You can run your NAS alongside other services (Docker, VMs, Windows Server) on the same host machine.
DSM 7 on Hyper-V works for light NAS use (file shares, backups, Docker). Avoid heavy database or VM workloads. Always keep a spare boot disk image – updates can break the loader. For production, use official Synology or switch to Proxmox/ESXi which have far better XPEnology support.
Use to flash this .img file to a small VHDX file, or directly to a physical USB drive if you prefer to boot the VM from a USB stick.
Hyper-V requires a specific configuration profile to ensure the XPenology bootloader initializes correctly. Step 1: Create the Virtual Machine Open on your Windows host. xpenology dsm 7 hyperv
| Task | Bare-metal Synology | Xpenology (Hyper-V) | Verdict | |------|---------------------|----------------------|---------| | Sequential read (SMB) | 113 MB/s | 78 MB/s | ~30% slower | | Sequential write (SMB) | 110 MB/s | 65 MB/s | ~40% slower | | 4K random read | 250 IOPS | 180 IOPS | Noticeable | | DSM UI responsiveness | Instant | 1-2 sec delay | Sluggish | | Plex transcoding (HW) | Works | (no GPU passthrough) | dealbreaker | | Docker performance | Good | Acceptable | Stable |
Click and acknowledge that all data on the attached virtual data disks (IDE Controller 1) will be erased.
Navigate to . Click Hard Drive , then click Add . You can run your NAS alongside other services
For better performance, you can "Pass-through" a physical hard drive by setting it to "Offline" in Windows Disk Management first. 5. Installing DSM 7
Running XPEnology on Hyper-V is challenging because official Synology DSMs lack native Hyper-V integration (unlike VMware). DSM 7 works, but requires specific loader versions (e.g., RedPill or ARC) and manual network fixes.
Before turning on the VM, you must adjust its hardware parameters: Right-click your new VM and select . Always keep a spare boot disk image –
If the physical host has an Intel CPU with QuickSync capabilities, it is possible to pass this through to the VM for hardware transcoding (e.g., in Plex or Synology Photos).
64-bit Intel or AMD CPU with hardware virtualization (Intel VT-x or AMD-V) enabled in the BIOS/UEFI.
After the loader reboots, use to find the NAS.