When integrating a brand new storage gadget right into a Synology Community Hooked up Storage (NAS) system configured for Redundant Array of Unbiased Disks (RAID), the brand new gadget won’t be instantly out there to be used. This happens as a result of the newly launched disk hasn’t been assigned a job inside the RAID array or formatted for file storage. This unassigned state is ceaselessly known as “unallocated” or “not initialized.” For instance, a person might bodily set up a tough drive into their Synology NAS, however the methods storage supervisor will present the drives standing as unallocated till it’s particularly configured.
Addressing this unallocated state is crucial for leveraging the added storage capability. Ignoring it renders the brand new drive unusable. Correctly allocating the brand new drive permits the RAID array to increase, growing total space for storing or enhancing redundancy, relying on the RAID configuration. Traditionally, managing storage in NAS methods required vital technical experience. Fashionable NAS interfaces, reminiscent of Synology’s DiskStation Supervisor (DSM), have simplified this course of, guiding customers by way of configuration steps with intuitive graphical interfaces. This has made RAID administration and storage growth extra accessible to a wider vary of customers.
