How I Supercharged My Synology DS723+ for Adobe Lightroom

As a frequent photographer, my Synology DS723+ NAS is the heart of my digital workflow. Recently, I decided to upgrade it with NVMe SSDs and a 10GbE network card. These two modifications have dramatically improved my workflow, especially when working with Adobe Lightroom. Here's my experience with these upgrades and how they've transformed my photo editing process.

My Photography Workflow

Before diving into the upgrades, let me explain my setup. I use my DS723+ primarily as a centralized storage solution for my extensive photo library. Adobe Lightroom is my go-to software for accessing and editing these photos. Working with high-resolution RAW files demands maximum performance from both my storage and network.

Two upgrades I installed:

• Synology M.2 2280 NVMe SSD SNV3410 400GB (SNV3410-400G)

• Synology Network Upgrade Module adds 1x 10GbE RJ-45 (E10G22-T1-Mini)

(Both of these were available on Amazon)

Upgrade 1: Adding NVMe SSDs

The Installation Process

Installing the NVMe SSDs was straightforward:

1. I powered down the DS723+ and unplugged it.

2. Removed the cover (following the user manual).

3. Located the two M.2 NVMe slots on the bottom of the motherboard.

4. Inserted the SSDs and secured them.

5. Replaced the cover and powered on the NAS.

6. Used DSM (DiskStation Manager) to initialize and configure the new SSDs.

Upgrade 2: Adding a 10GbE Network Card

The Installation Process

Adding the 10GbE network card was also straightforward:

1. Powered down and unplugged the NAS.

2. Removed the cover.

3. Inserted the 10GbE card into the PCIe slot and secured it.

4. Replaced the cover and powered on the NAS.

5. Configured the new network interface in DSM and connect it to my 10Gb port on my router (Ubiquity Dream Machine SE)

The Overall Impact on My Workflow

These upgrades have truly transformed my Lightroom workflow. Tasks that used to take minutes now complete in seconds. Importing photos, generating previews, scrolling through my library, and exporting edited images - all these processes are now significantly faster.

More importantly, these performance improvements have made my editing process more enjoyable and creative. I'm no longer waiting for everything to catch up with my workflow. Instead, I can focus on my images.

The immediate caching of new uploads is particularly game-changing. After a long shoot, I can start working on my photos almost instantly after uploading them.

Other Synology NAS devices support these upgrades - see their website for details.