Help needed for synology users DS213j

[simon45op]

Hi all,
i'm looking at the synology DS213j, but i have a few questions before i proceed to buying it .

1) What OS is the NAS using?
2) Can i ssh into the NAS through terminal and run commands like apt-get or yum install or rsync? Reason is because i previously bought a WD which i cannot run command like apt-get after i ssh in.
3) Does it have a cron scheduler ? i want to run my custom backup scripts.
4) I read that synology can sync with google drive. which path will that folder exist at? Will that folder be hidden? my custom backup script will need to access that folder to create full backup daily.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Sign,
simon

 

[Gribber]

Hi all,
i'm looking at the synology DS213j, but i have a few questions before i proceed to buying it .

1) What OS is the NAS using?
2) Can i ssh into the NAS through terminal and run commands like apt-get or yum install or rsync? Reason is because i previously bought a WD which i cannot run command like apt-get after i ssh in.
3) Does it have a cron scheduler ? i want to run my custom backup scripts.
4) I read that synology can sync with google drive. which path will that folder exist at? Will that folder be hidden? my custom backup script will need to access that folder to create full backup daily.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Sign,
simon

1. DSM
2. yes
3. yes
4. configure it yourself

 

[davidktw]

Hi all,
i'm looking at the synology DS213j, but i have a few questions before i proceed to buying it .

1) What OS is the NAS using?
2) Can i ssh into the NAS through terminal and run commands like apt-get or yum install or rsync? Reason is because i previously bought a WD which i cannot run command like apt-get after i ssh in.
3) Does it have a cron scheduler ? i want to run my custom backup scripts.
4) I read that synology can sync with google drive. which path will that folder exist at? Will that folder be hidden? my custom backup script will need to access that folder to create full backup daily.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Sign,
simon

1) Synology runs a variant of Linux which themselves called DSM. The main core utilities are provided from Busybox.
2) Yes Synology allows for SSH access once you enable it via the web interface. There is a Ash shell available but its package manager it neither apt nor yum. You can go find out what other utilities are natively available when you manage to access in
3) Since it is a Linux variant, it has a crond too. Not your vixen cron, but a less powerful one provided by Busybox. DSM does provide a GUI to manage the cron, and it is stored in /etc/crontab. It seems for DSM 5, it is still using Busybox 1.16.1, and crontab is not one of the available applet. You can download the available one from http://busybox.net/downloads/binaries/latest/ if you would like to beef up the capabilities of the core utilities. For example, I have downloaded http://busybox.net/downloads/binaries/latest/busybox-i686 and place it inside /usr/local/bin/ since mine is DS1511+, using a Intel chipset running on 64bits Linux kernel. Create your necessary symbolic link like this "ln -s /usr/local/bin/busybox-i686 crontab" and you will get your lovely crontab utility. Check out BusyBox for more understanding about what are the latest applets found inside busybox
4) Yup, it's cloudsync utility found in the Synology packages. Go take a look on how it operates.

 

[simon45op]

1) Synology runs a variant of Linux which themselves called DSM. The main core utilities are provided from Busybox.
2) Yes Synology allows for SSH access once you enable it via the web interface. There is a Ash shell available but its package manager it neither apt nor yum. You can go find out what other utilities are natively available when you manage to access in
3) Since it is a Linux variant, it has a crond too. Not your vixen cron, but a less powerful one provided by Busybox. DSM does provide a GUI to manage the cron, and it is stored in /etc/crontab. It seems for DSM 5, it is still using Busybox 1.16.1, and crontab is not one of the available applet. You can download the available one from Index of /downloads/binaries/latest if you would like to beef up the capabilities of the core utilities. For example, I have downloaded %d %s and place it inside /usr/local/bin/ since mine is DS1511+, using a Intel chipset running on 64bits Linux kernel. Create your necessary symbolic link like this "ln -s /usr/local/bin/busybox-i686 crontab" and you will get your lovely crontab utility. Check out BusyBox for more understanding about what are the latest applets found inside busybox
4) Yup, it's cloudsync utility found in the Synology packages. Go take a look on how it operates.

Hi, thanks for taking the time to write this,it is quite clear . From what you said, it seem that it is running the same OS(busybox) as my western digital. You mentioned that its running a package manager and not apt/yum. I assume its ipkg/dpkg you talking about. Based on your knowledge, is there anyway to install apt/yum on it? apt/yum can help me find dependencies for packages and will be useful for me. i googled and there seem to be no way to install apt-get or other similar in busybox.

Sign,
simon

 

[davidktw]

Hi, thanks for taking the time to write this,it is quite clear . From what you said, it seem that it is running the same OS(busybox) as my western digital. You mentioned that its running a package manager and not apt/yum. I assume its ipkg/dpkg you talking about. Based on your knowledge, is there anyway to install apt/yum on it? apt/yum can help me find dependencies for packages and will be useful for me. i googled and there seem to be no way to install apt-get or other similar in busybox.

Sign,
simon

I have not come across anyone setting up a debian or redhat repository for Synology. The issue is not with the package manager. There isn't many 3rd parties repository except the popular Synocommunity that I am aware of. There could be a few more other repositories such as Mertymade Synology Packages.

I will not recommend that you change the base of Synology NAS too much given its primary objective is for data storage. Too much changes to the appliance risk the reliability and robustness of your appliance and may affect the integrity of your data if any mishap happens.

If you are keen to have a server running, consider a small form factor machine instead or use the cloud hosting. I don't see the need to squeeze everything into the NAS. You will have more flexibility this way.