COMPLETE Synology NAS Setup Guide for 2023 (Detailed for Beginners)

This is a complete, in-depth, step-by-step beginner's guide on how to set up a Synology NAS for the first time. This will cover the entire process from start to finish and will take a new brand Synology NAS and configure Synology DSM 7.2. We will follow best practices regarding system settings, security, data protection, and some advanced functionality to ensure the NAS is configured properly.

💰 PRODUCT LINKS 💰 (affiliate links: as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases - thank you for your support)

🔋UPS Devices🔋

💾External HDD Recommendations (multiple sizes available)💾

❗TUTORIAL LINKS / ADVANCED FUNCTIONALITY ❗

DISCLAIMER: The information in this video has been self-taught through years of technical tinkering. While we do our best to provide accurate, useful information, we make no guarantee that our viewers will achieve the same level of success. WunderTech does not assume liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to damage caused directly or indirectly from its content or associated media. Use at your own risk.

WunderTech is a trade name of WunderTech, LLC.

0:00 Intro
0:39 Disclaimer
1:23 Synology NAS Hardware
1:39 Synology NAS Upgrades (RAM, NVMe SSD Cache, 10GbE NIC)
2:43 10GbE NIC Explanation
3:38 NVMe SSD Drives
3:58 Initial Synology DSM Setup
4:10 Finding the Synology NAS on your Network
5:15 Synology DSM 7.2 Installation
6:53 Synology Admin Account Creation
7:41 Synology NAS Update Settings
8:04 Synology Account Options
8:43 Storage Pool and Volume Creation
9:07 RAID Type Selection
14:35 NVMe SSD Storage Pool
15:22 Storage Pool Creation
16:08 Volume Creation
16:45 Btrfs vs. Ext4 File Systems
17:33 Volume Encryption
18:32 Synology NAS Storage Manager
18:40 Data Scrubbing
19:29 HDD/SSD
20:02 NVMe SSD: Volume/Cache Explanation
20:37 NVMe SSD Cache Setup
22:10 NVMe SSD Storage Pool + Volume
23:43 Hot Spare for Storage Pool
24:45 Users & Groups
26:30 Shared Folder Hierarchy (Best Practices)
27:59 Shared Folder Creation
28:53 Encrypted/WriteOnce (WORM) Shared Folder Settings
31:05 Shared Folder Settings
32:20 Shared Folder Permissions
33:20 Shared Folder in File Station
33:58 Creating a Second Shared Folder (Different Permissions)
34:29 Permission Differences (No Access, Read/Write, Read-Only)
35:31 Permission Example
36:48 Other User Permission Settings
37:13 Advanced User Settings
37:27 User Home Folder Service
39:27 Accessing a Shared Folder
39:55 File Station Web Server
40:46 File Services (SMB Setup)
42:00 Accessing a Shared Folder using SMB
44:49 Importance/Setup of a Static IP Address
47:27 Synology NAS Security
48:34 Account Protection
49:18 Two-Factor Authentication
51:32 Synology's Firewall
52:40 Redirect HTTP to HTTPS
54:10 Changing Default HTTP/HTTPS Ports
55:40 YOU NEED A UPS!!!
56:45 UPS Setup on the NAS
58:40 Risks of Data Loss without a UPS
59:35 Synology's Package Center
1:02:05 NAS Data Protection
1:02:34 Creating Snapshots (Ransomware Protection / Data Recovery)
1:04:40 Snapshot Retention Policy
1:07:21 Taking a Manual Snapshot
1:07:48 Restoring a File/Folder from a Snapshot Example
1:09:22 Summary of Snapshots
1:10:10 Configuring Hyper Backup
1:11:40 Example External HDD Hyper Backup Task
1:14:26 Hyper Backup Restore Example
1:16:30 Data Protection Summary
1:17:05 Accessing a Synology NAS Remotely
1:17:34 Self-Hosting a VPN Server
1:18:00 Configuring OpenVPN on a Synology NAS
1:19:36 Using Tailscale (Zero-Config VPN)
1:20:45 Synology QuickConnect
1:22:44 Dynamic DNS (DDNS)
1:23:58 Reverse Proxy
1:24:30 Remote Access Summary
1:25:25 Configuring a Recycle Bin Empty Task
1:26:31 Configuring Notifications
1:28:17 Conclusion & Final Thoughts

[WunderTechTutorials]

A few notes that I want to include:

1. I realized after creating the video that I wasn’t clear about the installation of hard drives. If you purchased any upgrades (10GbE, RAM, NVMe), I would install them BEFORE installing the hard drives. You CAN upgrade AFTER setting up the NAS, but take the hard drives out and put them back in the exact order they were in.

