Setting Up Channels DVR on UGREEN NAS

[radioboy]

Hello... just got Channels up and running on my new UGREEN NAS which has it's own Docker implementation so I thought I'd write up a quick set of directions to show how I got it working since following the standard Docker/Portainer directions did not work for me.

Step 1: If you are migrating an installation, copy all your files over to the UGREEN NAS, keeping the "DVR" directory intact the way it is in your current NAS installation.

Step 2: Make sure you install the "Docker" app on your UGREEN NAS. Open it.

Step 3: Click on "Image" and navigate to "Image Database" and search "channels-dvr"... you'll want to select the one labeled "fancybits/channels-dvr". If you need TVE access, see Step 3a.

Step 3a (For TVE access): Click on "Local Images" > New Image > From Package Source. Select "By URL" in the Search Method box. The URL to search is: https://hub.docker.com/r/fancybits/channels-dvr

Step 3a continued: Click "Confirm"

Step 4: Once your package has downloaded, navigate to "Container" on the right hand side of the Docker app and select "New Container" > Manual Creation. Select the fancybits image you downloaded in Step 3 and click "Next".

Step 5: Select "Yes" for the restart question and make sure you navigate to the folder on your UGREEN NAS where you copied your DVR folder.

Step 6: Navigate to the "Network" tab and select "Host".

Step 7: On the "Advanced" tab, scroll down and select "Enabled" for Privileged Mode. Then, you can finally click "Done."

Step 8: You can now navigate to your IP:8089 and follow the "Restore" option or set up as new, depending on your situation.

Hope this tutorial helps some folks!

[kurtis3407]

I'm a Raspberry Pi 4 user who is currently trying to migrate to a Ugreen Nas. I've followed this guide and it's helped, but I'm having problems restoring. Setting Up Channels DVR on UGREEN NAS.
I've copied everything to the nas and followed the instructions. Once I click on database it either keeps spinning or it says nothing is in there. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[chDVRuser]

I can only guess it's a permission issue.
Did you select the path under "/Shared Folder/docker" as NAS directory?
Like "/Shared Folder/docker/DVR"
The screenshot is showing Shared Folder/DVR which doesn't follow the recommendation.

Also, did you Enable Privileged Mode

@radioboy

Step 7: On the "Advanced" tab, scroll down and select "Enabled" for Privileged Mode. Then, you can finally click "Done."

Perhaps @radioboy can confirm

[kurtis3407]

Thanks for the response. I think I have all the stuff in the right place and checked. I must have something wrong somewhere else. I have no experience with docker or a nas in general, so I'm winging it for the most part.

[chDVRuser]

Checkout their knowledgebase articles about docker, under App > Docker here https://support.ugnas.com/knowledgecenter/#/know

Like this one https://support.ugnas.com/knowledgecenter/#/detail/eyJpZCI6MTI2NywidHlwZSI6InRhZzAwMiIsImxhbmd1YWdlIjoiZW4tVVMiLCJjbGllbnRUeXBlIjoiUEMiLCJhcnRpY2xlSW5mb0lkIjozOTAsImFydGljbGVWZXJzaW9uIjoiIiwicGF0aENvZGUiOiIifQ==

and this one https://support.ugnas.com/knowledgecenter/#/detail/eyJpZCI6Mzc4MywidHlwZSI6InRhZzAwMiIsImxhbmd1YWdlIjoiZW4tVVMiLCJjbGllbnRUeXBlIjoiUEMiLCJhcnRpY2xlSW5mb0lkIjozNTYsImFydGljbGVWZXJzaW9uIjoiIiwicGF0aENvZGUiOiIifQ==

[bnhf]

@kurtis3407

I think I have all the stuff in the right place and checked.

I know the OP said you should enable Privileged Mode, however, this is generally not desirable -- and should be avoided whenever possible. I use containers extensively (both Docker and Proxmox LXC), and I don't have any with Privileged Mode enabled.

Once you have things up-and-running, I'd suggest testing to see if Privileged Mode is actually required. The CDVR container is a trusted projected (by basically everyone here), but this is one of those things you don't want to enable unless absolutely necessary.

[chDVRuser]

He could also install Portainer and use that to add stacks and manage the images and containers.

His NAS directory (Channels DVR recording directory) should be
Shared folder/docker/Channels DVR

Per their documentation that states "It is recommended to select the path under
Shared folder/docker as NAS directory to avoid permission issue when running container"

Just like their knowledge article says https://support.ugnas.com/knowledgecenter/#/detail/eyJpZCI6MTI2NywidHlwZSI6InRhZzAwMiIsImxhbmd1YWdlIjoiZW4tVVMiLCJjbGllbnRUeXBlIjoiUEMiLCJhcnRpY2xlSW5mb0lkIjozOTAsImFydGljbGVWZXJzaW9uIjoiIiwicGF0aENvZGUiOiIifQ==

I don't use a UGREEN NAS, but if I did I would follow their recommendations.

I found out the hard way (trial and error) about permissions using docker on my Synology.

[kurtis3407]

Hey thanks man. I missed that the directory needed to be in the docker folder until you put that red line lol. I really appreciate it. I have it up and running. I'll be sure to read all articles you posted. Thanks again.

[kurtis3407]

Thanks for the tip. Once everything is running smoothly, I'll follow your advice about privileged mode.

[radioboy]

When I wrote my guide last year, UGREEN NAS was brand new and had many odd things about it... and Priviledged Mode was absolutely necessary at the time to get anything working. Now that it's matured and Portainer is available, like @bnhf mentioned, it's probably no longer necessary. These were instructions for the then-very-early Docker app that UGREEN has in their firmware. It has since seen many iterations. I myself have even migrated over to Portainer to keep my Channels docker running smoothly. At the time, Portainer or UGREEN was a wish haha... but it's come a VERY long way since those early days.