Is Synology Drive the BEST Application Synology Makes? (Advanced Setup)

Summary

The video script is a comprehensive guide on optimizing Synology Drive for personal and business use. It emphasizes the importance of using Synology Drive over SMB for accessing data, highlighting features like versioning and on-demand sync for data protection and efficiency. The script details setting up the Synology Drive server, configuring client syncing, and accessing data locally and remotely. It also covers advanced features like remote data wipe, restricting downloads, and watermarking. The narrator shares personal use cases, advocating for Synology Drive as a complete private cloud solution for data management.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker is an avid user of Synology Drive and uses it differently from most, accessing data primarily through direct device access, the web app, or mobile app rather than SMB.
• 🔄 The speaker emphasizes that not all data is accessible in Synology Drive, but the data that is regularly accessed, like documents and working files, is protected with versioning to prevent data loss.
• 🛠️ The video aims to provide a comprehensive guide on setting up and optimizing Synology Drive with features like client syncing, on-demand sync, a web portal, versioning, backups, and advanced features for a complete private cloud solution.
• 🚫 A key point is made about the potential performance issues and lack of versioning when editing files directly on the NAS through SMB or a network drive.
• 📁 The 'My Drive' folder is for private user data, and 'Team Folders' are for collaboration, with permissions respected and configurable version settings.
• 🔧 The admin console in Synology DSM is central for managing Synology Drive, allowing admins to oversee clients, shared folders, and configure settings like version retention.
• 🌐 Accessing Synology Drive can be done through the web, mobile, or desktop application, each offering different methods and benefits for data access and management.
• 🔗 On-demand sync is a powerful feature that allows users to store a reference to files on the NAS rather than the entire file, downloading only when needed to save local storage space.
• 💾 The importance of configuring snapshots and backups is highlighted for data integrity and security, with the ability to set different frequencies based on the importance and type of data.
• 🔒 Advanced features of Synology Drive include remote device wipe, restricting downloads, and watermarking files, providing additional control over data access and security.
• 🌐 For remote access, Quick Connect is the easiest method, but a VPN provides the most secure and comprehensive access to Synology Drive and other NAS services.

Q & A

What is the primary way the speaker uses Synology Drive?

The speaker primarily uses Synology Drive to access 99% of their regularly used data on their Synology NAS, either through on-demand sync, the web or mobile application, rather than accessing files directly via SMB.

Why does the speaker consider Synology Drive crucial for their data protection?

The speaker considers Synology Drive crucial because it allows for versioning of files, which means that whenever a new version of a file is saved, an older version is preserved. This feature enables rolling back to previous versions in case of data loss within the document.

What are the three main ways to access Synology Drive according to the speaker?

The three main ways to access Synology Drive mentioned by the speaker are through the web application, mobile application, and client application.

What is the difference between 'My Drive' and 'Team Folders' in Synology Drive?

'My Drive' is a private folder accessible only to the user, while 'Team Folders' are designed for collaboration among multiple users with shared access, respecting the permissions of the shared folder.

How does the speaker recommend setting up versioning for files in Synology Drive?

The speaker recommends setting the version retention to the highest limit, so that every time a new version of a file is saved, it is stored, allowing users to browse and restore previous versions if needed.

What are the advantages of using on-demand sync in Synology Drive?

On-demand sync allows users to store a link to a file rather than the file itself, which saves local storage space and ensures that files are only downloaded when needed. It also allows for pinning specific files or folders for real-time syncing.

How does the speaker suggest configuring snapshots and backups for Synology Drive?

The speaker suggests configuring frequent snapshots for folders with rapidly changing data, like video edits, and less frequent snapshots for more stable data. For backups, the speaker uses Hyper Backup to back up data offsite, with different frequencies based on the importance of the data.

What are the advanced features of Synology Drive mentioned by the speaker?

The advanced features mentioned include remote device wipe, restricting downloads for mobile applications, watermarking files, and the ability to manage these features through the Synology Drive admin console.

How does the speaker recommend accessing Synology Drive remotely?

The speaker recommends using either Quick Connect for ease of use or a VPN for the best security and access to all local network resources. Quick Connect works with the mobile app and client, while a VPN allows access to everything on the local network remotely.

What is the speaker's personal setup for using Synology Drive?

The speaker has three main sync tasks for personal documents, work documents, and YouTube videos, each with daily snapshots. The 'My Drive' section is backed up offsite nightly, and the speaker uses the client application to sync data between their devices and the NAS.