2. The storage pool selection is very important (volume is too, don’t want to downplay it). If you select RAID 6 or SHR-2, you CANNOT go “back” to RAID 5 or SHR. However, if you start with RAID 5 or SHR, you CAN “upgrade” (by adding another drive, assuming you have the space) to RAID 6 or SHR-2. One other side note - for most 2-bay NAS devices, you’ll most likely use RAID 1 if you want redundancy (which is a direct mirror).

3. Snapshots have to be scheduled for each shared folder.

4. The autofocus on the camera was messed up at points throughout the video. I'm not exactly sure why, but I'm hoping I can fix it moving forward - sorry about that!

I am probably forgetting a few things but will update this comment if I think of anything else. Thanks for watching!

[tomreingold]

I will read the guide and come back to the video if I need to. I've been following you for a long time, and I've had my Synology NAS for several years. I set it up without you but I've since updated some of the settings following your suggestions. Thank you for all you do.

[JSmucks]

Exceptional, the most complete I've seen to date.

[mattschoular]

Great work Frank. The video with the timestamps is super useful. The written version is a bonus. Thanks for putting together such a comprehensive tutorial.

[pfitz]

AWESOME job !!! I'm a longtime Synology user since 2011. I'm currently using a DS718 that is still running DSM 6. I'm considering buying a DS923, then using the DS718 for off site backups. You provided an excellent refresher for me as well as how to bring up the D923 on DSM 7. Thank you so much for and outstanding presentation.

[spearheadconsulting]

Excellent work for the beginning setup. I watched the whole thing to make sure I didn’t miss anything. All your videos are very informative and helpful.

[QuikTechSolutions]

Frank - this video should win an award! Outstanding - you have outdone yourself. Fabulous explanation of the different RAID choices.

[Raekonn]

Awesome, this is exactly what I needed! Keep the great work up!

[raycollington]

This a must see video for people starting out with Synology NAS drives. I learned a tonne of stuff from you here Frank. Thank you.

[seangallison]

learned more from this than I ever could have expected. Thank you so much. I will certainly be viewing many more of your excellent content.

[timedmiston]

Wonderful video. I agree with a previous comment - it should win an award. Such a professional tutorial. Concise, clear, complete and accurate - presented at just the right pace. This is one of the best full featured "how to" videos I've seen. Well done and keep up the good work! Thank you Frank.

[bobarjie]

I've been following Frank for a few years now and have learned a lot from his excellent videos and instruction. This video comes at exactly the right time for me as I've recently purchased a DS923+ as an upgrade to my trusty DS716+II. Appreciate your efforts Frank. Thanks

[varkevisser]

First time nas user, but what a clear and great video for me to set up my DS923+. Thanks a lot!

[billegbert]

This is a fantastic reference!!! Thank you so much. When I put my 920 together, I did so by watching a bunch of your other videos. This will be a great way for me to review how I've set everything up and make corrections.

[philadelphigga]

Great great video for a beginner like me! thank you very much!

[bondjamesbond]

Wonderfully done Synology NAS Setup Guide!

[AbinayBeria]

You explained really well. Thanks for your hard work👍

[jamesmonahan]

well done Sir. Love how comprehensive you are with good detail and info to help make better decisions

[sylvainalain]

Thanks for your video :) I will need to install a ds923+ or a 1522+ during the Christmas holiday :) awesome reference to double check that I didn’t mess up something :)

[TechMeOut]

I absolutely loved this video! this goes straight into my saved videos indefinitely! you absolutely nailed it!!!