Synology server monthly checklist
System Health Check
- Log in to DSM.
- Navigate to 'Control Panel'.
- Select 'System' and then 'Info Center'.
- Check 'System Uptime' and 'Performance Metrics'.
- Note any anomalies or unexpected downtime.
- Open DSM.
- Look for notifications in the top-right corner.
- Click on the notifications icon.
- Review any alerts or warnings listed.
- Address any critical issues promptly.
- Access 'Resource Monitor' in DSM.
- Check the 'CPU' tab for usage statistics.
- Review the 'Memory' tab for RAM usage.
- Examine 'Disk' tab for Disk I/O details.
- Identify any resource bottlenecks.
- Go to 'Package Center' in DSM.
- Select 'Installed' to view active services.
- Check the status of SMB, FTP, and WebDAV.
- Restart any services that are not running.
- Confirm functionality by testing service connections.
Disk and Storage Management
- Log into Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM).
- Navigate to 'Storage Manager'.
- Select 'HDD/SSD' tab.
- Click on 'S.M.A.R.T. Test'.
- Choose 'Health Info' for each drive.
- Review the status and any errors.
- Access 'Storage Manager' in DSM.
- Open the 'Volume' section.
- Check used and available space.
- Calculate total storage and free space percentage.
- Plan for additional storage if below threshold.
- Go to 'Storage Manager' in DSM.
- Select the 'Storage Pool' section.
- Review RAID type and status.
- Check for any degraded or failed drives.
- Ensure RAID integrity and functionality.
- Open 'Hyper Backup' in DSM.
- Select the backup task to run.
- Verify backup settings and target location.
- Run the backup process.
- Check logs for errors and confirm successful backup.
Security Audit
- Log in to DSM as an administrator.
- Navigate to Control Panel > User & Group.
- Review all user accounts for recent changes.
- Check group permissions and ensure they align with user roles.
- Remove any unauthorized or inactive accounts.
- Log in to DSM.
- Go to Control Panel > Update & Restore.
- Check for DSM updates and install if available.
- Navigate to Package Center.
- Update all installed packages to their latest versions.
- Log in to DSM.
- Go to Control Panel > Security > Firewall.
- Review the list of active rules and ports.
- Disable any unnecessary ports or rules.
- Ensure rules allow traffic only for essential services.
- Log in to DSM.
- Open Package Center and find installed security packages.
- Check for updates for antivirus and security tools.
- Run a manual update if available.
- Schedule regular scans and updates for ongoing protection.
Data Integrity and Backup
- Select a recent backup file.
- Initiate the restore process on a test system.
- Verify that all data is intact and accessible.
- Document any issues encountered during the restore.
- Repeat the process periodically to ensure reliability.
- Check current backup frequency and retention policies.
- Assess whether backup schedules meet data recovery needs.
- Adjust schedules based on data changes and usage patterns.
- Ensure backups do not interfere with peak usage times.
- Communicate any schedule changes to relevant stakeholders.
- Log into the remote backup management interface.
- Verify that all scheduled backups completed successfully.
- Check for any error messages or warnings.
- Perform a test restore from remote backups if possible.
- Document and address any identified issues.
- Review service level agreements (SLAs) with the cloud provider.
- Assess backup speed and restore times.
- Check for data encryption and security measures.
- Monitor costs and compare with alternatives.
- Gather user feedback on performance and reliability.
Network and Connectivity
- Access the Synology Control Panel.
- Navigate to 'Network' settings.
- Verify IP address, subnet mask, and gateway.
- Check DNS settings for correctness.
- Ensure the correct network interface is selected.
- Open Resource Monitor from the Synology interface.
- Select the 'Network' tab.
- Review bandwidth usage statistics.
- Identify peak usage times and devices.
- Consider upgrading bandwidth if consistently high.
- Access the Log Center in the Synology interface.
- Filter logs for network-related entries.
- Look for errors or warnings.
- Document any suspicious activity.
- Investigate further if anomalies are found.
- Connect to the Synology server remotely.
- Verify access to shared folders and applications.
- Check for latency or disconnections.
- Test using different devices and networks.
- Adjust settings if issues are detected.
Application and Service Management
- Log in to Synology DSM.
- Navigate to 'Package Center'.
- Check the status indicators for critical applications.
- Identify any applications that are not running or have issues.
- Take note of any required actions.
- Access 'Package Center'.
- Select 'Installed' to view third-party applications.
- Check for available updates for each application.
- Update applications as needed.
- Verify that each application is functioning post-update.
- Visit the Synology website to check DSM version details.
- Review the compatibility list for installed applications.
- Identify any applications that are not compatible.
- Plan for updates or replacements for incompatible applications.
- Document findings for future reference.
- Open a text editor or documentation tool.
- Record the date and description of changes made.
- Include details about updated applications and services.
- Save the document in a secure location.
- Ensure accessibility for future reference.
Use in Manifestly