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How to Recover Safely From a Failed Synology DSM Update

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Synology DSM updates provide security patches, bug fixes, compatibility improvements, and new functionality. Most updates install without problems, but an interrupted or unsuccessful upgrade can occasionally leave administrators facing a much more serious situation: a NAS that cannot be reached, services that fail to start, or a system that appears unable to boot normally.

When a Synology DSM update crashed, the worst response is to start resetting, reinstalling, or removing drives without first identifying what actually failed. The storage pool and business data may still be intact even when DSM itself is experiencing problems.

If your Synology NAS won’t boot after update, careful diagnosis can help determine whether you are dealing with a network problem, DSM installation issue, hardware failure, or a condition requiring expert Synology repair.

Why Can a DSM Update Fail?

A DSM update changes important system components. Interruptions during this process can create problems. Understanding DSM update issues helps separate complaints from actual failures.

Possible causes include:

Unexpected power loss
NAS shutdown during installation
Hardware problems
Storage errors
Insufficient available space
Network interruption during certain update stages
Drive problems that existed before the upgrade
Installation or package conflicts

The update may appear to be the cause even when an underlying hardware or storage problem was already developing. Recover safely from failed DSM updates with expert support.

First Rule: Do Not Initialize the NAS

If the system does not return normally after an update, avoid making destructive changes.

Do not immediately:

Initialize the NAS
Create a new storage pool
Format drives
Delete existing volumes
Reinstall everything without reviewing the available options
Remove multiple drives
Change the RAID configuration

If important business data exists on the system, preserving the existing storage configuration should be the priority. Review common DSM update problems before attempting more invasive recovery.

Step 1: Give the Update Time to Complete

Some DSM updates can take longer than expected.

The NAS may restart during the process, and services can take additional time to become available.

Before forcing a shutdown, check:

NAS status lights
Drive activity
Network activity
Whether DSM becomes available after waiting
Whether Synology Assistant can discover the NAS

Repeatedly interrupting the system while it is completing an update can make troubleshooting more difficult.

Step 2: Check the Physical System

If the NAS remains unavailable, begin with basic hardware checks.

Review:

Power status
Status LED
LAN indicators
Drive LEDs
Audible warning signals
UPS status
Network switch connection

Do not assume that an inaccessible DSM interface means the NAS has completely failed.

The system may have booted but lost network connectivity.

Step 3: Determine Whether the NAS Is Still on the Network

Try locating the NAS from the local network.

Check:

Router or DHCP client list
Synology Assistant
Known static IP address
Network switch
DNS configuration

An update-related networking change can sometimes make a functioning NAS appear offline.

If the system can be discovered but DSM cannot be accessed normally, document the status before proceeding.

Step 4: Record Exactly What the NAS Is Reporting

Troubleshooting becomes much safer when you know the precise system state.

Record:

Error messages
DSM status
NAS model
DSM version being installed
LED behaviour
Number of installed drives
RAID or SHR configuration
Recent hardware changes

Take screenshots or photographs of any warnings.

This information can be particularly valuable when escalating the incident to Synology support or an experienced consultant.

Step 5: Check Whether Your Storage Is Still Recognized

A DSM problem does not necessarily mean the storage pool has failed.

If you can regain access to DSM or another supported recovery interface, determine whether the existing:

Drives
Storage pools
Volumes
Shared folders

are still recognized.

If the storage configuration appears intact, avoid recreating it.

A new initialization or storage configuration could create unnecessary data-recovery complications.

Step 6: Understand Synology RESET Modes

Synology NAS devices provide hardware RESET functions, but administrators should understand what they do before using them.

Depending on the model and DSM version, Synology documents reset procedures that can reset certain administrator and network settings or reinstall DSM without intentionally deleting user data.

That does not mean RESET should be the automatic first response to every failed update.

Before using a reset procedure:

Verify the exact NAS model
Read the applicable Synology instructions
Understand which settings will change
Confirm the storage situation
Preserve current configuration information where possible

If you are uncertain, obtain expert Synology repair assistance first.

Step 7: Be Careful with DSM Reinstallation

In some recovery situations, DSM may offer a reinstallation or migration path.

Read every screen carefully.

The goal should be to recover the existing system without accidentally choosing an option that initializes storage or removes information.

Before proceeding, verify:

Existing drives are detected
Drive order has not changed
Storage configuration is recognized
The correct DSM package is being used
Important backups are available

For business-critical systems without verified backups, professional guidance may be appropriate before attempting reinstallation. Prepare your Synology NAS properly before installing new DSM releases.

Step 8: Do Not Randomly Remove Drives

Pulling drives is rarely an appropriate first troubleshooting step after a failed DSM update.

Removing the wrong drive can create additional problems, particularly if the storage pool is already degraded.

If drives must be removed for professional diagnosis, document:

Bay number
Drive model
Serial number
Original drive order

Never assume the disks can simply be rearranged afterward.

Step 9: Check for an Underlying Drive Problem

Sometimes an update exposes a storage problem rather than causing it.

Once the system becomes accessible, review Storage Manager for:

Degraded storage pools
Drive health warnings
Bad sectors
I/O errors
System partition failures
Abnormal SMART information

A failing drive should be investigated separately from the DSM software problem.

Step 10: Verify Applications and Services

A successful DSM boot does not necessarily mean recovery is complete.

Check important packages and services, including:

Synology Drive
Hyper Backup
Active Backup
Snapshot Replication
Surveillance Station
Virtual Machine Manager
File services
Directory services

Some packages may require updates or additional attention after DSM has been restored.

Validate Your Backups

Once the NAS is stable, verify your backup environment.

Check:

Recent backup completion
Offsite copies
Hyper Backup repositories
Replication status
Snapshot availability
Recovery procedures

A failed system update is a useful reminder that RAID alone does not provide complete business continuity.

When to Stop Troubleshooting Yourself

Certain conditions justify immediate escalation.

Seek expert Synology repair when:

The NAS will not boot after reasonable troubleshooting
Multiple drives report errors
The storage pool is degraded or crashed
DSM reinstallation options are unclear
Business-critical files are inaccessible
No verified backup exists
The NAS repeatedly restarts
Previous recovery attempts have failed

Continuing to experiment with a business-critical NAS can create additional risk when the underlying problem is unknown. DSM security features help protect business data after system updates.

