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

I Replaced My Synology NAS with a Custom-Built Proxmox Server

My original Synology NAS began as a simple storage solution for work images and Plex media files. Over time, it gradually evolved into a home lab environment, trying to handle multiple tasks simultaneously—and ultimately failing to keep up.

Building a custom server has long been part of my home lab plans, and now is the right moment to take that step. By repurposing the NAS solely for archival storage and shifting the more demanding workloads to the new server, I regain better control over my data and performance.

Reasons for the Change

About This Setup

Hardware for this article was provided by SilverStone, Asus, and Kingston. None of the companies reviewed or influenced the content prior to publication.

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

While some missteps from Synology sped up the transition, the decision had been in the making for a long time.

Summary

This shift allowed me to better align my hardware with evolving needs—allocating archival duty to the NAS while powering my home lab with a robust, custom-built Proxmox server.

Author's summary: Replacing my Synology NAS with a custom Proxmox server brought renewed control and scalability to my home lab, a change I should have made much earlier.

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XDA XDA — 2025-11-02

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