How Can I Set My Synology NAS to Automatically Shut Down and Power On at Specific Dates Each Month?

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Scheduling your Synology NAS to power on and off at specific dates each month - such as the 8th and 13th - requires working around DSM's built-in limitations. The native Power Schedule feature doesn't support monthly intervals, but several workarounds achieve the same result.

Understanding the Limitation

Synology's Control Panel → Hardware & Power → Power Schedule allows you to:

  • Set daily shutdown/startup times
  • Set weekly schedules (specific days of the week)
  • NOT set monthly schedules (specific dates of the month)

This limitation affects users who want their NAS operational only during specific monthly windows - common for backup rotations, energy savings, or maintenance schedules.

This method uses Synology's Task Scheduler for automated shutdown and Wake-on-LAN for remote startup.

Part A: Scheduled Monthly Shutdown

  1. Open Control Panel → Task Scheduler
  2. Click Create → Scheduled Task → User-defined script
  3. General tab:
    • Task name: "Monthly Shutdown (13th)"
    • User: root
    • Enabled: checked
  4. Schedule tab:
    • Run on the following date: Select "Monthly"
    • Day: 13
    • Time: Your preferred shutdown time (e.g., 23:00)
  5. Task Settings tab:
    • User-defined script: shutdown -h now
  6. Click OK and enter your admin password

Alternative shutdown command with delay:

sleep 60 && shutdown -h now

This adds a 60-second delay, useful if you want time to cancel.

Part B: Wake-on-LAN for Monthly Startup

Since the NAS is powered off, it can't schedule its own startup. You need an external device to send a Wake-on-LAN (WOL) magic packet.

Option 1: Another Always-On Device

Use a Raspberry Pi, router with scripting capability, or another computer to send WOL packets on schedule.

Raspberry Pi example (using cron):

# Edit crontab
crontab -e

# Add this line to wake NAS at 6:00 AM on the 8th of each month
0 6 8 * * /usr/bin/wakeonlan AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF

Replace AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF with your Synology's MAC address (found in Control Panel → Network → Network Interface).

Option 2: Router with Scheduling

Some routers (ASUS, OpenWrt, pfSense) support scheduled tasks or WOL triggers. Check your router's documentation.

Option 3: Cloud-Based WOL Service

Services like Depicus WOL or setting up a cloud function (AWS Lambda, etc.) can send WOL packets remotely, though this requires your network to accept WOL from outside (security considerations apply).

Enabling WOL on Synology:

  1. Control Panel → Hardware & Power → General
  2. Check Enable WOL on LAN (for wired connection)
  3. If using Wi-Fi, check Enable WOL on WLAN (less reliable)

Method 2: Smart Plug with Scheduling

The simplest solution for users without technical expertise is a smart plug with built-in scheduling.

How it works:

  1. Connect your Synology NAS power cable to a smart plug
  2. Configure the smart plug's app to:
    • Turn ON at 6:00 AM on the 8th of each month
    • Turn OFF at 11:00 PM on the 13th of each month
  3. Enable Control Panel → Hardware & Power → General → Restart automatically after power failure

Important settings for power recovery:

  • Restart automatically after power failure: Ensures the NAS boots when power is restored
  • Power Recovery: Some models have additional power recovery options in BIOS (accessible during boot)

Recommended Smart Plugs:

  • TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug - Reliable, supports monthly schedules via app
  • Amazon Smart Plug - Works with Alexa routines for scheduling
  • Shelly Plug S - Local control option, no cloud required
  • Zigbee/Z-Wave plugs - If you have a home automation hub

Caution:

Hard power cuts (smart plug turning off) don't allow graceful shutdown. To avoid this:

  1. Use Task Scheduler to shut down the NAS a few minutes BEFORE the smart plug cuts power
  2. Example: NAS shuts down at 22:55, smart plug cuts power at 23:00

Method 3: Advanced Power Manager Package (Limited Models)

Some older Synology models support the Advanced Power Manager package from Package Center, which offers more scheduling options.

To check availability:

  1. Open Package Center
  2. Search for "Advanced Power Manager"
  3. If available, install and configure

Note: This package has been discontinued for newer DSM versions and models. It may not appear on DSM 7.x devices.

Method 4: Full Script-Based Solution

For advanced users, a comprehensive bash script can handle the shutdown logic with more flexibility:

Create the script:

  1. Control Panel → Task Scheduler → Create → Scheduled Task → User-defined script
  2. Schedule: Daily at a specific time
  3. Script:
#!/bin/bash

# Get current day of month
DAY=$(date +%d)

# Shutdown on the 13th
if [ "$DAY" -eq "13" ]; then
    # Optional: Send notification before shutdown
    synodsmnotify @administrators "NAS Shutdown" "Monthly scheduled shutdown initiated"
    
    # Wait 5 minutes for any active transfers to complete
    sleep 300
    
    # Shutdown
    shutdown -h now
fi

This script runs daily but only triggers shutdown on the 13th.

For startup notification (after WOL wakes the NAS):

#!/bin/bash

# Get current day of month
DAY=$(date +%d)

# Send notification on the 8th (startup day)
if [ "$DAY" -eq "08" ]; then
    synodsmnotify @administrators "NAS Started" "Monthly scheduled startup completed"
fi

Complete Setup Example

Scenario: NAS should be ON from the 8th to the 13th of each month.

Setup:

  1. Smart Plug Schedule:
    • Power ON: 5:55 AM on the 8th
    • Power OFF: 11:30 PM on the 13th
  2. Synology Settings:
    • Enable "Restart automatically after power failure"
  3. Task Scheduler (Graceful Shutdown):
    • Monthly task on the 13th at 11:00 PM
    • Script: shutdown -h now
  4. Result:
    • 8th at 5:55 AM: Smart plug powers on, NAS boots automatically
    • 13th at 11:00 PM: Task Scheduler gracefully shuts down NAS
    • 13th at 11:30 PM: Smart plug cuts power (NAS already off, so no impact)

Troubleshooting

NAS doesn't wake via WOL:

  • Ensure WOL is enabled in DSM (Control Panel → Hardware & Power)
  • Check that your router isn't blocking broadcast packets
  • Try using the NAS's IP address instead of broadcast address
  • Verify the MAC address is correct
  • Some ISPs block WOL packets - test locally first

NAS doesn't boot after smart plug power-on:

  • Enable "Restart automatically after power failure" in DSM
  • Some models require BIOS setting changes (boot with monitor/keyboard attached)
  • Check that the power supply isn't in a fault state

Task Scheduler script doesn't run:

  • Verify the task is enabled
  • Check that the user is "root" for shutdown commands
  • Review Task Scheduler logs in Log Center

Summary

MethodDifficultyProsCons
Task Scheduler + WOLIntermediateGraceful shutdown, precise controlRequires WOL-capable device
Smart PlugEasySimple setup, no scriptingHard power cut if not combined with Task Scheduler
Advanced Power ManagerEasyNative solutionLimited model support, discontinued
Custom ScriptAdvancedMaximum flexibilityRequires bash knowledge

For most users, combining Task Scheduler (for graceful monthly shutdown) with a smart plug (for power-on scheduling) provides the most reliable solution with minimal complexity.