It was time to take back control of my data. When I first started using a Synology NAS years ago, it served mainly as a storage space for work image files and media for Plex. It wasn't meant to be a home lab, but over time, it evolved into one until it tried to handle too many tasks simultaneously and failed at all.
Building my own server has always been part of my plan for home lab experiments, and now the time has come. The NAS will return to its original purpose—archiving files—while the new server will manage more demanding workloads.
The only thing slightly surprising is how long it took me to realize my needs had changed and action was necessary.
SilverStone, Asus, and Kingston generously provided hardware for this project. None of these companies reviewed the article or influenced its content.
Although recent missteps by the NAS company sped up my decision, this change had been in the works for some time. My home lab requirements simply outgrew what my Synology NAS and mini PC could offer.
Upgrading to a custom Proxmox server was a necessary step to meet growing technical demands while preserving archival tasks on the NAS.
Author’s summary: Transitioning from Synology NAS to a custom Proxmox server reflects evolving data needs that outgrew original storage solutions, requiring dedicated performance and scalability.