When virtualizing DSM, enthusiasts often turn to VMware ESXi or Proxmox VE. While those are excellent Type-1 hypervisors, Hyper-V offers unique advantages, particularly for users already embedded in the Windows ecosystem:

Use the default Hyper-V Network Adapter rather than the Legacy version to ensure better throughput, provided the loader includes the necessary integration drivers. Key Deployment Strategies Xpenology in Hyper-V thread - ServeTheHome Forums

Find a pre-compiled Redpill TinyCore image for your desired model (e.g., DS918+ or DS3622xs+).

Xpenology is a bootloader project that allows you to run Synology’s DSM software on non-Synology hardware. By pairing Xpenology with Microsoft Hyper-V—the native hypervisor built into Windows Pro, Enterprise, and Windows Server—you can virtualize DSM 7. This setup lets you build a high-performance, flexible NAS right alongside your existing Windows environment.

With the release of DSM 7, the installation process has evolved, primarily due to the and automated alternatives like Arc Loader . Here is how to get it up and running on Hyper-V. Prerequisites

: A more manual, community-standard loader. While highly flexible, it often requires manual script execution ( rploader.sh ) within a terminal . Critical Hyper-V Configuration Steps

Allocate a minimum of of memory. Uncheck Use Dynamic Memory ; DSM requires a fixed block of RAM. Select your active Virtual Switch on the networking page. Configure Virtual Hard Drives

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Select if using a modern loader, or upload the matching official .pat file downloaded from the Synology Download Center.

Running XPEnology DSM 7 on Hyper-V is a powerful way to create a DIY NAS. It offers the polished Synology experience without the hardware cost. However, it requires attention to detail—specifically regarding processor compatibility settings and storage configuration within Hyper-V.