HowTo: Run Docker Applications on QNAP using Container Station

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Docker is a powerful platform for running applications in isolated containers. If you own a QNAP NAS, you can use Container Station to deploy and manage Docker containers with ease. In this guide, we will walk through the process of setting up and running a Docker application on your QNAP NAS.

Step 1: Install Container Station
  1. Log in to your QNAP NAS via the QTS or QuTS Hero interface.
  2. Open the App Center from the main menu.
  3. Search for Container Station and click Install.
  4. Once installed, open Container Station to proceed.

Once you have Container Station Installed, you can host a Docker Container in couple of ways. Here we will discuss how to run single image docker container. The other way is to use docker-compose, we will discuss that in another article.

Step 2: Launch Container Station and Search for Docker Images

After installation, follow these steps to set up your Docker container:

  1. Open Container Station.
  2. Navigate to the Create tab.
  3. Use the search bar to find the Docker image you need. You can browse popular images such as nginx, mysql, or wordpress.
  4. Select the desired image and click Install to download it.
Step 3: Create and Configure a Docker Container

Once the image is downloaded, you can create a container:

  1. Navigate to the Create tab.
  2. Select the downloaded image and click Create.
  3. Configure the container settings:
    • Container Name: Give your container a unique name.
    • CPU & Memory Allocation: Adjust resource limits if needed.
    • Network Mode:
      • Bridge Mode (assigns a separate IP address to the container).
      • Host Mode (shares the NAS’s IP address).
      • NAT Mode (maps ports between the NAS and the container).
    • Port Mapping: If your application runs on port 80 inside the container but you want to access it via port 8080 on your NAS, set up a mapping like 8080:80.
    • Storage & Volume Settings: If your application requires persistent data, bind volumes to specific NAS folders.
  4. Click Create to launch the container.
Step 4: Manage Running Containers

Once the container is created, you can manage it easily:

  1. Open Container Station and navigate to the Containers tab.
  2. Click Start to run the container.
  3. Click Logs to view logs and troubleshoot issues.
  4. Click Terminal to access the container’s command line.
Step 5: Access the Docker Application

If your container runs a web service, access it from your browser:

http://<QNAP-IP>:<Mapped-Port>

For example, if your NAS IP is 192.168.1.100 and you mapped port 8080:80, access it at:

http://192.168.1.100:8080

Conclusion

With Container Station, running Docker applications on a QNAP NAS is simple and efficient. Whether you’re hosting a web server, database, or custom application, Container Station provides an intuitive interface to manage your containers easily. By following this guide, you can quickly deploy and run Docker applications on your QNAP NAS. Happy containerizing!

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