I kicked my Synology NAS to the curb and replaced it with a custom-built server running Proxmox and I should have done it sooner

Reclaiming Control of My Data

When I began using a Synology NAS years ago, it served primarily as a storage space for work images and media files for Plex. It was not designed as a home lab, but over time, it evolved into one until it struggled running multiple tasks simultaneously and failed them all.

Transition to a Custom-Built Server

Building a custom server was always part of my plan for home lab experiments. Now, the NAS will return to its original purpose—to store archival files—while the new server takes over demanding workloads. It’s surprising it took this long to realize my needs had outgrown the NAS.

"The simple fact is that my home lab needs have outgrown the available resources on my Synology NAS or on my mini PC."

Hardware Contributions

These companies supplied hardware for this project but had no input on or preview of the article’s content.

Limitations of Previous Setup

My mini PC was capped at 12GB of non-upgradeable RAM, and although the NAS enclosure supports up to 64GB, it cannot utilize a GPU for workload acceleration. Additionally, I had run out of drive bays on the NAS, making expansion impossible.

Summary

This switch restores proper functionality by dedicating the NAS to storage while leveraging a powerful custom server to meet expanding home lab demands efficiently.

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XDA XDA — 2025-11-02

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