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.

  • phrogpilot73@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    18
    ·
    4 months ago

    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.

    • Possibly linux@lemmy.zip
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      4 months ago

      I would just use the CLI. The web interface is a bit confusing and doesn’t allow directory services.

    • ☭ Blursty ☭@lemmygrad.ml
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      4 months ago

      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.

        • ☭ Blursty ☭@lemmygrad.ml
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          4 months ago

          Why not? Let’s not pretend that my house is some kind of enterprise level data centre. Why would some FOSS NAS hobby project demand that I only use my home linux server for it? Such a strange requirement. All it needs to do is expose a simple web page to configure samba/nfs/scp/sftp etc. It really seems to have a high opinion of itself.

  • Possibly linux@lemmy.zip
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    8
    ·
    4 months ago

    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

  • Corgana@startrek.website
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    7
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    4 months ago

    TrueNAS is fine but the dead-simplest I’ve ever seen is CasaOS which has one-click network file sharing.

  • ghostworm24@beehaw.org
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    5
    ·
    4 months ago

    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.

    • jerb@lemmy.croc.pw
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      4 months ago

      Seconding this. TrueCharts has been an absolute pain and I would not wish it on my worst enemy.

      • windlas@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        4 months ago

        Thirded. TrueCharts has been a monumental pita. Looking forward to docker compose in the fall with the next version of TrueNAS is released.

        • Carlos Francisco 🦣@lile.cl
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          4 months ago

          @windlas @jerb @linux I started with truenas, but trying to install an app that is not in truecharts is a mess. Finally I moved to proxmox and I can install whatever I want in a container or VM. It’s really easy to learn how to use it. I totally recommend it.

        • jerb@lemmy.croc.pw
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          4 months ago

          Wasn’t aware they were integrating docker-compose, that’s the perfect solution. I got so fed up with TrueCharts that I’ve been considering nuking my NAS and reinstalling OMV or something similar, but I guess I’ll wait it out and see what happens.

    • LeFantome@programming.dev
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      4 months ago

      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.

  • Telodzrum@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    4
    ·
    4 months ago

    Unraid is as simple as they come and it has some features that don’t exist in normal RAID setups.

  • blackstrat@lemmy.fwgx.uk
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    4
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    4 months ago

    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.

  • just_another_person@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    3
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    4 months ago

    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.

    • ALoafOfBread@lemmy.mlOP
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      4 months ago

      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.

      • just_another_person@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        4 months ago

        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.

          • just_another_person@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            3
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            4 months ago

            Yeah, definitely explore it. You can get more service-level things out of a build or higher disk array, but if you don’t need the compute, just go cheap and be satisfied your stuff is safe. Synology has a great ecosystem in my experience.

  • featured@lemmygrad.ml
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    4 months ago

    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