Before using the DS218+ you will need to install a couple of hard drives or SSDs. To begin, remove the trays from the device and fasten the drives to them. If you're using 3.5-inch hard drives, this is a quick and easy process thanks to Synology's tool-less design. However, if you're installing an SSD, you'll need to attach it using the included screws. When you are done, slide the trays back into the slots on the DS218+. You will hear a click when the trays are locked in place.
With the hard drives installed, you can now connect the AC adapter and network cable and turn the DS218+ on. The device's power LED will flash for a few minutes and then will beep and light up a solid blue to indicate that it has started up successfully.
Once the DS218+ is up and running, it will need to be configured. If you have a DHCP server on your network and you know what IP the NAS is using, you can skip the next few steps and connect directly to the web assistant. Otherwise, you'll need to download and install the Synology Assistant utility.
The Assistant utility searches the network looking for Synology NAS devices. When it finds one, it will display its host name, IP address, MAC address, model, firmware version and status. To configure the device, select it from the list and click "Connect." The Assistant utility will then launch your default browser and automatically connect you to the web assistant so that you can go through the setup process.
The web assistant takes you through the process of installing DiskStation Manager (DSM). From here you can specify the server name, create an administrator account and set up QuickConnect. All of these settings can be changed later from within the administrator page.
For whatever reason, the web assistant does not configure the DS218+'s storage. As a result, you will need to login to DiskStation Manager and create at least one volume before it can be used to share files.
Creating a volume on the DS218+ is pretty straight forward. The Volume Creation Wizard gives you two creation methods: Quick and Custom. The Quick option is recommended if you're short on time or you want to simplify your storage management. This option creates an SHR (Synology Hybrid RAID) volume and will automatically optimize capacity and performance based on member hard disks. If you're looking for more precise control of your storage, you'll want to go with the Custom option which lets you choose a RAID level, select a file system and create single or multiple volumes.
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Synology is continuously improving its DiskStation Manager operating system. To take advantage of the latest fixes and features, you will need to update the DS218+'s firmware. This can be done by uploading a firmware image file or through DSM's automatic update feature.
