Synology VMM Explained: Run Virtual Machines on Your NAS

An online-shop owner had an ancient Windows PC dedicated to running his inventory system. It hung constantly, and he dared not shut it down in case it never booted again. I told him: "Your Synology NAS can run a virtual Windows machine — that old PC can retire." He was stunned: "I thought a NAS was just for storage?" Not quite — Synology's Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) turns your NAS into a small server that runs Windows and Linux virtual machines.

What is VMM?

Virtual Machine Manager is Synology DSM's built-in virtualization platform — a lightweight cousin of VMware ESXi. You can create one or more virtual computers on your NAS, install Windows 10/11, Windows Server or Ubuntu, and connect via browser or Remote Desktop. Each VM's disk is just a file on the NAS, so backup, snapshots and migration are one-click operations.

Practical uses

Replace an old server: P2V-migrate that decade-old Windows Server into the NAS — save power, space and air-con
Test environment: spin up a clean Windows to try software; break it, restore a snapshot in 5 seconds
24/7 services: run a lightweight Linux VM as download box, website or VPN server without leaving a PC on
Legacy software: keep that Windows-7-only system alive inside a VM

Hardware requirements

Model: Plus series or above (DS224+, DS423+, DS923+); J and Value series can't run VMM
RAM: stock 2GB is barely enough — upgrade to 8GB+, 16GB for Windows 11
Drives: VMs on an SSD volume feel dramatically faster; add NVMe cache if you can
CPU: Intel Celeron handles 1–2 light VMs; for serious use pick a Ryzen model (DS923+)

Setup walkthrough

Install Virtual Machine Manager from DSM Package Center
Open VMM → Virtual Machine → Create → choose Windows or Linux
Allocate CPU (2 cores minimum), RAM (4GB for Windows 11), disk (60GB+)
Mount your ISO (upload the Windows installer ISO to the NAS first)
Power on and install Windows normally
Install Synology Guest Tool (download inside VMM) — drivers and performance need it
Schedule snapshots: daily, keep 7 days — break anything without fear

Real case: a whole shop's "server" moved into a NAS

A computer-parts shop in Sham Shui Po had a 9-year-old cashier server screaming like a helicopter. We P2V-migrated the whole machine into their DS923+ (previously just a backup box). The POS system now runs in a VM with nightly snapshots. The old server retired, the shop is half as noisy, and the power bill dropped. "If I'd known the NAS could do this, I wouldn't have bought a server years ago."

FAQ

Do I need a Windows licence? Yes — VMs need genuine licences like physical PCs
Is performance enough for daily use? Office work, inventory systems and light servers, no problem; gaming and video editing, forget it
Is VMM free? Built into DSM, no charge; advanced features (cluster, live migration) need extra licences
VMM vs Docker? Docker runs containers (light, fast, Linux-only); VMM runs full OSes (heavier, any OS)

Summary

If you already own a Synology Plus-series NAS, VMM is a free hidden superpower. Move old PCs and servers into it — save space and power, with snapshots as your safety net. Don't want to DIY? WhatsApp us — we handle RAM upgrades, VMM setup and P2V migration end to end.

Synology VMM Explained: Run Virtual Machines on Your NAS