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No—not as the tool for browsing or sharing files. Synology Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) manages virtual machines running on a Synology NAS. You can use it to run a virtual machine that acts as a file server, but file operations and network sharing are handled by DSM or by the guest operating system, not by VMM itself.
What VMM manages—and what it does not
Synology describes VMM as an interface for creating, running, and managing virtual machines on a Synology NAS. In Synology Knowledge Center’s version 7 documentation, the stated purpose is to “integrate[] various virtualization solutions in a centralized and refined interface, allowing you to easily create, run, and manage multiple virtual machines on your Synology NAS.” Synology Knowledge Center: Virtual Machine Manager
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That makes VMM the management layer for the VM: it can control the virtual machine as a workload on the NAS. It is not a file browser or a file-sharing service. For files stored and shared through DSM, use DSM’s file-management and file-service features. If the VM runs a file-server operating system, use that guest system’s tools and services to manage its files and shares.
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| Consideration | DSM file services | File-server VM managed by VMM |
|---|---|---|
| Where file management happens | In DSM, using File Station and DSM file services. | In the guest operating system, using its file-management tools and server services. VMM manages the VM itself. |
| Client protocols | Confirm that the protocols supported by your installed DSM version meet the needs of your Windows, Mac, or Linux clients. | Confirm that the guest operating system and its file-server software support the protocols your clients need. |
| Operating model | Uses DSM’s integrated file-management and sharing features. | Adds a separate guest operating system to configure, patch, administer, and manage for permissions and file-sharing services. |
| Snapshots and protection | Depends on the file-service and data-protection features available in your DSM setup. | VMM manages the VM and offers VM-level snapshots; file-system-consistent snapshots require Synology Guest Tool in the guest OS, according to the DSM 7.3 VMM specification. |
| Hardware and capacity | Check that the NAS model and its capacity suit the planned file workload. | Check VMM support for the NAS model and size CPU, memory, storage, and network capacity for both the VM and its workload. |
Neither design is universally better. DSM is the direct fit if its integrated file-management features and supported protocols meet your requirements. A VM is an option when you need a separate guest operating system and are prepared to operate its additional services and lifecycle.
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Manage DSM files with File Station
Synology’s DSM 7.4 File Access specification identifies File Station as the default file-management tool for Synology storage systems. It documents creating, renaming, deleting, copying, and moving files and folders; uploading and downloading; compressing and extracting archives; searching; and sharing files. Sharing options include file requests and links with expiration, valid access times, and password protection. File Station can also mount virtual drives, remote folders, and public cloud storage.
One boundary matters when planning remote access: the DSM 7.4 specification says regular search is not supported in remotely connected or mounted remote folders. Its listed maximums are product limits, not performance guarantees; Synology notes that some supported counts vary by model.
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- 100 concurrent remote folders.
- 100 cloud services and file servers.
- 1,000 files in an upload queue.
- 512 shared folders, with the supported count varying by model.
- 16,000 local user accounts, with the supported count varying by model.
These figures are from Synology’s DSM 7.4 File Access technical specification.
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Check protocol needs before setting up shares
Protocol support depends on the system serving the files: DSM when you use DSM file services, or the guest OS and its server software when you use a VM. Synology’s DSM 7.1 User Guide documents SMB/CIFS for Windows; SMB and AFP for Mac; and NFS and SMB for Linux. It also describes FTP, with FTPS and SFTP as options for increasing transfer security. These are details from the DSM 7.1 guide, not a complete compatibility matrix for every later DSM version or every guest OS. Check the documentation for the exact version you will run.
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Plan a file-server VM around compatibility and recovery
A VM requires more than enabling a file-sharing service. Check that your NAS model supports VMM and has sufficient CPU, memory, storage, and network capacity for the planned workload. Then configure the guest OS, its file-server services, permissions, updates, and recovery approach. Those responsibilities sit with the guest system rather than disappearing into VMM.
For file-system-consistent VM snapshots, Synology’s DSM 7.3 VMM technical specifications require Synology Guest Tool to be installed in the guest OS. Verify compatibility among your NAS, VMM version, guest OS, and Guest Tool for the exact setup; do not assume the snapshot condition applies identically to every VM configuration.
Quick Recap
Best Value
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- DIY Surveillance System - Transform IP cameras into a professional monitoring solution with motion alerts, recording schedules and remote viewing
- 2-Year Warranty - Reliable hardware backed by Synology's expert customer support team and ongoing software updates
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- Advanced Media Management - Stream content to clients organize thousands of assets with AI tagging and maintain project version control
- 3-Year Warranty & Enterprise Support - Dedicated technical account management is available for business-critical production environments
Practical decision
- Use DSM File Station and DSM file services when you want to manage and share files through DSM and its supported features meet your needs.
- Use VMM to run a file-server VM only when you specifically need a separate guest operating system and can manage its services, permissions, patching, capacity, and recovery.
- If unsure, identify the clients and protocols you need first, then verify support in the exact DSM or guest version and check NAS compatibility before building around a VM.
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