Extend the Life of Your Synology NAS and Save Energy with Automatic Shutdown

November 1, 2023 Matt Mills How to 0

If you own a Synology NAS, you might not be aware of its handy and simple feature – automatic shutdown. This function is integrated into the control panel of most Synology NAS models, except for a few, and it can help you prolong the life of your NAS while conserving energy. In this article, we’ll guide you on how to activate this feature.

synology nas

How to Set Up Automatic Shutdown on Your Synology NAS

  1. Access Your NAS: Start by accessing your NAS in your preferred way, even remotely using QuickConnect. Once you’re inside, look for the Control Panel.
  2. Navigate to Hardware and Power: Inside the Control Panel, find the “Hardware and Power” icon to access the relevant menu.
  3. Access Energy Program: Click on “Energy Program” to configure your automatic shutdown settings.
  4. Configure Your Shutdown Schedule: Click “Create” to set up when you want your NAS to automatically shut down or start up. You can specify the days and times according to your preference. Click “OK” to save your settings.

Now, your Synology NAS will follow the schedule you’ve defined, automatically powering down or starting up as needed. You can easily enable or disable these routines as you wish.

Using Drive Hibernation for Energy Savings

Another way to save energy is to put your NAS drives into sleep mode when not in use. This approach helps reduce wear and tear on your NAS and cuts down on power consumption while maintaining quick startup speeds. To enable this feature:

  1. Navigate to Hard Drive Hibernation: In the Control Panel, locate the “Hard Drive Hibernation” tab, which is adjacent to the “Energy Program.”
  2. Set the Idle Time: Select the number of minutes of inactivity before your NAS drives enter hibernation mode. Once the drives are idle for the specified time, they will remain inactive until you access your NAS again.

In addition to automatic shutdown and drive hibernation, there are other energy-saving options you can explore, such as reducing the intensity of LED lights, although this might vary depending on your NAS model.

In summary, if you don’t need your NAS to be active 24/7, these methods can help you extend the lifespan of your equipment and reduce energy consumption. If you have any other energy-saving tips for your Synology NAS, feel free to share them in the comments.