How to Find Duplicate Files in Synology NAS?: A Step-by-Step Guide
Synology NAS devices store centralized data, and with the passage of time, it is likely to have duplicate files occupying storage space that could be put to better use. Therefore, to optimize performance and resource usage efficiency, knowing how to find duplicate files in Synology NAS is one important thing to do. All in all, this article will present multiple methods of manual measures used to detect duplicate files. Then mention a different tool through which users can fast-track the process.
Find Duplicate Files via Synology Storage Analyzer
The Synology Storage Analyzer is a built-in tool designed to help users monitor and manage their storage usage. It also identifies potential duplicate files. Here’s how you can use it to find duplicate files in Synology NAS:
Install the Storage Analyzer: Go to Package Center in Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM), search for “Storage Analyzer,” and install the package.
Launch the Tool: After installation, open the Storage Analyzer from the main menu.
Configure Settings: Henceforth, navigate to the settings and configure options like “Ignore file names,” etc., as options to make the duplicate search refine.
Run a Scan: Just select the volume or folder to be analyzed and start a scan. The tool will give out a report of duplicate files.
Review and delete: Once the scan is done, check duplicates for manual deletions of unnecessary duplicate files to free some space.
This would be the method for any native tool users who would want to try and learn how to go about finding duplicate files in Synology NAS without third-party software.
Performing Manual Search Using File Station to Find Duplicate Files
File Station is an in-built application in Synology DSM for browsing and managing files. There is no specific duplicate finder in it, but you can pretty much organize files to find manual duplicates. Here, is what you need to know:
Access File Station: Open the application from the DSM interface.
Sort Files by Name or Size: This will use the sort function to arrange files by name, size, or date, which helps spot files with the same name or with the same size.
Compare Files: Next, open them and then manually compare files.
Delete Duplicates: Select and delete all duplicates.
This may take a lot of time; however, it gives the utmost control of the entire process and is easy for finding duplicate files in Synology NAS.
Search for Duplicate Files via Advance Tools
If you want something dedicated, SysTools Duplicate File Finder is a good alternative. This tool automates the whole process of duplicate file identification and removal, which gives it a lot of convenience for users who just need a quick fix. Just install the software on your Windows, Map your Network Drive of Synology NAS storage, and relax as the tool does the rest.
Download and Install: To begin with, download automated software from its official website. Then install it on your computer.
Connect to Synology NAS: Next, ensure that your Synology NAS is connected to the computer over a network.
Scan for Duplicates: Once the tool is up and running, Map your Synology NAS Network drive to the System (Windows and Mac) and kickstart the scanning process.
Review Results: The tools will display a list of duplicate files. Review and delete the outcome file.
Cleanup: After that, confirm the deletion of selected files to free up precious space.
This procedure will save you time as compared to the manual method, and it offers easier navigation for those wondering how to find duplicate files in Synology NAS.
Find Duplicate Files Through a Command-Line Approach Using SSH
Here are the steps that help identify duplicate files in Synology NAS via SSH, an advanced option for users who are comfortable with Command Line Interface:
Enable SSH: At first, open up the Control Panel in DSM, navigate to Terminal & SNMP, and enable SSH.
Connect via SSH: Connect to your Synology NAS using an SSH client such as PuTTY.
Run the Commands: Commands like find and md5sum are used to locate duplicate files. For example:
find /volume1 -type f -exec md5sum {} \; | sort | uniq -w 32 -d
Hence, this command calculates MD5 checksums for files and identifies duplicates by matching checksums.
Delete Duplicates: Finally, after identifying duplicates, run the rm command to delete them.
Final Takeaway
Knowing how to find duplicate files in Synology NAS falls in the category of useful knowledge for keeping an organized and efficient storage system. Thus, you can take one of many different approaches, be it manually using the Storage Analyzer or File Station, or automated applications. In Addition, advanced users would even have the option to SSH into Synology and use it to delete duplicates. With all of those, Synology really becomes clutter-free, and having less clutter directly translates to performance maximization.