Proxmox

Proxmox iSCSI target to Synology NAS

Not long ago, I wrote a quick blog post detailing how to install Proxmox inside a VMware virtual machine. However, to really play around with the hypervisor, it is great to have storage to work with. I could’ve added a local disk to the VM. However, iSCSI sounded way more interesting, especially with the new addition of the Synology DS1621xs+ in the home lab environment. Let’s take a look at adding Proxmox iSCSI target to Synology NAS LUN and see what this process looks like.

Take a look at the video walkthrough of this process here:

Proxmox iSCSI target to Synology NAS

The steps to complete adding a Synology on Proxmox hypervisor server looks like the following:

  1. Create the iSCSI target on the Synology NAS
  2. Add a dedicated interface to your Proxmox server (if you don’t have already)
  3. Add the iSCSI target to Proxmox
  4. Create the LVM to the Synology iSCSI target

1. Create the iSCSI target on the Synology NAS

Let’s first create the iSCSI target on the Synology NAS device. This process is carried out in the Synology SAN Manager. Launch SAN Manager and click iSCSI > Create.

Create a new iSCSI target in the Synology SAN Manager
Create a new iSCSI target in the Synology SAN Manager

Configure a name for the iSCSI target and configure CHAP if you are using CHAP to secure the connections. For this test, I am leaving CHAP unchecked.

Name the new iSCSI target and choose CHAP options
Name the new iSCSI target and choose CHAP options

From the new iSCSI target wizard, it will prompt you to create or map to a LUN. I am creating a new LUN here.

Set up LUN mapping in Synology SAN Manager
Set up LUN mapping in Synology SAN Manager

Name the new LUN and configure the Capacity and the Space allocation method (thick or thin).

Set up LUN properties for the new LUN
Set up LUN properties for the new LUN

Review the settings configured and click Done.

Confirm the settings for the new iSCSI target and LUN properties
Confirm the settings for the new iSCSI target and LUN properties

You will see your new LUN displayed in the list.

The new LUN is displayed in SAN Manager
The new LUN is displayed in SAN Manager

3. Add a dedicated interface to your Proxmox server (if you don’t have already)

On the Proxmox virtual machine, I have added a secondary NIC to the VM for dedicated iSCSI traffic. Now, we need to configure the NIC with an IP address. To do this, in the Proxmox GUI, click your host > Network > <your network adapter> > Edit.

Editing the network adapter properties in Proxmox GUI
Editing the network adapter properties in Proxmox GUI

Enter the IP address you want to configure to communicate with your iSCSI target on the Synology NAS.

Configuring the IP address mask and comment
Configuring the IP address mask and comment

The IP address has been configured. However, the configuration needs to be applied as the Adapter Active status shows No. Click the Apply Configuration button at the top.

IP address is successfully configured
IP address is successfully configured

Confirm the new network settings.

Confirm to apply the pending network changes
Confirm to apply the pending network changes

The new network adapter with the configured IP address now shows Active.

The network adapter now shows to be active
The network adapter now shows to be active

From your Proxmox server, ping your Synology iSCSI address to ensure you have connectivity.

Verify you have connectivity to your iSCSI portal target of the Synology NAS
Verify you have connectivity to your iSCSI portal target of the Synology NAS

3. Add the iSCSI target to Proxmox

Next, lets add the Synology iSCSI target to Proxmox. Click your Datacenter > Storage > Add.

Add a new iSCSI target in Proxmox
Add a new iSCSI target in Proxmox

Configure the iSCSI ID, Portal, and Target.

Fill in the configuration for your Synology iSCSI NAS target
Fill in the configuration for your Synology iSCSI NAS target

After adding the target, you will see it in your Storage list.

New iSCSI target has been added in Proxmox
New iSCSI target has been added in Proxmox

4. Create the LVM to the Synology iSCSI target

Now that we have the target added, we need to add an LVM to use the iSCSI storage. Click Storage > Add > LVM.

Add a new LVM in Proxmox
Add a new LVM in Proxmox

Add an ID, Base storage (choose from dropdown), Base volume (choose from dropdown), Volume Group (name this something intuitive), and Content as Disk image, Container.

Configure the base storage pointed to the Synology iSCSI target
Configure the base storage pointed to the Synology iSCSI target

You will now see the new iSCSI LUN displayed in your list of storage.

New iSCSI LUN successfully added to Proxmox
New iSCSI LUN successfully added to Proxmox

Now, when you create a new Virtual Machine, you will see the iSCSI LUN listed as available to select.

Creating a new Proxmox virtual machine you can choose the Synology iSCSI LUN
Creating a new Proxmox virtual machine you can choose the Synology iSCSI LUN

Wrapping Up

Hopefully, this quick walkthrough of setting up a Proxmox iSCSI target to Synology NAS helps to remove any uncertainty of how this is configured. From the Synology NAS side, the process is the same no matter which hypervisor you are using. Generally, the only change in how you add the iSCSI storage comes from the vendor side that you are adding the storage from. Using VMware vSphere and want to add an iSCSI target to your Synology NAS? Take a look at my post on how to do that here:

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Brandon Lee

Brandon Lee is the Senior Writer, Engineer and owner at Virtualizationhowto.com and has over two decades of experience in Information Technology. Having worked for numerous Fortune 500 companies as well as in various industries, Brandon has extensive experience in various IT segments and is a strong advocate for open source technologies. Brandon holds many industry certifications, loves the outdoors and spending time with family.

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3 Comments

  1. Hello,
    Thanks for your tutorial but I think to have missed a point: where the ens160 interface has been setup as the specific one dedicated for iSCSI traffic? Yes, I see it is on the same subnet of the Synology NAS, but what if even the other interface (ens32) is on the same subnet?
    In ESXi this task can be achieved pretty easily, but in Proxmox?
    If I had two nics, how and where could I setup a specific nic only for storage tasks, like iSCSI traffic?
    Thank you.

    P.s.: ESXi user here who are evaluating the Proxmox migration. 😊

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