Install a Docker App Store on a Synology NAS (Runtipi)

A curve ball! Using Virtual Machine Manager to put Runtipi on an Alpine Linux Virtual Machine. This is a fun one to check. Runtipi is basically a Docker App Store. You can one-click install a lot of containers, including Pi-hole, Adguard, Invoice Ninja, Ghostfolio, Immich and a lot more.

It's a fun program and provides easy installation. You'll discover a lot of new apps. A few notes though. Synology makes security easy. I wouldn't put this virtual machine out there on the web (via a reverse proxy or opening up router ports to get there) as it's not too secure. If you're new to virual machines and Linux in general, just take that precaution. Accessing via a VPN such as tailscale is the safer option. If you don't do anything outside of what I've shown, this should only be available on your home LAN and should be relatively safe (make a good password!). And since it's a Virtual Machine you can mess around with it all you want and it will not harm your Synology NAS. It's completely isolated.

It's typically better to install docker apps through container manager. It will give you a better insight to how those apps are running and how to diagnose issues. It also allows docker containers easier access to Synology resources, and doesn't require a VM which does need resources that take away from your NAS whether it's using them or not. Plex and Jellyfin can't use the Intel iGPU for transcoding if you're running them through a VM on a Synology NAS (I think?). But for running some low overhead apps that are kind of a pain to install on a Synology NAS (looking at you Invoice Ninja) this gives you an easy-ish option.