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A Synology NAS can do more than store files: it can monitor a USB-connected UPS, serve some USB printers, and share information with home-automation software. The examples below are documented capabilities, not claims about a particular person’s setup. Support depends on the NAS model, DSM version, and connected device.
1. A USB UPS for backup power monitoring
Connect a compatible UPS directly to a USB port on the NAS. In DSM 7, enable UPS support, select USB UPS, and configure when the NAS should enter Standby Mode during a power failure. Synology says the NAS enters Standby Mode if the UPS battery is low, regardless of the configured threshold.
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Shutdown behavior varies by UPS. Synology cautions that “Some UPS devices do not support shutting down by DSM,” so test the expected behavior before relying on the setup. Check the compatibility list for your exact NAS model before choosing a UPS.
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Synology documentation describes using a NAS as a print server for USB and network printers. The detailed instructions available here are for DSM 6, so they do not establish that every printer, NAS, or current DSM release supports the same features. Confirm compatibility for your specific equipment before buying or configuring a printer.
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For a USB printer, connect it directly to the NAS: Synology says printer connections through USB hubs are not recognized.
3. Home Assistant access to NAS statistics
Home Assistant’s Synology DSM integration can expose NAS statistics to a home-automation setup. This is a network integration between software and the NAS; it is not evidence that a USB smart-home radio, such as a Zigbee or Z-Wave adapter, will work when plugged into the NAS.
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4. Surveillance Station camera information in Home Assistant
The same Home Assistant integration can expose cameras from Synology Surveillance Station. This lets compatible camera information become part of a home-automation setup, but it does not mean the cameras are physically connected to the NAS by USB. The integration depends on the NAS, Surveillance Station, and Home Assistant configuration.
5. UPS monitoring over the network
Home Assistant documentation also describes monitoring a UPS through a Synology NAS configured as a network UPS server using NUT. This is a software and network arrangement, distinct from connecting a UPS directly to the NAS by USB. Check the documentation for the particular UPS and software versions in use before depending on monitoring or shutdown behavior.
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6. Network equipment for a wired connection
Synology says DSM 6.2 and later no longer supports Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G, or LTE dongles. Its support guidance recommends Ethernet instead; where running a cable is difficult, it describes using an Ethernet-connected router in client mode or a powerline kit. These options connect the NAS over Ethernet rather than adding a supported wireless or cellular USB adapter. Synology’s cited support page was last updated January 11, 2021.
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Check compatibility and connection limits first
- Look up the NAS model. Synology’s compatibility list lets you select a system and check compatible products, including UPS devices.
- Prefer listed devices. Synology warns that unlisted or incompatible products may not be detected or may cause instability, and support can be limited for untested products.
- Connect USB devices directly. DSM 7 external-device guidance says USB hubs are unsupported. Do not assume a hub will provide supported extra peripheral ports.
- Verify the DSM release. A capability documented for an older release is not proof that it works on every current NAS and DSM version.
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