Installing Ubuntu Server On Synology NAS

Before we start the installation of Ubuntu Server to Synology NAS, you will need to download the Ubuntu Server ISO image from Ubuntu.com. As of the time of writing, the version of Ubuntu Server stands at 20.10, and the file size is almost 1GB.

Once the download started, you can log in to your Synology NAS’s DiskStation Manager (DSM) to install the Virtual Machine Manager from Package Center.

DSM - Package Center - VM Manager — DSM – Package Center – VM Manager

DSM - VM Manager - Overview — DSM – VM Manager – Overview

After the Ubuntu Server ISO image has been downloaded, you can create an image from the ISO file under Image in Virtual Machine Manager. It is a two-step process and takes about 5 minutes.

DSM - VM Manager - Image - Create — DSM – VM Manager – Image – Create

DSM - VM Manager - Image - Select Storage — DSM – VM Manager – Image – Select Storage

DSM - VM Manager - Image - Created — DSM – VM Manager – Image – Created

Next, you can proceed to create the Virtual Machine (VM). It is an eight-step process and also takes about 5 minutes.

Choose Linux as we are creating an Ubuntu Server VM.

DSM - VM Manager - Virtual Machine - Create — DSM – VM Manager – Virtual Machine – Create

DSM - VM Manager - Virtual Machine - Select Storage — DSM – VM Manager – Virtual Machine – Select Storage

I would recommend at least 2 CPUs and 2GB of memory. In the screenshot below, I have chosen 2 CPUs and 4GB of memory.

DSM - VM Manager - Virtual Machine - Configure Specifications — DSM – VM Manager – Virtual Machine – Configure Specifications

Storage is really up to you what you are going to use the VM for. For me, 40GB is more than enough.

DSM - VM Manager - Virtual Machine - Configure Storage — DSM – VM Manager – Virtual Machine – Configure Storage

DSM - VM Manager - Virtual Machine - Configure Network — DSM – VM Manager – Virtual Machine – Configure Network

For the “ISO file for bootup,” choose the image which you have created earlier. For the other fields, you can leave it as the default.

DSM - VM Manager - Virtual Machine - Other Settings — DSM – VM Manager – Virtual Machine – Other Settings

This is also up to you who you want to give permission to power cycle your VM. I would choose just my username as my admin account is deactivated.

DSM - VM Manager - Virtual Machine - Assign Permissions — DSM – VM Manager – Virtual Machine – Assign Permissions

Remember to check the box “Power on the virtual machine after creation” so that the VM will boot up automatically after you created it.

DSM - VM Manager - Virtual Machine - Summary — DSM – VM Manager – Virtual Machine – Summary

As you can see from the IP column, it is a dash, so you will not know your VM’s IP. You can click on the Connect button at the top and then do an ifconfig to see the IP it is getting from your router.

If you need a local static IP for your VM, you can copy the Mac Address as shown in the bottom network tab and add it to your router’s DHCP reservations.

DSM - VM Manager - Virtual Machine - Created — DSM – VM Manager – Virtual Machine – Created

The installation is successful when you can connect to your VM via the Connect button. A new tab will be opened, allowing you to control your VM via the new tab.