New UnRAID tester here. I've got a few drives in an array and I'm playing with a free trial. I only need a few things from my new system:

 

Plex

Automated Cloud Backup

1 disk spinning at a time

Redundancy that is like RAID 5, but doesn't require real-time replication (thus, allowing one disk to spin most of the time)

 

However, I find that UnRAID is is actually pretty difficult to configure. Everything in the standard UI is brilliant and straightforward, but when it comes to setting up third-party apps this is a nightmare. On my ReadyNAS unit all you have to do is go to the App page, click an app, and click install.

 

Maybe I missed a step somewhere when I tried to do this. I went to the Plugins tab -> Install Plugin -> Ran into a dead end. There are no plugins listed to install, and clicking through the folder tree that is displayed just leads to numerous empty folders.

 

Why? Isn't that a sensible place to put the list of available plugins?

 

I went back to the Install Plugin page and used the link from the Plex.tv download page as a test. I pasted the URL in the box, clicked install, and waited for the file to download. When it was finished, I closed the popup window that showed the status of the download/install. When I look at the folder tree now, it is no different than before Plex was installed. I can't find Plex anywhere in the UI.

 

Any help with this issue? For a commercial product, I expected all of this would be click-and-go. I'm kind of expecting the answer to be "hey, stupid, you didn't do it right." Whoever posts the correct way will be my hero.

 

Thanks,

Noob

Try installing the Community Applications plugin which provides easy access to all the community supported applications (which are dockers rather than plugins)

Ooh! Good tip. Thanks remotevisitor.

However, I find that UnRAID is is actually pretty difficult to configure. Everything in the standard UI is brilliant and straightforward, but when it comes to setting up third-party apps this is a nightmare. On my ReadyNAS unit all you have to do is go to the App page, click an app, and click install.

 

Maybe I missed a step somewhere when I tried to do this. I went to the Plugins tab -> Install Plugin -> Ran into a dead end. There are no plugins listed to install, and clicking through the folder tree that is displayed just leads to numerous empty folders.

 

Why? Isn't that a sensible place to put the list of available plugins?

 

Interesting!  Are ReadyNAS plugins created by ReadyNAS or by its users, the ReadyNAS community?  Almost all unRAID addons are created by its users, and we would want some sort of certification process before plugins were automatically listed for new users, to avoid malware and poor quality.

 

You aren't upgrading but the Upgrading to UnRAID v6 guide may be helpful, start at the Research and decision making section (skip the first paragraph or two), then the Adding software to your server section.

Try installing the Community Applications plugin which provides easy access to all the community supported applications (which are dockers rather than plugins)

 

I read the documentation on the Community Applications plug-in and it looks like EXACTLY the solution to my woes. However, now that it is installed, when I click it on the Installed Plugins tab I am just taken to a blank white page (see attached screenshots of before and after I click).

 

Is this expected behavior? How do I get to list of available docker apps?

Try installing the Community Applications plugin which provides easy access to all the community supported applications (which are dockers rather than plugins)

 

I read the documentation on the Community Applications plug-in and it looks like EXACTLY the solution to my woes. However, now that it is installed, when I click it on the Installed Plugins tab I am just taken to a blank white page (see attached screenshots of before and after I click).

 

Is this expected behavior? How do I get to list of available docker apps?

 

You need to enable docker first, see Settings -> Docker

 

(tip: set Help ON)

 

 

Interesting!  Are ReadyNAS plugins created by ReadyNAS or by its users, the ReadyNAS community?  Almost all unRAID addons are created by its users, and we would want some sort of certification process before plugins were automatically listed for new users, to avoid malware and poor quality.

 

You aren't upgrading but the Upgrading to UnRAID v6 guide may be helpful, start at the Research and decision making section (skip the first paragraph or two), then the Adding software to your server section.

