OpenClaw on Synology NAS: 24/7 AI Assistant on Your Home Storage
February 26, 2026 · AI Tools
Your Synology NAS already runs Plex, backups, and file shares around the clock. Why not add a personal AI assistant to the mix? OpenClaw runs perfectly in Docker on Synology DSM, turning your DS920+, DS423+, or any Docker-capable model into a 24/7 AI hub. Chat with your lobster via Telegram, WhatsApp, or Discord from anywhere—your AI lives where your data lives. This guide walks you through the complete setup in under 20 minutes.
Running OpenClaw on a NAS offers several advantages over a desktop or laptop. First, your NAS is designed for 24/7 operation with low power consumption and quiet cooling. Second, your AI assistant sits alongside your media library and backups, so you can ask it to organize files, search through documents, or trigger automation without keeping another machine running. Third, Synology's Container Manager provides a clean, isolated environment—updates to OpenClaw do not affect your other services, and you can easily back up or migrate the container. Whether you are a home lab enthusiast or a professional who wants a personal AI without the hassle of maintaining a separate server, this setup is worth the initial investment.
1 Prerequisites: Docker on Synology
Synology NAS models with an Intel or AMD x86 CPU (e.g., DS920+, DS423+, DS1522+) support Docker natively. Go to Package Center and install Container Manager (formerly Docker). If your model uses an ARM CPU (e.g., DS223j), check compatibility—some ARM images may require manual builds. For most users, a DS920+ or newer x86 model is ideal. Ensure you have at least 2GB RAM free; 4GB+ is recommended for smooth AI responses.
Before installing Container Manager, verify your DSM version. Synology recommends DSM 7.0 or later for the best Docker experience. If you have not used Container Manager before, spend a few minutes exploring the interface—you will create a "Project" (which uses Docker Compose under the hood) rather than individual containers. This makes it easier to manage environment variables, volumes, and restarts. Also ensure your NAS has a stable internet connection; OpenClaw needs to reach Claude, OpenAI, or other AI APIs, and messaging services like Telegram. A VPN with high bandwidth can help if you are in a region where these APIs are throttled.
2 Create the OpenClaw Project
Open Container Manager → Project → Create. Name it openclaw. Choose a path such as /docker/openclaw. Create a docker-compose.yml with:
Create a .env file in the same folder with your API keys: ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-xxx and OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-xxx. Never commit these to version control.
The openclaw-data volume persists your config, conversation history, and skills across container restarts. If you ever need to migrate to another NAS or backup your setup, export this volume. You can also use a bind mount instead: replace openclaw-data:/app/.openclaw with /volume1/docker/openclaw-data:/app/.openclaw so the data lives in a shared folder you can access from File Station. Port 18789 is the default for the OpenClaw gateway; if it conflicts with another service, change the left side of the port mapping (e.g., "28789:18789").
3 Fix Synology Permission Issues
Synology containers often run with different UID/GID than your host. If you see permission errors, add user: "1000:1000" under the openclaw service (replace with your actual UID from id in SSH). Alternatively, use a bind mount to a shared folder and set permissions via File Station: right-click the folder → Properties → Permissions → ensure the container user has read/write.
Common errors include "EACCES" when writing to the volume or "Cannot find module" when the container starts. For EACCES, check that the volume or bind mount has correct ownership. For module errors, ensure you are using node:22-alpine or node:22—OpenClaw requires Node.js 22+. If the container exits immediately, check the logs in Container Manager: Project → openclaw → Logs. Often the issue is a missing API key in the .env file or a typo in the docker-compose configuration.
4 Run and Onboard
Start the project from Container Manager. The first run installs OpenClaw via npm inside the container—this can take 2–3 minutes. Once the gateway is up, open http://YOUR_NAS_IP:18789 in your browser to access the Control UI. You will need to run the onboarding wizard once: use docker exec -it openclaw openclaw onboard from SSH or a terminal, or complete onboarding from another machine that has OpenClaw installed, then copy the config into the volume. For most users, running openclaw onboard on a Mac or Linux PC, then copying ~/.openclaw to the NAS volume, is the fastest path.
