How can you connect Proxmox to a NAS?
Do you want to expand your Proxmox storage or back up your virtual machines to a NAS? Connecting Proxmox to a NAS gives you flexible storage options for your virtual environment. This guide explains how to connect Proxmox to NAS using NFS, CIFS/SMB, or iSCSI step by step—and helps you avoid common pitfalls along the way.
What is Proxmox and NAS?
Proxmox Virtual Environment (VE) is an open-source platform for managing virtual machines (VMs) and containers on one server or across clusters. It lets you run many workloads efficiently with centralized management tools. A Network Attached Storage (NAS) device provides shared storage over your network so multiple systems can access files or backups at once. With a NAS, you can store VM disks, ISO images, snapshots, or backup archives outside of your main server hardware.
Why connect Proxmox to NAS?
Connecting Proxmox VE to a NAS brings several advantages:
You gain centralized storage that’s easy to expand as needs grow.
Storing VM disks or backups on a NAS separates compute from storage resources.
Using networked storage improves data protection since files are not tied directly to local disks.
Many organizations use their NAS as an affordable backup target with built-in redundancy features.
This setup makes it easier for IT teams to manage capacity while keeping critical data safe from hardware failures or ransomware attacks.
How to connect Proxmox to NAS via NFS
NFS (Network File System) is widely used for sharing folders between Linux systems like Proxmox VE and most modern NAS devices. Before starting, make sure your NAS has an NFS share set up with proper permissions for your Proxmox server’s IP address.
To connect Proxmox VE to a NAS via NFS:
1. Create a shared folder on your NAS
Log in as administrator on your NAS device. Open "File Station" (or similar app). Click "Create > Shared Folder", enter a name such as "Proxmox_NFS", set read/write permissions for your intended users or hosts, then click "Finish".
2. Enable NFS service on your NAS
Go into "Control Panel > Network & File Services > NFS Service" (menu names may vary). Check "Enable Network File System (NFS) service", select supported versions if prompted, then click "Apply".
3. Set NFS permissions for the shared folder
Navigate within Control Panel menus—often under something like "Privilege Settings > Shared Folders"—and find your new folder ("Proxmox_NFS"). Click its settings menu ("Edit Shared Folder Permission") and look for an option like "NFS Host Access" or "NFS Permissions". Enter the IP address of your Proxmox server; grant it read/write access; save changes by clicking "Apply".
Note: Menu paths differ between brands like QNAP or Synology but always ensure correct host/IP permissions here!
4. Add the NFS share in Proxmox VE web interface
Log in at https://your-prox-ve-ip:8006/. Go under "Datacenter > Storage", click "Add > NFS".
- For "ID", type any unique name ("NAS-NFS" works well).
- For "Server", enter the IP address of your NAS device.
- For "Export", enter the full export path shown in your NAS’s NFS settings—for example `/volume1/Proxmox_NFS`. This field is case-sensitive!
- Under "Content", check what types of data you want stored here ("Disk image", "VZDump backup file", etc.).
Click "Add" to finish setup.
Your new storage should now appear in both Datacenter view and node-level views within Proxmox VE’s GUI—you can use it immediately when creating VMs or scheduling backups!
How to connect Proxmox to NAS via CIFS/SMB
CIFS/SMB protocols allow Windows-style file sharing across networks—which works well if some users rely on Windows clients alongside Linux servers like Proxmox VE. Here is how you link them:
1. Create a shared folder on your NAS
Open "File Station", click "Create > Shared Folder", give it a name such as "Proxmox_SMB", assign read/write rights as needed (usually admin), then hit "Finish".
2. Enable SMB/CIFS service
In your Control Panel go under something like "Network & File Services > Microsoft Networking (SMB)"; check "Enable file services for Microsoft Networking"; apply changes with "Apply" button if required by UI prompts.
3. Add SMB/CIFS share inside Proxmox
From web interface go into "Datacenter > Storage", choose "Add" then pick "SMB/CIFS".
- Set unique value under ID ("NAS-SMB").
- Enter correct IP address under Server.
- Fill Username/Password fields with valid credentials from authorized account on that share.
- In Share field type exact case-sensitive name of created folder ("Proxmox_SMB").
- Choose desired Content types (Disk image, etc.).
Click Add when ready—the new SMB/CIFS mount appears instantly among available storages!
Now both Linux-based VMs and Windows-based admins can work together using this central location without compatibility headaches!