 

I'm not entirely clear on what their approval model is because I'm using some apps that come directly from software developers, and others that I can access from their UI in the App Store. I have one program in particular in mind when I say this, but it is from a trusted developer, it used to be in the app store, and after they did the update from OS5 to OS6 on the ReadyNAS line the program got pulled. I have never found any incompatabilities, but it has never been added to the OS6 app store. In fact, the list of apps for OS6 hasn't changed much since launch. It seems like they used to accept submissions from anyone, evaluate them, and then add them to the store. Lately the model is to just ignore apps and let users install whatever they can find at their own risk. It all still works, but without a central repository it is difficult to know what your options are for adding any particular function/feature.

 

I've read through all of the links you provided, and found them to be very helpful. Thanks for submitting those.

 

Since the Community Applications list exists, why isn't there a way to know about it or install it from the Plugin menu? Once I had the link from the Community App forum it was very easy, but why not just link it in the UI to save people the trouble of having to hunt for functionality?

Interesting!  Are ReadyNAS plugins created by ReadyNAS or by its users, the ReadyNAS community?  Almost all unRAID addons are created by its users, and we would want some sort of certification process before plugins were automatically listed for new users, to avoid malware and poor quality.

 

You aren't upgrading but the Upgrading to UnRAID v6 guide may be helpful, start at the Research and decision making section (skip the first paragraph or two), then the Adding software to your server section.

 

I'm not entirely clear on what their approval model is because I'm using some apps that come directly from software developers, and others that I can access from their UI in the App Store. I have one program in particular in mind when I say this, but it is from a trusted developer, it used to be in the app store, and after they did the update from OS5 to OS6 on the ReadyNAS line the program got pulled. I have never found any incompatabilities, but it has never been added to the OS6 app store. In fact, the list of apps for OS6 hasn't changed much since launch. It seems like they used to accept submissions from anyone, evaluate them, and then add them to the store. Lately the model is to just ignore apps and let users install whatever they can find at their own risk. It all still works, but without a central repository it is difficult to know what your options are for adding any particular function/feature.

 

I've read through all of the links you provided, and found them to be very helpful. Thanks for submitting those.

 

Since the Community Applications list exists, why isn't there a way to know about it or install it from the Plugin menu? Once I had the link from the Community App forum it was very easy, but why not just link it in the UI to save people the trouble of having to hunt for functionality?

 

LimeTech are traditionally quite conservative about what they include in Unraid as they don't want to put our data at any risk.  I suspect CA will get incorporated at some point. 

 

Squid who isn't part of the LT team wrote CA, plugins are written by the community in general and historically there used to be a lot more of them, since the advent of docker we've seen a fair decline in plugins and more reliance on docker containers.

 

You need to enable docker first, see Settings -> Docker

 

(tip: set Help ON)

 

You got it! That was another easy fix, just didn't know I needed to perform that step.

Thanks

One last question, now that I'm rummaging through CA.

 

I know of a Docker that I would like to see tested/added to CA. How can I request this? Is there a forum page for requests?

One last question, now that I'm rummaging through CA.

 

I know of a Docker that I would like to see tested/added to CA. How can I request this? Is there a forum page for requests?

 

You can add any docker you want through CA.

 

The process for docker in Unraid is this:

• Docker container created as any other docker
  
• Author creates an XML file as a template for the Unraid GUI
  
• XML is parsed by Community Applications and displayed
  

 

CA has the ability to search docker hub for any docker, but if it wasn't created with Unraid in mind then essentially you are given a blank template to fill out in the webui.  This isn't difficult but you may need to look at the dockerfile on docker hub or check out a github repo.

 

Tell us which docker you want to add and I'll give you an example of how to fill it in (If I can figure it out myself)

One last question, now that I'm rummaging through CA.

 

I know of a Docker that I would like to see tested/added to CA. How can I request this? Is there a forum page for requests?

 

People usually put their requests in the Docker section on this forum.

 

One last question, now that I'm rummaging through CA.

 

I know of a Docker that I would like to see tested/added to CA. How can I request this? Is there a forum page for requests?

 

People usually put their requests in the Docker section on this forum.

 

He said he knows of a docker (I assume that means there is already a container available bonienl)

 

CA has the ability to search docker hub for any docker, but if it wasn't created with Unraid in mind then essentially you are given a blank template to fill out in the webui.  This isn't difficult but you may need to look at the dockerfile on docker hub or check out a github repo.

