Common Problems with Synology DSM Updates and How to Fix Them
Why it’s important to keep your DSM up to date for security and stability
It’s very important to keep your system safe, fast, and compatible by installing Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM) updates. Updates often fix bugs, add new features, and patch security holes to make NAS environments safer and more reliable. But in production environments, DSM updates can sometimes cause problems that weren’t expected if the system isn’t ready for them.
Businesses can reduce downtime and keep their data safe by knowing the most common DSM update problems and how to fix them.
Problem 1: The DSM update won’t install or fails to do so
- The update process stops in the middle of installation
- DSM says the update failed or timed out
- NAS is still using the old version of DSM
- Causes that happen a lot
- Not enough free space on the system volume
- Package for updating is broken
- Problems with the network while downloading
How to Fix It
- Check to see if the system partition has enough free space.
- Restart the NAS and try the update again by hand.
- Get the right DSM update file from Synology and then update it manually through DSM.
- Make sure the wired network stays connected during the update.
Manual updates often fix problems that happen when downloads are interrupted or packages don’t match.
Problem 2: Services Won’t Start After DSM Update Symptoms
Package Center shows services that are stopped or not available.
Common Reasons
- Package versions that don’t work together
- Old third-party apps
- Changes to DSM permissions after updates
How to Fix It
Update all the packages you have installed from Package Center.
- Restart each service that is affected one at a time.
- Check the roles of users and the permissions of services
- If you need to, reinstall the packages that are causing problems.
- To keep working with DSM, you often need to update your packages.
Problem 3: Performance Gets Worse After Update
- File transfers take longer
- More use of the CPU or memory
- Backup jobs that are late
- Reasons that happen often
- Reindexing the background or updating the database
The update caused snapshot or file system checks to happen.
Running package optimization processes after the update
How to Fix It
- Give background tasks time to finish
- Use Resource Monitor to keep an eye on system resources
- Move heavy tasks like backups to times when you aren’t busy
- Check to make sure that no services are stuck in loops while reindexing
Once background maintenance is done, performance problems usually go away on their own.
Problem 4: Problems with connecting to the network Symptoms
- NAS can’t be reached on the network
- IP address changes without warning
- Link aggregation stops working
Common Reasons
- After an update, reset your network settings
- Updates to drivers that change how NIC works
- VLAN or bonding settings not reapplied
How to Fix It
You can get to the NAS either locally or through Synology Assistant.
- Reapply the network and static IP settings
- Check to see if the switch can handle link aggregation
- Reboot the NAS or restart network services
Backing up network settings before updates makes recovery faster.
Problem 5: Errors with user access and permissions Symptoms
- Users can’t get to shared folders
- Applications say they don’t have permission to do what they want
- Problems with integrating Active Directory or LDAP
Things that happen a lot
- Changes to the permission schema
- Restarts of the authentication service
- Delays in directory service sync
How to Fix It
- Check the permissions for the shared folder and the user again
- Reconnect to directory services
- Restart services that have to do with authentication
- Check access with local admin accounts
Updates that add security features often cause problems with permissions.
Problem 6: After an update, backup or replication jobs fail
- Scheduled backups stop or fail
- Errors in snapshot replication
- Problems with syncing cloud backups
Common Reasons
- Problems with backup application compatibility
- Changes to the API or authentication
- Changes to the network or permissions
How to Fix It
- Make sure backup packages are up to date with the latest versions
- Reconfirm cloud backup targets
- Do test backups by hand
- Look at the logs to see detailed error messages
It is a good idea to check backup workflows after every DSM update.
Things to Do Before Updating DSM
To make sure that updates don’t cause too many problems, businesses should:
- Check the release notes for any changes that could break things
- Make copies of important data and NAS settings
- Before upgrading DSM, make sure all of your installed packages are up to date
- Plan updates for times when maintenance is going on
- If you can, test updates on systems that aren’t in use
- Planning ahead greatly lowers risk
When to Get Help from a Professional
If problems keep happening after regular troubleshooting, getting help from a professional can keep downtime and data loss to a minimum. Expert help is often needed in complicated settings with more than one NAS system, cloud backups, or directory integrations.
About Epis Technology
Epis Technology helps businesses keep their NAS environments stable and safe by providing enterprise IT infrastructure, data protection, and Synology consulting services. The business focuses on helping people with Synology, updating their systems, checking their backups, and making their systems run faster. Epis Technology makes sure that Synology NAS systems stay reliable, safe, and ready for the future by handling DSM upgrades, keeping an eye on system health, and making sure that updates are in line with business continuity plans.