Once completed, you will be welcomed by the official DSM 7 setup screen where you can create your administrator account, set up your QuickConnect alternative, and configure your Synology Storage Pool using SHD, RAID 0, or RAID 1. Essential Post-Installation Optimizations
If you need help to a VHDX file
XPenology is an open-source community project that provides a custom bootloader. This bootloader emulates the proprietary hardware of a Synology NAS, allowing you to install the official DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system on a standard x86-based PC or server. DSM is renowned for its user-friendly interface, robust file-sharing protocols (SMB, NFS, FTP), and a rich ecosystem of first-party and third-party applications. Running XPenology DSM 7.0 or 7.2 gives you access to these enterprise-level NAS features on hardware of your choosing.
: Always wait for community confirmation before clicking "Update" in DSM. xpenology dsm 7 hyperv
On the "Connect Virtual Hard Disk" screen, choose and finish the wizard. Right-click your new VM and open Settings . Go to IDE Controller 0 , select Hard Drive , and click Add .
Go to (or a SCSI Controller), select Hard Drive , click Add , and create a new virtual hard disk ( dsm-storage.vhdx ). This disk will store your actual data and must be at least 10 GB.
Attach the .vhdx loader image you prepared. Once completed, you will be welcomed by the
Use existing server hardware without buying a dedicated Synology box.
Use the Network Virtualization adapter for maximum speed.
I can provide targeted troubleshooting steps to get your storage cluster online. Share public link DSM is renowned for its user-friendly interface, robust
Network Attached Storage (NAS) has evolved from simple file storage into the centralized hub of the modern home lab and small office. Synology’s DiskStation Manager (DSM) is widely regarded as the gold standard of NAS operating systems, praised for its intuitive user interface, robust backup tools, and rich ecosystem of applications. However, purchasing proprietary Synology hardware can be expensive, especially if you require high-end CPU power, massive RAM pools, or multi-gigabit networking.
Choose your target (DS920+ is highly recommended for consumer hardware; DS3622xs+ is optimal for high-drive counts without device tree restrictions).
If you install a minor DSM update and lose network access, your custom kernel modules may have been overwritten. Boot back into the interactive loader menu (port 7681 ), run an update on your loader extensions, and choose Rebuild the loader to reapply the network interface card (NIC) drivers. Conclusion
When running XPenology, users have a choice of hypervisors like ESXi, Proxmox, or VirtualBox. Hyper-V is a Type 1 hypervisor, meaning it runs directly on the hardware, offering near-native performance and better resource management than a Type 2 hypervisor like VirtualBox. If you are already running Windows Server or Windows 10/11 Pro/Enterprise, Hyper-V is integrated and ready to use without any additional cost, making it an ideal platform for home labs and small businesses.