Preventing Problems During Future DSM Updates

Organizations can reduce update risk by:

Verifying backups before major updates
Reviewing Synology release notes
Checking model and package compatibility
Confirming adequate free storage
Checking drive health first
Using a UPS
Scheduling updates during maintenance windows
Documenting the existing configuration
Testing critical services afterward

For important business infrastructure, updates should be treated as controlled maintenance rather than routine button clicks. Evaluate major DSM upgrades carefully before deploying them across business systems.

Why Professional Synology Support Matters

When a Synology NAS won’t boot after update, administrators need to determine whether the problem involves DSM, networking, storage, drives, packages, or hardware before choosing a recovery procedure.

Experienced Synology support can review the system state, storage architecture, update history, and available recovery options before potentially destructive changes are made.

About Epis Technology

Epis Technology provides expert Synology support for failed DSM updates, inaccessible NAS systems, degraded storage pools, boot problems, RAID issues, backup failures, and other business-critical Synology incidents. Services also include infrastructure assessments, storage optimization, backup architecture, disaster recovery planning, cybersecurity consulting, and ongoing managed support. Epis Technology helps organizations identify the safest recovery path while protecting critical business data and reducing unnecessary downtime.

Synology Infrastructure Assessment Checklist Guide

Synology Servers

Synology Infrastructure Assessment Checklist

A well-designed IT infrastructure is essential for protecting critical business data, maintaining business continuity, and supporting future growth. As organizations expand, their Synology environment often evolves from basic file storage into a platform that supports virtualization, Microsoft 365 backups, surveillance, disaster recovery, and collaboration. Without regular assessments, storage limitations, performance bottlenecks, security gaps, and backup issues can develop over time.

A comprehensive Synology infrastructure assessment helps organizations evaluate the health of their storage environment, identify areas for improvement, and ensure the infrastructure is prepared for future business demands. Whether you are planning an upgrade or optimizing an existing deployment, a structured assessment provides valuable insights that improve reliability, security, and operational efficiency. Conduct thorough Synology infrastructure assessments.

Why Conduct a Synology Infrastructure Assessment?

Technology environments continuously evolve as businesses grow.

Organizations often experience:

Increasing storage requirements
More users and connected devices
Larger Microsoft 365 environments
Expanding virtual machine workloads
Additional surveillance cameras
New business applications

Regular infrastructure assessments help identify potential issues before they affect business operations.

Review Storage Capacity

Storage planning is the foundation of every infrastructure assessment.

Administrators should evaluate:

Total storage capacity
Available storage capacity
Storage growth trends
Shared folder usage
Archive storage
Department storage allocation

Understanding current storage utilization helps organizations plan future expansion before capacity becomes an issue.

Assess System Performance

Performance issues often develop gradually.

Key metrics to review include:

CPU utilization
Memory utilization
Storage latency
SSD cache performance
Disk I/O
Network throughput

Performance monitoring helps identify bottlenecks that could impact users and business applications.

Check Storage Health

Reliable hardware is essential for business continuity.

Infrastructure assessments should include:

Drive health status
RAID integrity
Storage pool health
Volume status
SMART diagnostics
System logs

Detecting hardware issues early helps reduce the risk of unexpected downtime.

Verify Backup Protection

Backups should not only be configured, they should also be tested regularly.

Review the following:

Active Backup for Microsoft 365
Active Backup for Business
Hyper Backup
Snapshot Replication
Backup schedules
Backup success rates

Organizations should also verify that recovery procedures have been successfully tested.

Review Security Configuration

Strong security is critical for protecting business data.

Review security settings such as:

Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
User permissions
Shared folder permissions
Firewall configuration
Security Advisor recommendations
DSM updates

A security assessment helps reduce the risk of unauthorized access and ransomware attacks.

Audit Microsoft 365 Backup Protection

Organizations using Microsoft 365 should confirm complete protection for:

Exchange Online
OneDrive
SharePoint Online
Microsoft Teams
Shared mailboxes
Microsoft 365 Groups

Proper backup coverage ensures business-critical cloud data remains fully recoverable.

Assess Virtualization Support

Many organizations rely on Synology as shared storage for virtualization environments.

Review:

VMware vSphere integration
Microsoft Hyper-V integration
Storage performance
Available capacity
Network connectivity
Future virtualization growth

Properly designed storage infrastructure improves virtual machine performance, reliability, and scalability.

Review Surveillance Storage

Organizations using Synology Surveillance Station should evaluate:

Camera capacity
Video retention periods
Storage utilization
Deep Video Analytics workloads
Archive growth
Backup protection

Proper planning ensures surveillance environments continue operating efficiently as deployments expand.

Assess Disaster Recovery Readiness

Successful backups alone do not guarantee business continuity.

Organizations should review:

Snapshot Replication
Hyper Backup
Off-site replication
Disaster recovery documentation
Recovery testing
Recovery Time Objectives (RTO) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPO)

Routine testing verifies that recovery plans will perform successfully when needed.

Plan for Future Growth

Infrastructure assessments should look beyond current requirements.

Organizations should evaluate:

Expected storage growth
Workforce expansion
New office locations
Additional business applications
Compliance requirements
Long-term backup retention

Planning ahead helps avoid costly emergency upgrades while supporting long-term scalability.

Infrastructure Assessment Best Practices

Organizations can improve long-term infrastructure reliability by:

Regularly reviewing storage utilization
Monitoring system performance
Testing backups and recovery procedures
Keeping security configurations up to date
Forecasting future storage growth
Conducting periodic infrastructure assessments

Following these best practices helps maintain a secure, reliable, and scalable Synology environment.

Why Businesses Choose Synology

Synology provides centralized storage, virtualization support, Microsoft 365 backup, Snapshot Replication, Hyper Backup, Surveillance Station, secure remote access, and enterprise management within a unified platform. Its integrated ecosystem enables organizations to simplify IT administration while improving business continuity, scalability, and long-term operational efficiency.

