This is long overdue guide, finally got time to complete it. I want to share here how I migrate data from older Synology NAS to another NAS. Synology offer 3 ways to migrate when want to change NAS, either by using:
1. Migration Assistant
2. Hyper Backup
3. Moving the Hard Disk Drive (HDD)

With Migration Assistant and Hyper Backup, the new NAS need to have HDD with space same or bigger than the old NAS. Since I'm limited by the HDD that I have, I opted for moving the HDD method. There are limitations for this method, such as can't move from single bay to multi bays and vice-versa. Also some CPU architecture can't be migrated to different type of CPU architecture. So make sure you check it properly if choosing this method. Synology have a detailed information in this page to fully understand which method is suitable for different cases.
How do I migrate data between Synology NAS (DSM 6.0 and later)?


To ensure least likely of encountering any problem, update both NAS DSM to latest version that's available at the time. Also update all app packages to ensure better compatibility for moving to another NAS.

Since I'm changing from DS920+ to DS1522+ and both have same type of tray, I just need to take out the tray with HDD from DS920+ and slot it into DS1522+. Synology tutorial mentioned that when slot in to the new NAS, need to follow the same slot sequence as the old NAS. I stick numbered sticker to each tray as way to identify each tray which will help to avoid it from being mixed up.

Synology mentioned that NVME cache can also be migrated but I don't want to add more possibility for something to go wrong so I opted to remove the cache from storage pool before doing the migration.


I have 1 SATA SSD that I configure as single storage pool in my old NAS. I don't want to use it on the new NAS so I choose to remove the storage pool but when it prompt me things that will be removed then only I remember that I have installed few Synology packages on this pool and these packages will also be removed together. There's no option to move these packages into different pool. It would be better if Synology added the support for moving packages to different pool in same way as moving shared folders.


I made backup of those packages using Hyper Backup, after uninstall these packages then I installed back but this time I choose the HDD's storage pool as the location and then use Hyper Backup to restore the data and settings. I also moved shared folders from SSD's storage pool to HDD's storage pool but doing so will delete all snapshots of the shared folders.

Synology tutorial also ask to make a backup of system configuration and then export it to other device, such as to PC. After complete the migration and login into DSM, I use the system configuration backup to restore the system configuration.

Now I can start the process of moving to the new NAS. Shut down the old NAS, and also new NAS. Take out the HDD from old NAS and put at same slot number in new NAS. Power on the new NAS and wait it to finish boot up, then type http://find.synology.com/ on the web browser. Once it found the NAS it will show option to Migrate as below


Important! If it show something else and a warning message similar to all or some drive's data will be deleted, that means something is wrong. Maybe the drive is not arrange in correct order. Power it off then try to arrange it in the correct order. If still cannot, Synology recommend to perform migration by Hyper Backup instead. If you still proceed, it will wipe clean the data on those HDD. So remember, Migrate is okay, anything else is not okay.

After I press the migrate button, it ask me whether I want to retain the system configuration or reset it. If you choose reset, you will have to configure everything from scratch again, just like a new NAS but with shared folders intact. Another thing to note, before migrate it will have different IP than the old NAS, so make sure to remember or write down the old NAS IP as when after restore the system configuration setting, it will change to use the old NAS IP back. I choose retain system configuration.


When installing DSM, it will also ask to automatically download latest DSM or manually upload latest DSM image file from PC.


With that it will start download (if choose auto download), installing, restarting few times and configuring the DSM. For this DS1522+, it takes around 6 minutes to complete.


After the final reboot it have applied the old NAS setting, including the IP address. The page show it can't connect to the NAS. Simply type the old IP in browser to connect back to the NAS. Then can login into the NAS.


The only problem I encounter is there's some issue with Hybrid Share and it can't be repaired. I fix it by reinstall it and restore it's setting from the backup made earlier. SMB package error not sure why it appear but it can be updated.


The certificate will also be different so need to redo or renew the certificate. Other than that everything else back as how it is on the old NAS. All the user account working as usual and like there's no changes to them. If they have set stay signed-in then they would need to sign in back.

This post has been edited by xxboxx: Apr 22 2023, 05:57 PM

Thanks for sharing this guideline!

I have a old Synology NAS DS218 which die out all of a sudden and can't be power on anymore. I plan to migrate to DS223 but will use back the 2 old HDD of Seagate Ironwolf 4TB.

But I have a little concern on the Hyper Backup part. Is it a necessary step to perform or I can just skip it if I choose to keep everything intact ie. storage pool, volume and packages? I just wish to migrate everything to a new NAS with my data stored and apps installed previously like Synology Photos, DS files to work properly again.

I have no way now to perform any backup since my old NAS is already dead.

https://kb.synology.com/en-global/DSM/tutor...NAS_DSM_6_0_HDD

Also from link above, I saw there is a line "If you are migrating HDDs between two different Synology NAS models, you must use Hyper Backup to backup your data first."

Make me wonder what I should I do if Hyber Backup is really needed.

Hyper Backup is Synology preferred way as it copy the data over from one NAS to another, doing so less risky than moving the HDD. But yeah your NAS is dead so Hyper Backup is out of the option. Do you have backup for the data in that NAS?

One common reason for Synology NAS to die is because of power supply failure. Have you checked if that's the reason and get it changed?

https://kb.synology.com/en-ph/DSM/tutorial/...er#x_anchor_id6

Based on this it should be you can just move the HDD into the new NAS that have at least 2 bays. You should follow the migrate by HDD option.

One thing to make sure when first boot up the NAS with your old HDD is make sure it stated as migrate, not something else. Other than migrate, it might wipe clean the HDD data.


If you don't have backup on the HDD data, I think there's way to copy out the data on Windows or Linux OS, at least then you have a backup if anything goes wrong. But I don't know the steps and program for it.

Actually my NAS did die a year ago and I had it repaired which was not cheap at all, just trying to see how long after repair it can last. Now it's the 2nd time it die out again (It powers on for like 5s when I clink on the power button and it goes off after that, keep repeating). The power bricks should be fine, the LED light is always on. So I think it's better for me to just change to a new NAS this time round.

And noted on the "migrate" stuff, will surely hope the migration is going to work fine and no file will be wipe off. I think the data there was like few TB and even if backup is possible, I don't think I have any machine with such big capacity to back it up to now I will proceed to buy a new NAS DS223 and try it out 1st. Finger cross!

I will see if it success and may update here again!

Your data should at least have 2 copies in separate place so that in case one conk up due to hardware failure or stolen or damage due to fire/flood, you still have a copy of that data.

Ideally good backup practice is 3 copies but at least start with 2 first.