Readarr in Docker on a Synology NAS

Last updated on 10 October 2023

Please note if you are using DSM7.2 or higher you should use the Container Manager version of this guide from the menu.

This guide has reached the end of its updates as most people are now on the latest DSM update - This guide is correct as of 08/12/2023 however no further updates will be added.

Update	Date
Removed docker compose section as rarely used	18/07/2023

What is Readarr?

Readarr is an e-book and Audiobook collection manager for Usenet and BitTorrent users. It can monitor multiple RSS feeds for new books from your favourite authors and will interface with clients and indexers to grab, sort, and rename them.

Let’s Begin

In this guide I will take you through the steps to get Readarr up and running in Docker.

In order for you to successfully use this guide please complete the setting up a docker user guide, or have your ID details to hand.

• Step 1: Directory Setup Guide
• Step 2: Setting up a restricted Docker user
• Step 3: Setting up a Docker Bridge Network

Downloading the Readarr Image

Open up Docker within DSM and navigate to the ‘Registry’ tab and search for ‘Readarr’.

In the list of available containers select the one made by Linuxserver as shown below, right click on it and select ‘Download’ or click the button at the top of the window.

When the dialogue pops up asking you to choose a version, we are going to be using the ‘Develop’ branch as Readarr is still in development.

It can sometimes be hard to spot the correct version in the list – see the second screenshot below for it’s location

You can check the status of the download over on the ‘Image’ tab.

Setting up the container

In Docker click on the ‘Image’ tab, in the list of your containers select the ‘Linuxserver Readarr’ image and click on ‘Launch’

You will be greeted with the Network screen, we will be using the ‘synobridge’ network we created earlier select it from the list and click Next.

General Settings

Next you will be greeted with the General Settings screen, this is where you can start specifying some of your preferences.

You can change the name of the container to anything you like, and you may want to enable Auto Restart as this will ensure Readarr starts automatically if you reboot your NAS.

You will also notice a Configure capabilities button — don’t change anything in here!

Next up we are going to click on the ‘Advanced Settings’ button, this will take you to a new window with a number of tabs which we are going to work through.

Environment (PGID,  PUID and Timezone)

Next we are going to set up a couple of environment variables that docker will use to allow the container access to our files and folders and also to tell it where we live in the world.

Click the Add button, and fill in the following details as per the table/screenshot, you will need to do one at a time.

Variable	Value
PUID	The UID you obtained in the user setup guide
PGID	The GID you obtained in the user setup guide
TZ	Your timezone wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tz_database_time_zones

Links/Execution Commands

You do not need to set up anything on these tabs.

Press ‘Save’ to go back to the initial setup screen, then press ‘Next’

Port Settings

We won’t be changing any of the ports the container uses. You can repeat the ones shown on the right side of the settings page ‘Container Port’ onto the left side ‘Local Port’ once you have done this press ‘Next’.

Volume Settings

We will now be specifying the directories where Readarr will store its configuration files and where to store downloaded books

Click on Add Folder, click on the docker share and create a new sub-folder called ‘readarr’ select this folder and click ‘select’

Now add ‘/config’ to the ‘Mount path’ box

Click Add Folder again and this time select the top level ‘data’ share and click Select.

You will now enter ‘/data’ into the ‘Mount path’ box

Your path settings should now look like the table/screenshot below.

File/Folder	Mount path
docker/readarr	/config
data	/data

Click Next to move to the final screen.

Summary

You have now completed the setup of the container.

You will be shown an overall summary of the settings we have specified, this is a good time to double-check everything is correct. Finally, click on Done and the container should start to boot.

You should now be able to access Readarr via the IP of your NAS followed by the port 8787

e.g. 192.168.0.40:8787

Key Settings and FAQ

Now you have set up Readarr there are some key settings you will need to set as these often catch new users out. I will add more as they come up.

Media Management / Root Folders (Settings>Media Management)

Readarr refers to the place(s) you keep your Books and Audiobooks as Root Folders. These are where Readarr will ultimately move your book files once they finish downloading.

App	Root Folder
Readarr	/data/media/books

Download Clients (Settings > Download Clients>Remote Path Mappings)

While most of the settings on this page are self-explanatory something that has caught people out if the Remote Path Mappings setting. If you are hosting all your services on the same NAS do not add any settings here.

I can’t get Readarr to Connect to my Download Client!

When setting up your preferred download client or Prowlarr etc. Usually you will use the IP of your NAS, however if for whatever reason this is not working you can use http://172.20.0.1 which is the IP of the ‘synobridge’ gateway.

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Historic Updates	Date
New guide published	15/07/2022
Added new port settings and Docker Bridge Network	23/07/2022
Compose version number removed and small wording amendments	09/04/2023
Amended the path to save the compose file – this is for security, so the container has no access to the file contents.	14/04/2023

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