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Using an iPad with a Synology NAS – Configuring a NAS with DS Finder
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Using an iPad with a Synology NAS – Configuring a NAS with DS Finder

As the Apple iPad has evolved, it has become something nearly as powerful as a traditional laptop. So in this series of videos, we are going to see how feasible it is to use an Apple iPad with a Synology NAS. One of the benefits in having a iPad, is how through apps we can departmentalise functions that we use. Which is one of the reasons why using an iPad over a computer is a little less intimidating. So in this video we are going to take a look at setting up a Synology NAS by using the DS Finder app.

Quick reference notes

Notes: If you only have limited experience with networking, the DS Finder app will make it easier for you to make a connection to your NAS, and complete an initial setup. However, after completing the initial setup it does not tell you want to do next. It’s also worth noting that DS Finder enables User Home Services by default, while not a major issue this may be a feature you do not turned on.

  • Open the DS Finder app and agree to the Privacy settings.
  • At the Welcome screen choose Setup New NAS.
  • Select an option depending if you want to create a Synology Account.

Notes: A Synology account is not required to fully setup your NAS. Instead a Synology account’s main purpose is for C2 cloud storage and connecting your NAS to the internet via Quick Connect. As you can create a Synology account at any point of your NAS setup, at this stage we recommend that you don’t.

  • You are now asked to fit hard drives to your NAS, connect it to your network and switch it on.
  • The DS Finder app will find your NAS.
  • When you select your NAS from the list, you will be asked to format your Hard drives.

Notes: We like to fit only a single hard drive or SSD to our NAS at this stage. This will then create what Synology calls Volume one. Volume one will be where the Disk Station Manager system software will be installed. Then at a later stage of the build we will add the other drives that we want to use. We can then create a volume two which will be where our data is stored.

If you are new to Synology NAS devices, it might be safer to fit all your drives at this stage and create a single volume that is protected with Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR).

  • After Installing Disk Station Manager you will be asked to create an administrators account. This will disable the default admin account that Synology initially created.
  • We are now asked if it’s OK for our NAS to send statistical information to Synology. We declined by removing the tick from this option.
  • The DS Finder app now installed Drive, Moments and DS Audio onto your NAS.

Notes: Drive, Moments and DS Audio all utilise a service called Home User Services. Home User Services are a way to keep data private on your network shares. However, this may not be a feature that everyone will want to have automatically enabled on their NAS by default.

  • If you select General you can access a few basic services on your NAS. However, to finish configuring your NAS you will need to use DSM mode.
Useful resources
Reference materials

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