About Epis Technology

Epis Technology helps organizations assess, optimize, and modernize Synology environments through comprehensive infrastructure assessments, storage architecture design, Microsoft 365 backup implementation, virtualization planning, cybersecurity consulting, disaster recovery strategy, performance optimization, and ongoing managed support.

With deep Synology expertise and practical infrastructure experience, Epis Technology helps businesses build resilient, scalable, and future-ready IT environments that maximize performance, strengthen data protection, and support sustainable business growth.

Storage Planning for Synology AI Video Analytic

Synology Servers

Storage Planning for AI Video Analytics

Artificial intelligence has transformed modern video surveillance from passive recording into proactive security monitoring. Features such as facial recognition, people counting, intrusion detection, license plate recognition, and object detection help organizations respond faster to incidents while gaining valuable operational insights. However, these advanced capabilities also generate significantly more data than traditional surveillance systems, making storage planning more important than ever.

Without proper storage planning, organizations can experience performance bottlenecks, shortened video retention periods, and unexpected infrastructure costs. Synology Surveillance Station and Deep Video Analytics (DVA) provide a scalable platform for AI-powered surveillance, but organizations should ensure their storage infrastructure is designed to support both current and future workloads.

Why AI Video Analytics Requires More Storage

Traditional surveillance primarily stores recorded video.

AI-powered surveillance stores:

High-resolution video recordings
AI metadata
Event detection logs
Object recognition information
Snapshot images
Video indexes

As the number of cameras and analytics features grows, storage consumption increases rapidly.

Understand Your Camera Requirements

The first step in storage planning is understanding your surveillance environment.

Organizations should evaluate:

Number of cameras
Camera resolution
Frame rate
Recording schedule
Continuous or event-based recording
AI analytics requirements

These factors directly influence storage capacity and system performance.

Plan for Video Retention

Retention policies determine how long surveillance footage remains available.

Organizations should consider:

Security requirements
Industry regulations
Internal policies
Incident investigation needs
Available storage capacity

Longer retention periods require significantly more storage, particularly when recording high-resolution video around the clock.

Estimate Future Storage Growth

Surveillance systems rarely remain the same.

Organizations often expand by adding:

Additional cameras
Higher-resolution cameras
New office locations
More AI analytics features
Longer retention periods
Expanded security coverage

Planning for future growth helps avoid costly storage upgrades and operational disruption.

Choose the Right Synology Storage Platform

Different surveillance deployments require different levels of storage performance.

Small and medium-sized businesses may benefit from:

Synology RackStation
Synology DiskStation

Larger organizations with demanding AI workloads may require:

Synology SA Series
Synology FlashStation (FS Series)
Dedicated Synology Deep Video Analytics (DVA) appliances

Selecting the right platform ensures sufficient processing power, storage capacity, and scalability.

Balance Capacity and Performance

Storage planning involves more than simply adding disk space.

Organizations should also evaluate:

RAID configuration
SSD cache
Storage pools
Volume performance
Network throughput
Disk health

A balanced storage architecture delivers reliable AI analytics while maintaining smooth video recording and playback.

Use Event-Based Recording When Appropriate

Continuous recording generates enormous amounts of data.

Many organizations reduce storage consumption by using:

Motion detection
Intrusion detection
People detection
Vehicle detection
Scheduled recording
AI-triggered recording

Recording only relevant events extends retention periods while reducing storage requirements.

Protect Surveillance Data

Surveillance footage often serves as critical evidence.

Organizations should protect video data using:

Snapshot Replication
Hyper Backup
Off-site replication
Role-based access control
Encrypted storage
Audit logging

Layered protection ensures recordings remain secure and recoverable following hardware failures, ransomware attacks, or accidental deletion.

Monitor Storage Utilization

Storage planning is an ongoing process rather than a one-time project.

Administrators should regularly review:

Storage utilization
Camera growth
Recording capacity
Archive expansion
System performance
Disk health

Regular monitoring helps identify capacity issues before they affect surveillance operations.

Prepare for AI Expansion

AI surveillance capabilities continue to evolve.

Organizations should prepare for:

More AI-enabled cameras
Higher video resolutions
Advanced object recognition
Multi-site surveillance
Greater analytics workloads
Longer compliance retention periods

Synology’s scalable architecture allows businesses to expand storage without replacing their existing surveillance infrastructure.

Best Practices for AI Video Analytics Storage

Organizations can improve long-term surveillance performance by:

Calculating storage requirements before deployment
Choosing scalable Synology storage, Scale AI surveillance storage with Synology solutions
Using event-based recording where appropriate
Implementing backup and disaster recovery
Monitoring storage growth regularly
Reviewing retention policies periodically
Planning capacity for future AI workloads

Following these best practices helps maximize surveillance performance while controlling infrastructure costs.

Why Organizations Choose Synology for AI Surveillance

Synology combines Surveillance Station, Deep Video Analytics, scalable NAS storage, Snapshot Replication, Hyper Backup, secure remote monitoring, and centralized management into one integrated platform. Organizations can deploy intelligent surveillance solutions that improve security, reduce manual monitoring, and support long-term storage growth without unnecessary complexity.

About Epis Technology

Epis Technology helps organizations design, deploy, and optimize Synology AI surveillance environments through expert Synology consulting, surveillance architecture planning, storage capacity assessments, Deep Video Analytics implementation, cybersecurity consulting, disaster recovery planning, and ongoing managed support. With extensive Synology expertise, Epis Technology helps businesses build secure, scalable surveillance infrastructure that maximizes AI performance, simplifies management, and supports future growth.

Standardizing Multi-Site Storage with Synology NAS

Synology Servers

How to Standardize Storage Across Multiple Office Locations Using Synology

As businesses expand, managing data across multiple office locations becomes increasingly challenging. Different offices often develop their own storage practices, hardware configurations, security policies, and backup procedures. Over time, these inconsistencies can create operational inefficiencies, security risks, and management headaches.

In 2025 and 2026, organizations are looking for ways to simplify infrastructure while maintaining consistent access to business-critical data. Standardizing storage across multiple sites not only improves operational efficiency but also strengthens data protection, compliance, and business continuity.

