Synology’s Trust Problem For MSPs (EP 1028)
Synology made some big moves that hit MSPs right in the wallet, so I break down what changed, why trust is taking a hit, and what I’m doing about it in my own stack. I also walk through managed switch best practices and share my real‑world take on the Fluke LinkIQ Duo versus the NetAlly tools I actually carry in my bag.
Synology has been a go‑to for a lot of us because of price, reliability, and that rich app ecosystem, but the recent changes around Active Insight, drive “compatibility,” and DSM 7.4’s storage efficiency are raising serious questions for MSPs. In this episode, I share what I’m seeing in production, how client quotes balloon when you go “all Synology,” and why these policy decisions feel less like engineering and more like a cash grab that erodes trust with partners.
From there, I pivot into some nuts‑and‑bolts network talk: why I insist on managed switches almost everywhere, how to use port statistics to find bad cabling and terminations, and where tools like the Fluke LinkIQ Duo actually fit compared to NetAlly devices. I walk through real testing examples, pricing comparisons, and when it makes sense to spend three to four grand on a network tester versus just leaning harder on managed infrastructure and monitoring.
=== Chapters
- 01:02 Weekly Live Show Intro
- 02:49 Family Comes First
- 04:51 Synology Trust Issues
- 13:02 Synology Price Shock
- 14:39 Computex Announcements
- 17:04 DSM 7.4 Concerns
- 21:15 NetAlly Tip of the Week
- 26:04 Fluke LinkIQ Review
- 31:35 LinkIQ Test Results
- 37:26 Wi-Fi Testing Quirks
- 39:44 Tool Value and Pricing
- 40:52 Amazon Tool Comparison
- 46:29 When to Buy Expensive Tools
- 48:22 Sponsor Shoutouts
=== Shout-outs
- Eric Anthony: https://allthingsmsp.com/
- Carey Holzman: https://www.youtube.com/@CareyHolzman
- Tom Lawrence: https://www.youtube.com/@LAWRENCESYSTEMS
=== TechCon Unplugged: https://www.mspunplugged.com/techcon-unplugged/
=== Companies / Vendors / Products / Books
- Synology: https://www.synology.com
- DSM (DiskStation Manager) 7.4: https://www.synology.com/en-global/DSM74
- QNAP: https://www.qnap.com
- TrueNAS: https://www.truenas.com
- Unraid: https://unraid.net
- Domotz: https://www.domotz.com
- Auvik: https://www.auvik.com
- Proxmox: https://www.proxmox.com
- Nutanix: https://www.nutanix.com
- NetAlly: https://www.netally.com/
- Buy the NetAlly LinkRunner AT 3000 Kit: https://amzn.to/4eGEdbQ
- Buy the NetAlly LinkRunner AT4000 Kit: https://amzn.to/4vG8WwY
- Fluke Cable Testing: https://www.flukenetworks.com/enterprise-network/network-testing/linkiq-cable-and-network-tester
- Buy the Fluke LinkIQ Duo: https://amzn.to/4eGG4O5
=== SPONSORS:
- Livestream Partner, ThreatLocker: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/threatlocker
- Technology Partner, NetAlly: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/netally/
- Technology Partner: Bvoip: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/bvoip
- Travel Partner: TruGrid: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/trugrid
- Digital Partner, Designer Ready: http://itbusinesspodcast.com/designerready
=== SHOW MUSIC:
- Item Title: Upbeat & Fun Sports Rock Logo
- Item URL: https://elements.envato.com/upbeat-fun-sports-rock-logo-CSR3UET
- Author Username: AlexanderRufire
- Item License Code: 7X9F52DNML
=== Connect with Uncle Marv
🌐 Website: https://www.itbusinesspodcast.com/
🎙 Host: Marvin Bee
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☕ Support the show: https://ko-fi.com/itbusinesspodcast
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