Ugreen NAS UGOS Pro Setup Guide

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How to set up a Ugreen NAS running UGOS Pro. Covering initial configuration, storage pool creation, SMB shares, user accounts, Docker via Container Manager, and remote access.

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UGOS Pro is Ugreen's NAS operating system. A Linux-based platform designed to compete directly with Synology DSM and QNAP QTS, combining a clean web interface with built-in Docker (Container Manager), file sharing, and backup tools. Ugreen's hardware is competitive. The DXP series packs Intel N100 or Core i5 CPUs, DDR5 RAM, and 2.5GbE networking at price points that undercut established brands. This guide covers the complete UGOS Pro setup: initial configuration, drive and storage pool setup, SMB shared folders, user accounts, Docker container deployment, and remote access via UGOS Pro's remote access service.

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In short: Power on the NAS, connect via browser at the local IP, run the setup wizard to create a storage pool, set up your user account, create shared folders with SMB enabled, and map drives from Windows. UGOS Pro's wizard is closer to Synology's guided simplicity than QNAP's complexity. Most users complete initial setup in 15-20 minutes.

UGOS Pro: What's Available

UGOS Pro's feature set as of early 2026:

  • File Manager: Web-based file browser with drag-and-drop upload, folder sharing, and basic media preview
  • SMB file sharing: Windows-compatible SMB shares for mapped drives and network storage
  • Container Manager: Docker and Docker Compose management. Full container ecosystem support
  • Backup: Scheduled backup to USB drives, cloud storage (major S3-compatible providers), and rsync targets
  • Photo Station / Gallery: Photo management with automatic mobile backup via the Ugreen mobile app
  • Remote Access: Ugreen's relay-based remote access service (requires Ugreen account)
  • App Store: Growing catalogue of native UGOS apps, though smaller than Synology Package Center or QNAP App Center

UGOS Pro is the most rapidly developing NAS OS in the market. Feature additions have been frequent since launch. Check Ugreen's changelog for current capabilities, as features added since this guide was written may not be reflected here.

Step 1: Initial Setup Wizard

After connecting drives and powering on the Ugreen NAS:

  1. Find the NAS IP on your router's DHCP client list, or use the Ugreen Find NAS mobile app (iOS/Android)
  2. Access the setup wizard at http://[NAS-IP] in a browser
  3. Create an admin account: username and strong password
  4. The wizard guides you through drive detection and storage pool creation

Step 2: Create a Storage Pool

Storage pools in UGOS Pro combine drives into a unified storage resource with RAID protection:

  1. In the Storage Manager, select detected drives
  2. Choose RAID level: RAID 1 (2 drives, mirrors. Each file stored on both drives, survives 1 failure), RAID 5 (4+ drives, parity. More storage efficient), or JBOD/single for non-redundant configurations
  3. Select filesystem: Btrfs is recommended. Supports snapshots, data integrity checksums, and is the modern choice for NAS storage
  4. Confirm and initialise. For large drives, initialisation takes several minutes

After the storage pool is created, UGOS Pro automatically creates a default shared volume you can use immediately. You can also create additional shared volumes with different purposes (e.g. a separate volume for Docker container data).

Step 3: Create Shared Folders and Users

Create shared folders for your use cases:

  1. Go to File Sharing → Shared Folders → Create
  2. Name the folder (e.g. Documents, Media, Backups)
  3. Enable SMB to make the folder accessible from Windows
  4. Enable Recycle Bin for accidental deletion recovery
  5. Set permissions: who can access and whether they have read or read/write access

For user management: System → Users → Create User. Assign each user to the shared folders they need access to. For a home user, the admin account accessing all folders is sufficient. For multi-user homes or small offices, create individual user accounts with scoped permissions.

Step 4: Map Windows Drives

On Windows, map NAS shares as network drives:

  1. Open File Explorer → right-click This PC → Map network drive
  2. Choose a drive letter (e.g. Z:)
  3. Path: \\[NAS-IP]\Documents (replace with your share name)
  4. Check Reconnect at sign-in and Connect using different credentials if using a NAS user account different from your Windows login
  5. Enter NAS username and password when prompted

On Mac: Finder → Go → Connect to Server → smb://[NAS-IP]/Documents. For automatic reconnect on Mac, add the NAS share to Login Items after connecting.

Step 5: Docker with Container Manager

UGOS Pro's Container Manager provides Docker and Docker Compose management without SSH or command line:

  1. Open Container Manager from the UGOS Pro app menu
  2. The dashboard shows running containers, CPU/RAM usage, and images
  3. To deploy a container: Container → Create → Image (enter Docker Hub image name) → configure ports, volumes, environment variables
  4. For Docker Compose stacks: Compose → Create → paste your docker-compose.yml → deploy

Container Manager's Compose support handles multi-container stacks well. Bind mounts use UGOS Pro paths: /volume1/docker/appname/config for NAS-hosted configuration folders. The interface is cleaner than QNAP Container Station for Compose stack deployment and closer to Portainer's stack management UI in workflow.

