Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

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This article will show step by step how to install Synology DSM 6.1.5 on a Proxmox (KVM) Virtual Machine using a Xpenology DSM bootloader.

Requirements (at the time of the writing):

  • Proxmox 5.x installed
  • Xpenology Jun's Loader 1.02b for ds3615 (get "DS3615xs 6.1 Jun's Mod V1.02b.img" here)
  • DSM 6.1.5 PAT file (here)

(warning: images-intensive article)
(update0: a newer article for dsm 6.2.x is available here)
(update1: an article about dsm 6.1.x update is available here)

 

Warning
This system is for testing or educational purpose, and It is NOT recommended for use in production environments.
For production, I'd recommend to go for an original Synology with a proper support.

We recommend ...
... at least 2GB RAM
... at least 16GB of free disk space

Please, click on pictures to zoom.

Create a new virtual machine

Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

General

Select :

  • VM ID: 103
  • Name: XpenoDsm61x

Click NEXT

 

Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

OS

Select : Do not use any media

For Guest OS, Select :

  • Type: Linux
  • Version: 4X/3X/2.6 Kernel

Click NEXT

 

Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

Hard Disk

Select :

  • Bus/Device: SATA 0
  • Storage: local
  • Disk size (GB): 16
  • Format: QEMU image format (qcow2)

Click NEXT

 

Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

CPU

Select :

  • Sockets: 1
  • Cores: 1
  • Enable NUMA: uncheck
  • Type: Default (kvm64)

Click NEXT

 

Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

Memory

Check Use fixed size memory

Select :

  • Memory (MB): 1024
  • Ballooning: uncheck

Click NEXT

 

Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

Network

Check bridged mode

Select

  • Model: Intel E1000

Click NEXT

 

Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

Confirm

Click FINISH

 

Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

BIOS

Select

  • SCSI Controller: Default (LSI 53C895A)
  • BIOS : OVMF (UEFI)

 

EFI Disk

Click on Add button
Then Select EFI Disk

Then on "Edit: EFI Disk" dialog, Select

  • Storage: local
  • Format : QEMU image format (qcow2)

 

Edit VM conf file

Open a shell on proxmox server as root, and execute the following command: (Substitute your <VM ID> if not 103)

# Add synoboot.img as USB drive 
[root]$ echo "args: -device 'ich9-usb-ehci1,id=usb-ctl-synoboot,addr=0x18' -drive 'id=usb-drv-synoboot,file=/var/lib/vz/images/103/synoboot.img,if=none,format=raw' -device 'usb-storage,id=usb-stor-synoboot,bootindex=1,removable=off,drive=usb-drv-synoboot'" >> /etc/pve/qemu-server/103.conf
 
# Change boot option in vm conf
# Little hack to get the UEFI BIOS persistent change
# UPDATE: This hack is no more needed from Proxmox 5.2
[root]$ sed -i 's/boot:.*/boot: z/g' /etc/pve/qemu-server/103.conf

 

In the end, /etc/pve/qemu-server/103.conf file should look like that:

args: -device 'ich9-usb-ehci1,id=usb-ctl-synoboot,addr=0x18' -drive 'id=usb-drv-synoboot,file=/var/lib/vz/images/103/synoboot.img,if=none,format=raw' -device 'usb-storage,id=usb-stor-synoboot,bootindex=1,removable=off,drive=usb-drv-synoboot'
balloon: 0
bios: ovmf
boot: c
bootdisk: sata0
cores: 1
efidisk0: local:103/vm-103-disk-1.qcow2,size=128K
ide2: none,media=cdrom
memory: 1024
name: XpenoDsm61x
net0: e1000=DE:CE:4A:E4:BD:FB,bridge=vmbr0
numa: 0
ostype: l26
sata0: local:103/vm-103-disk-2.qcow2,size=16G
smbios1: uuid=a3e9e6b6-ab2d-4634-980f-d593dea8e53f
sockets: 1

 

Transfert Jun's loader img to proxmox server

Copy Jun's loader previously downloaded on proxmox server as /var/lib/vz/images/103/synoboot.img.
For that you can use ftp (on port 22) or scp (or pscp for windows). By example:
pscp.exe "DS3615xs 6.1 Jun's Mod V1.02b.img" root@192.168.0.2:/var/lib/vz/images/103/synoboot.img

 

Now we are ready to install Synology DSM.

 

Install DSM

Start the VM and open a console.

Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

BIOS Boot order change

Enter the BIOS by quickly pressing F2 key

Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

Then Select Boot Maintenance Manager > Boot Options > Change Boot Order
Then Press Enter

Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

Highlight "QEMU USB" then press + key until it is on the top
Validate by pressing Enter
Then go down, and select Commit Changes and Exit

Press Esc key until you return on the first BIOS screen
Then select Reset

 

Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

Start Bootloader

In the GRUB menu, Choose the first one (Default)
Then the next screen will invite you to go to http://find.synology.com
If website cannot find you synology to install, Try the following instead:

  • Synology assistant (here), then double click on your synology
  • Find your synology local IP on your router with the following mac address: 00:11:32:2C:A7:85 . Then enter its ip address in a web browser.