One of the most effective ways to achieve this is through a centralized storage strategy built on Synology solutions.

The Challenges of Multi-Site Storage

Organizations with multiple locations often encounter problems such as:

Different storage platforms at each site
Inconsistent backup policies
Difficult file sharing
Duplicate data repositories
Security gaps
Limited visibility into storage utilization

These issues become more difficult to manage as businesses continue growing.

Without a standardized approach, IT teams often spend significant time troubleshooting and maintaining separate environments.

Benefits of Storage Standardization

Standardizing storage infrastructure creates a more predictable and manageable environment.

Key benefits include:

Simplified administration
Improved data security
Consistent backup policies
Better collaboration
Easier scalability
Reduced operational complexity

A standardized storage model allows organizations to manage multiple locations using the same processes and technologies.

Centralizing File Access

One of the primary goals of storage standardization is ensuring employees can access files efficiently regardless of location.

Businesses should focus on:

Consistent folder structures
Centralized user authentication
Secure file sharing
Role-based permissions
Version control

This approach improves collaboration while maintaining proper security controls.

Establishing Consistent Backup Policies

Multi-site environments often suffer from inconsistent backup practices.

A standardized strategy should include:

Automated backups
Defined retention policies
Recovery testing
Offsite replication
Business continuity planning

When all locations follow the same protection standards, organizations reduce recovery risks and improve resilience.

Improving Security Across Locations

Security policies should remain consistent regardless of office location.

Organizations should implement:

Centralized access management
Multi-factor authentication
Audit logging
Permission controls
Security monitoring

Standardization helps ensure every location follows the same security framework.

Leveraging Synology for Multi-Site Storage

Synology provides an effective platform for organizations seeking to standardize storage across multiple offices.

Synology solutions support:

Centralized storage management
Site-to-site replication
Unified backup policies
Secure file synchronization
Snapshot protection
User access management

Using a common Synology platform allows businesses to deploy consistent storage architectures across all locations while simplifying administration.

Simplifying Data Replication

Data replication plays a critical role in multi-site environments.

Organizations can replicate important data between offices to:

Improve availability
Support disaster recovery
Reduce downtime
Maintain data consistency

Automated replication ensures business-critical information remains available even if one location experiences an outage.

Supporting Business Growth

As companies add new locations, storage standardization becomes even more valuable.

A consistent infrastructure model makes it easier to:

Deploy new offices
Onboard employees
Implement security policies
Expand storage capacity
Manage backups

This scalability supports long-term business growth without significantly increasing administrative complexity.

Monitoring and Capacity Planning

Visibility is essential in a multi-site environment.

Organizations should regularly monitor:

Storage consumption
Backup performance
Replication status
Capacity trends
System health

Proactive monitoring helps prevent issues before they affect operations.

Disaster Recovery Considerations

A standardized storage strategy should also support disaster recovery objectives.

Businesses should establish:

Recovery Time Objectives (RTO)
Recovery Point Objectives (RPO)
Replication schedules
Backup retention policies
Recovery testing procedures

These measures ensure data remains recoverable regardless of where an incident occurs.

About Synology Solutions

Synology offers scalable NAS platforms designed for businesses of all sizes. Through centralized management, secure replication, backup automation, and collaboration tools, Synology helps organizations simplify storage management across multiple locations. Its flexible architecture allows businesses to maintain consistency while supporting future growth and evolving data protection requirements.

About Epis Technology

Epis Technology helps organizations design, deploy, and support multi-site storage infrastructures through Synology consulting, enterprise storage solutions, backup automation, disaster recovery planning, and business continuity services. The company specializes in Synology deployments, Microsoft 365 backups, cloud data protection, fully managed PC backups, and infrastructure modernization.

By helping businesses standardize storage environments across multiple locations, Epis Technology enables greater operational efficiency, stronger security, and improved long-term scalability.

GPU Workstations + Synology NAS Workflow

Synology Servers

Modern creative, AI, engineering, and virtualization environments require far more than standalone high-performance workstations. As projects grow larger and teams become more collaborative, businesses need centralized storage, scalable backups, and high-speed data access to fully support GPU-intensive workloads.

This is why many organizations combine powerful GPU workstations with Synology NAS infrastructure. Together, GPU processing and centralized NAS storage create a workflow environment optimized for rendering, AI processing, media production, analytics, and enterprise collaboration.

Why GPU Workstations Need Centralized Storage

GPU workstations process large amounts of data continuously.

Common GPU Workloads Include:

3D rendering
AI and machine learning
Video editing and transcoding
CAD and engineering design
VFX and animation
Virtualized desktop workloads

These workflows quickly generate massive datasets that become difficult to manage locally on individual systems.

The Role of Synology NAS in GPU Workflows

Synology NAS systems help centralize storage and improve workflow efficiency.

NAS Benefits Include:

Shared project storage
Centralized asset management
Faster collaboration
Automated backups
Scalable storage expansion

This allows GPU workstations to focus on compute-intensive processing while NAS systems manage data organization and protection.

Faster Collaboration Across Teams

Creative and AI workflows often involve multiple users working simultaneously.

Synology NAS Helps Support:

Shared project folders
Multi-user access control
Version management
Remote collaboration

Centralized storage reduces file duplication and workflow confusion.

High-Speed Asset Access

GPU workloads depend heavily on fast data access.

NAS Systems Store:

Video footage
3D assets
AI datasets
Texture libraries
Simulation files
Render outputs

High-performance NAS infrastructure helps ensure workstations receive data quickly and consistently.

Why All-Flash NAS Improves GPU Workflows

Many advanced GPU environments use SSD or all-flash NAS systems.

Benefits Include:

Lower storage latency
Faster file transfers
Better multi-user responsiveness
Reduced rendering bottlenecks

All-flash storage is especially valuable for rendering and AI environments with heavy parallel workloads.

Importance of High-Speed Networking

Storage performance depends heavily on network infrastructure.

GPU Workflow Environments Often Use:

10GbE networking
25GbE or faster enterprise networking
Low-latency switches
Optimized storage traffic management

Without fast networking, even powerful GPU systems can become bottlenecked.

AI and Machine Learning Workflows

AI environments generate and process enormous amounts of data.

