Synology DSM Customization: Unlocking the Potential of NAS

image from unsplash

About

As you know, Synology NAS devices are based on the Linux kernel, but they have some function limitations that make installing applications not as easy as using package management systems like apt, yum, or dnf. Also, commands like usermod and groupadd don't actually exist on Synology NAS.

Sudo without Password (Option)

1. Eable SSH on Synology

1. Remove the need to enter a password each time sudo is used.

Log in to Synology DSM using ssh with an account that has sudo permissions.

$(whoami) is the current username, which is up to you.

Update the permission to read-only.

current_user=$(whoami)
echo "$current_user ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD: ALL" | sudo tee /etc/sudoers.d/"$current_user"
sudo chmod 440 /etc/sudoers.d/"$current_user"

Install Entware on Synology DSM

Entware has been adapted for Synology's DSM as a software repository.

1. Create a folder on your HDD

mkdir -p /volume1/@Entware/opt

1. Remove /opt and mount the Optware folder.

Make sure that the /opt folder is empty (Optware is not installed). Remove the /opt folder with its contents in this step.

rm -rf /opt
mkdir /opt
mount -o bind "/volume1/@Entware/opt" /opt

Note: If the bind command doesn't work, try creating a link instead:

ln -s /volume1/@Entware/opt/ /opt

1. Run the installation script depending on the processor (uname -m to know).

for armv8 (aarch64) - Realtek RTD129x

wget -O - https://bin.entware.net/aarch64-k3.10/installer/generic.sh | /bin/sh

for armv5

wget -O - https://bin.entware.net/armv5sf-k3.2/installer/generic.sh | /bin/sh

wget -O - https://bin.entware.net/armv7sf-k3.2/installer/generic.sh | /bin/sh

for x64

for armv7

wget -O - https://bin.entware.net/x64-k3.2/installer/generic.sh | /bin/sh

1. Create Autostart Task

Create a triggered user-defined task in Task Scheduler.

Goto: DSM > Control Panel > Task Scheduler
Create > Triggered Task > User Defined Script
General
Task: Entware
User: root
Event: Boot-up
Pretask: none
Task Settings
Run Command: (as bellow)

#!/bin/sh

# Mount/Start Entware
mkdir -p /opt
mount -o bind "/volume1/@Entware/opt" /opt
/opt/etc/init.d/rc.unslung start

# Add Entware Profile in Global Profile
if grep  -qF  '/opt/etc/profile' /etc/profile; then
    echo "Confirmed: Entware Profile in Global Profile"
else
    echo "Adding: Entware Profile in Global Profile"
cat >> /etc/profile <<"EOF"

# Load Entware Profile
[ -r "/opt/etc/profile" ] && . /opt/etc/profile
EOF
fi

# Update Entware List
/opt/bin/opkg update

1. Reboot your NAS.

Install Packages

Install all the packages through opkg

sudo opkg install git git-http wget curl tree iperf3

This installs Git, Git over HTTP, wget, curl, tree, and iperf3 packages using the opkg package manager with superuser privileges.

Manage Docker Without Using Sudo

Manage Docker on Synology NAS via ssh without requiring sudo.

1. Create a new user group called docker.

sudo synogroup --add docker

1. Add the user you want to use to this group

sudo synogroup --member docker $USER

1. Change the ownership of the docker.sock file.

sudo chown root:docker /var/run/docker.sock

Once have completed these steps, log out and back in again to ensure the changes take effect.

Install VIM-PLUG on Synology DSM

1. Download plug.vim and put it in the "autoload" directory.

curl -fLo ~/.vim/autoload/plug.vim --create-dirs \
    https://raw.githubusercontent.com/junegunn/vim-plug/master/plug.vim

1. Add a vim-plug section to your ~/.vimrc.

cat >> ~/.vimrc << EOF
call plug#begin()
Plug 'vim-airline/vim-airline'
Plug 'vim-airline/vim-airline-themes'
Plug 'tpope/vim-commentary'
Plug 'scrooloose/nerdtree'
Plug 'joshdick/onedark.vim'
call plug#end()

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
" Keyboard mapping to toggle the nerdtree file explorer.

nnoremap <F5> :exec 'NERDTreeToggle' <CR>

" => Colors and Fonts
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
" Enable syntax highlighting
syntax enable

" Set colorscheme
set background=dark

" Set utf8 as standard encoding and en_US as the standard language
set encoding=utf8

" Use Unix as the standard file type
set ffs=unix,dos,mac

" Enable status bar color
set t_Co=256

"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
" Vim Airline themes
let g:airline_powerline_fonts=1
let g:airline#extensions#tabline#enabled=1

" Vim Cpp Highlight
let g:cpp_class_scope_highlight=1
let g:cpp_member_variable_highlight=1
let g:cpp_experimental_simple_template_highlight=1
let g:cpp_concepts_highlight=1
EOF

1. Reload .vimrc and install plugins.

Open vi editor

:PlugInstall 

Commands

Conclusion

Entware, managing Docker without requiring sudo, and installing packages using opkg. This is a useful for users looking to customize on Synology NAS devices.

Reference

• Install on Synology NAS
• Manage docker without needing sudo on your Synology NAS
• VIM-PLUG