Configuring Syncthing in Windows, Linux, and on a Synology NAS

Syncthing is a useful open source tool to keep all of your files in sync over multiple computers. It works like Dropbox, but it’s a peer-to-peer system instead of having a central repository to host all of your files.

Windows Set Up

  1. Download the windows client from the Syncthing website.
  2. Copy the EXE file to a folder on your Windows machine.
  3. Create a Batch file in the same folder with the following:
    • start “Syncthing” syncthing.exe -no-console -no-browser
  4. Create a shortcut to the batch file and copy it to the startup folder. The startup folder can be accessed by entering “shell:startup” in the run dialog box.
  5. Admin interface is located at http://127.0.0.1:8384.

Update: SyncTrazor is a small stand-alone browser that automatically runs, restarts, updates etc. Syncthing for you.

Linux Set Up

  1. Add the release PGP keys:
    •   $ curl -s https://syncthing.net/release-key.txt | sudo apt-key add –
  2. Add the “release” channel to your APT sources:
    • $ echo “deb http://apt.syncthing.net/ syncthing release” | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/syncthing.list
  3. Update and install syncthing:
    • $ sudo apt-get update
    • $ sudo apt-get install syncthing
  4. Launch the program ‘Startup Applications’.
  5. Click ‘Add’.
  6. Fill out the form:
    • Name: Syncthing
    • Command: /path/to/syncthing/binary -no-browser -home="/home/your\_user/.config/syncthing"
  7. Admin interface is located at http://127.0.0.1:8384.

Synology NAS Set Up

  1. Log into your NAS as administrator and go to Main Menu → Package Center → Settings and set Trust Level to Synology Inc. and trusted publishers.
  2. In the Package Sources tab, click Add, type SynoCommunity as Name and http://packages.synocommunity.com/ as Location and then press OK to validate.
  3. Go back to the Package Center and click on the Community tab. Find Syncthing and click on the “Install” button.
  4. Admin interface is located at http://[Synology IP]:7070.