docker-roonserver

RoonServer downloading Roon on first run

This little project configures a docker image for running RoonServer. It downloads RoonServer if not found on an external volume.

Example start:

docker run -d \
  --net=host \
  -e TZ="Europe/Amsterdam" \
  -v roon-app:/app \
  -v roon-data:/data \
  -v roon-music:/music \
  -v roon-backups:/backup \
  steefdebruijn/docker-roonserver:latest

• You should set TZ to your timezone.
• You can change the volume mappings to local file system paths if you like.
• You must use different folders for /app and /data. The app will not start if they both point to the same folder or volume on your host.
• You should set up your library root to /music and configure backups to /backup on first run.

Systemd

If you deploy on a host with systemd, you should use a systemd service to start the Roon service.

Example systemd service (adapt to your environment):

[Unit]
Description=Roon
After=docker.service
Requires=docker.service

[Service]
TimeoutStartSec=0
TimeoutStopSec=180
ExecStartPre=-/usr/bin/docker kill %n
ExecStartPre=-/usr/bin/docker rm -f %n
ExecStartPre=/usr/bin/docker pull steefdebruijn/docker-roonserver
ExecStart=/usr/bin/docker \
  run --name %n \
  --net=host \
  -e TZ="Europe/Amsterdam" \
  -v roon-app:/app \
  -v roon-data:/data \
  -v roon-music:/music \
  -v roon-backups:/backup \
  steefdebruijn/docker-roonserver
ExecStop=/usr/bin/docker stop %n
Restart=always
RestartSec=10s

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Docker-compose

If you deploy in a docker-compose environment, create a docker-compose.yaml file and run docker-compose run <service>.

Example docker-compose.yaml (adapt to your environment):

version: "3.7"
services:
  docker-roonserver:
    image: steefdebruijn/docker-roonserver:latest
    container_name: docker-roonserver
    hostname: docker-roonserver
    network_mode: host
    environment:
      TZ: "Europe/Amsterdam"
    volumes:
      - roon-app:/app
      - roon-data:/data
      - roon-music:/music
      - roon-backups:/backup
    restart: always
volumes:
  roon-app:
  roon-data:
  roon-music:
  roon-backups:

Network shares

If you find yourself in trouble using remote SMB/CIFS shares, you probably need some additional privileges on the container. You have two options here (see also issue #15):

Run the Roon container in privileged mode

# standalone or from systemd service:
docker run --privileged --name roonserver ...

# docker-compose.yaml (inside service section):
privileged: true

Run the Roon container with the right privileges. Some of these are docker-related, but depending on your host distribution and security settings you may need additional privileges.

# standalone or from systemd service:
docker run --cap-add SYS_ADMIN --cap-add DAC_READ_SEARCH --security-opt apparmor:unconfined ...

# docker-compose.yaml (inside service section):
cap_add:
  - SYS_ADMIN
  - DAC_READ_SEARCH
security_opt:
  - apparmor:unconfined

Network issues

If your docker host has multiple networks attached and your core has trouble finding audio sinks/endpoints, you can try using a specific docker network setup as described in issue #1:

docker network create -d macvlan \
   --subnet 192.168.1.0/24 --gateway 192.168.1.1 \
   --ip-range 192.168.1.240/28 -o parent=enp4s0 roon-lan
docker run --network roon-lan --name roonserver ...

Use the subnet and corresponding gateway that your audio sinks/endpoints are connected to. Use an ip-range for docker that is not conflicting with other devices on your network and outside of the DHCP range on that subnet if applicable.

Extensions

If you would like to use the Roon extensions, please deploy a separate docker container for the extension manager, for example this one. I have not tried this myself, I do not use Roon extensions.

Sound cards on host

If you want to use soundcard(s) attached to docker host, try mounting the soundcard device(s) to the roon container.

Direct or via systemd:

docker run --device /dev/snd:/dev/snd ....

or via compose:

devices:
  - "/dev/snd:/dev/snd"

See also issue #26.

Backups

Don't forget to backup the roon-backups for real (offsite preferably).

Have fun!

Steef

Version history

• 2025-07-11: base image is still 'debian:12-slim', as it seems to be the latest available. Image is recompiled for latest debian updates.
• 2023-11-03: update base image to 'debian:12-slim', dependency to libicu72.
• 2022-04-12: update base image to 'debian:11-slim'.
• 2022-03-19: Fix download URL, follow redirects on download. Added specific usage scenarios in README.
• 2021-05-24: update base image to debian:10.9-slim and check for shared /app and /data folders.
• 2019-03-18: Fix example start (thanx @heapxor); add systemd example.
• 2019-01-23: updated base image to debian-9.6
• 2017-08-08: created initial images based on discussion on roonlabs forum.