How to connect Proxmox to NAS via iSCSI
iSCSI lets you present block-level storage from remote devices so they appear just like local disks inside servers—including those running hypervisors such as Proxmox VE! This method suits high-performance workloads needing fast disk access times or advanced clustering setups where multipath redundancy matters most. Follow these steps:
1. Create an iSCSI target on your NAS
Login using admin credentials; open app called "iSCSI & Fibre Channel" if available; enable service if not already active; navigate into "iSCSI Storage"; click Create/New Target wizard; assign alias such as "Proxmox-iSCSI"; optionally tick box labeled "Allow clustered access…" if planning cluster deployments later; complete wizard steps until finished prompt appears.
2. Create block-based LUN attached directly beneath this target
When prompted after target creation—or manually through LUN management screen—pick parent pool/storage volume; specify LUN name/capacity/type ("block-based" recommended); enable thin provisioning if supported by hardware/software stack; confirm choices until done message displays onscreen.
3a.*(Portal Discovery)* In web UI go Datacenter>Storage>Add>iSCSI
For Portal field input only IP address of target host/NAS
For ID supply unique label
Click Add
3b.*(Target Selection)* After portal added successfully system scans/discovers available targets automatically
Under Target dropdown select correct IQN string matching what was configured earlier during step 1 above
Once completed successfully newly mapped LUN(s) show up within node’s disk list—they’re ready now either for direct VM assignment OR further configuration atop logical volume managers such as LVM/ZFSPool layers depending upon performance/redundancy requirements!
How to Verify and Troubleshoot Your Proxmox-NAS Connection
After connecting storage between systems there are times things don’t work right away—but don’t panic! Here are some quick checks every admin should try:
First verify basic connectivity: Can you ping the IP address of your NAS from each relevant node? If not double-check cabling/firewall rules/subnet masks everywhere involved!
If mounting fails over NFS/CIFS confirm protocol enabled correctly AND that permission lists include current host addresses—not just wildcard entries!
For iSCSI issues run `iscsiadm -m discovery -t sendtargets -p <NAS_IP>` directly from shell prompt on affected nodes—this command confirms whether targets/LUNs visible at all outside GUI layer
Inside web interface check status icons beside each configured storage entry—a red/offline symbol means something went wrong during handshake/mount phase
Finally consult logs (`journalctl`, `/var/log/syslog`, etc.) plus review error messages shown onscreen whenever adding/removing shares—they often point straight toward missing credentials/wrong paths/network timeouts/etc., making fixes much faster than guessing blindly
By following these steps methodically most connection hiccups resolve quickly without downtime!
Enterprise Backup Solution: Vinchin Backup & Recovery Overview
To further secure data in environments leveraging platforms like Proxmox VE, consider Vinchin Backup & Recovery - a professional enterprise-level virtual machine backup solution supporting more than 15 mainstream virtualization platforms including VMware, Hyper-V, oVirt, OLVM, RHV, XCP-ng, XenServer, OpenStack, ZStack and especially robust support for Proxmox environments.
Vinchin Backup & Recovery delivers essential features such as forever incremental backup, granular restore capabilities, V2V migration across platforms, advanced data deduplication/compression technologies, and comprehensive malware detection powered by Kaspersky—all designed for efficient operations and enhanced security in demanding IT infrastructures.
With its intuitive web console interface, backing up a virtual machine with Vinchin Backup & Recovery involves just four straightforward steps:
Step 1: Select the Proxmox VM to back up
Step 2: Choose the backup storage
Step 3: Configure the backup strategy
Step 4: Submit the job
Recognized globally with top ratings and trusted by thousands of enterprises worldwide, Vinchin Backup & Recovery offers a 60-day full-featured free trial - click below to get started today!
Connect Proxmox to NAS FAQs
Q1: Can I use both NFS and SMB shares from the same NAS in Proxmox?
Yes, you can add both NFS and SMB shares as separate storage entries in Proxmox.
Q2: What should I do if Proxmox cannot see my NAS share?
Check network connectivity, verify permissions on the NAS,and ensure the correct protoco lisenabled; also check firewall rules on both ends.
Q3: How do I remove a NAS storage from Proxmox ?
Got DATACENTER>STORAGE, select the storage, click REMOVE, and confirm.
Conclusion
Connecting Proxmox to a NAS lets you expand storage for virtual machines and backups with flexibility and security. Whether using NFS, SMB, or iSCSI, the process is straight forward. For advanced backup and dataprotection, Vinchin offers a simple and powerful solution for your needs.
