How to Host UniFi Controller on Synology Using Docker

This tutorial goes over how to host the UniFi Controller Application on a Synology NAS using docker. This means you do not need to buy a cloud key!
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#synology #unifi #docker
Links in video:
LinuxServer package: docs.linuxserver.io/images/do...
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TOC
00:00 Introduction
00:48 Install Docker/Container Manager
01:57 What Ports You Need
03:23 Configure Ports and Settings
04:46 Deploy
06:02 Login to UniFi Account or Setup Locally
06:56 Link Synology to UniFi Devices
09:42 Configure Backups
10:59 Conclusion

[@timmark4190]

Thanks. Can you do a part 2 where you migrate from an existing controller to this newly created controller?

[@Saintel]

I can not tell you how helpful this was! Thank you!

[@kearneyIT]

we want more of this Rex please. keep more coming

[@drheili]

Thank You @spacerex. Excellent as always.

[@JH______]

Hi Will! Thank you for this video. linuxserver/unifi-controller has been deprecated as of 1/1/24. linuxserver/unifi-network-application was created to replace it but requires another container running mondodb. Can you create an updated video that migrates to this non-deprecated container software?

[@tolle.grandefors]

Thank you! This was a great explanation. This helped me start.

[@MrAntonioTech]

This is awesome! I found your channel today and you got yourself a new subscriber. Excellent videos.

[@PaulThompsonPaulyWog]

Love your videos on Synology setup. I had a UniFi controller running on a Win11 VM and really wanted to get rid of it. This worked out great. I did have to use an older UniFi container because I have older access points but I did get it to work. Now I can shut down that bloated Windows 11 VM. Thanks!

[@misubear]

Great job on the vid...works for upgrades as well.

[@declde]

I tried different docker installs and all gave me HTTP 404 errors, but the one you picked actually worked! Restored backup and immediately up and running :)

[@member1138]

Thank you so much for leaving the scene showing that the web portal wasn't available because the container hadn't fully initialize. I am right now rebuilding my network and I could not get web access. I thought it was because I could not create a web portal in web station--right after you create the container in Synology's new container manager, it sends you to web station to make a web portal but 8443 was always in use. I must have reinstalled everything five times! Only after watching your video did I realize that maybe the container was initialized even though container manager was showing it as up and running and healthy. I was wondering why all the how-to pages/videos were not showing web station. You have saved my sanity, Good Sir!

[@cybermousey]

You solved an issue I had. Apparently I needed to set the "Inform Host". Once I did, I got my UAP adopted properly and working.

[@OttoSkov]

Thanks for a great video. :)

[@droneforfun5384]

Thank you Will/from 🇸🇪

[@jcarlosaguilerac]

buen video me ayudó mucho. gracias...

[@Trinit4z]

Thanks nice and easy

[@Trinit4z]

Question how do you update the software, is it by deleting the container and installing a newer version?

[@tomRX4878]

Why do you take the linuxserver image over the jacobalberty image most guides take? Any technical reasons? And why are you not using the docker-compose information from linuxserver with the new project feature? Thanks.

[@hurd23]

Awesome vid keep up the good work. Your videos always help!

[@zate251]

Thank you

[@supernumex]

Could you do a tutorial on how to get your own domain names and use it for various things (e.g nas) without the web browser warning popping up.

[@marcobastardo9277]

Thanks

[@tengelgeer]

Mm, unifi-controller is now replaced with unifi-network-application but with an external db container it's not as simple anymore :/ Could you help with a guide and/or docker compose to run both?

[@juliendufour4513]

HI, thank you for your videos, they are very helpful to understand a lots of topics. One issue I have is when Mac is connected to the NAS with both 1gbe and 10gbe, how do I make it switch automatically to 10gbe?

[@KrisKaczmarekaus]

Hi, thanks for the video, great help! I was wondering if you have a video on how to update the UNIFI Network controller in a Container Manager (old Docker) in Synology?

[@rogerbuckthal5053]

Nice video, thanks. I am moving from a CloudKey Gen 1. Do I just export, and import? Do I need to set the Inform Host? First, or after inport? if i set it first, will existing devices connect to the wrong controller?

[@kungvubeatmaking3401]

Thank you very much for this helpful video. I followed step by step and made the controller work but my Access Point does not show up to be adopted. What could be the most likely reason for this? I have an external router with pfsense. Do I need to open the 8443 etc. ports also here for it to work? Since I never had the ubiquity controller until now I made the initial set up for my access point via the iOS app. Could this also be a reason for it not showing up? Had to restart and reset the AP and also erase a static IP which I had set for the AP. Then I could adopt it in the controller. Runs smoothly now. Thanks again for the tutorial.

[@newmodder6543]

Im inspired now to do the same but rather run it in a Kubernetes cluster instead of docker-compose. It could be sweet to use a AWS RDS service as a volume claim as well 🤔

[@OttoSkov]

It would be great if you would make a video with Airsonic too.

[@sh03man13]

Hey! Great video! Quick question not directly related to the video, but more about moving over to container manager - will there be any migration process from docker, or will everything continue running as is after updating dsm?

[@SpaceRexWill]

No migration necessary! Basically same app with a new skin

[@CarlRyds]

Is it just the Network controller you can self-host in this way or can you do Protect and Access too? With this do you still need a Ubiquity Gateway?