Synology NAS Supports:

AI dataset storage
Centralized model repositories
Backup automation
Shared training environments

Scalable storage becomes increasingly important as AI operations expand.

Backup Protection for GPU Projects

Rendering and AI projects often represent weeks or months of work.

Important Backup Features Include:

Snapshot Replication
Automated backups
Cloud synchronization
Version history protection
Disaster recovery planning

Reliable backups reduce operational risk significantly.

Remote and Hybrid Workflows

Many teams now work across multiple locations.

Synology NAS Helps Enable:

Secure remote file access
Hybrid collaboration workflows
Shared cloud synchronization
Centralized project management

This improves flexibility for distributed creative and AI teams.

GPU Workstations and Virtualization

Some businesses combine GPU workstations with virtualized environments.

Benefits Include:

Shared compute resources
Centralized infrastructure management
Remote GPU workstation access
Scalable AI environments

NAS infrastructure helps support these virtualized workflows efficiently.

Scalability for Growing Environments

Creative and AI workloads continue growing rapidly.

Synology NAS Supports:

Expansion units
Hybrid cloud integration
Large storage pools
Multi-user scaling

This allows businesses to expand storage without redesigning infrastructure completely.

Security and Access Management

GPU workflow environments often contain sensitive intellectual property and large operational datasets.

Businesses Should Implement:

Access controls
Multi-factor authentication
Backup encryption
Snapshot protection
Audit logging

Security becomes increasingly important in collaborative environments.

GPU Performance Depends on Workflow Infrastructure

Many businesses invest heavily in powerful GPU hardware while overlooking storage infrastructure. In reality, rendering speed, AI processing efficiency, collaboration performance, and operational scalability depend heavily on centralized storage, fast networking, and reliable backup systems. Balanced infrastructure design is critical for maximizing GPU workstation performance.

How Epis Technology Helps Build GPU + NAS Workflow Environments

Epis Technology helps businesses design GPU-optimized Synology NAS environments for rendering, AI processing, virtualization, and collaborative production workflows. By combining scalable storage infrastructure with high-speed networking and backup protection, Epis Technology helps organizations improve operational efficiency and workflow performance.

The company provides services including Synology consulting, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace backups, large storage solutions, and fully managed PC backups. Epis Technology also assists with disaster recovery planning, AI infrastructure design, and enterprise storage optimization.

About Epis Technology

Epis Technology provides enterprise IT infrastructure, Synology consulting, and data protection solutions for organizations of all sizes. The company specializes in scalable storage systems, resilient backup environments, and high-performance operational infrastructure. Through expert implementation and ongoing support, Epis Technology helps businesses secure, manage, and recover their critical data while improving productivity and operational efficiency.

High VRAM GPUs for Enterprise Virtualization

Synology Servers

Enterprise virtualization environments are becoming increasingly demanding as businesses expand AI processing, virtual desktops, rendering workloads, analytics, and GPU-accelerated applications. Traditional CPU-based virtualization is no longer sufficient for many modern workloads, especially when multiple users or applications require intensive graphics and parallel processing capabilities.

High VRAM GPUs are now playing a critical role in enterprise virtualization infrastructure by improving performance, scalability, and workload density. Organizations using Synology storage environments often integrate GPU-enabled virtualization platforms with high-performance NAS infrastructure to support demanding enterprise operations.

Why Enterprise Virtualization Needs GPUs

Virtualized environments are no longer limited to basic office applications.

Modern Virtualization Workloads Include:

AI and machine learning
Virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI)
GPU rendering
Engineering simulations
Video analytics
3D design and modeling

These workloads require far more graphics memory and compute power than traditional virtual machines.

What Is VRAM?

VRAM (Video Random Access Memory) is dedicated memory used by GPUs to process graphics, rendering, AI datasets, and visual workloads.

High VRAM Benefits Include:

Larger workload handling
Better multi-user support
Improved rendering performance
Faster AI processing
Higher-resolution virtualization support

Enterprise environments often require significantly more VRAM than standard desktop workloads.

Why High VRAM Matters in Virtualization

Virtualized workloads share GPU resources across multiple users or applications.

Higher VRAM Capacity Helps Support:

More simultaneous virtual desktops
Larger AI models
Multiple rendering sessions
High-resolution displays
GPU partitioning and sharing

Without sufficient VRAM, performance bottlenecks appear quickly.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) Performance

VDI environments are one of the biggest drivers of enterprise GPU adoption.

High VRAM Improves:

Multi-user responsiveness
Remote workstation performance
CAD and design applications
Video editing virtualization
AI-assisted desktop workflows

This helps organizations deliver workstation-class performance remotely.

AI and Machine Learning Workloads

AI virtualization environments require substantial GPU memory resources.

High VRAM Supports:

Larger AI datasets
Faster model processing
Multi-user AI inference
GPU-accelerated analytics

As AI adoption grows, VRAM requirements continue increasing rapidly.

GPU Rendering and Media Workloads

Rendering and media production environments rely heavily on GPU resources.

High VRAM Benefits Include:

Faster rendering performance
Larger project handling
Better real-time editing responsiveness
Improved rendering stability

Media workflows often process extremely large files and textures.

GPU Virtualization and Resource Sharing

Enterprise GPUs support virtualization technologies that allow GPU resources to be shared securely across multiple users.

Benefits Include:

Better infrastructure efficiency
Centralized compute management
Reduced hardware duplication
Scalable virtual workstation deployment

This improves operational flexibility and resource utilization.

Storage Infrastructure Still Matters

GPU performance alone cannot solve infrastructure bottlenecks.

Enterprise Virtualization Also Requires:

High-speed NAS storage
SSD or all-flash arrays
Fast networking infrastructure
Reliable backup systems
Low-latency storage access

Balanced infrastructure design is essential for stable virtualization performance.

Why Synology NAS Works Well with GPU Virtualization

Synology NAS platforms help support enterprise virtualization environments through:

Centralized shared storage
High-capacity SSD arrays
Snapshot protection
Backup automation
Hybrid cloud integration

This creates a scalable foundation for GPU-enabled enterprise workloads.