To copy config from a Mac: scp -r ~/.openclaw user@NAS_IP:/volume1/docker/openclaw-data/ (adjust paths for your setup). Then ensure the volume mount points to the parent of .openclaw, or that the copied folder is named .openclaw inside the volume. After onboarding, add your Telegram bot token, Discord application credentials, or WhatsApp bridge config. Test by sending a message to your bot—you should get a response within a few seconds. If responses are slow, check your NAS CPU and RAM usage; OpenClaw itself is lightweight, but API calls to Claude or OpenAI add latency depending on your network.
5 Remote Access and Security
For secure remote access, use Tailscale or a VPN. Do not expose port 18789 directly to the internet without authentication. Tailscale installs as a Synology package and gives you a private IP to reach your NAS from anywhere. Your OpenClaw will be reachable at http://100.x.x.x:18789 over Tailscale. For regions where AI APIs are restricted, a VPN with high bandwidth ensures your NAS-based OpenClaw can reach Claude and OpenAI without throttling.
Consider enabling Synology's built-in firewall and restricting SSH access to trusted IPs. If you use QuickConnect, be aware that it can expose services—prefer Tailscale or a VPN for OpenClaw access. For backup, schedule a daily task to copy the .openclaw folder to another volume or an external drive. OpenClaw stores conversation history and config in SQLite; a simple rsync or Synology Hyper Backup job will preserve your setup. Finally, set up resource monitoring: Container Manager shows CPU and memory per container. OpenClaw typically uses 200–500MB RAM when idle; spikes occur during AI inference. If your NAS runs low on resources, consider limiting other containers or upgrading RAM on supported models.
Tips for Optimal Performance
Keep your NAS firmware and Container Manager updated. Synology releases security patches regularly. For OpenClaw, allocate at least 512MB RAM to the container in Container Manager if you have headroom—this reduces swap usage during peak API calls. Enable log rotation so container logs do not fill your volume. If you use multiple AI models (e.g., Claude for complex tasks, Ollama for simple ones), configure model routing in OpenClaw to optimize cost and latency. Finally, test your setup after any DSM update; occasionally, Docker or networking changes can affect container behavior. Consider running OpenClaw during off-peak hours if your NAS also serves Plex or other heavy workloads—this avoids resource contention. Many users report that their Synology NAS runs OpenClaw alongside several other containers without issues, thanks to the efficient resource usage of the Node.js-based gateway. If you outgrow a single OpenClaw instance, you can run multiple containers with different configs—for example, one for personal use and one for a shared family or team bot. Each container needs its own project, volume, and port (e.g., 18789 and 18790). Synology's Container Manager makes it easy to manage multiple projects. Finally, join the OpenClaw community—the Discord and GitHub discussions have many NAS users who share tips and solutions.
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FAQ
Which Synology models support OpenClaw?
Any Synology NAS with Container Manager (Docker) and an x86 CPU: DS920+, DS423+, DS1522+, DS1621+, and similar. ARM models may work but require extra steps for Node.js compatibility.
How do I update OpenClaw on Synology?
Stop the container, then in the project folder run docker compose pull (if using a pre-built image) or rebuild. For the npm-in-container approach, simply restart the project—it reinstalls the latest openclaw@latest on each start. For production, consider pinning a version.
Can I run Ollama alongside OpenClaw on my NAS?
Yes, but it depends on your NAS specs. Ollama runs LLMs locally and needs significant RAM (4GB+ for smaller models, 8GB+ for 7B models). Add an Ollama container to the same project, expose port 11434, and point OpenClaw to it during onboarding. This gives you a fully local AI stack with no API costs.
Why is my OpenClaw not responding to Telegram messages?
Check that the gateway is running (Container Manager → Logs), the bot token is correct in your config, and your NAS can reach the Telegram API. If you are in a region that blocks Telegram, your NAS needs a VPN or proxy. GreenVPN with 1000Mbps bandwidth ensures reliable access to messaging APIs from anywhere.