Linux @lemmy.ml ALoafOfBread @lemmy.ml 3mo ago

NAS Server OS/Software Suggestions

I want a NAS solution to back up my PC and host media files, but prebuilt NAS solutions are incredibly expensive and underwhelming and so I'm planning to build one. Does anyone have recommendations for a NAS interface?

I'm brand new to server management and would prefer something user friendly. I have used linux mint, but currently use windows as my daily driver (planning to switch to mint soon). I'd be fine with a dedicated NAS OS or with something I could run on mint since I'm already familiar with that distro.

30 comments

OpenMediaVault (OMV) is a Debian server with a very user-friendly web interface. It also has solid documentation and a robust community. I've been running it for 6 years, and I am very happy with it.
- I would just use the CLI. The web interface is a bit confusing and doesn't allow directory services.
  
  I would agree. But for the very basics starting and learning, the UI isn't that intimidating.
TrueNAS
Is it going to be just a NAS? If so go TrueNAS with lots of ram. (ZFS likes its ram)

If you want to run VMs use Proxmox
- Honestly, I run my TrueNAS with obly 8GiB and it does great. That said, I'm not doing any deduplication or anything, and my pool is only 3 drives at a total of ~15TB iirc
  
  Isn't it slow?
- Like... How much RAM?
  
  It depends on how much data. I would say 128Gib is a safe bet.
TrueNAS is fine but the dead-simplest I've ever seen is CasaOS which has one-click network file sharing.
Unraid is as simple as they come and it has some features that don’t exist in normal RAID setups.
- It's paid and partly proprietary though. Not an issue for me, but might be an issue for some other people.
  
  Meh, features and support aren’t free. I get your, though.
HexOS is built on TrueNAS and looks promising as a simplified version. Looks like it isn't available yet but I think you're who the kind of user they are building it for.

https://hexos.com/
I'd honestly just go Ubuntu server LTS and learn to configure it through the terminal. It's not too difficult to setup. NFS and Samba shares.
Synology and Qnap cheaper solutions would work just fine for what you need, and are only ~$200-300. Cheaper then building an entire box, but if not...

Fract Node 804 Case (space for 8 3.5" HDDs, AMD lower wattage CPU, whatever mobo with an SFP module.

Run TrueNAS or Unraid on it, and you'll be ready to go.
- You might be right. The Synology products look really good. I didn't see that they actually have a sub-$400 4-bay NAS... DS423. Not sure if it'll meet my performance needs. But the $600 4 bay doesn't look too bad either really.
  
  Do you really need a 4 bay unit though? HDD are cheap right now. You can get a Synology DS-2XX for ~$200, and 2x14TB Refurb WDC for $200. That's 14TB of Raid 1 protected storage right there for $400.
I like TrueNAS Scale. If you don't mind paying for a server OS and parts of it being proprietary, check out Unraid.

30 comments