 

Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

Click on Set up button

 

Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

Click on Manual Install

 

Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

Click on Browse and Select DSM 6.1.5 PAT file you have already downloaded

 

Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

Wait until installation complete.

 

Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

Enter your server name, credentials and uncheck the box.
Then click Next

 

Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

Click Next

 

Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

Check "Download DSM updates and install them manually" (let the download schedule by default)
Then click Next

 

Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

Click on skip this step

 

Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

Uncheck box, then Click Go

 

Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox

That's it your synology is now ready to use!

 

HTH,
Michel.

 

Note
Sata controller card can be directly passtrough to the VM in order to get Synology DSM to have direct access to the sata disks.
This can be done by adding these kind of lines to the vm conf: (your pci port can be different)
   - machine: q35
   - hostpci0: 05:00,pcie=1

For VirtIO network, you may find on xpenology.com some jun's loader mod with VirtIO driver added.

To enable ACPI power button in order to be able to shutdown the VM through Proxmox VE, check this package.

 

Reference
Forum Xpenology (xpenology.com)
Tutorial: DSM 6.x on Proxmox (Thread on xpenology.com)

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Comments   

ontljoshi
# RE: Install Xpenology DSM 6.1.x on Proxmox — ontljoshi 2020-12-23 13:58
hi

thanks for the guide, its gr8.

i wonder how do i directly attach two drives i have to the DSM and not via the Proxmox. I have been able to see the drives on the Proxmox within the Host > Disks section
/dev/sdb
/dev/sdc

and have been able to attach to the DSM too using
qm set 102 -sata2 /dev/disk/by-id/wwn-0x5000c500226127d2
update VM 102: -sata2 /dev/disk/by-id/wwn-0x5000cca37cc9275e

but post creating storage pool and volume, the storage pool crashes within few minutes. So am i wrong to use -sata as an interface, although drives are connected using SATA Cable?

could you please help?
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Zippo
# Gracias — Zippo 2020-06-25 00:29
Gracias Michel!! Buen tuto y bien explicado.
Abrazo!!
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Dan
# Help with Linode — Dan 2019-09-22 08:07
How do I load these settings onto Linode or Vultr vps providers? I have loaded bootdisk (jun's loader) on a disk and it boots, but I cannot connect (some sort of network problem) any ideas? appreciate your reply.
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Mauricio Avila
# Buen tutorial — Mauricio Avila 2019-05-17 19:33
El tutorial es bueno, siempre se agradece el esfuerzo
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Darky
# Proxmox 5.3-5 — Darky 2019-01-02 16:23
Hi,

It seems like i'm crashing when I try to start DS3615xs 6.1 Jun's Mod V1.02b.img.
Anyone else on version 5.3-5?
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vizkoze
# RE: Proxmox 5.3-5 — vizkoze 2019-02-10 13:22
Hi, i'm having issues with crashing dsm start. I was using a custom img 1.02b with built in virtio ethernet drivers but after a restart, i noticed proxmox update to 5.3.6 and i was unable to start dsm.
have you figured out how to repair this?
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vizkoze
# solved — vizkoze 2019-02-10 16:44
Hi, just wanted to check back in with a solution i found on [censored]s://www.bachmann-lan.de/xpenology-6-2-unter-proxmox-installieren/

i imported the synoboot.img as a disk using this command
syntax: qm importdisk [OPTIONS]
(in my case "qm importdisk 101 /var/lib/vz/images/synoboot.img local-lvm")
this creates an unused disk you can mount as ide (or sata if you prefer)
under boot settings, you boot this disk first.
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luis
# install without dhcp server? — luis 2018-08-10 20:33
i donĀ“t undestaind how your VM xpenlogy is getting an ip via dhcp server cause proxmox not have dhcp by default.
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UxOra DBA
# RE: install without dhcp server? — UxOra DBA 2018-08-12 00:26
True ... I forgot to mention that, in my case, my Proxmox server NIC eth0 (link with vmbr0 bridge) is connected to a router (with dhcp).

If you are not behind a router, I may advise to
- install/configure isc-dhcp-server as simple dhcp on proxmox
- or create a vm with pfsense as a powerful firewall/router
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Belokan
# Great article ! — Belokan 2018-08-07 07:53
Hi,

I've recently decommissioned my 2 "real" Synology (412+ & 415+) and replaced them by OMV VM running on Proxmox nodes. I've replaced Surveillance Station by ZoneMinder + ZmNinja.
But I was missing few DSM apps not that easily replaceable.

I was about to find a second hand 112j when I decided to give XPE a try. I've tried several tutorials but yours is the one that worked straightforward, thanks !

I just have a question about upgrades. Are they even possible ? Or must I stick to 6.1.5 forever ?

