How to set up Active Insight service on Synology NAS

Synology DSM 7.0
Synology DSM 7.0 (Image credit: Windows Central)

Synology Active Insight was introduced in the DSM 7.0 update, allowing NAS owners to remotely monitor and manage multiple enclosures. When connected to the same Synology account, it's possible to link all the NAS servers up through a single Active Insight dashboard.

How to set up Synology Active Insight

Follow these steps on each NAS you want to manage through the portal:

  1. Go to Control Panel > Synology Account.
  2. Enable Active Insight.

Synology DSM 7

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Enable Performance metric collection.
  2. Visit the Synology Active Insight website.
  3. Sign into your Synology Account.

You'll now be greeted by the Active Insight dashboard.

How to use Synology Active Insight

Synology DSM 7.0

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

Overview

The overview tab is the first page that's loaded through the Synology Active Insight portal. It's where you'll be able to glance at data for all your connected NAS enclosures. It'll provide warnings as well as a log of any event that occurred in recent days. In terms of metrics, the following is tracked:

  • CPU load (average)
  • CPU utilization
  • Network traffic
  • Volume usage
  • Volume activity
  • Drive temperatures

Host

Synology DSM 7.0

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)

The host tab is where you can dive into more in-depth detail on each connected enclosure. They're all listed here and can be sorted into groups. Selecting a listed host will load up that NAS and display the following:

  • Details metrics
  • System info (from the NAS Control Panel Info Center)
  • Storage volumes, usage, RAID, etc.
  • Event log

Event

This tab will display all the events that may require attention and/or action. A neat feature here is recommended solutions offered by Synology to help resolve the problem. Should this fail, one can even create a support ticket to receive help directly from Synology.

Management

Next up is the Management tab will allow you to configure groups and how host NAS enclosures are sorted. Email addresses can also be set to receive specific alerts.

Rich Edmonds
Senior Editor, PC Build

Rich Edmonds was formerly a Senior Editor of PC hardware at Windows Central, covering everything related to PC components and NAS. He's been involved in technology for more than a decade and knows a thing or two about the magic inside a PC chassis. You can follow him on Twitter at @RichEdmonds.