Setting Up a New NAS, Step by Step

What a NAS Is, in Plain Words

NAS stands for Network Attached Storage. That is a fancy way of saying storage that lives on your network instead of inside one computer.

A regular external hard drive plugs into one computer and only that computer can use it. A NAS is different. It plugs into your router, so every device in the house - laptops, phones, tablets, even the TV - can reach the same files at the same time.

Unboxing and Checking the Parts

Open the box on a clear table, not on the floor. Take your time and lay everything out.

Your drives may be in a separate box. Set them next to the unit. Keep all the little bags and screws together in a bowl so nothing rolls away.

• The NAS unit itself
• A power adapter or power cord
• A network cable (a flat or round cable with clip-in ends)
• A small bag of screws for the drives
• A quick-start paper from the maker

Putting the Hard Drives In

This is the one part where you touch the hardware. It is easier than it looks, and there is a right way to do it.

Handle the drives by the edges. Do not touch the little circuit board on the bottom, and do not bump or drop them. A hard drive is a delicate thing until it is safely in the tray.

• Slide out a drive tray. Usually a small tab or latch releases it.
• Lay a hard drive in the tray with the label facing up.
• Line up the holes and use the maker's screws to hold it snug - firm, not forced.
• Slide the tray back in until it clicks and seats fully.
• Repeat for each drive. Fill the bays in order, starting at bay one.

Where to Put It and How to Power It

A NAS runs day and night, so where it sits matters more than you might think.

Plug the unit into a surge protector, not straight into the wall. Even better, use a battery backup, also called a UPS (uninterruptible power supply). It keeps the unit running long enough to shut down safely if the power blinks.

• Near your router, on a shelf or desk with air around it
• Off the carpet - carpet blocks the cooling vents underneath
• Out of direct sun and away from heat vents
• Somewhere the gentle fan noise will not bother anyone at night

Connecting to Your Router with a Cable

A NAS wants a wired connection. The network cable is what makes it fast and steady.

Take the network cable, also called an ethernet cable, and plug one end into the port on the back of the NAS marked LAN. Plug the other end into any open LAN port on your router - those are usually the group of ports, not the single one marked WAN or Internet.

• A cable is far faster than Wi-Fi for large files and backups
• A cable does not drop out the way Wi-Fi can
• Your backups and photo syncs finish sooner and more reliably

Powering On for the First Time

Now the fun part. Press the power button and let it wake up.

You will hear the fan spin and see lights blink. The unit is checking its drives and loading its startup software. This first boot can take two to five minutes. That is normal. Do not power it off while it is thinking.

Finding the NAS on Your Network

The unit is on, but your computer does not know it is there yet. Here is how you two get introduced.

Every NAS maker gives you a way to find the unit. It is usually one of these three:

• A finder web page you open in your browser (the quick-start paper lists the exact address)
• A small finder program you download to your computer
• The maker's phone app, which scans your network for you

Running the Setup Wizard

The wizard is a friendly set of screens that walks you through the first setup. Just read and click Next.

Installing the system software can take several minutes and the unit may restart once or twice. This is expected. Keep the browser window open and let it work.

• Installs the main system software onto the drives
• Asks you to name the unit (something simple like HomeNAS)
• Has you create the admin account, covered on the next pages
• Offers to set the storage and turn on updates

Creating the Admin Account

The admin account is the master key to your whole NAS. It can change every setting, so it deserves a strong password.

The wizard asks you to pick an admin username and password. Avoid the obvious username admin if the unit lets you choose your own - a made-up name is a little safer.

• Long is stronger than complicated - aim for a phrase you can remember, like four random words strung together
• Mix in a number and a capital letter to satisfy the rules
• Do not reuse a password from your email or bank
• Do not use your name, address, or the word password

Writing It Down and Not Losing It

This page may be the most important one in the guide. Please do not skip it.

Once your admin password is set, write it down somewhere you will not lose it. A NAS admin password is not like a website password. There is usually no easy Forgot Password button that emails you a reset.

