Integrating Radarr, Sonarr, and Plex on NAS

Business & IT Infrastructure

Automating media management has become a powerful use case for NAS systems. By integrating Radarr, Sonarr, and Plex with a Synology NAS, you can create a fully automated pipeline for downloading, organizing, and streaming media.

This setup reduces manual effort, improves organization, and ensures your media library is always up to date.

What Each Tool Does

Radarr

Manages movie downloads
Monitors releases and upgrades quality automatically
Integrates with download clients

Sonarr

Manages TV shows and episodes
Automatically downloads new episodes
Organizes files into structured folders

Plex

Media server for streaming content
Provides a user-friendly interface
Streams to multiple devices

Together, these tools create a complete media automation system.

How the Integration Works

The workflow is simple and efficient:

Radarr/Sonarr monitor content
They send download requests to a client (e.g., qBittorrent)
Files are downloaded to NAS storage
Radarr/Sonarr rename and organize files
Plex scans the library and updates content

This process runs automatically once configured.

Installing the Applications

Using Docker (Recommended)

Docker is the preferred method for flexibility and updates.

Steps:

Install Docker on your NAS
Pull images for Radarr, Sonarr, and Plex
Configure container settings

Using Native Packages

Some NAS systems provide packages for these applications, but Docker offers better control.

Setting Up Folder Structure

Proper folder organization is critical.

Example structure:

/media/movies
/media/tv
/downloads

Ensure all applications use consistent paths to avoid errors.

Configuring Radarr and Sonarr

Key Settings

Set root folders (/media/movies, /media/tv)
Connect to your download client
Configure quality profiles

Automation Features

Automatic renaming
File organization
Upgrade media quality

These features ensure a clean and organized library.

Connecting to Download Clients

Radarr and Sonarr require a download client such as qBittorrent.

Steps:

Add download client in settings
Enter API key and connection details
Test connection

This enables automated downloading.

Configuring Plex

Setup Steps

Install Plex Media Server
Add media libraries
Point to /media/movies and /media/tv

Plex will automatically scan and update content.

Remote Access and Streaming

To access Plex remotely:

Enable remote access in Plex settings
Use secure connections (HTTPS or VPN)

This allows streaming from anywhere.

Performance Optimization

To ensure smooth operation:

Use SSD caching for faster access
Allocate sufficient RAM
Use wired network connections

This improves streaming and processing performance.

Security Best Practices

When running these services:

Use strong authentication
Enable HTTPS for web interfaces
Avoid exposing services directly to the internet
Use VPN for remote access

Security is essential for safe operation.

Common Issues and Fixes

Files Not Moving Correctly

Check folder paths
Verify permissions

Plex Not Updating

Trigger manual scan
Check library settings

Slow Performance

Optimize network
Reduce concurrent tasks

Additional Tip: Automate Library Maintenance

To keep your media library efficient, enable scheduled tasks such as automatic Plex library scans and cleanup scripts. This ensures outdated files are removed, metadata is refreshed, and storage remains optimized without manual intervention, improving both performance and user experience over time.

How Epis Technology Optimizes NAS Automation

Epis Technology helps businesses and advanced users build optimized NAS automation environments that integrate media management, storage, and performance. By designing efficient workflows, Epis Technology ensures reliability and scalability.

The company provides services including large storage solutions, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace backups, fully managed PC backups, and Synology consulting and support. Epis Technology also assists with Docker deployment, system optimization, and secure configuration.

About Epis Technology

Epis Technology provides enterprise IT infrastructure, Synology consulting, and data protection solutions for organizations of all sizes. The company specializes in storage systems, automation workflows, and secure NAS deployments. Through expert design, implementation, and ongoing support, Epis Technology helps users achieve efficient, scalable, and high-performance IT environments.