Sonarr in Docker on a Synology NAS

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 Sonarr?

Sonarr is used to search, download and organise your TV shows in conjunction with your preferred Usenet or Torrent downloaders and indexers.

Let’s Begin

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

As usual, it’s important you complete the three preceding guides which will get your folder structure and docker, user and bridge network setup.

• Step 0.5 : Docker, Memory Recommendations and Limitations
• Step 1: Directory Setup Guide
• Step 2: Setting up a restricted Docker user
• Step 3: Setting up a Docker Bridge Network

Downloading the Sonarr Image

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

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, make sure you choose ‘Latest’ from the list.

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 Sonarr’ 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 Sonarr 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 Command

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 Sonarr will store its configuration files and where to find our media and downloads.

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

Repeat this process to add the /data folder.

You will now add the below settings into the ‘Mount path’ section

File/Folder	Mount path
docker/sonarr	/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 Sonarr via the IP of your NAS followed by the port 8989

e.g. 192.168.0.40:8989

Key Settings and FAQ

Now you have set up Sonarr 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)

Sonarr refers to the place(s) you keep your TV shows as Root Folders. These are where Sonarr will ultimately move your series episodes to once they finish downloading.

App	Root Folder
Sonarr	/data/media/tv

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 Sonarr 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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Update History	Date
Added Docker Compose details Added new folder mappings to ensure atomic moves and Hard-linking	03/05/2021
Guide re-written and updated with DSM7 screenshots	01/08/2021
Updated wording in some sections and updated the Docker Compose	16/12/2021
DSM7.1 Updated Screenshots and Steps	03/06/2022
Added new port settings and Docker Bridge Network	24/07/2022
Compose version number removed and small wording amendments	08/04/2023
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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