How to Install Proxmox on a QNAP NAS

If you have been looking into server-based virtualization or high-efficiency container deployment, then there is every chance that you are well aware of Promox, the open-source alternative to enterprise/premium VM platforms such as VMware, Citrix or Redhat hypervisors. A hypervisor is a layer of software that lives on top of bare metal server hardware and/or lives as an executional package from within an operating system. Although QNAP NAS systems already arrive with a very good virtual machine hypervisor, Virtualization Station, many users would still like the option to run a VM Hypervisor software directly from the bare metal (eg, remove a multipurpose OS and have the system immediately boot into the Hypervisor software). Virtualization station has as huge range of software options (including downloading ready-made VM images from marketplaces, huge customization supported, integration with the backup/sync services in QuTS/QTS and in a new update High-Availability support). Still, some users might have a QNA NAS that is outside of hardware warranty or is relatively modest that will possibly run VMs better without the host OS in place, hence why some users think about installing Proxmox in its place on their QNAP NAS. Proxmox provides pretty much all the abilities and services of those bigger premium VM hypervisors, however in those premium platforms (VMware, Citrix, HyperV, etc) there are additiona charges and tiers to their use – whereas Proxmox includes them all in a free, open-source package. So, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to repurpose your old NAS with this bare metal hypervisor software, and today I want to guide you through the process of installing Proxmox on your QNAP NAS.

[pincombe]

Nice video guide and great to see users been made aware of Proxmox. Would be nice to make a follow up video and show how to get the QNAP install back up and running from within Proxmox.

[wojciechtarka]

Thank you for the video. A very clear and accurate installation of Proxmox on a Qnap NAS.

[oscs]

ventoy is a much better tool to boot multiple iso images

[pattespattes]

thanks for the video, it's amazing how it's easy to boot on a custom os on this qnap nas, good thing to know if the qnap software isn't satisfied.

[AndreasSchmidt]

@NASCompares Thanks for that very great guide. Do you have some words and experience about performance comparison before and after? I have the 453Be with 16GB ram and while having the datavol1 with the OS part and the container apps on a SSD every action on the NAS is very sluggish with QTS. It got even worse with QTS5.1. I was thinking to install openmediavault, but wonder if the sluggishness is the hardware itself or the OS.

[adamyork]

Is QNAP the only NAS with a bios that will allow installation of other operating systems, or can you do that on Synology, Asustor and the like as well?

[Dannington]

I've been thinking of doing this with my h1688x, so it's quite a powerful NAS. If I still want to use it as a NAS is the idea to install a FreeNAS VM or something? How easy is it to do that - is it performant / safe? Thanks for the guides.

[aleksrutar]

I also hate seagulls, thanks for the knowledge you shared!

[Vritas]

Do I need to create a new server? Isn't there something I can just attach to one of my proxmox nucs already running.I Just need some raid storage. Like are there NASs without OS that I can just conect??

[AymanMamdouh]

i have a problem making ts-453d storage to my Hik NVR by NFS...
i do all the steps and after adding the storage it wont format its always gives device error
can u help me?

[MarcusWillberg]

Thinking about getting a used TVS-h1288X and installing Proxmox on an M.2 drive. Does anybody know if these support IOMMU so one could pass through the SATA controllers to a TrueNAS VM?

[bearxor]

After you install proxmox, is it possible to then pass the eMMC that QTS is stored on and run QTS as a VM in proxmox?

[tylerbarr]

Anyone had any success with this on a HDMI-less qnap I've heard of installing on another PC then moving the drive is that still the only option. Also is the situation the same with unraid ?

[krunoslavpavlovic]

Is there a smooth way to switch between proxmox and qts with this installation?

[hans-peterschmid]

Sorry, but installing Proxmox on a platform with a N5095 (4 threads) processor I wouldn't suggest. I think, if anyone is doing so, she/he will run in performance problems very soon and the more powerfull QNAP boxes are (sorry) too expencive. Maybe the Ugreen boxes (DXP4800) will do a better job in future, but still only avaylable in USA and DE 😢

[nlrz]

Can anyone help me understand the difference between container station, virtualization station and proxmox?
For the moment I installed plex under container station, but isn't it already virtualization?

[LokiDaFerret]

You really need to read your audience. If they're installing proxmox they better know how to put something onto a USB and boot from that USB and plugging in a keyboard and a monitor etc. paint dries faster than this video. 😁