Three self-hosted services make sense on a NAS beyond media streaming: Immich for a private photo and video library, Home Assistant for smart-home control, and Syncthing for keeping folders matched across devices. This guide covers three rather than four because only three had enough authoritative installation and feature detail to recommend with confidence. Each option is tied to one concrete job, followed by the checks that decide whether your NAS can handle it.
This article is based on official vendor documentation. It does not report hands-on testing of these services on any NAS hardware.
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Check your NAS before you install anything
Every service below assumes your NAS can run containers, and most of the trouble people hit comes from one of four gaps. Work through this list before you pick a service:
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →- Container support. Confirm your model and operating system can run Docker-style containers. The vendor guides covered here use Synology’s Container Manager and QNAP’s Container Station as the platform tools, so check whether your model supports them.
- Memory. Compare your installed and upgradable RAM against each service’s stated minimum. Immich is the most demanding of the three.
- Storage. Plan for a database location on local storage and for the growth of your data over time. Immich’s storage guidance is covered in its section below.
- Peripherals. If a service needs a USB radio stick or a Bluetooth adapter, check that the NAS can pass that device through to a container.
Immich: a self-hosted photo and video library
Immich is a photo and video library you run yourself. Its quick start documents an installation with Docker Compose, and its mobile app can upload selected photo albums to your server. It is the best fit of the three if your main goal is to move phone photos off a cloud service and onto hardware you control.
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- 【Reliable External Storage System for Individuals and Business】The 4 Bay Hard Drive Enclosure supports 2.5/3.5 inches HDD and SSD, max capacity up to 80TB( 20TB for each hard drive), it's a ideal external hard drive enclosure for personal or enterprise using.Save space on your desktop or laptop.
- 【No heat】The 4 bay hard drive reader built in Aluminum-Alloy materials and 2 inch Fan.Maximize the security of your data.NOTE：Fan noise is around 40-50 decibels, not recommended if you are very sensitive to noise.
- 【Up to 5Gbps】This 4 bay enclosure equips with advanced chip and USB 3.0 output interface, Max 5Gbps under UASP control.Transfer 1G movie in 3-5 seconds with USB 3.0 Ports, which is 10 times faster than USB 2.0.
- 【Wide Compatibility, Plug and Play】Equipped with USB A/C 3.0 Cable Cable.Compatible with Windows 7 and above, Mac 9.1 and above, Linux.Plug and play, no fuss, no muss.
- 【Stable power supply】Equipped with DC 12V power adapter to provide stability for high-speed transmission.
Back up the photos, not just the database
Immich’s quick start draws a line that many owners miss. The built-in database backup covers metadata and user information, and it does not cover your images and videos. Immich’s documentation states:
“The database only contains metadata and user information. You must setup manual backups of the images and videos stored in
UPLOAD_LOCATION.”Rank #2
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TERRAMASTER F4-425 4-Bay NAS Intel x86 Quad-Core CPU 4GB RAM (Diskless)
- Powerful Performance: Equipped with an Intel x86 quad-core processor and 4GB RAM, the F4-425 network attached storage effortlessly handles 4K transcoding and multitasking. The 2.5GbE port ensures ultra-fast file transfers and supports multi-user concurrent access
- Home Multimedia Hub: The F4-425 media server supports hardware-level 4K H.265 decoding, compatible with Plex, Emby, and Jellyfin for smooth HD video playback, with DLNA for seamless multi-device streaming. The Photos app features AI smart album and efficiently organizes millions of photos
- TNAS Mobile Full Control: Initialize setup for your F4-425 NAS storage via the TNAS Mobile app without a PC. The mobile app supports automatic photo and video backups, plus real-time local/remote synchronization, all managed through a single client
- Ultra-Quiet & User-Friendly: The F4-425 NAS server operates at just 21dB(A), suitable for quiet environments like bedrooms. Its tool-free Push-Lock design HDD trays enable to install HDDs in 10 seconds
- Massive Storage & Security: The F4-425 4-bay NAS supports up to 120TB storage (4 x 30TB for each bay), 50+ independent user accounts, and flexible TRAID / TRAID+ arrays, 30% more storage space than traditional RAID while ensuring data redundancy. SPC module and CloudSync (compatible with Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox) enable seamless cross-platform synchronization and uninterrupted data access. Additionally, TerraSync enables two-way sync between the F4-425 and PCs/Macs
In practice you need two backup plans: one for the database that Immich provides, and one for the upload location, handled with whatever backup method your NAS already uses. A database restore without the matching media files leaves you with a library that points at nothing.
Memory, database placement, and growth
Immich’s requirements documentation (as of 2026) lists 6 GB of RAM as the minimum and 8 GB as recommended. Machines with less memory may be able to run it, but they fall outside the documented baseline. The same documentation says Postgres, the database Immich uses, should ideally sit on local SSD storage rather than a network share, so avoid pointing the database at a folder mounted from another machine.
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- Blazing Fast Data Transfer: Experience unparalleled data transfer speeds with the USB 3.2 Type-C port, capable of reaching up to 10Gbps. Seamlessly handle massive files and high-volume data transfers with exceptional efficiency and speed, perfect for both professional and personal use.
