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To make block storage available from a Synology DS1812+, create a LUN on a healthy storage volume, create an iSCSI target, and map the LUN to that target. The menu depends on the DSM version installed on your NAS: older releases use Storage Manager or iSCSI Manager, while DSM 7 uses SAN Manager. The DS1812+ is a legacy model, so follow the interface actually available on your unit rather than assuming it has DSM 7.
Understand the target, LUN, and volume
An iSCSI target is the endpoint a client, or initiator, connects to. The LUN is the block-storage device presented through that target. Creating a target alone does not provide usable storage: a LUN must be mapped to it. The LUN, in turn, needs space on a storage volume, so check that the NAS has a healthy volume before starting.
Synology describes iSCSI as an IP-based storage networking standard. From the host operating system’s perspective, a connected LUN appears as a block device that the host can initialize and format. Treat it like a disk: do not initialize or format a LUN that already contains a filesystem or data used by another host.
Find the iSCSI controls in your DSM version
| DSM documentation generation | Where to look | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| DSM 3.1 | Main Menu > Storage Manager > iSCSI Target | Legacy iSCSI target controls, as documented by Synology. |
| DSM 6.2 | iSCSI Manager > Target/LUN | Target and LUN management in iSCSI Manager. |
| DSM 7 | SAN Manager | Current Synology terminology for managing targets and LUNs. |
These paths reflect the DSM versions in Synology’s documentation; names and available options can vary by installed release. The DS1812+ predates DSM 7, and Synology’s cited documentation does not establish that DSM 7 can be installed on it. If the NAS does not show SAN Manager, use its available Storage Manager or iSCSI Manager controls.
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Choose a LUN allocation mode
Use the allocation mode that fits your capacity and operational risk. Synology describes thick provisioning as offering better stability and performance; thin provisioning allocates space on demand, but needs careful free-space monitoring.
| Mode | How it allocates space | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Thick provisioning | Reserves the LUN’s capacity on the backing volume. | Synology describes it as offering better stability and performance. |
| Thin provisioning | Allocates backing space on demand as data is written. | Uses capacity on demand, but if the backing volume runs out of space, Synology warns the LUN filesystem may crash. |
Synology’s 2023 iSCSI Manager Quick Start Guide states that a volume needs at least 1 GB free to create a new LUN. The same guide sets a 1 GB minimum LUN capacity, or 10 GB for LUNs using legacy advanced features. Check the available capacity and feature requirements shown by your installed DSM before applying the settings.
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Create the LUN, then create and map the target
- Confirm the backing volume. Sign in to DSM with an administrator account and open Storage Manager. Verify that a storage volume exists and is healthy, with enough free space for the intended LUN. Synology’s quick-start instructions call for creating a volume before creating LUNs.
- Open the storage application shown on your NAS. Depending on DSM, open Storage Manager’s iSCSI Target controls, iSCSI Manager, or SAN Manager. Go to the LUN section and choose Create.
- Set the LUN properties. Enter a recognizable name, choose its location and capacity, and select thick or thin allocation. Review any advanced-feature requirements and ensure the capacity is appropriate for the host workload.
- Create the target. Open Target and choose Create. Enter a readable target name and a unique IQN. Synology recommends the pattern
iqn.[date].[domain]:[device identifier]. Current SAN Manager help says the IQN must be under 128 characters and use the permitted character set; use an IQN that is unique in your environment. - Choose authentication deliberately. Select no CHAP, CHAP, or mutual CHAP according to your access requirements. If you use mutual CHAP, configure different secrets for the two authentication directions. Keep the secrets secure and record them for authorized initiators.
- Map the LUN to the target. In the target wizard, select Create a new LUN or Map existing LUNs, depending on whether you created the LUN separately. Review the target-to-LUN mapping, then choose Apply or Finish. Confirm the intended LUN is attached to the intended target.
Limit which network interfaces serve iSCSI
In the target settings, use Network Binding to select the interfaces allowed to serve iSCSI, if that control is available in your DSM release. Synology’s SAN Manager specifications also describe dedicated network interfaces for iSCSI services. A dedicated interface or VLAN can keep storage traffic separate from ordinary NAS access and make network access easier to control.
Record the interface or IP address that initiators should use. Ensure the client can reach that address over the intended network before troubleshooting authentication or target discovery.
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Connect an initiator and initialize the LUN
- Discover the NAS. On the client, open its iSCSI initiator and discover targets using the NAS iSCSI IP address. Use the IP address on the interface selected for iSCSI service.
- Connect to the intended target. Select the target matching the IQN you configured, then connect using the target’s address and IQN. Enter CHAP credentials if required.
- Verify the device on the host. Confirm the initiator shows a logged-in connection and the operating system sees the expected LUN capacity. Only initialize and format the device if it is new and does not already contain data needed elsewhere.
- Check reconnection behavior. Confirm the initiator remains connected after a reconnect or client restart, as appropriate for your environment.
Troubleshoot discovery when CHAP is enabled
If the initiator cannot discover the target while CHAP is enabled, first check that the client can reach the NAS address and that the correct iSCSI interface is bound. Synology documents a CHAP-related discovery caveat: complete discovery first and enable CHAP before the final connection, or connect directly with the target’s IP address and IQN. The precise controls vary by initiator and DSM release.
- Confirm you are using the NAS IP address on an interface allowed by Network Binding.
- Verify the IQN and target selection; a target name and an IQN are not interchangeable.
- Check that the initiator’s CHAP secret matches the target configuration. For mutual CHAP, verify each direction’s separate secret.
- If discovery still fails, use Synology’s documented sequence: discover before enabling CHAP, then enable it for the final connection, or try a direct connection by IP and IQN.
Use multiple sessions only with a suitable shared filesystem
Synology warns that Multiple Sessions should be used with a shared or cluster-aware filesystem, such as VMFS or OCFS, to avoid corruption or unexpected data loss. Do not enable it merely to let several independent computers write to the same ordinary filesystem. A standard filesystem generally expects controlled ownership; simultaneous uncoordinated writes can damage its data structures.
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Protect data when changing or removing storage
Before disabling a target, disconnect its initiators. Before deleting a target or LUN, verify that you have backups and that no host still depends on the storage. Synology warns that deleting mapped LUNs deletes their data and drops connections.
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- Keep a record of the target name and IQN, mapped LUN, serving interface, authentication settings, and authorized initiators.
- Check that the target reports Ready and that the host sees the expected LUN before putting it into service.
- Do not infer a supported target or LUN count from another Synology model. Synology says limits vary by model, and the cited sources do not state exact DS1812+ limits.
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