Creating Python Cron Job On Synology

Objective

To install a python script on Synology NAS and run it as a cron job.

Prerequisites

python

Install Python3 using the Package Center app in the DSM.

pip

SSH to the DiskStation and install pip with

$ sudo curl -k https://bootstrap.pypa.io/get-pip.py | python3

This will install pip at /volume1/@appstore/py3k/usr/local/bin/, but the pip command isn't automatically available.

$ sudo ln -s /volume1/@appstore/py3k/usr/local/bin/pip /usr/local/bin/pip

virtualenv

Once pip is installed, use it to install virtualenv, and make sure the command is available from the command line:

$ sudo pip install virtualenv
$ sudo ln -s /volume1/@appstore/py3k/usr/local/bin/virtualenv /usr/local/bin/virtualenv

Create a virtual environment for the python script:

$ virtualenv -p /volume1/@appstore/py3k/usr/local/bin/python3 venv