How to install xpenology dsm in your nas (full manual)

After analyzing the HP MicroServer Proliant Gen8 and telling you all its benefits I bring you a quick guide on how to install XPEnology DSM 5.1 on this server, the Microserver Proliant G7 also works for its predecessor.

What is DSM?

It is Synology's operating system, we are currently at version 5.1, which is loaded with new features both in terms of security, performance and many applications. In this version the interface has also changed, a new kernel has been created, it can be cached SSD on a single disk, among many other improvements. This system integrates the entire series of the brand, but the ideal is to be able to install it on an old PC or a dedicated microserver.

What do we need?

We must have on hand:

• Pendrive, in my case with a 4GB was more than enough. Important: this pendrive will remain connected to the server. Download DSM in its latest version (.pat file). Download XPEnoboot: In this case, download the XPEnoboot_DS3615xs_5.1-5022.1.img. Win32 Disk Imager to record the image on the USB. Synology Assistant: that will allow us to search for the server.

The first thing we are going to do is connect our pendrive in our work computer and install the Win32 Disk Imager application, if we start it we find the following screen:

We must choose the image that we have downloaded: XPEnoboot_DS3615xs_5.1-5022.1.img. Select the unit of the pendrive and press Write. In a few minutes we will have our “skewer” ready to install the DSM operating system. Once ready, we insert it into the back of our server and start the computer. The GRUB will appear and we will choose the third option: Install / Upgrade.

Once started and waiting to insert the password of the root user. We install the Synology Assistant application , start it and we find a window like this:

We simply have to click on the found server and the DSM 5.1 system installation menu will appear. We mark install.

We will press Manual installation (where the red dot appears).

Next we will look for the DSM file with pattern 5.1-xxxx that we have downloaded previously from the link provided above and click to install now.

We click on the warning and click OK.

The installation wizard begins, once completed the computer will restart and run the image already installed. Be careful, we must leave the pendrive in a rear USB port of the equipment always connected so that the system boots. The operating system must start all the processes and it usually takes a few minutes, once we hear a beep we will know that we can already access it via the web.

For this we will use the Synology Assistant application. The default user is "admin" and the password must be left blank.

The welcome wizard will appear, in it we will put the host name, user, password and the configuration of the automatic updates.

Once configured, a screen will appear with all the data offered.

Once these steps are completed, we will have access to our NAS. Although we have not finished yet, we will update to the latest version available (there are currently 5), but all the processes are exactly the same.

By default the application finds new updates, we will click to download and once finished we will click "update now". It will send us the typical message that if we want to update, we will press yes.

The process takes about 10 minutes, everything depends on the power of our hard drive and processor. Once the update is finished it will restart and the line of code will show us a message “updating usersettings.cgi”, this means that it has loaded successfully.

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We will do the necessary checks to see that we have no anomalies and we will start updating all the equipment until the latest version.

In my case I have it with the HP Microserver Gen8 with its 2GB of DDR3 ECC RAM plus a Celeron G1610T and I am very happy with it. Doing accounts and looking at a solution with a closed system can go perfectly in about 400 euros… while this team with its hard drives has cost me less than 300 euros, which also I always have the possibility to update and add Debian, Suse or Windows Server 2012 according to my needs.

Source and images: xpenology.nl