BetterDesk/docs/setup/SYNOLOGY_INSTALLATION.md

BetterDesk Installation on Synology DSM

This guide covers installing BetterDesk on Synology NAS devices using Docker (Container Manager).

Prerequisites

• Synology NAS with Docker/Container Manager support (DSM 7.0+)
• Container Manager package installed from Package Center
• SSH access to your NAS (optional, for advanced setup)
• At least 2GB RAM available for containers

Method 1: Portainer Installation (Recommended)

If you have Portainer installed on your Synology:

Step 1: Install Portainer (if not already installed)

1. Open Container Manager → Registry
2. Search for portainer/portainer-ce
3. Download the latest tag
4. Create a container with:
   • Port: 9000:9000 (web UI)
   • Volume: /docker/portainer:/data
5. Start the container and access Portainer at http://[NAS-IP]:9000

Step 2: Deploy BetterDesk Stack

1. In Portainer, go to Stacks → Add stack
2. Name: betterdesk
3. Paste the following docker-compose configuration:

version: '3.8'

services:
  betterdesk:
    build:
      context: https://github.com/UNITRONIX/Rustdesk-FreeConsole.git
      dockerfile: Dockerfile
    container_name: betterdesk
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "21114:21114"   # HTTP API
      - "21115:21115"   # NAT test
      - "21116:21116"   # Signal TCP/UDP
      - "21116:21116/udp"
      - "21117:21117"   # Relay
      - "21118:21118"   # WebSocket signal
      - "21119:21119"   # WebSocket relay
      - "5000:5000"     # Web Console
    volumes:
      - /volume1/docker/betterdesk/data:/opt/betterdesk/data
    environment:
      - ADMIN_PASSWORD=YourSecurePassword123!
      - DB_TYPE=sqlite

4. Click Deploy the stack

Step 3: Access the Console

• Web Console: http://[NAS-IP]:5000
• Default login: admin / YourSecurePassword123!

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Method 2: Container Manager Only (No Portainer)

Step 1: Download Images

1. Open Container Manager → Registry
2. Search for golang and download 1.22-bookworm
3. Search for node and download 20-bookworm-slim

Step 2: Clone Repository via SSH

# SSH into your Synology
ssh admin@[NAS-IP]

# Create directory
sudo mkdir -p /volume1/docker/betterdesk
cd /volume1/docker/betterdesk

# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/UNITRONIX/Rustdesk-FreeConsole.git .

Step 3: Build Images

# Build the single container image
cd /volume1/docker/betterdesk
sudo docker build -t betterdesk:latest -f Dockerfile .

Step 4: Create Container in Container Manager

1. Go to Container Manager → Container → Create

2. Image: betterdesk:latest

3. Container name: betterdesk

4. Enable auto-restart: Yes

5. Port Settings:

   Local Port	Container Port	Type
   21114	21114	TCP
   21115	21115	TCP
   21116	21116	TCP
   21116	21116	UDP
   21117	21117	TCP
   21118	21118	TCP
   21119	21119	TCP
   5000	5000	TCP

6. Volume Settings:

   Folder	Mount Path
   /volume1/docker/betterdesk/data	/opt/betterdesk/data

7. Environment Variables:

   Variable	Value
   ADMIN_PASSWORD	YourSecurePassword123!
   DB_TYPE	sqlite

8. Click Done to create the container

---

Method 3: docker-compose via SSH

Step 1: Prepare Files

# SSH into Synology
ssh admin@[NAS-IP]

# Create directories
sudo mkdir -p /volume1/docker/betterdesk/data
cd /volume1/docker/betterdesk

# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/UNITRONIX/Rustdesk-FreeConsole.git .

Step 2: Create docker-compose.yml

cat > docker-compose.synology.yml << 'EOF'
version: '3.8'

services:
  betterdesk:
    build:
      context: .
      dockerfile: Dockerfile
    container_name: betterdesk
    restart: unless-stopped
    network_mode: host
    volumes:
      - ./data:/opt/betterdesk/data
    environment:
      - ADMIN_PASSWORD=${ADMIN_PASSWORD:?Set ADMIN_PASSWORD before starting}
      - DB_TYPE=sqlite
      - TZ=Europe/Warsaw
EOF

Step 3: Deploy

# Set admin password
export ADMIN_PASSWORD='YourSecurePassword123!'

# Build and start
sudo docker-compose -f docker-compose.synology.yml up -d --build

# Check logs
sudo docker logs -f betterdesk

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Firewall Configuration

If your Synology has a firewall enabled, allow these ports:

Port	Protocol	Description
5000	TCP	Web Console
21114	TCP	HTTP API
21115	TCP	NAT test
21116	TCP/UDP	Signal Server
21117	TCP	Relay Server
21118	TCP	WebSocket Signal
21119	TCP	WebSocket Relay

DSM Firewall Settings:

1. Control Panel → Security → Firewall
2. Create rules to allow the ports above from your LAN

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RustDesk Client Configuration

Configure your RustDesk clients to connect:

1. Open RustDesk client
2. Go to Settings → Network
3. Set ID Server: [NAS-IP]:21116
4. Set Relay Server: [NAS-IP]:21117
5. Set API Server: http://[NAS-IP]:21114
6. Import the Public Key from the web console

---

Updating BetterDesk

Via SSH:

cd /volume1/docker/betterdesk
git pull
sudo docker-compose -f docker-compose.synology.yml up -d --build

Via Portainer:

1. Go to Stacks → betterdesk
2. Click Pull and redeploy

---

Troubleshooting

Container won't start

# Check logs
sudo docker logs betterdesk

# Verify ports are free
sudo netstat -tlnp | grep -E '21114|21115|21116|21117|21118|21119|5000'

Permission issues

Containers run as betterdesk with UID/GID 10001 by default. On Synology bind mounts, set PUID/PGID to the DSM folder owner instead of forcing chown to 10001:

environment:
  - PUID=1000013   # id -u of the share owner
  - PGID=1000001   # id -g of the share owner

Or align the host directory with the container identity:

# Default image identity
sudo chown -R 10001:10001 /volume1/docker/betterdesk/data

# Or match whatever PUID/PGID you set in compose
sudo chown -R "${PUID:-10001}:${PGID:-10001}" /volume1/docker/betterdesk/data

Do not use Compose user: — it breaks the entrypoint su-exec / volume-fix flow.

Can't connect from RustDesk client

1. Verify firewall rules allow the ports
2. Check if your router forwards the ports (for external access)
3. Ensure the public key is correctly imported in the client

DSM 7.2+ Container Manager issues

If Container Manager doesn't show build options:

1. Use SSH method to build images
2. Or use Portainer for full Docker functionality

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Resource Recommendations

Deployment	RAM	CPU
Small (< 50 devices)	512MB	1 core
Medium (50-200 devices)	1GB	2 cores
Large (200+ devices)	2GB+	2+ cores

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Support

• GitHub Issues: https://github.com/UNITRONIX/Rustdesk-FreeConsole/issues
• Documentation: https://github.com/UNITRONIX/Rustdesk-FreeConsole/tree/main/docs