS model on our compatibility list can be used to extend UPS service to a second Synology product using Network UPS Server.
• The first Synology product, which connects to the UPS via USB, acts as a Network UPS Server and relays UPS information to the other "client" Synology product in its local network. Please go to Control Panel > Hardware & Power > UPS to configure Network UPS Server settings.
• Please directly connect USB devices to a USB port on your Synology product. Connecting USB devices via a USB hub is not supported.

So if you have a Synology product then by using "Network UPS Server" you can control the shutdown of other products over the network. I would also assume that any switches or routers, etc., should also be plugged into the UPS to keep the network operational so the products can receive shutdown information.

Thank you eveyone for your replies to my post as I now have an answer to my question.

 

[scgf]

I bought a Sabrent Fast 5Gbps USB Splitter 3.2 for my DS723+ and it works perfectly with an attached USB drive and an Eaton UPS 5E Gen2. I did a lot of digging and found that many USB hubs weren't supported, but this one was (supported as in works).

 

[CPL2]

I bought a Sabrent Fast 5Gbps USB Splitter 3.2 for my DS723+ and it works perfectly with an attached USB drive and an Eaton UPS 5E Gen2. I did a lot of digging and found that many USB hubs weren't supported, but this one was (supported as in works).

Hello scgf,

Thank you for the information. Besides communicating with the UPS to trigger a shutdown, it's good to know you can also attach a USB drive to this particular hub. I think the "not supported" statement by Synology is just a way to eliminate any liability should something not work properly.

Have you tested attaching more than one USB drive to the hub to see if they work properly while also providing shutdown information from the UPS?

Thank you.