With Synology DiskStation to your own Cloud

The rise of data-hungry applications and the bad news of recurring cloud data leaks go hand in hand. Network storage (NAS) is the ideal solution for storing private data securely and locally. You can find out why here. In addition, information is then centrally available so that it can be accessed even when you are on the move.

If this NAS is connected to the Internet, it can be used as a private cloud and only you decide who can access your NAS. This reduces data leakage to a minimum. The advantage of Synology DiskStation is that the private cloud service ensures that your data is not stored on third-party servers, but at your home. This allows data to be synchronized quickly and easily between PCs and mobile devices.

The Google calendar, for example, can be replaced by your own calendar on the NAS, contacts and calendar entries are securely stored. Selected users get access rights.

You can also sync your data with iPhone, iPad, Android smartphone, Mac or Windows PC via Synology DiskStation.

The Project

Suitable for: Beginners with basic knowledge
Time required: approx. 30 minutes
Budget: approx. 400 Euro
What you need: 1 x Synology DS218+, 1 x 3.5-inch hard drive
You’ll also need: PC and smartphone for setup, router and Internet connection.

First steps: Install DiskStation Manager and the QuickConnect feature

After connecting the Synology device, you can find it in your web browser at http://find.synology.com DiskStation Manager (DSM) is the NAS operating system. Click “Install Now” to start the setup, which will take a few minutes. Then it goes to the administrator account setup. Enter the server name, the user name and a password.

Tip: It is advantageous to have updates installed automatically so that your system is always up to date. You activate this option under “Update and maintenance of DSM”.

Create administrator account — Set up an admin account

The next step is to set up the QuickConnect function. This DynDNS service from Synology makes it possible to access the NAS from any Internet-enabled device. To do this, go to the URL http://QuickConnect.to/ and enter your QuickConnect ID.

In order for family, friends or other users authorized by you to access shared data, the respective folders must be shared by you as the administrator. You can do this via the Control Panel and the “Advanced Mode” in the top right corner of the user interface. Under “Shared Folders” you can create new folders or share existing ones, such as music and photos.

You can also create new user accounts via the control panel: Click on “Users” and “Create”. In the second step you assign a name and a password and assign the person to a group. Specific access rights can then be defined.

Tip: Make sure that you do not grant administrator rights to every person.

Import additional apps

The additional Synology services in the DiskStation Manager package center make it easy to extend the NAS’s functionality. Manage music files, photo albums, and videos, for example, and stream data to your home network.

Tip: Synology provides free apps for iOS and Android to stream multimedia content stored on the NAS to smartphones and tablets.

Synchronize calendar and contacts with multiple devices

Synology provides apps for a calendar and contacts server, so appointments and personal information are stored on your network, not shared with third parties. This is how it works:

1. install the necessary apps

For the contact server the app “CardDAV Server” must be installed via the package center.

Installing the Calendar App — Installing Calendar App

The calendar function comes with the app “Calendar”.

You can call up your appointment entries from anywhere by logging into your NAS via the QuickConnect ID in your web browser.

2. Make the necessary settings on the CardDAV server

In order to ensure a secure connection between your mobile devices and the CardDAV server, some configuration steps have to be performed for the latter. Call up the CardDAV server and check the corresponding boxes under “Settings”.

Now assign a DynDNS address. To solve the problem of dynamic IP addresses, QuickConnect is available. However, if the NAS cannot be reached via the QuickConnect ID, use the DynDNS address to ensure that the contact server can be reached online from anywhere.

This can be done via the Control Panel. The option “DDNS” appears under “External access”. Use “Add” to create a new account: To do this, enter a host name of your choice and select an extension for the domain – for example “synology.me”.

Attention: In order for access to the NAS to work properly, the necessary ports must be enabled in your firewall, otherwise a secure connection cannot be established. The connection to the CardDAV server is via port 8443. If this port is enabled via the router, you are automatically forwarded to the NAS.

Via the path “Control Panel – External Access – Router Configuration” you can test if the forwarding works.

3. Synchronize your contact information with your smartphone

If you have successfully activated port 8443, registered a DynDNS address and released the port at your firewall, continue with the setup on the iPhone.

Via the path “Settings – Accounts & Passwords” select the option “Add account”. The CardDav account will then already be available for selection there.

Under “Server”, enter the DynDNS address you previously specified. Username and password refer to your Synology account credentials. The “Description” field is automatically filled in by the system.

Your iPhone now shows under “Contacts” and “Groups” that it is connected to a NAS.

4. Synchronize your appointments with the iPhone

First make sure that port 5006 on your firewall is open. Then start setting up on your iPhone. This works similar to the CardDAV account by filling in the fields “Server”, “Username” and “Password”.