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# Special Instructions for Installing with Docker on Synology NAS (Intel/AMD)

Make sure the Docker package is installed on your compatible (x86_64/amd64 architecture) Synology NAS. You can install the package from the Package Center application.

1. Make a subdirectory tree to contain Reactor's data and configuration files. This can be anywhere on your NAS to which you have access, such as your user home directory. You can use other directories, even on other volumes, if you choose. If uncertain right now, just create a `reactor` subdirectory in your home directory, and then create two additional directories underneath that: `data` for your configuration, rules and states; and `reactor-ext` for any extensions you need to install (now or future).

       Home Directory
            |
            +---- reactor/
                     |
                     +---- data/
                     |
                     +---- reactor-ext/

2. Open Docker by clicking the Open button under the Docker item in the Package Center of your NAS;

3. In the Docker app, go to the Registry, and search for `toggledbits`. The listing for `toggledbits/reactor:latest-amd64` should come up. Click the row, and then click the Download button;

4. Click the Image tab in the left navigation area of the Docker window, and you'll see the downloaded image. Click that row;

5. Click the Launch button to open the container creation dialog;

6. Adjust the `Container Name` if you wish. The `High Privilege` and `Resource Limitation` checkboxes should be left off. Leave all other settings at their defaults for now;

7. Click the Advanced Settings button. On the Advanced Settings dialog that comes up are several tabs... we'll work through these one at a time...

8. On the Advanced Settings tab, turn on the Enable auto-restart checkbox. Then click the Volume tab header;

9. On the Volume tab, click Add Folder. Then, under `File/Folder`, navigate to and select the `data` subdirectory you created earlier to contain your Reactor data. Under `Mount Path`, enter `/var/reactor`. Do not check the read only checkbox. Then...

10. One more time, on the Volume tab, click Add Folder. Then, under `File/Folder`, navigate to and select the `reactor-ext` subdirectory you created earlier. Under `Mount Path`, enter `/opt/reactor/ext`. Do not check the read only checkbox. When ready, click the Network tab header;

11. The Network Name listed should be `bridge`; add it if it's not there. Then click the Port Settings tab header;

12. On the Port Settings tab, the `Container Port` should show `8111`. The `Local Port` must also show `8111`; if it does not (e.g. it shows `Auto` or something else), click on the `Local Port` and change it to `8111`. If you are going to use SSL/TLS for access to the Reactor UI and/or API, also add port 8554 (or whatever port you plan to configure). Click on the Environment tab header;

13. On the Environment tab, add a variable called `TZ` and enter the canonical name of your local timezone, which is of the form `area_name/locale_name` (e.g. `America/New_York` or `Europe/Prague`. If you don't know it, you can browse this list. Also make sure the `PORT` environment variable agrees with the port assigned on the Network tab (8111 is the default);

14. Click Apply to save your settings. This will close the Advanced Settings dialog and take you back to Create Container;

15. Click Next and you'll see a summary of the container configuration. Turn on the Run this container after the wizard is finished checkbox and click Apply to start Reactor.

After a few seconds to create the container and start it up, you should be able to browse to port 8111 on your NAS and see the Reactor UI: `http://your-nas-IP:8111/`

In the next steps, you'll be doing configuration by modifying the configuration files. These files are located in the Reactor data directory you created, in the `config` subdirectory. Any reference in other instructions to `logs`, `config` or other subdirectories will mean a subdirectory in your Reactor data directory. When asked to stop and start your container, you can just use the on/off slider in the Docker container list on the Reactor container's row.

You may now proceed to Concepts & Terminology, where you'll learn some basics about Reactor's objects, and then start to configure your hubs/controllers and get access to their devices.

## Upgrading the Container

When new versions of the image are released, you can upgrade your container as follows:

1. Open Docker by clicking the Open button under the Docker item in the Package Center of your NAS;
2. In the Docker app, go to the Registry, and search for `toggledbits`. The listing for `toggledbits/reactor` should come up. Click that row, and then click the Download button;
3. Go to the Containers list;
4. Click on your Reactor container;
5. Choose Reset from the Action dropdown (this is Clear on Docker apps earlier than 20.10.3-0554);
6. Start the container.
7. Go to your Reactor UI, hard-refresh your browser, and then confirm in the Reactor UI that the version/build number shown (upper-right corner) is that of the expected build.

Updated 2026-Jun-22