Power and Cooling Requirements

High VRAM GPUs require careful infrastructure planning.

Businesses Must Consider:

Rack power availability
Cooling capacity
UPS protection
Thermal monitoring

Enterprise GPU deployments can significantly increase infrastructure demands.

Security and Backup Considerations

Virtualized GPU environments often contain critical business data.

Important Protection Areas Include:

Virtual machine backups
AI dataset protection
Snapshot recovery
Disaster recovery planning
Access control management

Operational continuity remains critical in enterprise environments.

Scalability for Future Workloads

Enterprise virtualization environments continue evolving rapidly.

Businesses Should Plan For:

AI expansion
Increased VDI adoption
Larger datasets
Multi-site collaboration
Hybrid cloud integration

Scalable infrastructure helps reduce future migration costs.

VRAM Is Becoming a Critical Enterprise Resource

Many businesses still focus primarily on GPU processing power while overlooking VRAM capacity. However, enterprise virtualization, AI processing, rendering, and multi-user environments increasingly depend on large memory pools to maintain stable performance. In many modern workloads, VRAM limitations become bottlenecks before raw GPU compute power does.

How Epis Technology Helps Build GPU-Optimized Virtualization Environments

Epis Technology helps organizations design high-performance virtualization environments optimized for GPU acceleration, AI workloads, VDI, and rendering operations. By combining scalable Synology infrastructure with enterprise storage, backup systems, and performance optimization, Epis Technology helps businesses improve operational efficiency and virtualization scalability.

The company provides services including Synology consulting, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace backups, large storage solutions, and fully managed PC backups. Epis Technology also assists with disaster recovery planning, hybrid infrastructure design, and enterprise performance optimization.

About Epis Technology

NAS Storage for GPU Rendering Workflows

Synology Servers

Modern rendering workflows generate massive amounts of data and require extremely fast access to assets, project files, textures, and rendered outputs. Whether working in animation, architecture, AI visualization, engineering, or video production, GPU rendering environments depend heavily on storage infrastructure that can keep up with demanding compute workloads.

Organizations using Synology environments increasingly rely on high-performance NAS storage systems to support GPU rendering workflows, collaborative production pipelines, and scalable data management.

Why GPU Rendering Workloads Need High-Performance Storage

GPU rendering systems process large datasets continuously.

Common Rendering Workloads Include:

3D animation rendering
Video production and editing
AI-assisted rendering
Architectural visualization
Engineering simulations
VFX and compositing workflows

These environments require fast and reliable storage to avoid performance bottlenecks.

The Relationship Between GPUs and Storage

Even powerful GPUs can become limited by slow storage infrastructure. Understand how GPU acceleration improves NAS workloads

Storage Bottlenecks May Cause:

Delayed asset loading
Slow rendering preparation
Lag during collaboration
Longer export times
Reduced workflow efficiency

High-performance storage ensures GPUs receive data quickly and consistently.

Benefits of NAS Storage for Rendering Workflows

NAS platforms provide centralized and scalable storage environments for creative and AI-driven workloads.

Major Advantages Include:

Shared asset access
Centralized project storage
High-speed collaboration
Simplified backup management
Remote accessibility

This improves workflow organization and operational efficiency.

Faster Asset Access for Creative Teams

Rendering projects often involve extremely large files.

NAS Storage Helps Teams Access:

Texture libraries
Video footage
3D models
Render caches
AI-generated assets

Centralized high-speed storage reduces duplication and workflow delays.

Collaboration Across Multiple Workstations

Creative teams frequently work across multiple devices and departments.

NAS Systems Improve:

Shared project collaboration
Multi-user editing access
Asset synchronization
Version management

This is especially important for distributed and hybrid creative environments. See how GPU workstations integrate with Synology NAS workflows

All-Flash NAS for Rendering Performance

Many rendering environments now use all-flash NAS systems.

SSD-Based NAS Benefits Include:

Lower latency
Faster file transfers
Improved cache performance
Better multi-user responsiveness

All-flash systems help maintain performance during heavy rendering activity.

GPU Rendering and High-Speed Networking

Storage performance also depends heavily on network speed.

Rendering Environments Often Require:

10GbE or faster networking
Low-latency connectivity
High-throughput file transfers
Optimized network architecture

Fast networking prevents storage infrastructure from slowing GPU workloads. Understand how high VRAM GPUs support demanding workloads

Backup Protection for Rendering Projects

Rendering environments often contain highly valuable production assets.

Important Backup Components Include:

Project file backups
Snapshot protection
Version history retention
Off-site replication
Cloud backup integration

Data protection is critical because rendering projects may represent weeks or months of work.

NAS Storage for AI-Assisted Rendering

AI-assisted rendering and generative workflows are becoming more common.

AI Workflows Generate:

Large training datasets
High-resolution outputs
Temporary processing caches
Collaborative AI project repositories

Scalable NAS storage helps support growing AI-related rendering demands. Explore the best GPUs for AI-driven storage environments

Scalability for Expanding Production Workflows

Rendering environments typically grow over time.

NAS Infrastructure Supports:

Storage expansion units
Larger SSD pools
Multi-user scaling
Hybrid cloud integration

This helps businesses expand without rebuilding infrastructure entirely. Explore scalable NAS storage solutions for growing workloads

Remote Access for Distributed Creative Teams

Modern production teams often work remotely.

NAS Platforms Help Enable:

Secure remote file access
Shared rendering asset libraries
Cloud synchronization
Centralized project management

Remote collaboration has become increasingly important for creative operations.

Reliability and Workflow Continuity

Downtime in rendering environments can delay production schedules significantly.

Reliable NAS Infrastructure Helps Provide:

Redundant storage protection
Snapshot recovery
Faster project restoration
Improved operational continuity

Stable infrastructure improves project delivery consistency.

GPU Rendering Depends on Balanced Infrastructure

Many organizations invest heavily in GPUs while underestimating the importance of storage performance. In reality, rendering efficiency depends on the entire infrastructure stack, including storage speed, network throughput, backup protection, and collaborative workflow design. Balanced infrastructure planning is critical for maximizing rendering performance.

