Build Your Private Media Library with NAS for Viewing Freedom

Recently saw many people discussing NAS media library setup. As a long-term Synology NAS user, I’ll also share my approach.

Hardware Equipment

First about hardware, I’m still using the budget Synology NAS DS218j bought in 2019. Configuration isn’t high, but sufficient.

Note: Regarding NAS purchase configuration selection, personally think sufficient is enough, but pay attention to having more drive bays to avoid inability to expand hard drive space later.

Setup Steps

1. Set up alist service, find a cloud provider’s server to build it, supporting external access.

   • I currently use Oracle Cloud's permanently free server, low configuration but sufficient.

2. alist service mounts Quark Cloud Drive resources, can also be other cloud drive resources.

   • If you purchased 88vip, you can exchange for Quark Cloud Drive membership benefits, giving you 6T space.

3. alist service enables WebDAV service.

4. NAS sync cloud service adds alist’s WebDAV service, so resources sync to NAS locally.

   

5. NAS then enables WebDAV service, mounting resources synced in step 4. If you have public IP at home, directly configure DDNS, so you can access from anywhere.

   • For example, Unicom provides free public IP, just apply, no need to buy fixed IP here (100CNY/month, having it is definitely better).

     

6. For Apple ecosystem users, you can use infuse app to add such WebDAV resources. Non-Apple users find corresponding methods supporting WebDAV mounting.

   

   Note: If it’s Baidu Cloud Drive resources, since NAS Sync service directly supports adding, you can also skip alist.

Media Viewing Software

1. Apple users, recommend using Infuse. Infuse supports cross-platform Mac/Apple TV/iPad/iPhone devices, and supports iCloud sync configuration items, making unified management and viewing convenient.
2. Android users, can consider trying VidHub.
3. Besides the above app form access, consider directly accessing NAS via web to watch, or disk mount sharing.

Chrome Synology Download Plugin

Here recommend Synology’s official download plugin. This way, besides cloud drive saving resources, you can also usually see some movie resources, directly right-click choose Synology download. After completion, can watch with Infuse etc.

Final Thoughts

1. NAS is essentially a private cloud. Paired with public IP, capabilities become freer, media viewing is a very common scenario. Personally think domestic media sites all have somewhat poor experience, like member-exclusive ads, so building a personal media library as supplement is a good choice.
2. Based on the above media service setup, I can actually add resources directly to cloud drive anywhere, home NAS will automatically sync resources, or directly use Synology official plugin to add any torrent resources, NAS directly downloads. Finally go home or anywhere directly use infuse etc. apps to watch.