Step 6: Remote Access

UGOS Pro provides remote access via Ugreen's relay service (similar to Synology QuickConnect or QNAP myQNAPcloud):

  1. Create a free Ugreen account at ugreen.com
  2. In UGOS Pro, go to System → Remote Access and link your Ugreen account
  3. Enable the remote access service. Your NAS receives a unique access URL
  4. Access UGOS Pro from any browser at the provided URL, or via the Ugreen mobile app

The relay service works behind CGNAT. Performance is limited by your NBN upload speed and relay overhead. For performance-sensitive remote access, configure NGINX Proxy Manager with a custom domain and HTTPS. Same approach as other self-hosted NAS services.

🇦🇺 Australian Buyers: Current Ugreen NAS Models

Current Ugreen NAS models available in Australia (March 2026):

  • Ugreen DXP2800 (2-bay): Intel Celeron N100, 8GB DDR5, 2 × 2.5GbE. Entry 2-bay with strong hardware for the price
  • Ugreen DXP4800 (4-bay): Intel Celeron N100, 8GB DDR5, 2 × 2.5GbE. Most popular Ugreen model, direct competitor to DS423+ and TS-464
  • Ugreen DXP4800 Plus (4-bay): Intel Core i5-1235U, 16GB DDR5, 2 × 2.5GbE + 1 × 10GbE. Performance tier. Significantly more powerful than Celeron models
  • Ugreen DXP6800 Pro (6-bay): Intel Core i5-1235U, 16GB DDR5, 10GbE built-in
  • Ugreen DXP8800 Pro (8-bay): Same Core i5 platform, 8-bay for high-capacity storage

Ugreen NAS units are available directly from the Ugreen AU online store and select Australian retailers. The DXP4800 is the most commonly stocked model. Check Ugreen's AU website for current pricing and availability. Ugreen pricing is competitive and has been subject to promotional discounts.

See the Ugreen NAS Australia guide for a full model comparison, warranty details, and AU support information.

Related reading: our NAS buyer's guide and our NAS explainer.

Use our free NAS Sizing Wizard to get a personalised NAS recommendation.

Is UGOS Pro as good as Synology DSM?

Not yet in overall maturity, but closing the gap. DSM has 15+ years of development and the deepest app ecosystem. UGOS Pro is newer but has launched with competitive core features. File sharing, Docker support, backup, and remote access are all functional. The gap is most noticeable in backup software depth (Hyper Backup's versioning and integrity checking is more mature than UGOS backup), app ecosystem breadth, and advanced features like Active Backup for Business. For users who primarily want file sharing, Docker containers, and photo backup, UGOS Pro is ready. For enterprise-oriented backup or advanced Synology-specific features, DSM remains ahead.

Can I run Docker on a Ugreen NAS?

Yes. Container Manager is built into UGOS Pro and supports Docker images and Docker Compose stacks. All standard Docker Hub images run without modification. The Container Manager UI handles stack deployment cleanly. For homelab Docker use (Nextcloud, Immich, Vaultwarden, Home Assistant), the Ugreen DXP4800 with Intel N100 and 8GB DDR5 is capable hardware for running 5-10 containers simultaneously.

Does Ugreen NAS support Time Machine for Mac backup?

Yes. UGOS Pro supports Time Machine backup via SMB. Create a shared folder with Time Machine support enabled in the share settings, and macOS discovers it as a Time Machine destination automatically. Ugreen's Time Machine implementation follows the same standard as Synology and QNAP. Mac backups work identically across all three platforms.

How does Ugreen's warranty work in Australia?

Ugreen provides a 2-year warranty on NAS products purchased from Australian retailers, plus Australian Consumer Law protections apply independently. Warranty service is handled through Ugreen's AU support channels. Contact details are on the Ugreen AU website. As a newer brand in the AU NAS market, Ugreen's local support network is less established than Synology's AU presence, but the direct-from-manufacturer channel is straightforward for warranty claims. Retain your purchase receipt.

Is UGOS Pro suitable for a small business?

For basic SMB use. File sharing, user accounts, backup. Yes. UGOS Pro supports SMB shares with per-user permissions, which covers most small office file server requirements. What it currently lacks versus Synology for business: no Active Backup for Business equivalent (agentless PC backup), less mature AD domain integration, and a smaller third-party app ecosystem for business applications. For a small team (2-10 users) needing file sharing and basic backup, UGOS Pro is viable and the hardware price/performance is strong. For larger teams or complex backup requirements, Synology remains the more proven choice.

Comparing Ugreen against Synology and QNAP for your use case? The Ugreen NAS Australia guide covers all current models, software capabilities, and how UGOS Pro stacks up against DSM and QTS.

Ugreen NAS Australia Guide →