How Epis Technology Helps Build Rendering Storage Infrastructure

Epis Technology helps businesses design high-performance NAS environments optimized for GPU rendering workflows, AI-assisted production, and creative collaboration. By combining scalable Synology infrastructure with high-speed storage, backup systems, and network optimization, Epis Technology helps organizations improve rendering efficiency and operational resilience.

The company provides services including Synology consulting, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace backups, large storage solutions, and fully managed PC backups. Epis Technology also assists with disaster recovery planning, hybrid infrastructure design, and enterprise storage optimization.

About Epis Technology

GPU Acceleration for NAS Workloads Explained

Synology Servers

As modern workloads become more demanding, businesses are increasingly looking beyond traditional CPU-based processing to improve storage performance and operational efficiency. GPU acceleration is now playing a growing role in NAS environments, especially for AI processing, video analytics, virtualization, media rendering, and data-intensive applications.

Platforms from Synology and other enterprise storage vendors are increasingly being integrated into GPU-enabled environments to support modern business workloads requiring higher processing power and lower latency.

What Is GPU Acceleration?

GPU acceleration uses graphics processing units (GPUs) to handle computational workloads that would otherwise rely entirely on CPUs.

GPUs Are Designed For:

Parallel processing
High-volume calculations
AI and machine learning tasks
Video rendering and transcoding
Data analytics

This allows workloads to process large amounts of data far more efficiently.

Why NAS Workloads Are Becoming More Demanding

Traditional NAS systems primarily handled file sharing and backups. Modern environments now support far more complex operations.

Common Advanced NAS Workloads Include:

AI processing
Video surveillance analytics
Virtual machines
Media streaming and transcoding
Large-scale backups
Collaborative content editing

These workloads place much heavier demands on compute and storage infrastructure.

AI and Machine Learning Workloads

One of the biggest drivers for GPU acceleration is AI adoption.

GPU-Accelerated NAS Benefits Include:

Faster AI model processing
Improved inference performance
Real-time analytics support
Reduced CPU bottlenecks

Businesses using AI-assisted workflows often require high-speed storage and processing simultaneously.

Video Surveillance and Analytics

Modern surveillance systems increasingly rely on AI-powered analytics.

GPU Acceleration Helps Support:

Facial recognition
Object detection
Motion analytics
Real-time video processing

This is especially important for enterprise surveillance environments handling large camera deployments.

Media Transcoding and Content Creation

Video editing and media workflows are highly resource intensive.

GPU Benefits Include:

Faster rendering
Improved transcoding performance
Smoother multi-user collaboration
Reduced export times

Content teams benefit significantly from accelerated media processing.

Virtualization Performance Improvements

Virtualized environments often compete for processing resources.

GPU Acceleration Can Improve:

Virtual desktop performance
Rendering-intensive applications
Multi-user responsiveness
AI-enabled virtual workloads

This helps maintain stable performance under heavier usage.

Faster Data Analytics

Businesses increasingly rely on real-time analytics and large dataset processing.

GPU Acceleration Supports:

Faster indexing
Large-scale calculations
Data visualization workloads
AI-assisted reporting systems

This improves operational responsiveness and decision-making.

CPU Offloading and Resource Efficiency

One major advantage of GPUs is workload distribution.

Benefits Include:

Reduced CPU overload
Better multitasking performance
Improved infrastructure efficiency

This allows NAS systems to support more demanding environments simultaneously.

Storage Speed Still Matters

GPU acceleration alone cannot solve storage bottlenecks.

High-Performance NAS Infrastructure Is Still Required:

SSD or all-flash storage
High-speed networking
Fast RAID configurations
Low-latency storage architecture

Balanced infrastructure design is essential for optimal performance.

Power and Cooling Considerations

GPU-enabled environments require more resources.

Businesses Should Plan For:

Increased power consumption
Additional cooling requirements
Rack space considerations
Thermal monitoring

Infrastructure planning becomes more important as performance demands increase.

GPU Acceleration and Hybrid AI Infrastructure

Many organizations now combine:

NAS storage
GPU compute environments
Cloud AI services
Hybrid backup platforms

This creates flexible infrastructure for AI-assisted business operations.

Security and Data Protection

GPU-enabled workloads still require strong backup and security strategies.

Businesses Should Protect:

AI datasets
Surveillance footage
Analytics environments
Media production assets

Backup architecture remains critical for operational continuity.

GPU Acceleration Is Expanding Beyond Graphics Workloads

GPUs are no longer used only for graphics rendering. They are now becoming critical infrastructure components for AI processing, analytics, surveillance, virtualization, and business automation. As workloads continue evolving, GPU acceleration is increasingly becoming part of broader enterprise storage and infrastructure strategies.

How Epis Technology Helps Build GPU-Optimized NAS Environments

Epis Technology helps businesses design high-performance NAS environments optimized for GPU-accelerated workloads, including AI, analytics, surveillance, and virtualization. By combining scalable Synology infrastructure with optimized storage, backup systems, and performance planning, Epis Technology helps organizations improve operational efficiency and scalability.

The company provides services including Synology consulting, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace backups, large storage solutions, and fully managed PC backups. Epis Technology also assists with disaster recovery planning, hybrid infrastructure design, and enterprise performance optimization.

About Epis Technology

Is DS720+ Good for Plex Media Server Use?

Synology Servers

The Synology DS720+ is one of the most popular NAS devices for home media setups. But when it comes to running a Plex Media Server, many users wonder whether it can handle modern streaming demands.

The short answer, yes, but with some limitations depending on how you use it.

Why DS720+ Is Popular for Plex

The DS720+ strikes a balance between performance and affordability, making it a strong choice for media enthusiasts.

Key Advantages

Intel CPU with hardware acceleration support
Expandable RAM for better multitasking
NVMe caching for improved performance
Reliable Synology DSM ecosystem

These features make it capable of handling most Plex workloads for home and small office use.

Plex Performance on DS720+

Direct Play Performance

The DS720+ performs very well when streaming content without transcoding.

Smooth playback of 1080p content
Handles multiple direct streams easily
Minimal CPU usage

If your devices support the original file format, performance is excellent.

Transcoding Capabilities

Transcoding is where performance becomes more limited.

