Reclaiming Control of My Data
When I first started using a Synology NAS years ago, it served as a storage for image files from work and media files for Plex. It was never intended to be a home lab, but over time, it evolved into one—until it attempted to run too many tasks simultaneously and failed at all of them.
Building a Custom Server for Home Lab
Creating my own server has always been on my home lab roadmap, and now the time has come. The NAS will return to its primary role of storing archival files, while the new custom-built server will handle more demanding workloads.
It surprises me that it took this long to recognize the need for change, but my requirements had clearly outgrown the Synology NAS and my mini PC.
Hardware and Limitations
- The mini PC has 12GB of RAM which is not upgradeable.
- The Synology NAS can handle up to 64GB of RAM, but cannot utilize GPUs for accelerating workloads.
- Drive bay capacity in the NAS is maxed out.
Additional Information
SilverStone, Asus, and Kingston provided hardware used in this project. None of these companies reviewed the content before publication or influenced its creation.
"While the company's missteps certainly hastened this decision, it's been brewing for a while."
My home lab needs had exceeded the capabilities of both my Synology NAS and mini PC, making this upgrade necessary.
Author's Summary
Switching from a Synology NAS to a custom Proxmox server finally matched my home lab needs, offering more power and flexibility while restoring the NAS to its original storage role.
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