• A password manager app, which is the safest choice
• A slip of paper in a drawer or safe at home, not stuck to the unit
• A sealed note kept with your other important documents

Storage Pools and RAID, Explained Simply

The wizard will ask how to arrange your drives. This is where the words RAID and storage pool show up. Do not panic.

If you are unsure, the maker's recommended or default option is almost always a sensible pick for a home or small office.

• One drive only: simple, but no safety net if that drive fails
• Two drives mirrored: an exact copy on each, so one can fail safely - a great choice for most homes
• Three or more drives: you get protection plus more room, at some cost of space

Setting Up the Storage

You have picked how to arrange your drives. Now the unit does the actual work of preparing them.

When you confirm your choice, the NAS begins building the storage. Depending on the drive size and the RAID type, this can run for several hours, sometimes overnight. That is normal and expected.

• You can often start using the unit while it finishes in the background
• It will feel a little slower until the build is done
• The unit will tell you when it is fully ready

Creating Your First Shared Folder

A shared folder is just a named folder on the NAS that people and devices are allowed to open. This is the whole point of the box.

You can make several folders, one for each purpose. A common start is one folder for photos, one for documents, and one for backups. Keep the names simple so everyone knows where things go.

• In the unit's settings, find Shared Folder and click Create
• Give it a plain name like Family, Photos, or Documents
• Choose who can open it - just you, or everyone in the house
• Save it, and it is ready to hold files

Setting Up User Accounts

If more than one person will use the NAS, give each their own login. It keeps files tidy and private.

A user account is a name and password for one person. You decide which shared folders each person can open. This way the kids do not stumble into the tax records, and each person can have a private folder of their own.

• Your admin account, used only for settings, kept locked away
• A day-to-day account for yourself for normal use
• One account per family member or staff member
• A shared folder everyone can reach, plus private ones as needed

Installing the Phone App

The maker's phone app lets you reach your files, and back up your phone photos, from anywhere.

The most loved feature is photo backup. Turn it on, and every picture you take copies itself to the NAS automatically. Your memories are saved even if your phone is lost or broken.

• Search your phone's app store for the maker's app by name
• Install it and open it
• Sign in with your NAS username and password
• Point it at your unit - at home it finds it automatically

Setting the Clock and Time Zone

A small thing that matters more than you would guess. The NAS uses its clock to stamp files and schedule tasks.

In the settings, find the date and time area. Pick your time zone, then turn on the option to sync the time automatically from the internet. That way the clock stays right on its own, even after a power cut.

• File dates are correct, so newest really means newest
• Scheduled backups and updates run at the time you expect
• Shared calendars and logs make sense to everyone

Turning On Automatic Updates

The system software gets updates that fix bugs and close security holes. You want those.

In the settings, find the update area. Turn on automatic updates, or at least turn on the option to be notified when one is ready. Security updates in particular keep your files safe from the latest threats.

• Let small security updates install on their own
• For big version jumps, it is fine to wait a week and let others test them first
• Schedule updates for the middle of the night so nobody is using the unit

Your First Week With the NAS

The unit is set up. Here is how to settle in and finish the job properly over the next few days.

That fourth item is the one folks skip. Remember, RAID keeps one drive failing from ruining your day, but it is not a backup. Copy your truly important files to a second place - another drive, or a cloud service - so a fire or a theft cannot take your only copy.

• Confirm the storage build finished and the unit says Healthy
• Copy a handful of files in and open them to prove it works
• Set up the phone photo backup and watch it run once
• Set up a second backup copy of anything you cannot lose
• Save your admin password in its safe spot for good

What's in the 27-page PDF

• What to check before you open the box
• How to put the drives in and plug it into your router
• How to find the NAS and run the setup wizard
• How to make a strong admin password and keep it safe
• What RAID and a storage pool actually mean
• How to make your first shared folder and the phone app

Why I wrote this

I write these as printable handouts because a guide you can keep in a drawer beats a web page you have to find again. No jargon, no judgment, no rushing. If you'd rather have someone sit beside you and go through it together, that's a flat $99 first visit with the 30-day follow-up included — serving Portage County from Atwater, Ohio. — Bill