Supports hardware transcoding (with Plex Pass)
Can handle 1–2 simultaneous 1080p transcodes
Struggles with multiple high-bitrate or 4K transcodes

For users who rely heavily on transcoding, this is an important limitation.

4K Streaming Considerations

Direct Play 4K

Works well if the client supports the format
Minimal strain on the NAS

4K Transcoding

Not recommended on DS720+
High CPU usage
Possible buffering and playback issues

For heavy 4K transcoding, a more powerful NAS or dedicated server is better.

Storage and Media Management

The DS720+ offers flexible storage options for Plex libraries:

RAID 1 for data protection
Expansion unit support
SSD caching for faster indexing

While it only has two drive bays, it is sufficient for small to medium media libraries.

Network Performance

Network setup plays a major role in Plex performance.

Recommendations

Use Gigabit Ethernet or higher
Avoid Wi-Fi for large media files
Ensure stable bandwidth for remote streaming

Even a capable NAS can struggle on a weak network.

Real-World Use Cases

Ideal Scenarios

Home media server
Streaming to TVs, phones, and tablets
Small household with a few users
Mostly direct play streaming

Not Ideal For

Large multi-user environments
Heavy transcoding workloads
Multiple simultaneous 4K streams

Performance Optimization Tips

To get the best results from DS720+ with Plex:

Enable hardware transcoding (Plex Pass required)
Optimize media formats for direct play
Upgrade RAM for better multitasking
Use wired network connections
Limit background tasks during streaming

These adjustments can significantly improve performance.

Direct Play Is the Key to Performance

The DS720+ performs best when transcoding is minimized. By using compatible file formats and client devices, users can rely on direct play, which reduces CPU usage and ensures smooth streaming. Optimizing your media library for direct playback is often more effective than upgrading hardware.

How Epis Technology Optimizes Plex NAS Setups

Epis Technology helps users build and optimize Plex media server environments on Synology NAS systems. By tuning storage, network, and application settings, Epis Technology ensures smooth streaming and efficient performance.

The company provides services including large storage solutions, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace backups, fully managed PC backups, and Synology consulting and support. Epis Technology also assists with media optimization, remote access configuration, and system scaling.

About Epis Technology

Epis Technology provides enterprise IT infrastructure, Synology consulting, and data protection solutions for organizations of all sizes. The company specializes in NAS deployments, storage optimization, and media server setups. Through expert design, implementation, and ongoing support, Epis Technology helps users achieve reliable, high-performance streaming environments.

DS725+ vs DS425+: Performance vs Storage Explained

Synology Servers

Choosing between the Synology DS725+ and the Synology DS425+ comes down to a simple question, do you need higher performance or more storage capacity?

Both models from Synology are designed for small businesses and advanced users, but they serve different priorities.

Core Difference at a Glance

DS725+ → Focused on performance and expansion
DS425+ → Focused on storage capacity and flexibility

Understanding this distinction helps narrow down your decision quickly.

Hardware and Performance Comparison

DS725+: Performance-Oriented Design

More powerful CPU
Better suited for multitasking
Ideal for applications and virtualization

This model is optimized for users who need speed and responsiveness.

DS425+: Storage-Focused Design

More drive bays (4 vs 2)
Greater raw storage capacity
Better for large data storage

It prioritizes capacity over raw processing power.

Storage Capacity and Flexibility

DS725+

Limited to 2 drives (expandable via expansion unit)
Suitable for smaller datasets
Can scale with additional hardware

DS425+

Supports 4 drives out of the box
Higher total storage capacity
More flexible RAID configurations

If storage is your main concern, DS425+ is the better option.

Performance in Real-World Use

DS725+

Best for:

Virtual machines
Database applications
Multi-user workloads
High-speed file access

DS425+

Best for:

File storage and sharing
Backup solutions
Media libraries
Archival data

RAID and Data Protection

DS725+

Supports RAID 0 and RAID 1
Limited redundancy options

DS425+

Supports RAID 5 and RAID 6
Better fault tolerance
More efficient storage utilization

For data protection, DS425+ offers more flexibility.

Scalability Considerations

DS725+

Can expand with external units
Better for gradual growth

DS425+

Immediate storage capacity
Less reliance on expansion

Choose based on how quickly your storage needs will grow.

Cost vs Value

DS725+

Higher performance per device
Additional cost for expansion

DS425+

Better cost per TB
More storage for the price

Budget and workload requirements should guide your decision.

Use Case Comparison

Choose DS725+ If You Need:

High performance
Application hosting
Faster processing

Choose DS425+ If You Need:

Large storage capacity
Better RAID options
Cost-efficient scaling

Performance vs Capacity Trade-Off

This comparison highlights a common trade-off:

DS725+ → Speed and performance
DS425+ → Storage and redundancy

Understanding your primary need is key.

Planning for Future Needs

When deciding between these two models, consider not just your current requirements but also future growth. If you expect rapid increases in data volume, starting with a higher-capacity system like the DS425+ may reduce the need for upgrades. On the other hand, if your focus is on running applications or handling intensive workloads, the DS725+ provides the performance needed to maintain efficiency over time.

Choosing Based on Workflow Priorities

Another key factor in deciding between the Synology DS725+ and the Synology DS425+ is how your daily workflow operates. If your environment relies on fast access to frequently used data, running applications, or handling multiple simultaneous tasks, the performance-focused DS725+ will deliver better responsiveness. However, if your priority is storing large volumes of files, maintaining redundancy, and minimizing storage costs over time, the DS425+ provides a more practical and scalable solution for long-term data management.

How Epis Technology Helps You Choose the Right NAS

Epis Technology helps businesses evaluate DS725+ vs DS425+ based on real workload requirements and growth plans. By analyzing infrastructure needs, Epis Technology ensures the right balance between performance and storage.

About Epis Technology

Epis Technology provides enterprise IT infrastructure, Synology consulting, and data protection solutions for organizations of all sizes. The company specializes in NAS deployments, storage optimization, and scalable IT environments. Through expert design, implementation, and ongoing support, Epis Technology helps businesses achieve efficient, secure, and high-performance infrastructure.