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Knowledge Center

How do I set up my Synology NAS as a dedicated server for the Active Backup suite?

Last updated:3 May 2023

How do I set up my Synology NAS as a dedicated server for the Active Backup suite?

Purpose

This article guides you through the setup of a Synology NAS and optimizing it for data backup and restoration.

Resolution

The following steps will be based on three Synology backup servers:

  • DS1823xs+
  • RS2423RP+
  • RS3621xs+

We recommend using one of these models with our suggested configurations to back up your devices, virtual machines, and SaaS applications. These configurations have been extensively tested and verified for speed, reliability, and efficiency in backup and restoration. To choose a model suitable for your scenarios, estimate your required storage space and refer to this product list.

Hardware installation

Set up the memory module, drives, SSD caches, and other accessories for your NAS. Refer to the Synology Products Compatibility List for details about verified accessories.

DS1823xs+

RS2423RP+

RS3621xs+

Get everything ready for data backup on DSM

Step 1: Install DiskStation Manager

DiskStation Manager (DSM) is the web-based operating system for Synology NAS. Before setting up a backup server, you must install DSM on your NAS.

Step 2: Create a storage pool and volume

  1. Launch Storage Manager in the Main Menu. A Storage Creation Wizard will pop up.1.png
  2. Choose a RAID type based on our recommended configurations.
  3. Assign drives to the storage pool.
  4. Allocate the volume capacity. Modify the allocated size based on our recommended configurations.
  5. Select Btrfs as the file system.
  6. Confirm the settings.

Step 3: Create hot spare drives

A hot spare is a standby drive. When a drive crashes and results in storage pool degradation, the hot spare drive can automatically take the place of the defective drive. This allows the storage pool to repair itself and return to a healthy status in a shorter amount of time.

If you're using RS2423RP+ or RS3621xs+, we suggest creating hot spare drives to provide protection against drive failure.

Step 4: Set up an SSD cache

  1. Go to Storage Manager > Storage > Create > Create SSD Cache.
  2. Select the volume to mount the SSD cache.
  3. Select a read-write cache for the cache mode.
  4. Select RAID 1 as the cache RAID type.
  5. Allocate the cache capacity and select Pin all Btrfs metadata to SSD cache. Modify the allocated size based on our recommended configurations.
  6. Select the SSDs on your NAS.
  7. Confirm the settings.

For more information about SSD cache setup, refer to Create an SSD Cache.

Step 5: Assign a static IP address to your NAS

  1. Go to Control Panel > Network > Network Interface.2.png
  2. Select one of the network interfaces and click Edit.
  3. Under the IPv4 tab, select Use manual configuration.
  4. Fill in the following information and click OK:
    • IP address
    • Subnet mask
    • Gateway
    • DNS server

For more information about network configurations, refer to LAN/Internet.

Step 6: Download and install add-on packages

Go to Package Center, where you can download and install the following packages as needed:

Package

Protected Workload

Active Backup for Business
  • Personal computers: Windows and macOS
  • Physical servers: Windows Server and Linux
  • Virtual machines: VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V
  • File servers: Nutanix Files, NetApp, and other SMB servers
  • Synology NAS

Active Backup for Microsoft 365
  • Microsoft 365 services, such as OneDrive for Business, Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and Teams

Active Backup for Google Workspace
  • Google Workspace services, such as Drive, Gmail, Contacts, and Calendar

Notes:

  • To optimize your Synology NAS for backup and restoration, we recommend the following configurations for your storage pool, volume, and SSD cache:
    Model DS1823xs+ RS2423RP+ RS3621xs+
    Volume Capacity 32 TB 28 TB 56 TB
    RAID Type RAID 6
    (8 TB drives*6)    		 RAID 6
    (4 TB drives*9)    		 RAID 6
    (8 TB drives*9)
    Hot Spare - 4 TB drive*1 8 TB drive*1
    Cache Capacity 800 GB 1,920 GB 3,840 GB
    Cache RAID Type RAID 1
    (800 GB SSDs*2)    		 RAID 1
    (1,920 GB SSDs*2)    		 RAID 1
    (3,840 GB SSDs*2)

Further reading

Purpose
Resolution
Hardware installation
Get everything ready for data backup on DSM
Further reading