Set up Synology Diskstation - so it'll work

Synology DiskStation is a great NAS solution. You can find out how to set up the network storage in this practical tip.

Set up Synology DiskStation - Here's how

Setting up a new Synology DiskStation is not difficult. The best thing to do is to follow our step-by-step instructions:

1. Unpack the DiskStation and insert the hard drives. You can then connect the NAS to the power and to your home network.
2. After starting the DiskStation, you should assign a static IP address to the NAS. This means that it can always be reached in your network under the same IP.
3. Now call up the Synology DiskStation web interface by entering the IP address of the NAS in the address bar of the browser. The setup wizard is waiting for you here.
4. First you will be asked to install the latest version of DiskStation Manager (DSM for short). The installation runs automatically, you just have to agree. It may take some time for the latest version of DSM to download and install. Important: If you have already installed data on the hard drives used, they will be deleted.
5. After the update, you will be asked to set up an administrator account. You should remember the selected user name and password or keep them in a safe place, as this is the only way to access the DiskStation. Under "Server name" you can specify how you want to name your DiskStation. It then appears in Explorer under this name.
6. In the "Update and Maintain DSM" step, you decide how the DiskStation should handle updates. It is recommended to have updates installed automatically. This way, any security gaps are quickly closed and the operating system is always up to date.
7. If you want to access your DiskStaion via the Internet, you should set up a QuickConnect ID in the next step. With this ID you can reach your DiskStation from all Synology applications. Synology thus avoids the problem that most private connections have changing IP addresses.
8. Depending on which DiskStation you are setting up, you will now be asked to set up a volume. Here you can choose between different RAID modes. In the next article you will learn which RAID level you should use.
9. Now the setup of the DiskStation is finished and the start page of the web interface should be displayed. Now you can venture into the detailed setup:

Get started with Synology DiskStation

1. If you have not yet been asked to set up the volume, you need to do this step now. To do this, open the application overview at the top left and click on "Storage Manager". Then select »Volume« to get an overview of all volumes.
2. If no volume has been created here, click on "Create". A wizard opens and guides you through the setup. Select »Fast« on the first page and click through the following dialog. Now you have created a volume.
3. If different people work with the DiskStation, it is advisable to create several user accounts. To do this, click on the menu icon in the top left to open the application overview and select the »Control Panel«. Click here on "User", then on "Create".
4. Now enter at least one username and password; the other fields, such as "email address", can be left blank. In the next window you have to enter a group membership. By default, new users are assigned to the "users" group. In the next dialog you can choose which folder the respective user can access. You do not have to select anything here, as no separate folders have been created yet. In any case, specify which Synology applications the new user should have access to and set speed limits for data transmission if necessary. Finally click on "Apply".
5. Now you should create shares in which you can later save your files. Open the Control Panel again and select "Shared folder". Click on "Create".
6. Enter the name for the share here. If necessary, you can hide the folder on the network - it will not appear during a scan and you must know the exact name when connecting. You can also activate the trash. The other settings no longer need to be changed. Finally, you can choose which users should have access to the shared folders.
7. With these steps, you have completed the basic setup of your Synology DiskStation and can now use it.

In the next article, you will learn how to set up the trash on your Synology DiskStation.