Scaling Synology Storage for Virtualization Workloads
Making Synology NAS work better for virtual machines and storage growth
Virtualization has changed how modern IT infrastructure works. Instead of using physical servers, businesses now run important programs, databases, and internal services inside virtual machines. As workloads get bigger, the performance of storage becomes as important as that of the CPU and RAM.
A Synology NAS can be both a shared storage device and a virtualization platform, but only if it is set up correctly. Bad planning for storage can make virtual machines run slowly, cause latency spikes, and cause downtime that you didn’t expect. If the architecture is right, though, a NAS can support reliable and scalable virtual environments in offices, labs, and production networks.
Comprehending the Storage Needs of Virtualization
Virtual machines do a lot of different things with disks than regular file storage does. VMs don’t make big files that are read and written to in order. Instead, they make thousands of small read and write operations at the same time.
The following are typical workloads for VMs:
- Booting up the OS
- Transactions in a database
- Logs for applications
- Checkpoints and snapshots
- Sessions for more than one user
This means that there is a high demand for IOPS instead of throughput. Even if there is a lot of storage space, a NAS that is only set up for capacity will have trouble with virtualization load.
The main goal is not only to store data, but also to keep latency low.
How to Pick the Best RAID for Virtual Machines
When getting a NAS ready for virtualization, the most important choice is which RAID to use.
RAID 5
Good capacity efficiency, but bad performance when writing randomly. Not good for active VMs, but good for file archives.
RAID 6
Double parity makes writing slower, but it protects better. Not always the best choice for heavy VM use.
RAID 10
The best option for performance. Offers quick random reads and writes with low latency. Suggested for virtual machines and databases that are in use.
SHR, or Synology Hybrid RAID
Easy to change and add to. Good for places where storage needs grow slowly over time. When used with SSD caching, this works well for small virtualization environments.
RAID 10 or SHR with SSD cache gives the best performance for most business uses.
Using SSD Cache to Get Rid of Latency
Hard drives give you space, while SSDs give you speed. Caching is very helpful for virtual machines because they often access the same data over and over.
There are two ways to use the cache:
- Cache for Reading
Makes booting up and loading apps faster. - Cache for reading and writing
Speeds up writing to databases and workloads with multiple users.
Running multiple VMs at the same time gives the biggest boost to performance. Instead of fighting for disk access, they first talk to flash storage.
Adding more storage without downtime
Storage needs grow quickly as businesses get bigger. It’s not practical to replace the NAS every time it fills up.
Three ways to grow safely are:
1. Add bigger drives
Replace drives with disks that have more space over time. Synology rebuilds the array while keeping services running.
2. Units for Expansion
To add more bays without moving, attach expansion shelves. Perfect for places where plants grow.
3. Stacked Storage
Put cold data on slower disks and VM storage on faster arrays.
Planning for growth early on keeps you from having to move later on.
Network Configuration is Important
Network throughput is very important for virtual machines. A single 1Gb connection quickly becomes a problem.
Suggested choices:
- Link aggregation (more than one 1Gb port)
- 10GbE networking for work in production
- Separate VLANs for storage traffic
Even if you don’t change disks, cutting down on network congestion makes VMs much more responsive.
Features of the Synology Virtualization Platform
Synology’s operating system has virtualization features built right in, so administrators can run or host virtual machines while keeping all of their data in one place.
It can do:
- iSCSI storage for hypervisors
- VM backups based on snapshots
- Replication between locations
- Quick rollback after a failure
Snapshots are very useful because they let you quickly recover from software corruption or ransomware without having to restore full backups.
This combination lets a NAS work as both a storage and recovery system at the same time.
Support for Deployment and Architecture
To plan storage for virtualization, you need to work together with networking, backup strategy, and performance planning. Epis Technology uses Synology systems as part of a complete infrastructure solution, not just as separate pieces of hardware.
They look at how workloads are distributed, set up RAID and caching correctly, and make sure that backup protection works on all servers and cloud platforms. Their deployments include monitoring, being ready for disasters, and planning for long-term growth. This keeps the NAS stable even when businesses add new users, locations, and apps.
About Epis Technology
Epis Technology provides enterprise IT infrastructure, Synology consulting, and data protection solutions for businesses of all sizes. See how Epis Technology builds high-availability MailPlus email infrastructure. The company designs and manages Synology-based environments for high-performance storage, Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace backups, and fully managed PC backups, combining Intel-based NAS with hybrid cloud platforms for maximum resilience. From initial architecture and deployment to performance tuning, cybersecurity hardening, and disaster recovery planning, Epis Technology ensures that your storage systems are secure, scalable, and always ready to support your business.