When buying pre-built Synology network-attached storage (NAS), you’re also acquiring a license to the manufacturer’s OS, DiskStation Manager. Much like a new installation of Windows 10, there are a number of steps you should take after setting everything up to ensure you’re going to have a great NAS experience. Here are some handy tips to get you started with the best NAS for home in DiskStation Manager.
Buy some hard drives
Source: Rich Edmonds / Windows Central
If you haven’t already done so, you’ll need some hard drives installed inside the NAS to be able to use the device. We’ve rounded up the best and most reliable hard drives for Synology NAS that will help you pick the right drives for your enclosure. Once you’ve installed some storage, you’ll be able to install Synology Assistant on your PC and set up DSM OS.
Seagate IronWolf
Seagate has a substantial collection of drives that are specifically designed for use inside NAS. The higher-capacity drives even have faster motors.
- From $60 at Amazon
- From $60 at Newegg
Set up Synology QuickConnect
Synology has a feature called QuickConnect, which allows you to connect to the NAS at home without using any IP addresses. The servers at Synology will communicate with your NAS through a Synology account, allowing you to maintain a connection even if your ISP refreshes your external IP. It’s also super easy to locate it on the local network if you need to connect a new device to the NAS.
Setting up QuickConnect is simple too. It’s part of the initial Synology NAS installation process but is an optional step. If you failed to set it up during the installation of your NAS, simply open up the Control Panel and choose “QuickConnect.” You’ll then need to enable the service, create a Synology account and give the NAS a name. The handy wizard will walk you through a few steps.
