How To Set Up A NAS | How to Setup Synology NAS

Learning how to set up network storage device yourself is an easy task. You will easily learn how to set up a NAS drive at home by following these few simple steps.

First and foremost, you will need to have the necessary equipments before you begin.

How to setup NAS at home – Requirements

Firstly, you will need a network attached storage device like Synology NAS enclosure. Synology NAS typically come without hard disk drives. Therefore, you will need to buy specific NAS grade type of hard disk drives. Typically, Seagate’s IronWolf or Western Digital’s (WD) Red HDD. These types of hard drives are built specifically to be used on NAS devices.

So, as the name suggests, network-attached storage, you will need a router and a high grade ethernet cable to connect your router to your NAS. How to setup NAS with router? Is basically just plug the ethernet cables and follow the instructions in the manual to proceed.

Besides that, you will probably want to purchase an uninterrupted power supply (UPS) in the event there is power failure in your area. The reason is because NAS is basically a server. And servers do not handle well in power outages. You may lose critical data and have corrupt memory in your NAS. Getting a cheap UPS is better than no UPS at all. In the unfortunate event of a power outage, you will be able to safely power down your NAS.

Therefore to summarize, you will need

1. Network-attached storage (NAS) device (eg. Synology NAS)
2. Hard disk drives made specially for NAS (eg. Seagate IronWolf, WD Red)
3. Router with internet access
4. Ethernet cable (preferable high grade for fast data connection eg. Cat 8)
5. Uninterrupted power supply (UPS)

How to set up a NAS server

Setting up a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device typically involves connecting the device to your home network, and then configuring it using the device’s accompanying software. Here are the general steps for setting up a NAS:

1. Begin by installing the hard disk drives into the NAS device securely as per the instruction manual. (NAS machine still powered off)
2. Then, connect the NAS device to your router using an Ethernet cable.
3. Next, power on the NAS device and wait for it to boot up.
4. Once the device is powered on, use a computer on the same network to access the NAS device’s configuration software. This is typically done by entering the device’s IP address into a web browser.
5. Use the configuration software to set up users and permissions for the NAS device. This will allow you to control who has access to the files stored on the device.
6. Next, set up the storage volumes on the NAS device. This will determine how the device’s storage is divided and used.
7. Once the storage volumes are set up, you can begin transferring files to the NAS device.
8. Finally, you may want to customize the device’s settings, such as enabling automatic backups or setting up a network drive. Consult the device’s documentation for specific instructions on how to do this.

Overall, setting up a NAS device can be a straightforward process, but the exact steps may vary depending on the specific device you are using. Consult the device’s documentation for detailed instructions on how to set it up.

How to set up network storage security

Here are some general steps you can take to secure your Network Attached Storage device:

1. Use a strong password for the device’s administrator account. This will prevent unauthorized users from accessing the device’s configuration settings.
2. Enable password protection for shared folders. This will prevent unauthorized users from accessing the files stored on the device.
3. Enable encryption for the device’s storage volumes. This will prevent anyone from accessing the data on the device if the device is stolen or if the hard drives are removed from the device.
4. Regularly update the device’s firmware. This will ensure that the device has the latest security patches and fixes.
5. Use a firewall to restrict access to the device. This will prevent unauthorized users from accessing the device over the network. Also to consider IP whitelist or blocking specific country range of IP address.
6. Regularly back up the data on the device. This will prevent data loss if the device is compromised or if the hard drives fail.
7. Also if possible, create another limited account for your everyday use and only use the administrator account if you need to do administrative tasks with your NAS.

Overall, securing a NAS device involves a combination of strong passwords, encryption, regular updates, and other measures to prevent unauthorized access. Check the device’s documentation for specific instructions on how to implement these security measures.

Also remember NAS are also potential ransomware targets. It is very important to always be mindful of these security tips to reduce the risk or prevent an attack.

How to set up Synology Drive, Photos, Synology Note Station

After you have installed your Synology NAS system, here are useful apps that you can download and use on your Apple iOS iphone or Android. You can search for Synology Drive, which basically works like Google Drive or Dropbox. You can save files and documents and also have sharing capabilities which you can restrict or grant access to.

You can also use Synology Photos app which works like iCloud photos. There is also artificial intelligence face recognition capabilities run locally on your NAS (not remotely on Synology servers). This enables you to easily sort your images and share with family and friends.

Then there is Synology Note Station, which works like Google Keep for note keeping. You can scribble your notes on your iPhone and it will automatically sync on your NAS. You can access your notes from any of your devices whether is a Mac, Windows, Linux or Android. The convenience you get from using a Synology NAS built by professionals is worth every dollar.