Thanks in advance !
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UxOra DBA
# RE: Great article ! — UxOra DBA 2018-08-07 15:35
Yes, It's possible.

First of all, I would recommend to disable automatic updates as follow:
- Go to Control Panel > Update and Restore
- On the "DSM Update" tab,
- ** click "Update Settings" then check "Important updates only"
- ** and select "Download DSM updates but let me choose whether to install them"

For minor update (i.e 6.1.x to 6.1.y):
- Check if there is no issue with the update on xpenology.com/forum/forum/78-critical-updates/
- Then if ok, just do a normal synology update as usual through "Control Panel > Update and Restore"

For major update (i.e 6.1.x to 6.2.y), it's a bit more stressful but possible:
- It usually requires to update the bootloader (check if bootloader is stable on xpenology.com/forum/forum/31-loaders/)
- Restart with the new bootloader and do a normal synology migration as if it is a new synology machine
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Belokan
# RE: Great article ! — Belokan 2018-08-08 09:43
Thanks for your answer Michel.

Looks like Jun's 6.2 loader has issue with EFI right now. As I'm just running regular Debian/CentOS VMs and various containers on my Proxmox environment, I've always used default Seabios BIOS and never played around with EFI apart from this XPE instance ...

Any idea/hint on how to get rid of EFI in your tuto ? Maybe a vm.conf file with required modifications ?

Thanks in advance
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UxOra DBA
# RE: Great article ! — UxOra DBA 2018-08-12 15:11
If EFI really does not work, you may want to try this:
- Rename loader (as root): $ mv synoboot.img synoboot_ds3615_v1.03b.raw
- Copy it in vm disk folder (ie. /var/lib/vz/images/103/.)
- Then use it as a drive by adding these lines in conf (ie. /etc/pve/qemu-server/103.conf)
bootdisk: ide0
ide0: local:103/synoboot_ds3615_v1.03b.raw,size=52429K

You may want to check this comment as well:
[censored]s://xpenology.com/forum/topic/12952-dsm-62-loader/?page=5&tab=comments#comment-93988

(edit1: choose ide to not mess with sata)
(edit2: do not need to convert to qcow2)
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Abdessamad
# Question — Abdessamad 2018-06-18 22:51
Hello

Great guide , thanks,
i have 1 small problem, when i reboot the VM , proxmox load default boot order .. so i have to enter bios and re up USB
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UxOra DBA
# RE: Question — UxOra DBA 2018-06-19 13:29
You're welcome. :)

For your boot order saving issue, make sure you have:
- Set VM BIOS to "OVMF UEFI"
- Added an EFI disk to your VM
- Set boot to z in /etc/pve/qemu-server/10x.conf
(UPDATE: This "z" boot trick is no more needed from Proxmox 5.2)

Then you should be able to save your bios boot order.

All theses steps are shown in this article.

Hope this helps.
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vinny
# bootorder not persistent — vinny 2018-09-01 00:11
Hi, i followed you excellent guide and my first try did succeed. Like Abdessamad, my bootorder is not persistent.
I'm using proxmox 5.2. even tried the Set boot: z in /etc/pve/qemu-server/10x.conf (in my case 103.conf) without succes.
there are some differences between 5.2 and you guide. I noticed you use qcow2, I only get the raw option on my box. Could this be the cultprint? standard install with local-lvm provisioning for disk images
it drives me nuts not to be able to reboot the vm without going into the uefi bios
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UxOra DBA
# RE: bootorder not persistent — UxOra DBA 2018-09-02 15:30
Currently I am using proxmox ve 5.2-6 with the following conf which works for me:

args: -device 'piix3-usb-uhci,addr=0x18' -drive 'id=synoboot,file=/var/lib/vz/images/100/synoboot_ xmox.img,if=none,format=raw' -device 'usb-storage,id=synoboot,drive=synoboot'
bios: ovmf
boot: d
efidisk0: local:100/vm-100-disk-0-efi.qcow2,size=128K
machine: q35
name: xpenology
ostype: l26
serial0: socket
...

It is used with Jun's Loader 1.02b (ds3615) to run DSM 6.1.x (currently I am on 6.1.7).

I am not sure what the culprit and why you can only choose raw ... because for me, when I create a UEFI disk, I have choice between raw,qcow2 and vmdk.

Well if EFI really doesn't work for you, you can still use the bootloader as a disk and boot on it as I have explained to Belokan a few posts before.
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zorroog
# Reason not able to choose qcow as format — zorroog 2018-10-15 14:23
From the proxmox manual:

"The choice of a storage type will determine the format of the hard disk
image. Storages which present block devices (LVM, ZFS, Ceph) will require the raw disk image format, whereas files based storages (Ext4, NFS, CIFS, GlusterFS) will let you to choose either the raw disk image format or the QEMU image format."
So your proxmox install only contains LVM/ZFS/Ceph storage types.
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