I Replaced My Synology NAS with a Proxmox Server
It was time to take back control of my data. Years ago, my Synology NAS served as simple storage for work files and media for Plex. Over time, it evolved into a home lab, but once I overloaded it with too many tasks, it struggled to do any of them well.
I had always planned to build my own server for home lab experiments, and now I finally have. The NAS will return to its original role as archival storage, while a custom-built Proxmox server will manage the demanding workloads.
The only thing that surprises me is how long it took to realize that my needs had changed and that action was necessary.
This move has been coming for some time. While Synology’s limitations sped up the decision, the reality is that my lab requirements simply outgrew both my NAS and my mini PC. The mini PC caps at 12GB of non-upgradeable RAM, and though the NAS can support up to 64GB, it lacks GPU support for workload acceleration and has no remaining drive bays.
Hardware Note
Hardware from SilverStone, Asus, and Kingston was used for this build. These companies did not review or influence the content prior to publication.
Author’s Summary
After years of stretching my Synology NAS beyond its limits, I built a Proxmox server that finally meets my home lab’s growing demands.