Synology features now available on any NAS device

Synology's DiskStation Manager (DSM) is a user-friendly operating system for network-attached storage (NAS) devices. It helps users set up their NAS easily, with an interface similar to Windows or Linux. While DSM is made for Synology devices, many of its features can be used on other NAS brands, like QNAP or Terramaster. Here are some of the notable features that can enhance any NAS. Plex Media Server is a leading tool for organizing and streaming media. It is widely used by NAS owners for managing movies, music, and photos. Plex supports various devices, allowing users to access their media content from smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs. The performance of Plex depends on the NAS’s hardware, especially for transcoding files. Docker is another valuable feature for NAS users. It allows applications to run in isolated containers. This is particularly useful in business environments for deploying apps quickly. Many NAS brands, including QNAP, support Docker for running various applications, such as smart home controls or private cloud storage. For security, Synology’s Surveillance Station manages IP cameras without extra fees. While this software is only for Synology, there are open-source alternatives, like ZoneMinder and Frigate, that work with similar functionality. These tools provide motion detection, alerts, and cloud backups. Active Backup for Business is Synology’s backup solution, but similar open-source tools like UrBackup and Duplicati are available for different NAS systems. These tools cover basic backup needs while ensuring data security across platforms. Synology Photos serves as an alternative to Google Photos. It uses AI to organize images and videos based on metadata. For those with different NAS brands, similar tools like PhotoPrism and Immich can offer comparable features for photo management. The Virtual Machine Manager allows users to run virtual machines on Synology NAS. Other brands like QNAP have similar services. For simpler needs, using Docker can help run applications without full virtual machine setups. Lastly, users can host websites and email services on their NAS. Synology’s Web Station makes it possible to create personal websites. Other tools support web hosting and email management, allowing users to maintain control over their online resources. While Synology software might not always work on other NAS systems, many features can be replicated with third-party tools. Users can explore various functionalities, from media streaming to security and hosting, regardless of their hardware.