First-Time Synology Setup - Getting DSM Running

What You Need Before You Start

Setup goes smoothly when you gather a few things first. Take five minutes to lay these out and you will not have to stop halfway to hunt for something.

You do not need any special tools. Most Synology drive trays snap together without a screwdriver, though a few models include small screws and a screwdriver in the box.

• Your Synology NAS and its power adapter.
• The hard drives you bought for it (usually sold separately).
• The network cable that came in the box (a flat-ended Ethernet cable).
• Your internet router, with a free network port to plug into.
• A computer, laptop, or tablet on the same home Wi-Fi or network.
• About an hour of unhurried time - the drives take a while to set up.

What's in the Box

Open the box and lay everything out so you know what you have. A typical Synology home model includes just a handful of parts - it is not complicated.

Notice that the box does not include hard drives unless you bought a bundle that says so. The drives are the ones you purchased separately - have those ready to go in.

• The NAS unit itself, with empty drive trays inside.
• A power adapter and power cord.
• One network (Ethernet) cable.
• A small bag of screws, and sometimes a mounting key or screwdriver.
• A short quick-start leaflet.

Installing the Drives

This is the only "hands-on" part. It is genuinely easy - the trays slide out, the drive clips in, and the tray slides back. Go gently and you will be done in a few minutes.

The drive should sit flat in the tray with its metal connectors lined up at the back edge. Do not force anything - if it resists, back out and check the drive is sitting square in the tray.

• Slide a drive tray out of the NAS (there is usually a small latch or pull).
• Set a hard drive into the tray so its connector faces the back of the tray.
• Snap the side clips in place, or use the included screws on models that need them.
• Slide the loaded tray back into the NAS until it seats firmly.
• Repeat for your second drive, in the next bay.

Connecting Power and Your Router

With the drives in, you connect the NAS to your home network and to power. The order matters a little: connect the network cable first, then power it on.

A wired connection to the router is the right way to set up a NAS - it is faster and rock solid. Leave it plugged into the router with the cable; a NAS is not meant to run over Wi-Fi.

• Plug one end of the network cable into the NAS's LAN port (the flat-ended socket).
• Plug the other end into a free port on the back of your router.
• Connect the power adapter to the NAS, then into a wall outlet or, better, a battery backup.
• Press the power button on the front of the NAS - a light will come on.
• Wait a minute or two while it starts up; you may hear a soft beep when it is ready.

Finding the NAS From Your Computer

Now you leave the box alone and move to your computer. Everything from here happens in a web browser - the same program you use to visit websites.

Give it a couple of minutes after powering on, then refresh. Double-check the network cable is snug at both ends. You can also download Synology's free "Synology Assistant" helper on their website, which finds the NAS for you.

• On a computer connected to the same network, open your web browser.
• In the address bar, type find.synology.com and press Enter.
• The page searches your network and should show your new NAS, ready to set up.

Installing DSM (the Operating System)

DSM is the software that makes the NAS work - its operating system, like Windows is to a PC. The very first time, you install it. The NAS walks you through it.

You do not have to hunt down any files. DSM downloads the correct version on its own. Just start it, confirm, and let it run. Grab a coffee - this part takes a little while.

• When the NAS appears, click the button to Install or set it up.
• It will offer to download the latest DSM automatically - let it.
• Confirm you understand the drives will be erased, then continue.
• Wait while it installs - this takes several minutes and the NAS may restart.

Creating the Admin Account

After DSM installs, you create the main account that controls the NAS - the administrator, or "admin," account. Two choices here really matter for keeping your NAS safe.

This account can change everything on the NAS, so it is worth protecting well. A strong, unique password here is your front door lock. Do not reuse a password you use on other websites.

• Do not use the name "admin" for your account. Pick your own name instead - it is far harder for bad actors to guess.
• Use a strong password - long, with a mix of letters, numbers, and a symbol. Not "password" or "1234."
• Write the account name and password down somewhere safe, on paper, right now.

Creating Your Storage (SHR + Btrfs)

Now the NAS sets up your drives so they can hold files safely. Two terms come up here: a "storage pool" (your drives grouped together) and a "volume" (the usable space on top). The wizard makes both.

You will find these choices while creating the storage pool in Storage Manager, the built-in tool for drives. If you are unsure at any screen, SHR and Btrfs are the answers for most people. Let it finish - checking the new drives can take a while in the background.

• Choose SHR for the drive layout. It sets up the safe, forgiving arrangement so one drive can fail without losing your files.
• Choose Btrfs for the file system, if offered. It adds snapshots - your safety net for undoing mistakes.

