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Securely Share NAS Devices (Synology NAS Example)

Securely share your NAS with family and teams via Share Machine—private, encrypted, and without exposing its management interface.

Use a dedicated encrypted connection to collaborate and share more securely.

The old way

  1. 1Open router ports and expose your NAS to internet attacks
  2. 2Configure DDNS and external access permissions
  3. 3Troubleshoot an external connection for each collaborator
  4. 4Struggle to manage remote access and permissions flexibly

With HomiPlay

  1. Install HomiPlay (Docker) on the NAS to enable sharing
  2. Authorize specific HomiPlay accounts with Share Machine
  3. Invitees can connect without complicated network setup
  4. Access files and services anytime
Advanced use case

Safely Share NAS Resources with Family and Teams Anytime, Anywhere

Sharing NAS photo albums or work files should not require exposing its management interface to the public internet. With HomiPlay's Share Machine feature, enter a recipient's HomiPlay account to establish an encrypted connection, choose the services to make available, and collaborate securely.

Prerequisites

  • A NAS supporting Docker with an active internet connection
  • Administrator access to Synology DSM
  • Registered HomiPlay accounts for both the owner and recipient

More ways to use it

  • Share family photo albums with relatives and friends
  • Give teammates access to project files on your NAS while away
  • Manage permissions and revoke access at any time
  • Share self-hosted Docker services running on your NAS
  • Connect across home networks without changing router settings

Setup Steps

1

Install HomiPlay on Your Synology NAS

  • Sign in to Synology DSM, open Package Center, then install and launch Container Manager.

  • In Container Manager, go to Project > Create on the left menu.

  • Enter a project name (homiplay), select "Create docker-compose.yml", and paste the configuration below into the editor, then click Next to complete setup:

text
services:
  homiplay:
    image: ghcr.io/homiplay/homiplay-webserver:latest
    container_name: homiplay
    restart: unless-stopped
    privileged: true
    network_mode: host
    environment:
      MGMT_PORT_HTTP: "18081"
      NGINX_PORT_HTTP: "18080"
      NGINX_PORT_HTTPS: "18443"
    volumes:
      - homiplay-data:/var/lib/homiplay
      - homiplay-logs:/var/log/homiplay
      - homiplay-nginx-ssl:/etc/nginx/ssl
volumes:
  homiplay-data:
  homiplay-logs:
  homiplay-nginx-ssl:

💡 For more details and advanced options, refer to the official
README Web Server Docker

Step 1 illustration
2

Check HomiPlay Running Status

After deployment, confirm that the homiplay container shows a green Running status in Container Manager.

Step 2 illustration
3

Configure Share Machine and Enable Service Ports

From your local network, open the HomiPlay dashboard (https://<NAS_IP>:18443) and sign in with an administrator account.

  • Share Machine: Open Share Machine from the device action menu, enter the recipient's HomiPlay account, set the access duration, and send the invitation.

  • Enable service ports: Select Services from the device action menu, choose the target port, click Edit, select the service type (such as HTTP / HTTPS), and click Enable.

Step 3 illustration
4

Accept the Invitation and Connect

The recipient signs in to HomiPlay and accepts the sharing invitation. Once the Synology NAS appears in the remote device list, select Services from its action menu and open the desired item.

Step 4 illustration
5

Access the NAS Directly via HomiPlay

Open the NAS service from the Services list. HomiPlay launches a dedicated connection URL in your browser. You can also use the virtual IP and port to reach the Synology DSM sign-in page and work with your files remotely.

Step 5 illustration

How NAS Sharing Works

Share Machine lets you invite a specific HomiPlay account to access your NAS. Use Services to select which ports are available, set an invitation expiration, and revoke sharing when needed. File and user permissions on the NAS remain managed by Synology DSM.

Other Use Cases

Are your parents stuck on an unfamiliar computer task while you are somewhere else?

Let them approve the connection at their computer, then help from elsewhere without exchanging passwords or leaving permanent access.

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Keep Your Household Connected, Wherever You Are

Connect through your home network even when you're away, maintaining a consistent network environment.

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At a hotel tonight and want to keep playing on your PS5 at home?

Connect through your home network, then open PS Remote Play and continue the game.

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Your AI Agent runs at home—how do you use it safely while away?

Reach OpenClaw and local models without publishing them to the internet.

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Got home and realized the latest file is still on your office computer?

Open that computer from home and continue where you stopped.

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Away from your desk with only a phone when a computer task becomes urgent?

Check the remote computer or handle a quick action before you get back.

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Large media is on another computer—do you really need to upload and download it?

Move it directly between computers without uploading it to the cloud first.

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Just shot a video on your phone and want to edit it on your computer now?

Send it directly without finding a cable or waiting for a cloud upload.

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On airport or hotel Wi-Fi and need to sign in to an important account?

Route the connection through your own home network before doing anything private.

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Remote Access to Your Home NAS (QNAP NAS Example)

No complex setup—securely access your NAS anytime, anywhere

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