Getting Started with the Synology DiskStation - Diskless

Overview

This article will guide new administrators into setting up, initializing, and setting up the Synology DiskStation for use in storing data. This guide is for Synology DiskStations which are sold without disks installed within the DiskStation.

Step 1: Quick Install Setup

This section of the the guide will cover the basics in unpacking, assembling, and powering up the Synology Disk Station.

1. Quick Install Guide for 2009 Synology DiskStations (ie, DS109, DS209, DS409, DS509+, RS409)
2. Quick Install Guide for 2010 Synology DiskStations (ie, DS110j, DS210j, DS410j, DS1010+)

Step 2: Installation of System Software

These guides will show how to install the Synology Assistant on the networked computer, and how to use the Synology Assistant to find the new Disk Station, and install Synology Firmware. The firmware is a piece of software/operating system which is used by the DiskStation to store/share data, and to have the various applications of the DiskStation Manager - including Backup Serving, Web hosting, File Hosting, Multimedia Streaming and other functions. It is recommended that the computer installing the Synology Firmware is wired directly to the local network, and is not using a wireless or remote connection. Complication may occur if the computer is not using a local network connection.

1. Installing the Synology Assistant
2. Installing the Synology Server

Step 2a: DiskStation Manager Overview

The following article is an optional read - but recommended. It briefly covers the management of the Synology DiskStation, using the DiskStation Manager.

1. How to use the DiskStation Manager
   • Finding Online Help within the DiskStation Manager

Step 3: Volume Storage Creation

Applying to Multi-bay models (ie, DS209, DS409, DS509 Series), a storage volume will have to be created before the Synology DiskStation can be used to store data.

• For Single-bay models (ie, DS109 Series), a storage volume will automatically be created during the installation of the Synology firmware, as such, this step can be skipped.

1. How to Manage the Synology RAID Volume
   1. How to create a RAID Volume on the Synology Disk Station

Step 4: Sharing data with the Synology Disk Station

After the storage volume has been created - the following guides will cover how to start storing/sharing data with the Synology Disk Station. This is also known as File Sharing.

1. How to share data locally using the Synology server as a File Server
   1. Background Information
      1. What are Usernames?
      2. What are Shared Folders?
      3. What are Privileges?
      4. What are Groups?
   2. How to enable File Sharing Services on...
      1. Apple OS X 10.5 Leopard
      2. Windows XP
      3. Windows Vista
   3. Managing the File Server Abilities of the Synology System
      1. How to Create a User Account on the Synology System
      2. How to Create a Shared Folder on the Synology System
      3. How to Create a Private Share on the Synology System
      4. How to Create a Private "home" folder for all users on the Synology Disk Station
      5. How to Adjust the Privileges on the Synology Server
      6. How to Create Groups on the Synology System
   4. How to access the File Server abilities of the Synology System
      1. How to map a drive (or connect to a server) using a Mac OS X "Leopard"-based Computer
      2. How to make Leopard automatically map a drive on start-up
      3. How to map a drive using a "Windows"-based computer
         • Tips and common error messages for Windows when mapping a network drive
      4. How to map a drive using a Linux/Unix Environment

Step 5:

The basic install, volume creation, and data storage has been completed. To learn about other services and abilities of the Synology Disk Station, please refer to the General Contents link on the left hand side.

Highly Requested Articles

• Want to access the Synology system remotely over Internet? Click here.
• To join a ADS Domain, click here.