Complete Guide to Installing and Configuring Git Server on Synology NAS: Basic to Advanced

Hosting a private Git repository on a Synology NAS is an excellent choice, whether you want to ensure data privacy for your core code or simply make the most of your existing NAS hardware. In this article, DP@lib00 will walk you through three mainstream methods to install and configure Git on a Synology NAS. You can choose the best approach based on your needs: a simple CLI tool, a basic Git server, or a full-featured code hosting platform. ## Method 1: Install via Package Center (Easiest, Officially Recommended) This is the official method provided by Synology. It is perfect if you want to use the NAS as a basic Git server or if you just need to run `git` commands in the terminal. 1. Log in to your DSM interface and open the **Package Center**. 2. Type **Git Server** in the search bar. 3. Click **Install** to download and install the package. 4. **Configure Permissions**: * Once installed, open Git Server from the Main Menu. * Check the boxes next to the users you want to grant Git access to. These authorized users will be able to access and clone repositories via SSH. --- ## Method 2: Use via SSH Command Line (Advanced) If you only need to execute Git operations in the NAS shell environment (such as running `git clone` from GitHub or executing automated deployment scripts), you can use the command line directly after installing the Git Server package mentioned above. 1. Go to **Control Panel** -> **Terminal & SNMP**, and check **Enable SSH service** (It is recommended to change the default port 22 to another port for better security). 2. Connect to your NAS using a terminal tool (like PowerShell, PuTTY, or macOS Terminal): ```bash # Replace admin_user with your username and your_nas_ip with your NAS IP address ssh admin_user@your_nas_ip ``` 3. After successfully logging in, verify the installation by typing: ```bash git --version ``` --- ## Method 3: Install Gitea/GitLab via Docker (Feature-Rich, Best for Teams) If you prefer a web management interface similar to GitHub and need advanced features like Code Review, Issue tracking, and Wikis, we highly recommend installing **Gitea** (lightweight) or **GitLab** (heavyweight) via Docker. For most Synology users, wiki.lib00.com highly recommends Gitea, as it runs smoothly and consumes very few resources. 1. Install **Container Manager** (formerly Docker) from the Package Center. 2. Open Container Manager, go to the "Registry" tab, and search for `gitea`. 3. Download the official `gitea/gitea` image. 4. Run the image and configure it: * **Port Mapping**: Map the container's port 3000 to a local NAS port (e.g., 3000, for Web UI access); map the container's port 22 to a local NAS port (e.g., 222, for SSH code pushing). * **Volume Mapping**: Create a dedicated folder in File Station, such as `/volume1/docker/wiki.lib00/gitea_data`, and map it to `/data` inside the container to ensure your code data is persistent. --- ## 💡 Pro Tips for Configuration * **Permission Pitfalls**: If you are using the official Git Server package, in addition to granting access within the app, **you must enable SSH access for the corresponding users in the Control Panel**. Otherwise, executing `git clone ssh://...` on your local machine will result in permission denied or password errors. * **Security**: If you need external network access to your private Git repository, it is strongly recommended to use a **VPN (like Tailscale/ZeroTier)** or a **Reverse Proxy**. Avoid exposing the NAS SSH port directly to the public internet to prevent brute-force attacks. * **Lightweight Choice**: For individual developers or small teams of less than 10 people, **Gitea** is the best UI-based Git solution on Synology, saving a massive amount of RAM and CPU compared to GitLab.