Configuration Backup

You can set up the system to automatically save configuration files to your Synology Account or manually export them to a local computer. This allows you to save various settings (e.g., users, groups, file service settings) and restore them at a later date. System configurations are backed up and saved in .dss format.

To automatically back up system configurations:

  1. In Automatic Backup, tick Enable automatic DSM configuration backup. If you are not signed in to your Synology Account, a pop-up window appears. Please sign in to your Synology Account to continue.
  2. Choose the encryption mode for the configuration backup file.
  3. Click Apply to apply the settings.
  4. DSM then automatically backs up your configuration files and upload them to your Synology Account whenever any configuration changes are made in Control Panel.

Note:

  • We recommend Self-defined encryption because it requires a user-defined password or encryption key for restoration and offers a higher level of protection.
  • Backup status shows when the last check and last successful backup were completed. For more detailed information, please go to Log Center to view the error status and reasons.
  • Each Synology NAS can only have one backup file saved to Synology Account. There is no versioning provided for the backup files. When the latest successful backup file is uploaded to Synology Account, it overwrites the previous backup file.
  • If a Synology NAS has been reset to factory default, Synology Account considers the device as a new one. The new backup file does not overwrite the former backup file for the same Synology NAS. In this scenario, the Synology NAS which has been reset can have more than 2 backup file versions saved to Synology Account.
  • The backed up file will be deleted from your Synology Account if no file was uploaded in 180 days.

To manually back up system configurations:

  1. In Manual Export, click Export.
  2. A configuration file is downloaded to your computer (with the name [Synology Product Name]_[Created Date].dss).

To restore system configurations:

  1. In Restore DSM Configurations, click Restore.
  2. Choose the source from which to restore your configurations. You can either restore from your Synology Account or from the configuration file stored on your computer.
    • To restore from your Synology Account, select the backup version you would like to restore from the list.

      Note: If you chose Self-defined encryption when you first set up, you are required to enter the password or import the encryption key for the file.

    • To restore from the configuration file on your computer, click Browse and select the file stored on your computer.
  3. Select the configurations you want to restore and then click Apply. You may also tick the Overwrite conflicting settings option to overwrite the current settings for any selection of existing users, groups, shared folders, and services.
  4. A warning appears to inform you that previous settings are restored to the current system. All services are stopped during the operation and resume once completed. Click Yes to continue.
  5. After the restore function completes, a prompt appears. Click OK to finish.

The following settings are backed up:

  • File sharing: Shared Folder, File Services, User & Group, Domain/LDAP
  • Connectivity: External Access, Network, Security, Terminal & SNMP
  • System: Login Portal, Regional Options, Notification, Update & Restore
  • Services: Application Privileges, Index Service, Task Scheduler

Note:

  • Backup Service includes basic service settings but not information about backup tasks.
  • User Home includes basic service settings while excluding the homes shared folder. Please go to Hyper Backup to back up and restore the homes shared folder and its data.
  • Task Scheduler includes tasks which can be created in Task Scheduler while excluding tasks generated by other applications (e.g., Hyper Backup and Storage Analyzer)
  • If the names of the restored users or groups are now reserved for system use only, they are restored as other names.
  • After system configurations are restored, the email recipients at Control Panel > Notification must be verified again.
  • When restoring users or groups configurations, the password of the user who is running the restoration task is not restored to prevent the user from being logged out.
  • If the user running the restoration task was deactivated at the time of the configuration backup, their status is set to enabled when restoring system configurations to prevent the user from being logged out.