Easily Find Your Docker GUID on Synology NAS: A Step-by-Step Guide

Setting up Docker containers on your Synology NAS can greatly enhance its functionality, especially when using applications like PhotoStructure. A crucial step in this process, particularly for managing permissions and ensuring smooth operation, is identifying the correct User ID (PUID) and Group ID (GUID) for your Docker user. While the official PhotoStructure documentation provides instructions, they may not be fully optimized for the latest Synology DSM versions or performance considerations.

This guide expands upon the existing knowledge and offers a streamlined, GUI-based method to find your Docker GUID on a Synology NAS. We’ll also touch upon best practices for user setup and performance tweaks, drawing insights from experienced users.

Creating a Dedicated User for Docker (Best Practice)

Before diving into finding your GUID, it’s highly recommended to create a dedicated user specifically for Docker applications. This practice enhances security and allows for granular control over permissions. By isolating Docker processes under a unique user, you can limit potential security risks and manage access to your NAS resources more effectively.

In the original article, the user created dockerphstr. Following this approach, you can create a user (e.g., docker-apps, docker-user) through your Synology Control Panel. Grant this user necessary permissions to shared folders containing data you intend to use with Docker containers, such as your photo library or Docker configuration files. Crucially, restrict access to other sensitive shared folders and applications to minimize potential security vulnerabilities.

This principle aligns with the recommendations from experts like Dr. Frankenstein, who advocates for restricted Docker users to improve system security. While a single user for all Docker containers might simplify permission management in some scenarios, creating separate users for different containers offers a more robust security posture.

Effortlessly Find Your Docker PUID and GUID on Synology NAS via GUI

Traditionally, finding your PUID and GUID on Synology required using SSH and command-line operations. However, Synology’s DSM provides a convenient way to run commands directly through the GUI, eliminating the need for SSH access. This method, inspired by Marius Hosting but simplified for efficiency, leverages the Task Scheduler to execute commands and view their output.

Here’s how to find your Docker user’s PUID and GUID using the Synology GUI:

1. Open Control Panel: Navigate to your Synology Control Panel.

2. Access Task Scheduler: Go to “Task Scheduler” and click “Create” then “Scheduled Task” and select “User-defined script”.

3. Configure General Settings: In the “General” tab, uncheck the “Enabled” box to prevent the task from running automatically.

4. Name Your Task: Give your task a descriptive name, such as getUserIDs or findDockerGUID.

5. Enter Command in Task Settings: Go to the “Task Settings” tab and enter the following command in the “User-defined script” box to find the PUID and GUID of your dedicated Docker user (replace dockerphstr with your actual username):

   id dockerphstr

   To retrieve IDs for all non-system users, you can use this command:

   for user in $(awk -F':' '$3>999 && $3<9999 {print $1}' /etc/passwd); do id $user; done

6. Click OK: Save the task configuration by clicking “OK”.

7. Run the Task: Select the newly created task in the Task Scheduler and click “Run”.

8. View Results: To see the output of the command, click “Action” and then “View Result”.

By examining the output in the “View Result” window (you may need to click “View Details” for the full output), you will find the uid= value, which is your PUID, and the gid= value, which is your GUID. In the example screenshots, the PUID is 1030 and the GUID is 100.

Optimizing PhotoStructure Performance on Synology (Further Exploration)

Once you have your PUID and GUID, you can properly configure your Docker containers, including PhotoStructure, for optimal performance and permissions. While the original article and linked forum discussions (Import and resync faster on Docker NAS?) mention potential performance adjustments, specific recommendations vary depending on your Synology model and CPU.

For users seeking to maximize PhotoStructure’s import and rebuild speeds on Synology NAS, it’s advisable to explore PhotoStructure’s advanced settings (PhotoStructure | PhotoStructure’s advanced settings) and experiment with parameters relevant to resource allocation and processing. Further research and community discussions specific to your Synology NAS model (like DS920+ and similar CPUs) will provide tailored insights for performance tuning.

Conclusion

Finding your Docker GUID on Synology NAS is simplified with the GUI-based Task Scheduler method outlined in this guide. By creating a dedicated Docker user and utilizing this technique, you can efficiently set up and manage your Docker containers, including PhotoStructure, ensuring proper permissions and laying the groundwork for performance optimization. Remember to consult application-specific documentation and community resources for further fine-tuning and advanced configurations.