The Setup Wizard Walk-Through

With storage ready, DSM runs a short setup wizard - a series of screens that get the basics in place. Read each one, and when in doubt, the recommended default is usually fine.

The wizard is short. Do not feel you must perfect every setting now - nearly everything can be adjusted afterward in Control Panel, the settings area of DSM. Get through the wizard, and you can fine-tune later.

• Whether to install DSM updates automatically - saying yes is a good idea for safety.
• Whether to set up a Synology Account and QuickConnect (covered on the next page).
• A few preferences you can safely accept as-is and change later.

The QuickConnect Prompt

During setup you will be asked about QuickConnect. Here is what it is, in plain words, so you can decide whether to set it up or skip it.

QuickConnect lets you reach your NAS from away from home - say, from your phone at the coffee shop - without any complicated network setup. It gives your NAS a simple web address you can use from anywhere. It is optional.

DSM and Package Updates

Updates keep your NAS secure and running well. Synology releases them regularly, and letting your NAS keep itself current is one of the simplest ways to stay safe.

You can turn on automatic updates so the NAS installs important fixes on its own, usually overnight. For most home users, that is the easy, safe choice. You will find these settings in Control Panel under the update section.

• DSM updates - improvements and security fixes for the main software.
• Package updates - fixes for the individual apps you install, from Package Center.

Installing Your First Packages

"Packages" are just apps for your NAS, and they are free. You get them from Package Center, the built-in app store inside DSM. Start with a couple of useful ones.

Open Package Center, browse the list, and click Install on anything that appeals to you. There is no charge and no harm in trying one - you can always remove it later if you do not use it.

Naming Your NAS and Setting the Time

A couple of quick housekeeping settings make your NAS easier to find and keep its records accurate. Both live in Control Panel and take a moment each.

By default the NAS has a plain name. Give it something you will recognize on the network, like "HomeNAS" or "SmithFamily." Keep it simple - letters and numbers, no spaces - so it is easy to type and find.

Setting Up Notification Email

This step is easy to skip but genuinely important. You want the NAS to email you if something goes wrong - especially if a drive starts failing - so you can act before you lose anything.

With this on, the NAS quietly watches its own health and taps you on the shoulder by email if a drive is struggling. That early warning is often the difference between a simple drive swap and a real loss.

• In Control Panel, find the notifications section.
• Enter an email address you actually check.
• Turn on alerts for important events, especially drive and storage warnings.
• Send a test message to make sure it arrives.

Making Your First Shared Folder

A shared folder is simply a named box on the NAS where files live - like "Family Photos" or "Documents." You create these so you can organize files and decide who gets to see them.

Make a few folders that match how you think - Photos, Documents, Backups. Keeping things tidy from the start saves confusion later, just like labeled drawers in a filing cabinet.

• Open Control Panel and go to the shared folder section.
• Click Create, and give the folder a clear name like "Documents."
• Choose which drive space it lives on (your volume) - usually just the default.
• Set who can use it - for a home, allowing your own account is plenty to start.
• Finish, and the folder is ready to hold files.

Connecting From Windows and Mac

The payoff: reaching your NAS folders right from your computer, as if they were another drive. The steps differ a little between Windows and Mac, but both are quick.

Open File Explorer and, in the address bar at the top, type two backslashes followed by your NAS name - for example \\HomeNAS - and press Enter. Sign in with your NAS account name and password, and your shared folders appear. You can "map" one as a permanent drive letter if you like.

A Quick Tour of What's Next

Your NAS is up and running - well done. Once you are comfortable, here are the natural next steps that make it truly useful. No rush; pick what appeals to you.

• Back up your phone's photos automatically with the Synology Photos app.
• Back up your computers to the NAS so a dead laptop is no disaster.
• Set up snapshots so you can undo accidental deletes (thanks to Btrfs).
• Add remote access with QuickConnect if you want your files while away.

Keeping Your Setup Notes

Five minutes of writing today saves you an afternoon of frustration next year. Jot down the key details of your setup and tuck them somewhere safe.

You will not remember these details a year from now, and you will need them the day something needs attention. A simple index card in a drawer, or a page in a notebook, does the job perfectly.

• Your NAS's name on the network.
• Your admin account name and password (on paper, kept somewhere secure).
• The QuickConnect name, if you set one up.
• Which model and drive sizes you installed, and when.
• The email you set for alerts.

What's in the 27-page PDF

• What to gather before you start
• Sliding the drives in and plugging it into your router
• Finding the NAS from your computer and installing DSM
• Making a safe admin account and your first storage
• Updates, packages, naming, and email alerts
• Making a shared folder and reaching it from Windows or Mac

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