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 first started using a Synology NAS years ago, it was primarily for storing image files created for work and media files for Plex. It was never meant to be a home lab, but over time it evolved into one—until it tried to run too many tasks simultaneously and failed at all of them.

Transition to a Custom-Built Server

Building my own server had always been part of my plan for home lab experimentation, and now it’s finally time. The NAS will return to its original role of storing archival files, while the new server will handle the more demanding workloads.

The only thing slightly surprising is that it took so long to realize my needs had changed and something had to be done about it.

Hardware and Limitations

SilverStone, Asus, and Kingston provided hardware for this project. None of these companies reviewed or influenced the content before publication.

My home lab requirements have outgrown the capabilities of both my Synology NAS and my mini PC. The mini PC is limited to 12GB of RAM, which cannot be upgraded. The NAS enclosure might support up to 64GB, but it cannot accommodate a GPU to accelerate workloads, and I have run out of drive bays.

Summary

This upgrade was inevitable as my home lab expanded, revealing the limitations of my old setup and pushing me to build a more powerful and flexible server.

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XDA XDA — 2025-11-02

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