 

When enabling that feature in CA, it will do its best to figure out the proper entries for the template (host / volumes, etc), but its not a perfect science, so you definitely have to read the instructions / summary for the container on dockerHub

 

CA has the ability to search docker hub for any docker, but if it wasn't created with Unraid in mind then essentially you are given a blank template to fill out in the webui.  This isn't difficult but you may need to look at the dockerfile on docker hub or check out a github repo.

 

When enabling that feature in CA, it will do its best to figure out the proper entries for the template (host / volumes, etc), but its not a perfect science, so you definitely have to read the instructions / summary for the container on dockerHub

 

Didn't realise it was an optional feature.... my bad..

It's bloody useful though.

Tell us which docker you want to add and I'll give you an example of how to fill it in (If I can figure it out myself)

 

That is SUPER generous of you. I appreciate the offer, even if you can't figure it out. The program is called Symform, and it allows for free, unlimited cloud backups. I've been using it for awhile with great success on my ReadyNAS units. I trust UnRAID to handle my data while everything is working, but in the event of a fire/flood I like to have NAS units backed up somewhere else also.

 

The docker image is here: https://hub.docker.com/r/trautw/docker-symform/

 

I've only used the applications that Symform releases directly for OSes (there are lots, so I've never needed to fiddle with the docker. They cover three varieties of Linux, three varieties of store-bought NASes, Mac, Windows, etc).

 

I'm going to add it to the forum as a CA request, too, but it would be great if you could help me get it running. Then I can move forward with my UnRAID purchase and put my new unit together

He said he knows of a docker (I assume that means there is already a container available bonienl)

 

Correct. See above

I'm going to add it to the forum as a CA request, too, but it would be great if you could help me get it running. Then I can move forward with my UnRAID purchase and put my new unit together

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=37732.msg349938#msg349938

 

CA basically tries to do those instructions for you when adding an alien container

 

Didn't realise it was an optional feature.... my bad..

It's bloody useful though.

Settings - CA Settings - dockerHub Searches - Yes

Side note: I have NEVER had this good of a customer service/forum experience for any product. This is exceptional. Although Squid doesn't work for Lime-Tech, I'm delighted that he decided to join in the conversation.

 

I want to buy a license just to support the community, even if UnRAID doesn't work for my use-case.

 

10/10. Many thanks, everyone.

Side note: I have NEVER had this good of a customer service/forum experience for any product. This is exceptional. Although Squid doesn't work for Lime-Tech, I'm delighted that he decided to join in the conversation.

 

I want to buy a license just to support the community, even if UnRAID doesn't work for my use-case.

 

10/10. Many thanks, everyone.

This forum is the reason I chose unRAID. Best user community anywhere!

Just so that everyone knows this conversation didn't completely die, the attempt to try to get the Symform Docker working has moved to another thread devoted to that topic.

 

Link: http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=44396.0

 

I'm eagerly awaiting the results while some users who are more skilled than I tinker with it.

This forum is the reason I chose unRAID. Best user community anywhere!

 

I always thought it was because of the free beer advice

If you are still looking for cloud backup, , people here use Crashplan. It's pretty easy to configure too

Aye, I saw apps in Community Applications for S3/Glacier and Crashplan. Both of those were on my radar awhile back, before I discovered Symform, and I will consider them once again if I have to.

 

I just run my server constantly anyhow, so it doesn't actually cost me anything to use Symform. I have extra disk space and my internet is unlimited, so...free backup!

 

Not to mention, one of the cool things I've been able to do with Symform is gift people free backups for their birthday/holidays. I've registered as a partner with them and so I'm allowed to donate space from my machine and allocate it to my "clients" as their contribution. I don't resell the service, I just give it away to friends because photographers and the like really appreciate being able to keep their stuff somewhere safe. All-in-all, it's been a pretty cool experience.

 

Glacier will be my last resort, but I can say that I'm not keen on paying for it lol