[@souk-tv]

Is the unify software solely to configure the US model ubiquiti devices (switches, access points etc)? Is it primarily a configuration / monitoring application? And.. Is it specifically needed if I bought a ubiquiti switch if the model name started with US, or can you still configure those range of switches for example without the Unify software. Also, is the software free and can I just use it on windows to configure the devices and then close the application down or does it absolutely need to be left running? I ask as I've never used that brand before.

[@Luke85674]

How do you update to the latest network application release?

[@terran329]

Can you show how to run the docker container on a specific interface or IP? My old cloud key died and I'm trying to replace it and I also do not want the ports used by unifi to collide with any other services I'm using on my synology.

[@be-kind00]

Can you please do a video on how to do this on truenas scale?

[@gerdjanssen]

Hi, I can't seem to find this package and the packages i found on unify don't seem to work properly. What repository are you using? I have the standard Synology packages installed (or better use the standard repository).

[@vernonnicholls]

Hey, Error message receieved that no matter what ports I use, system says Local port conflicts with other ports. Using DSM 7.2 Running Container manager. Thoughts?

[@rogerbuckthal5053]

Worked great.... but how do i update the Unifi controller?

[@rastiosk7003]

Hi how do we update to 8.0.26? Looks like thing have changed. Thank you

[@acideye]

Awesome! Got unifi currently setup on laptop. What’s the easiest way to move it to the new environment? Or is is better to blow away old site/configuration, un-adopt the hardware, then setup new site and re-adopt hardware?

[@SpaceRexWill]

You can follow the migration steps! actually really easy to do!

[@YellowFuji]

It looks like this container is being depreciated. The new one does not include the MongoDB in the docker. Any chance you can show us how to set this up with the new container?

[@teddyb4168]

I had to select docker as host for this to actually work and not give Cannot configure application error

[@KlaasjanM]

Nice video, thank you, i have the UDM, but i want to use the protect on my nas (i don't want to buy the gen key2). Are there recent protect packages on the Synology nas. F.Y.I. i need to buy firts a new synology nas., my current synology nas does not support docker.

[@FE59FE59]

If I'm not mistaken, the UDM has it's own Controller build in.

[@KlaasjanM]

@@FE59FE59 the UDM has no protect, only the UDM Pro

[@DarkoTuning43]

Hi, one question, I have one Ubiquiti AP in my local network, connected to switch from other brand, can I use controller on NAS like you on this video? Thank you

[@SpaceRexWill]

Yes you can

[@DarkoTuning43]

@@SpaceRexWill Thank you, your videos are really helpfull.

[@drheili]

A stand alone AP will work perfectly with non-unifi switches and the controller on the Nas. It's that way in my house.

[@DarkoTuning43]

@@drheili I know, I used as standalone AP, but with controller you have more options, basic insights etc.. 🙂

[@ibclay1433]

Nice shirt. Where did you buy it?

[@leecurcio6132]

Can i use the unifi controller even though I don't have unifi products? I like the UI

[@SpaceRexWill]

You cannot

[@TazzSmk]

I apologize in advance for being UniFi noob, but I wonder if such thing can be self-hosted, then what would be reason to buy something like UniFi Dream Machine SE instead?

[@SpaceRexWill]

Dream machines also act as your router, and can store video recodings as well. What this really replaces (as long as you dont have cameras) is the cloud key

[@FE59FE59]

After setting up my UniFi Controller on my Synology, I noticed that, I order to add an AP, I need to have a netwoking console?! So without a Unifi switch is this controller pretty useless for me. Guess I'll have to buy a UDM or UDR, which I planned to do anyway, just not yet now :( And with a UDM or UDR, they are already a Controller, so this again will make my Synology Unifi Controller obsolete ...

[@SpaceRexWill]

This should run an AP just fine

[@Benevolent_Deity]

just some viewer input the transition every time you swapped your focus form you to screen was extremely distracting

[@kowabundant]

Can you install Let's encrypt SSL cert or is that needed as Synology has a cert already? kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqW1f5uhbbqrhs0

[@user-ed8uf5gx4p]

You go to fast didn’t work

[@mitchellsmith4601]

WHY are you using Ubiquiti products? Their security is terrible, and their support is almost nonexistent. How can you, in good faith, recommend any of their products to your clients. There are so many good alternatives.

[@starfoxBR77]

QQ, for you sr. I went full TP-Link Omada and unfortunately the software is too buggy and limited. I'm doing a lot of research an almost decided for keeping the Omada for APs and change the router aside for OPNSense. Could you share your opinion? Tks

[@jordanmendoza6000]

Everybody recommends ubiquiti, very interesting your point

[@Deek6923]

Unifi is the best shut up

[@SpaceRexWill]

Why do you believe unifi is insecure? As for poor support, I completely agree, but when you look at the price point compared to Cisco, it’s a no brainer. No licenses, and still wayyy cheaper. If you are worried about pro support for the savings you can just buy two of everything and have a cold spare and still come out cheaper

[@mikereadinguk2879]

@@starfoxBR77I switched from a Unifi USG to Opnsense. Very reliable and features rich. Works very well with the rest of my Unifi kit - access points and switches and the Unifi controller running as a virtual machine on my Synology NAS.