How to Install FreeScout on Your Synology NAS

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How to Install FreeScout on Your Synology NAS

FreeScout is the super lightweight and powerful free open source help desk and shared inbox written in PHP (Laravel framework). It is a self hosted clone of HelpScout. Now you can enjoy free Zendesk & Help Scout without giving up privacy or locking you into a service you don’t control. The things I like the most about FreeScout are its speed, the way it’s coded and, last but not least, the privacy it offers. In this step by step guide I will show you how to install FreeScout on your Synology NAS using Docker & Portainer.

💡Note: This guide works perfectly with the latest FreeScout 1.8.158 release.

  • STEP 1

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  • STEP 2

Install Portainer using my step by step guide. If you already have Portainer installed on your Synology NAS, skip this STEP. Attention: Make sure you have installed the latest Portainer version.

  • STEP 3

Make sure you have a synology.me Wildcard Certificate. Follow my guide to get a Wildcard Certificate. If you already have a synology.me Wildcard certificate, skip this STEP.

  • STEP 4

Go to Control Panel / Login Portal / Advanced Tab / click Reverse Proxy. Follow the instructions in the image below.

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 1

  • STEP 5

Now click the “Create” button. Follow the instructions in the image below.

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 2

  • STEP 6

After you click the Create button, the window below will open. Follow the instructions in the image below.

On the General area, set the Reverse Proxy Name description: type in FreeScout. After that, add the following instructions:

Source:
Protocol: HTTPS
Hostname: freescout.yourname.synology.me
Port: 443

Check Enable HSTS

Destination:
Protocol: HTTP
Hostname: localhost
Port: 5135

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 3

  • STEP 7

On the Reverse Proxy Rules click the Custom Header tab. Click Create and then, from the drop-down menu, click WebSocket. After you click on WebSocket, two Header Names and two Values will be automatically added. Click Save. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Synology Proxy WebSocket

  • STEP 8

Go to Control Panel / Network / Connectivity tab/ Check Enable HTTP/2 then click Apply. Follow the instructions in the image below.

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 4

  • STEP 9

Go to Control Panel / Security / Advanced tab/ Check Enable HTTP Compression then click Apply. Follow the instructions in the image below.

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 5

  • STEP 10

Go to File Station and open the docker folder. Inside the docker folder, create one new folder and name it freescout. Follow the instructions in the image below.
Note: Be careful to enter only lowercase, not uppercase letters.

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 6

  • STEP 11

Now create three new folders inside the freescout folder that you created at STEP 10 and name them logs, db, data. Follow the instructions in the image below.
Note: Be careful to enter only lowercase, not uppercase letters.

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 7

  • STEP 12

Log into Portainer using your username and password. On the left sidebar in Portainer, click on Stacks then + Add stack. Follow the instructions in the image below.

1 Synology Portainer Add Stack

  • STEP 13

In the Name field type in freescout. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Note: Copy Paste the code below in the Portainer Stacks Web editor.

services:
  db:
    image: mariadb:11.4-noble #LTS Long Time Support Until May 29, 2029.
    container_name: Freescout-DB
    hostname: freescout-db
    mem_limit: 1g
    cpu_shares: 768
    security_opt:
      - no-new-privileges:false
    volumes:
      - /volume1/docker/freescout/db:/var/lib/mysql:rw
    environment:
      MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD: rootpass
      MYSQL_USER: freescoutuser
      MYSQL_PASSWORD: freescoutpass
      MYSQL_DATABASE: freescout
      TZ: Europe/Bucharest
    restart: on-failure:5

  freescout:
    image: ghcr.io/tiredofit/docker-freescout:latest
    container_name: Freescout
    hostname: freescout
    mem_limit: 1g
    cpu_shares: 768
    security_opt:
      - no-new-privileges:true
    healthcheck:
      test: curl -f http://localhost:80/ || exit 1
    ports:
      - 5135:80
    volumes:
      - /volume1/docker/freescout/data:/data:rw
      - /volume1/docker/freescout/logs/:/www/logs:rw
    environment:
      ADMIN_EMAIL: yourown@email
      ADMIN_PASS: mariushosting
      SITE_URL: https://freescout.yourname.synology.me
      ENABLE_SSL_PROXY: true
      DB_HOST: freescout-db
      DB_NAME: freescout
      DB_USER: freescoutuser
      DB_PASS: freescoutpass
    restart: on-failure:5
    depends_on:
      db:
        condition: service_started

Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the value for TZ. (Select your current Time Zone from this list.)
Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the value for ADMIN_EMAIL and type in your own email address.
Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the value for ADMIN_PASS and add your own password. mariushosting is an example for a password. You have to insert your own password.
Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the value for SITE_URL and type in your own synology.me DDNS with https:// at the beginning that you have previously created at STEP 6.

