How to Install KiCad on Your Synology NAS

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How to Install KiCad on Your Synology NAS

KiCad is a free software suite for electronic design automation. It facilitates the design and simulation of electronic hardware for PCB manufacturing. It features an integrated environment for schematic capture, PCB layout, manufacturing file viewing, ngspice-provided SPICE simulation, and engineering calculation. In this step by step guide I will show you how to install KiCad on your Synology NAS using Docker and Portainer.

💡Note: This guide works perfectly with the latest KiCad v8.0.1 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

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

KiCad Synology NAS Set up 1

  • STEP 4

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 5

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

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

version: "3.9"
services:
  kicad:
    container_name: KiCad
    image: ghcr.io/linuxserver/kicad:latest
    security_opt:
      - no-new-privileges:false
      - seccomp:unconfined
    healthcheck:
      test: timeout 10s bash -c ':> /dev/tcp/127.0.0.1/3000' || exit 1
      interval: 10s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 3
      start_period: 90s
    environment:
     CUSTOM_USER: marius
     PASSWORD: mariushosting
     TZ: Europe/Bucharest
     PUID: 1026
     PGID: 100
    volumes:
      - /volume1/docker/kicad:/config:rw
    ports:
      - 3420:3000
    restart: on-failure:5

Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the value for CUSTOM_USER. Type in your own username. marius is an example for a username.
Note: Before you paste the code above in the Web editor area below, change the value for PASSWORD. Type in your own password. mariushosting is an example for a password.
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 numbers for PUID and PGID with your own values. (Follow my step by step guide on how to do this.)

KiCad Synology NAS Set up 2

  • STEP 6

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.

KiCad Synology NAS Set up 3

⌛Now just wait because the KiCad image is about 3.8GB.

  • STEP 7

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

KiCad Synology NAS Set up 4

  • STEP 8

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

  • 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:3420 If everything goes right, you will see the KiCad Login page. Type in your own CUSTOM_USER and PASSWORD that you have previously created at STEP 5 then click Sign In. Follow the instructions in the image below.

KiCad Synology NAS Set up 5

  • STEP 10

Select Start with default settings, then click OK. Follow the instructions in the image below.

KiCad Synology NAS Set up 6

  • STEP 11

Click Yes. Follow the instructions in the image below.

KiCad Synology NAS Set up 7

  • STEP 12

Your KiCad instance at a glance!

KiCad Synology NAS Set up 8

Enjoy KiCad!

🆘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 KiCad container over HTTPS, check How to Run Docker Containers Over HTTPS. In order to make KiCad 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 KiCad 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 / September 25th, 2024 at 12:22 PM

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