My Synology NAS became a home lab centerpiece with these 7 Docker containers

Your Synology network-attached storage (NAS) device may be designed for stashing files and backups, and maybe running an app or two, but it can become an incredibly versatile piece of kit with Docker containers. I started my home lab journey years ago with nothing more than a Synology NAS, and if I were to start fresh today, here are all the containers I would be running to create the ultimate NAS.

Manage containers on your Synology NAS

Portainer isn’t required to make the most of Docker containers, but it can aid you in gracefully managing them all. Synology has a first-party app called Container Manager, which does a decent job, but Portainer is one of the best Docker managers in the business. As well as being supported cross-platform, allowing you to enjoy the same Portainer UI on other hardware, it also has a few unique features that Synology’s app doesn’t. So long as you have ample system resources available for running containers, you can use Protainer to transform your Synology NAS into a powerhouse.

Portainer allows you to manage containers, network, user authentication, and registry settings from within the app for quick and convenient access. This makes it much easier to troubleshoot any issues that may arise. The addition of Kubernetes and Docker Swarm support is the icing on this sweet cake. You can start small with a Synology NAS at home and expand into a Swarm-powered cluster. That’s always the case with a home lab — you can never think too big. You will expand beyond the capabilities of existing hardware.

Farewell, Google Docs and Microsoft Office!

Your Synology NAS likely has the power to run a self-hosted Microsoft Office or Google Docs alternative called Nextcloud. This powerful suite of productivity tools is an incredible solution to creating and editing documents without relying on the cloud infrastructure of one of the big tech giants. Nextcloud offers all the features you’ve come to know, love, and expect from the big tech firms, and it’s all powered by your Synology NAS (or other home lab hardware). Whether you work with sensitive data or simply wish to improve privacy, Nextcloud is the self-hosted collaborative software solution for you.

And because Synology makes it easy to open up external access to the NAS, running Nextcloud on branded hardware is a great way to provide online document editing support for the LAN and outside world. Just make sure you employ a VPN or configure a reverse proxy to ensure security is tight. We’ve got a few guides right here on XDA to get you started. Once up and running, you can host your own Office platform without spending a single penny.

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Quick access to everything on your network

Accessing services running on your Synology NAS using the IP address and associated port number is fine to start with, but this approach can be overwhelmed when you add multiple services. If you’re rocking Jellyfin, Nextcloud, and Immich on the same NAS, you’ll need to remember the port numbers, but so will all your family members and any guests that arrive. Enter Homepage. This is a handy app that simply acts like a splash page of sorts, which can showcase data on various parameters and provide shortcuts to running services.

Configure it with a user-friendly URL, and you can provide guests and family members with valuable shortcuts to just about anything, Docker container services included. Homepage is much more than a simple shortcut aggregator, however. You can configure the app to ping specific services, add widgets using APIs to show specific data, and more. For my Homepage setup, I have widgets from Jellyfin, Immich, and OPNsense integrated, providing glanceable data on current streams, image database statistics, and how the firewall is performing, all on the same page.

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Back up all your photos and videos

When backing up photos and video from your mobile devices, OneDrive, Google Photos, and iCloud are three excellent solutions with the backing of the cloud. The issue is these services have limited storage capacity and you’re at the mercy of their security protocols, as well as your account credentials and two-factor authentication. We’ve all seen the stories of prominent figures having their cloud storage platforms hacked and all their data and media leaked, which is where Immich can save you some money and headaches by bringing everything internal.

Immich offers unlimited capacity (depending on how large your drives are) and an excellent feature set. It’s akin to having your very own Google Photos at home with facial recognition, cataloging, and much more. All that’s required is an app on all the devices you wish to back up, and Immich does the rest. There’s even a user account system and shared albums for allowing everyone within the household the option to back up their media to your cloud. I cannot recommend Immich enough for a Synology NAS and your home lab.

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Stream all your purchased media

Jellyfin is a great way to cut the cord with all your streaming services, which can cost a small fortune once multiple accounts have been created. Unfortunately, these providers often launch exclusive content, requiring you to activate a subscription to more than one streaming service to enjoy a wide range of media. There is a solution in the form of Jellyfin and purchasing content by other means. Instead of spending hours rummaging through Netflix, purchase some Blu-ray movies and access shows from providers where you can host it all yourself.

Jellyfin is very much like your own Netflix and Spotify service, and while Plex is usually the recommended go-to app for NAS and general servers, Jellyfin is also as powerful, with an emphasis on user-owned content and local services. Unlike streaming services, Jellyfin is completely self-hosted. User accounts are stored on your server. So long as you own the content, be it movies, shows, or music, you can store, catalog, and stream it anywhere using Jellyfin and one of the available first or third-party apps. It’ll save you considerably if you pay for multiple streaming accounts.

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Keep everything (and everyone) safe

Bitwarden is one of the best password managers for keeping your accounts safe with randomly generated passwords. Vaultwarden takes this to the next level by allowing you to self-host your own Bitwarden vault from home, providing full control over your stored credentials. Don’t feel too comfortable relying on companies to securely store all your user account credentials? Take back full control with Vaultwarden on your Synology NAS, and you can access your logins from anywhere with secure connections.

Using randomly generated passwords with all your online accounts is vital to ensure you have rock-solid protection against malicious attacks. Using Vaultwarden to host your Bitwarden vault and instance ensures that only you are responsible for your own data and security measures. With everything in the self-hosting world, you can then be as open or closed as you wish, using virtual private networks (VPNs), reverse proxies, and more to provide access to your secured vault. It’s a must-have for any security-conscious Synology NAS owner.

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Create a proper smart home you can be proud of

Home Assistant is simply incredible and is my all-time favorite Docker container and self-hosted service. This app allows you to connect and integrate all supported smart home and Internet-of-Things hardware and control everything through a single interface. Tired of having to switch between multiple apps to toggle on lights, power adapters, and other devices? Home Assistant can provide some much-needed assistance here, and it even supports automations. If only Amazon Alexa and other “smart” assistants could be so … well, smart.

Home Assistant boasts integration support with thousands of products, including brands such as Sonos, Philips, Ring, and many more. The best part about using Home Assistant to manage your smart devices is the completely free nature and ability to run everything locally. There’s even an official Home Assistant Voice, which is essentially an Alexa-like device but with full integration with Home Assistant (and all configured stacks) as well as local audio processing. The ultimate privacy solution for those looking to build a powerful and feature-rich home lab.

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Creating a home lab with a Synology NAS is easy

Using a Synology NAS is easy, and it’s even more straightforward to launch Docker containers, especially if you use Portainer. Once you’ve launched a few, it’ll become second nature and your home lab will only be limited by your imagination. These Docker containers will see you on the right path to create a powerful home lab for yourself and the family to enjoy, saving money in the process and enhancing your security and privacy. It’s a win-win!