- Enhanced Connectivity and Display Options: Beyond storage, this docking station features an additional USB 3.2 Type-C port for connecting peripherals or daisy-chaining devices, along with an HDMI interface that supports up to 4K@60Hz resolution(under DP1.4). Create a seamless and efficient workspace with high-speed connectivity and stunning display capabilities. Note: Please ensure the USB-C port on your host supports video output and use the USB-C to C cable, or the HDMI port will not work.
- Premium Build Quality and Cooling: Constructed from high-quality aluminum, the docking station offers superior heat dissipation and robust structural integrity. Dual built-in fans automatically activate at 48°C, ensuring your drives remain cool and perform optimally, even during intensive tasks.
- Hot-Swappable Flexibility: Designed for convenience, each of the four bays comes with an independent ON/OFF power switch. Easily swap drives in and out without powering down the entire system, streamlining your workflow and enhancing productivity.
Plan for library growth as well. The documentation says thumbnail generation and transcoded video can increase photo-library size by 10–20% on average. That is an average across libraries, not a guarantee, so measure your own library after a few weeks of use.
Synology setup
Immich publishes a Synology-specific guide that uses DSM Container Manager. The steps are:
Rank #4
- Note:The eSATA port on this product does not support the use of a computer’s SATA-to-eSATA adapter. Hot-swapping is not supported. The computer’s eSATA port must support RAID functionality to properly access multiple drive bays via the eSATA port; otherwise, only one drive bay can be accessed.
- 【Reliable External Storage System for Individuals】The 3.5 hard drive enclosure supports 2.5/3.5 inches HDD and SSD , max capacity up to 80TB( 20TB for each hard drive), it's a ideal external hard drive enclosure for personal or enterprise using.Save space on your desktop or laptop.
- 【No heat,】The 4 bay hard drive reader built in Aluminum-Alloy materials and 2 inch Fans.Maximize the security of your data.NOTE：Fan noise is around 40-50 decibels, not recommended if you are very sensitive to noise.
- 【8 Raid Modes】This external hdd raid enclosure supports RAID 0/1/3/5/10, CLONE, LARGE, NORMAL.NOTE:When replacing RAID, you need to go back to NORMAL and set the desired RAID mode.Designing RAID may result in data loss.MAC OS no Raid software. Raid Mode Switching Method Disconnect the power, use a screwdriver, toggle the paddle to the corresponding mode, press and hold the reset button, turn on the power, hold reset for ten seconds, the raid mode will be successfully switched.
- 【Up to 5Gbps】This raid enclosure equips with JMS567+JMB393 chip and USB 3.0, eSATA output interface.
- Create separate directories for the photo library and for Postgres.
- Configure a Compose project in Container Manager that points at those directories.
- Allow the service through the NAS firewall.
- Open the web interface on the example port in the guide, 2283.
This is a platform-specific guide, not a promise that every Synology model supports the required software. Check the model against Synology’s compatibility information before you start.
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Home Assistant: local smart-home automation
Home Assistant runs your smart-home automations and dashboards. Its installation documentation covers running it as a container on Synology DSM with Container Manager and on QNAP QTS with Container Station. The instructions include persistent configuration storage, so your setup survives container updates.
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- Direct-attached storage device via USB Type-C for Windows, macOS and Linux
- Use the TR-004 as external storage for NAS backup
- Expand the capacity of your QNAP NAS
- 4 x 3.5-inch SATA 3Gb/s (Diskless)
- Hardware RAID supports RAID 0, 1, 5, JBOD, and individual disks
Hardware access
If you plan to use a Z-Wave USB stick or a Bluetooth adapter, expect extra device-access configuration on some setups. Confirm that your NAS model can pass the device into the container before buying a radio stick.
What keeps working during an internet outage
Home Assistant documents a useful split. Devices that use local protocols, including Zigbee, Z-Wave, Matter, Thread, and ESPHome, do not need an internet connection to communicate with Home Assistant. Devices that depend on a vendor cloud will not be reachable through that cloud integration during an outage. Remote access and some integrations also need internet. If you are choosing devices, favor local protocols where you can.
Syncthing: device-to-device folder sync
Syncthing keeps folders matched between devices, which makes it a candidate for readers who want file synchronization without relying on a cloud drive. This guide does not include Syncthing installation steps, container settings, or NAS-specific instructions. Check the project’s current official documentation for device setup and for any NAS or container guidance before you deploy it, and treat it as the least-verified of the three options here.
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Which service fits which job
| Service | Best for | Documented NAS route | Main constraint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Immich | Photo and video library you control | Docker Compose; Synology guide via DSM Container Manager | 6 GB RAM minimum, 8 GB recommended; separate media backup needed |
| Home Assistant | Smart-home automation and control | Synology DSM Container Manager; QNAP QTS Container Station | USB and Bluetooth devices may need extra access setup |
| Syncthing | Syncing folders between devices | Not stated in the official documentation reviewed for this guide | Check current documentation before installing |
Plex still sets the hardware limit
Plex’s support guidance notes that NAS CPUs are often limited for transcoding, and that suitability depends partly on whether the NAS will run the server and whether you need transcoding. If Plex already runs on the box, the same CPU and memory limits apply to everything else you add, so size the NAS for the full set of services rather than for each one alone.
Quick Recap
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