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 8 new2 2027

  • STEP 14

Scroll down on the page until you see a button named Deploy the stack. Click on it. Follow the instructions in the image below. The installation process can take up to a few minutes. It will depend on your Internet speed connection.

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 9 new2 2027

  • STEP 15

If everything goes right, you will see the following message at the top right of your screen: “Success Stack successfully deployed“.

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 10

  • STEP 16

Go back to STEP 1 or you will deal with karma 🙂.

  • STEP 17

Now open your browser and type in your HTTPS/SSL certificate like this https://freescout.yourname.synology.me In my case it’s https://freescout.mariushosting.synology.me If everything goes right, you will see the FreeScout Login page. Type in your own Email address and Password that you have previously created at STEP 13, then click Login. Follow the instructions in the image below.

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 11

  • STEP 18

At the top left of the page click Manage, then Settings. Follow the instructions in the image below.

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 12

  • STEP 19

Follow my step by step guide on how to activate SMTP for your Gmail account. This step is mandatory. Note: If you don’t want to use the easiest way for SMTP with Google and you already have SMTP details from your own Mail Server, you can just skip this STEP and use your personalized email SMTP details instead.

  • STEP 20

On the left sidebar click Mail Settings. Add your own SMTP details that you have previously created at STEP 19 then click Save.

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 13

  • STEP 21

Test your own email. Type in your own email in the Send Test To field, then click Send Test. Follow the instructions in the image below.

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 14

  • STEP 22

If everything goes right, you will see the following message at the top center of your screen: “Email passed for delivery“. Follow the instructions in the image below.

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 15

  • STEP 23

Check your mailbox. The test email that reaches your Gmail will say: Congratulations! Your application can send emails!. Follow the instructions in the image below.

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 16

  • STEP 24

FreeScout is free, but you can buy some extra modules to improve your work (the modules are affordable). At the top left of the page click Manage then Modules. Follow the instructions in the image below.

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 17

  • STEP 25

For example, I have purchased the module “Dark Mode” that cost me only 3 EUR. By clicking View details you will be redirected to the FreeScout purchase page. After you pay, you will get a license key. Type in your License Key in the Get license key field then click Install Module. Follow the instructions in the image below.

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 18

  • STEP 26

After the module is installed, click Activate to activate it. Follow the instructions in the image below.

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 19

  • STEP 27

As you can see in the image below, the Dark Mode button will magically appear in your FreeScout dashboard right after Manage. Follow the instructions in the image below.

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 20

  • STEP 28

When you add a new Mailbox, you need to set up your own SMTP details to be able to send emails and your own IMAP details to be able to receive emails. Note: It’s mandatory to hit the Save Settings button once you add your own details.

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 21 new

IMAP details.

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 22 new

Your FreeScout dashboard at a glance!

FreeScout Synology NAS Set up 23

Enjoy FreeScout!

🆘TROUBLESHOOTING

If you encounter issues by using this container, make sure to check out the Common Docker issues article.

Note: Can I run Docker on my Synology NAS? See the supported models.
Note: How to Back Up Docker Containers on your Synology NAS.
Note: Find out how to update the FreeScout container with the latest image.
Note: How to Free Disk Space on Your NAS if You Run Docker.
Note: How to Schedule Start & Stop For Docker Containers.
Note: How to Activate Email Notifications.
Note: How to Add Access Control Profile on Your NAS.
Note: How to Change Docker Containers Restart Policy.
Note: How to Use Docker Containers With VPN.
Note: Convert Docker Run Into Docker Compose.
Note: How to Clean Docker.
Note: How to Clean Docker Automatically.
Note: Best Practices When Using Docker and DDNS.
Note: Some Docker Containers Need WebSocket.
Note: Find out the Best NAS Models For Docker.
Note: Activate Gmail SMTP For Docker Containers.

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