7mo 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.

39 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.
- OpenMediaVault (OMV) is a Debian server
  Maybe it's because I'm old but these words combined together depress me. Why is NAS software an operating system?
  The last time I tried to install this it complained that it couldn't be installed on an OS that had a GUI. What a joke.
  
  Why would your server have a GUI?

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.

As someone with TrueNAS SCALE and having been through the mess of TrueCharts, I'd go with Proxmox on the bare metal and have 1 VM for TrueNAS SCALE and another for docker-compose or whatever apps system you want. SCALE is fine as a NAS but the apps system is currently limited and about to completely change; it's just not mature not stable. If you already have a home server running the apps you want and you're only expecting this server to be a NAS, then go ahead with SCALE on bare metal.
- Seconding this. TrueCharts has been an absolute pain and I would not wish it on my worst enemy.
  
  Thirded. TrueCharts has been a monumental pita. Looking forward to docker compose in the fall with the next version of TrueNAS is released.
- I love Proxmox but I am too much of a coward to run my NAS as a VM. It just feels like it would blow up on me. I know it is a normal thing to do. It just scares me.

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.

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.

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/

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 started with TrueNAS and it works great. Either regular TrueNAS or TrueNAS scale will suit your needs well, the major difference being that Scale uses a Linux base instead of the FreeBSD of core

I like TrueNAS Scale. If you don't mind paying for a server OS and parts of it being proprietary, check out Unraid.

39 comments