Overview

The DS725+ targets home offices and creators who want reliable storage in a compact chassis.

Use this guide to map capacity, apps, and network choices before purchase so the unit fits your real workload.

Who should buy the DS725+

Pick the DS725+ if you are upgrading from external drives or a basic two bay unit and want more headroom with simple management.

• Households with a growing photo and video library
• Solo creators handling RAW photos and 4K proxy files
• Small offices sharing documents and client assets
• Users who want an easy private cloud with sync and mobile access

Spec planning checklist

Answer these before you buy to avoid under-sizing and extra costs later.

• One and three year capacity target with 20 percent buffer
• Drive mix plan including NAS HDDs and optional SSDs
• Backup destinations that meet the 3-2-1 rule
• Network uplink, switch ports, and cable plan
• UPS size and power protection
• User accounts and folder structure

Drives and storage layout

Start with NAS-rated HDDs for bulk storage and add SSDs only when they solve a specific bottleneck.

• All-HDD array for capacity and predictable cost
• SSD cache or a small SSD volume for catalogs and thumbnails

Networking and performance

A stable wired network matters more than the CPU nameplate for most home and office use cases.

Adopt 2.5 GbE or 10 GbE when your switch and main PCs support it end to end.

Key apps and use cases

Choose a small set of apps that meet real needs without adding maintenance overhead.

• Synology Drive for sync and versioning
• Active Backup for Business for end point protection
• Synology Photos for family or studio libraries
• Surveillance Station for a small camera fleet

Setup tips

Update DSM and packages, enable alerts, and set a weekly S.M.A.R.T. schedule.

Test backups with a restore drill before you migrate the only copy of any data.

FAQs

Common questions when sizing this model.

• Can I mix drive sizes? Possible with care and a clear RAID plan
• Is SSD cache needed? Only if you see small random read bottlenecks
• What network cable should I use? Keep runs short and terminate properly