NAS Protocol Matrix: SMB, WebDAV, and NFS on Synology, QNAP, TrueNAS, UGREEN, ASUSTOR, and TerraMaster

This page is the storage-side reference for phone-to-NAS backup: which protocols Synology, QNAP, TrueNAS, UGREEN, ASUSTOR, and TerraMaster expose, where the switch lives in each admin console, and what to enter in the backup app once. Every service listed below was checked against the vendor's own documentation on 2026-09-24, and menu names follow the current OS releases.

The protocol matrix: SMB, WebDAV, and NFS by brand

Rows are the six NAS systems most people compare for photo backup; columns are the three file-sharing protocols a mobile backup app can use. "First-party" means the service is part of the NAS operating system rather than a container or a third-party add-on.

Checked against vendor documentation on 2026-09-24: kb.synology.com and the DSM 7 user guide; docs.qnap.com (QTS 5.x); truenas.com/docs (SCALE/CORE); support.ugnas.com (UGOS Pro); asustor.com online help and the ADM user guide; help.terra-master.com (TOS 6/7). Menu names can shift between major OS versions; the service toggle itself has stayed in the same place for years.

How to connect: per-brand setup

The menus change between vendors, but the sequence does not: enable a file service, create a shared folder, give one user read and write access, then enter those details once in the backup app.

Synology (DSM 7.x)

1. Open Control Panel > File Services > SMB and enable the SMB service. It is on by default on most units.
2. Open Control Panel > Shared Folder and create a folder for photos, for example "Photos".
3. Edit the folder > Permissions and grant your user Read/Write access.
4. For backups from outside the home, set up WebDAV Server (listed under Control Panel > File Services in recent DSM versions) and use HTTPS port 5006.
5. In the app, enter the NAS address, the share name, your username, and your password.

QNAP (QTS / QuTS hero)

1. Open Control Panel > Shared Folders and create a shared folder for photos.
2. Open Control Panel > Network & File Services > Win/Mac/NFS/WebDAV and enable Microsoft Networking for SMB.
3. Grant your user read/write permission on the folder in the shared folder permissions.
4. The same panel carries WebDAV and NFS tabs; for WebDAV, enable the service and use the port shown on its settings page.
5. In the app, enter the NAS address, the share name, and your credentials.

TrueNAS (CORE and SCALE)

1. Open Storage > Datasets and create a dataset for photos.
2. Open Shares > SMB and add an SMB share pointing at that dataset. On CORE the same screen is called Windows (SMB) Shares.
3. Open Credentials > Local Users, create a user, and grant it access to the dataset.
4. For NFS, use Shares > Unix (NFS) Shares to export the dataset to your local network, then enter the host and export path in the app.
5. WebDAV is not part of the base services anymore: install the WebDAV app from the application catalog if you specifically need that protocol.

UGREEN (UGOS Pro, NASync series)

1. Open Control Panel > File Service and enable SMB under the SMB tab.
2. Create a shared folder for photos and set user permissions on it.
3. If you use NFS, enable it on the same File Service page and define the allowed client IPs under the folder's NFS permissions.
4. If you use WebDAV, enable it on the same page; WebDAV is the protocol that works from outside the local network without extra tunneling.
5. In the app, enter the NAS address, the folder, your username, and your password.

ASUSTOR (ADM 4.x)

1. Open Settings > Services > SMB and enable SMB.
2. Open Access Control > Shared Folders and create a folder for photos.
3. Open Access Control > Local Users and make sure your user has read/write access to that folder.
4. For other protocols, use Settings > Services > WebDAV (default HTTP port 9800, secured port 9802) or Settings > Services > NFS.
5. In the app, enter the NAS address, the share name, and your credentials.

TerraMaster (TOS 6 / TOS 7)

1. Open Control Panel > File Services > SMB and enable the SMB file service.
2. Open Control Panel > Shared Folders and create a shared folder for photos.
3. Set the folder's SMB rule and user permissions for read/write access.
4. For NFS or WebDAV, enable the matching service under Control Panel > File Services; WebDAV listens on HTTP port 8800 by default.
5. In the app, enter the NAS address, the share name, and your credentials.

What Pho needs on the NAS side

Pho implements SMB, WebDAV, and NFS natively in the app: SMB with NTLM authentication, WebDAV with Basic auth over TLS where self-signed certificates are accepted, and NFS over AUTH_UNIX. The sync engine is a Go backend compiled into the app, so the NAS only has to serve files. There is no companion server, no container, and no database to maintain on the NAS.

Photos are written as untouched originals in date folders such as YYYY/MM/DD, with thumbnails mirrored in a .thumbnail folder. Any file manager on any of the systems above can read that library without Pho. One limitation is worth stating plainly: Pho does not support FTP or SFTP. If a device on your network only speaks FTP, enable SMB or WebDAV on the NAS and point the app there instead.

For the full storage-side walkthrough, see how to back up photos to an existing NAS. For the phone side, use the iPhone NAS sync guide or the Android photo backup to NAS guide, and for app comparisons start with the best NAS photo backup apps and Pho vs Synology Photos.