Proxmox iSCSI target to Synology NAS

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.

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

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

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

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

                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

You will see your new LUN displayed in the list.

                    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

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

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

Confirm the new network settings.

                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

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

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

Configure the iSCSI ID, Portal, and 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

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 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

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

            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

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:

• iSCSI Synology VMware Configuration step-by-step