Initial Setup

As we stated in previous Synology reviews, there is no need to install Synology Assistant to find the NAS server's IP address before you initialize it. You only have to open "find.synology.com" in a browser on a client PC after you have installed the hardware (HDDs) and connected all the cables (power and LAN) to start the initial setup procedure. Type in "diskstation:5000" instead if your PC isn't connected to the Internet. Setting this NAS up through Synology's Web Assistant is a piece of cake for even inexperienced users.


You will be asked to create an administrator's account and will have to pick an updating option after logging into DSM for the first time. We picked the first option, which will install the latest DSM version automatically, and advice you to do the same. There was an available DSM update we also made a point of installing—its installation was fast and easy.

Web Interface

Here is the DSM login page. You will have to input your credentials in order to proceed to the web interface.


You will be greeted by several useful tips and the DSM Help app after you've logged into the web interface for the very first time. DSM's help app can also be very useful if you get stuck or need help with something.


The DSM taskbar hides a lot of functionality:
1) Show Desktop: Minimizes all open applications and packages.
2) Main Menu: View and open installed applications and packages. You can also click and drag to create desktop shortcuts.
3) Open applications:

• Click an icon to show or hide its window on the desktop.
• Right-click the icon and pick from the menu to manage the application's window (maximize, minimize, restore, and close) or its taskbar icon (pin to taskbar and unpin from taskbar).

4) Upload Queue: The queue appears when you upload files to the Synology NAS. Click on it to see more details, like progress and upload speed.
5) Notifications: Displays notifications, like errors, status updates, and package installation notifications.
6) Options: The Shutdown, Restart, Logout, or Modify Personal Account options can be found here.
7) Search: Quickly find specific applications, packages, or DSM Help articles.
8) Widgets: Show or hide widgets.
9) Pilot View: See a preview of all open applications and packages.


DSM's Start button in the taskbar's top-right corner reveals the main menu. Next to it is an icon for each open application. You can add shortcuts of your favorite applications to the desktop by dragging their icons from the main menu to the desktop. You can also remove shortcuts by right-clicking on them and picking the Remove Shortcut option.


This window keeps track of all notifications, like errors, status updates, and package installation notifications.


The search box allows you to find specific applications, packages, or DSM Help articles.


Synology offers a number of widgets, which display various bits of system information, including the following :

• Connected users
• File change log
• Recent logs
• Resource monitor that monitors CPU and memory usage along with network flow
• Scheduled backups
• Scheduled tasks
• Storage
• System health

You can use the Admin options to manage personal account options, like changing the password, enabling 2-step verification, checking on account activity, etc.