Optimizing Your QNAP NAS for Windows 11 VM: A Comprehensive Guide

Setting up a Windows 11 Pro Virtual Machine (VM) on your QNAP NAS can be a powerful way to harness the capabilities of both Windows and your NAS for various applications. However, the process comes with its fair share of challenges and nuances. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps and share valuable insights based on the experiences of one of our community members. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned user, this guide will help you navigate the journey successfully.

I did managed to complete the creation of a Windows 11 Pro VM on my QNAP NAS.

I had numerous issues along the way which I have outlined below.

It would be wonderful if you could make a video for others to help save them some of the pain I experienced.

1. Downloading the Windows 11 ISO

Microsoft does not distinguish between the different version of Windows 11 when downloading the file.

Way to be precise Microsoft!

https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11

If you choose the (Download Windows 11 Disk Image (ISO) for x64 devices) you will have the choice to choose any version during the install.

Also when you are downloading the file there is ABSOLUTELY NO INDICATION the file is being downloaded!

You just have to wait until the file size reaches 5.25 GB in Windows file explorer and sometimes even viewing the file in file explorer it does not change size for a long time.

It’s likely buffering the data and only writing to disk every so often.

Way to build a great UI for your flagship product Microsoft!

2. Validating the ISO

I had issues with the first download of the ISO file and it would not install the OS.

So the second time I downloaded the ISO file I used PowerShell to validate the downloaded file.

Run the PowerShell command line exe and enter the following command to calculate the SHA-256 hash of the ISO file then compare that to the Microsoft published hash of      the ISO file to make sure they match

As an example use the command: Get-FileHash C:\PATH\TO\WINDOWS11.ISO

The hash takes several minutes to generate but when it finishes it should match the following string for the English version

8059A99B8902906A90AFE068AC00465C52588C2BD54F5D9D96C1297F88EF1076 – Calculated in PowerShell
8059A99B8902906A90AFE068AC00465C52588C2BD54F5D9D96C1297F88EF1076 – From Microsoft

3. Is installing a VM on a M2.VME faster?

On another NAS channel they are claiming that installing a VM on an M2.VME SSD makes it faster. But I don’t know why it would. The boot process of the OS loads the system     files into system memory regardless of it being installed on an SSD or mechanical HD.

Any thoughts on this claim by another NAS site?

Secondarily, installing it on a M2.VME would not provide any redundancy so if the SSD had a hardware failure the VM OS would be gone.

4. VM tweaks for speed – On the other hand I think there are a few settings that can be changed to make the VM faster.

A) Select CPU Model – Passthrough

B) Storage – change to VirtIO

Also if you are using VirtIO for the storage you will need to add an additional CD Drive (A 2nd one) so you can mount an IOS for the VirtIO drives it will need during the                 installation. Open the 2nd CDROM drive and click the button “Insert Guest Tools CD”. This contains the QNAP VM tools with the proper Windows drivers for VirtIO storage.

C) With Windows 11 you can choose the new UEFI BIOS. NOTE: This will probably get selected automatically if you are installing Windows 11.

However, when it first starts to install the OS you have to enter one of the following commands.

FS0:\EFI\BOOT\BOOTX64.EFI                        NOTE: It’s a zero not a capital O
FS0:\EFI\Microsoft\Boot\bootmgfw.efi      NOTE: It’s a zero not a capital O

After entering the command you will see the words “Press any to boot from CD or DVD…” so hit any key

However, During the install process the VM reboots several times. Each time it reboots you see on screen the words “Press any to boot from CD or DVD…” but after the very      first time don’t press any key to continue because it will think you are starting a NEW INSTALL and start over. Just let it continue on it’s own.

Nice job Microsoft!

I Hope this makes for good video content!

Conclusion

Setting up a Windows 11 VM on your QNAP NAS can be a rewarding endeavor, but it comes with its share of challenges. By following this guide and considering the insights shared by our community member, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the process successfully. Remember, patience and persistence are key to overcoming any hurdles you may encounter.

We appreciate our community member for sharing their experiences and insights, which have contributed to the creation of this guide. If you have further questions or require assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to our community for support. Happy virtualizing!

Disclaimer: The information provided in this guide is based on the experiences and insights of a community member. Results may vary based on specific configurations and circumstances.