Apache Guacamole is a clientless remote desktop gateway. It supports standard protocols like VNC, RDP, and SSH. We call it clientless because no plugins or client software are required. Thanks to HTML5, once Guacamole is installed on a server, all you need to access your desktops is a web browser. Because the Guacamole client is an HTML5 web application, use of your computers is not tied to any one device or location. As long as you have access to a web browser, you have access to your machines. In this step by step guide I will show you how to install Guacamole on your Synology NAS using Docker.

💡Note: This guide works perfectly with the latest Guacamole 1.5.5 release.

💡Note: Check out my new guide on how to Install Guacamole Using Portainer.

• STEP 1

Please Support My work by Making a Donation.

• STEP 2

Install Container Manager via Synology “Package Center”. If you run an older DSM version (under 7.2), search for Docker instead of Container Manager.

• STEP 3

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

• STEP 4

Go to Control Panel / Task Scheduler / Create / Scheduled Task / User-defined script. Follow the instructions in the image below.

• STEP 5

Once you click on User-defined script, a new window will open. Follow the instructions below:

1. General: In the Task field type in Install Guacamole. Uncheck the “Enabled” option. Select root User.
2. Schedule: Select Run on the following date then select “Do not repeat“.
3. Task Settings: Check “Send run details by email“, add your email then copy paste the code below in the Run command area. After that, click OK.

docker run -d --name=guacamole \
-p 8348:8080 \
-e PUID=1026 \
-e PGID=100 \
-e TZ=Europe/Bucharest \
-v /volume1/docker/guacamole:/config \
--restart always \
jwetzell/guacamole

Note: Before you paste the code above in the Run command area below, change the value numbers for PUID and PGID with your own values. (Follow my step by step guide on how to do this.)
Note: Before you paste the code above in the Run command area below, change the value for TZ. (Select your current Time Zone from this list.)

• STEP 6

After you click OK on STEP 5 a new warning pop up window will open. Click OK.

After you click OK, type in your DSM Password then click Submit. Follow the instructions in the image below.

• STEP 7

After you click Submit on STEP 6, select your “Install Guacamole” Task then click the “Run” tab. You will be asked to run Install Guacamole – click OK. Follow the instructions in the image below.

• STEP 8

🟢Please Support My work by Making a Donation. Almost 99,9% of the people that install something using my guides forget to support my work, or just ignore STEP 1. I’ve been very honest about this aspect of my work since the beginning: I don’t run any ADS, I don’t require subscriptions, paid or otherwise, I don’t collect IPs, emails, and I don’t have any referral links from Amazon or other merchants. I also don’t have any POP-UPs or COOKIES. I have repeatedly been told over the years how much I have contributed to the community. It’s something I love doing and have been honest about my passion since the beginning. But I also Need The Community to Support me Back to be able to continue doing this work.

• STEP 9

The installation process can take up to a few seconds/minutes. It will depend on your Internet speed connection. Now open your browser and type in http://Synology-ip-address:8348 Type in the Username and Password, then click Login. Follow the instructions in the image below.

⚠️Warning: the default username is guacadmin and the default password is guacadmin

• STEP 10

Once you are logged in, the first step is to change the default Username and Password. At the top right of the page click on the guacadmin user then Settings. Click the Preferences tab then change the default guacadmin password with your own password. Click Update Password. Follow the instructions in the image below.

Enjoy Guacamole!

🆘TROUBLESHOOTING

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

Note: If you want to run the Guacamole container over HTTPS, check How to Run Docker Containers Over HTTPS. In order to make Guacamole work via HTTPS, it’s mandatory to activate WebSocket.

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 Guacamole 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.

This post was updated on Wednesday / January 8th, 2025 at 2:02 AM