Prepare Your NAS for New DSM Releases: Best Practices
Getting Your NAS Ready for Upcoming DSM Software Updates
Keeping your NAS up to date with the latest DSM (DiskStation Manager) releases is essential for security, performance, and long-term reliability. However, DSM updates, especially major releases, can introduce changes that affect hardware compatibility, storage behavior, and system services. For business environments, preparing properly before updating is just as important as the update itself.
This guide explains how to prepare your NAS for the latest DSM software releases, reduce upgrade risks, and ensure a smooth transition without disrupting operations.
Why Preparation Matters Before DSM Updates
DSM updates often include:
Security patches and hardening changes
Storage and RAID behavior improvements
Package updates or deprecations
Compatibility adjustments for drives and hardware
Applying updates without preparation can lead to unexpected warnings, disabled features, or downtime, particularly in production systems that handle critical data.
Step 1: Review Release Notes Carefully
Before installing any DSM update:
Read the official release notes in full.
Identify changes labeled as “important” or “breaking.”
Look for notes about deprecated features or services
Major DSM releases often introduce behavior changes that are not reversible once applied.
Step 2: Verify Hardware and Drive Compatibility
DSM updates increasingly enforce stricter compatibility checks.
What to check
NAS model support for the new DSM version
Installed hard drive compatibility status
Expansion units and PCIe card support
Using unsupported components may not block the update, but it can generate warnings or limit functionality afterward.
Step 3: Update Installed Packages First
Outdated packages are a common cause of post-update issues.
Best practice
Update all installed DSM packages.
Remove unused or deprecated packages.
Confirm package compatibility with the new DSM version
This reduces conflicts when DSM updates core services.
Step 4: Back Up Configuration and Critical Data
Even well-tested updates can fail.
Protect yourself by
Creating a full system configuration backup
Verifying recent data backups
Ensuring off-device or off-site copies exist
Backups ensure recovery options remain available if rollback or rebuild becomes necessary.
Step 5: Check Storage Health and RAID Status
DSM updates rely on stable storage conditions.
Before updating:
Confirm all storage pools are healthy.
Resolve degraded RAID arrays.
Review SMART warnings or pending disk issues
Updating on top of failing storage increases the risk of data corruption.
Step 6: Test Updates on Non-Critical Systems
If possible:
Apply updates to a secondary or test NAS first.
Validate performance, packages, and workflows.
Observe behavior changes
This approach is especially valuable in multi-NAS or enterprise environments.
Step 7: Schedule the Update Strategically
Avoid updating during peak usage periods.
Plan for
Low-activity windows
Adequate downtime buffer
On-site or remote admin availability
Even routine updates can require additional time if system checks are triggered.
Synology-Focused Platform Considerations
Synology designs DSM updates to improve security, stability, and long-term supportability. Each release is tested against supported hardware configurations and validated drive lists to ensure predictable behavior. By aligning DSM updates with compatible components and healthy storage conditions, Synology minimizes upgrade risk while delivering ongoing improvements that keep NAS platforms secure and reliable.
Common DSM Update Mistakes to Avoid
Updating without verified backups
Ignoring drive compatibility warnings
Running updates on degraded storage pools
Skipping release notes
Applying updates during production hours
Avoiding these mistakes dramatically improves upgrade outcomes.
How Epis Technology Helps with DSM Update Planning
Preparing for DSM updates in business environments requires more than clicking “Update.” Epis Technology helps organizations assess readiness by reviewing hardware compatibility, storage health, package dependencies, and backup integrity. The team designs safe upgrade plans, tests updates where needed, and validates post-update performance and security. Epis Technology also supports long-term DSM lifecycle planning, ensuring future updates are predictable and low-risk rather than reactive.
DSM updates are essential, but preparation determines success. By reviewing compatibility, validating storage health, backing up data, and planning updates carefully, organizations can benefit from new DSM features without unnecessary disruption.
With Synology’s structured update process and expert guidance from Epis Technology, businesses can keep their NAS environments secure, stable, and ready for what’s next.
About Epis Technology
Epis Technology provides enterprise IT infrastructure, data protection, and Synology consulting services. The company specializes in scalable NAS deployments, hybrid cloud integration, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace backups, fully managed PC backups, and business continuity planning. Epis Technology helps organizations prepare, protect, and optimize their data environments with confidence.