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Bring Devices into HomeKit with Your Synology →

Casey Liss, at Liss is More:

The final piece that really opened everything up for me was realizing that my Synology has Docker support. Furthermore, after but a moment of digging, I was able to find instructions specifically for setting up Homebridge on a Synology in Docker.

Following those instructions, within about 10 minutes, I had a Docker container on my Synology, running Homebridge, and allowing me to see my not-yet-updated Wemo devices in HomeKit!

Homebridge is a software bridge that allows you to use certain non-HomeKit devices with HomeKit. Two years ago I installed Homebridge on my Mac mini server, which let me add my garage door and my Wemo switches to HomeKit. This process, which required command line dabbling in Terminal, was convoluted enough (for someone of my skill set) that I eventually abandoned it.

A week ago I resurrected Homebridge. This time I installed it on my Synology. As the above post by Casey Liss suggests, this process was MUCH easier than my first go-around. I had planned to publish a complete write-up of the process, but Casey’s post (and the link it contains) should get you on your way.

I followed a slightly different process than Casey followed, as I hadn’t discovered the instructions he referenced. I instead began by installing Docker on my Synology via the Synology’s Package Center, and then used these instructions to upload and install Homebridge.

No matter how you get Homebridge up and running, I encourage you to give it a shot if Homebridge has intrigued you. Aside from pasting text into a configuration file to get plugins working, the entire process was mostly a point-and-click process.