Simple DIY NAS Help

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Hello all. I’ve read a few post on DIY NAS but none seem to fit my unique requirement. One common theme is build a system based on individual requirements but none seem to address my needs so I’m hoping by posting here, someone can help me. I currently have a Synology DS2413+ running out of storage and the unit is beginning to whistle and am afraid it’s at its EOL. I mainly use my Synology as a network drive to my computer. I VPN when I’m out of my home office but occasionally use Synology cloud “drive”. I have issues with the cloud drive when using 3rd party equipment so VPN is always my best option. I started converting my CD/DVD so I can start using Plex (maybe switch to jellyfin) but that’s when I started maxing out my current machine and decided on building my own.

So I bought 2 server cases (12- bay & 20-bay). The 12-bay will be used to replace my current machine where it will be used for storing work documents and accessing them the same way. The 20-bay will be used to run and store a media server and all its content. I’ve decided on an Ultra 5 CPU for the 12 bay and then maybe the same for the 20-bay but may consider the Ultra 7 or 9. Will use the new W880 MB and ECC RAM.

My issue is which OS (unRaid, TrueNAS) to use and what programs to use for my file management (next cloud, owncloud, etc). Originally I was going with unRaid because I like the flexibility of increasing my HD space without worrying about size. I did not like how Synology addresses adding HD and why unRaid was an appeal. But I’ve been reading that unRaid is slower and TrueNAS would be the faster OS. I’m now considering unRaid for the 20-bay for its flexibility and TrueNAS for the 12-bay so I can have faster file access of my work docs because of ZFS. I know unRaid does do ZFS but not sure if it’s the same or different than TrueNAS?

Finally, the file management portion. Synology just works but it’s at a premium with limitations. I’m semi tech savvy but I can’t have my system crashing or failing, especially when I’m traveling and will not be able to access the equipment to troubleshoot. Let alone come home or even spend days fixing any issues and loose valuable work time. Forums say next cloud is great but other report it constant needs watching and updating. Have not looked into owncloud but I’m guessing it is probably the same hand on.

I would be happy to pay Synology for access to there OS but they do not offer that.

Does anyone have any suggestions. Thank you in advance.

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Unraid is a bit more user friendly, but you can’t go wrong with either OS. Really comes down to personal preference and what features you need.

Now for file management. For simplicity and reliability I’d consider just setting up a basic (S)FTP or SMB share. You can easily mount those shares within your client OS and manage them through that OS’s file explorer. For remote access you can just VPN into your network. You can then easily add on other software as needed if you want other functionality such as accessing the data via a browser or phone. I’m currently running Jellyfin and it was very easy to add the SMB share to it.

For remote management/troubleshooting I’d consider getting something like a PiKVM(https://pikvm.org) Will allow you to remotely access the servers and troubeshoot them. Only real concern would be if the power goes out. If you need something to be accessible 24/7 then I’d consider renting a VPS to host mission critical files or using something like OneDrive, Google Drive, etc.

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If you’re unsure of what system might fit your use case spin up a VM and install each OS. That way you can get your hands on with the operating system, understand the basics without investing any more money into it.

The biggest bottleneck when it comes to network storage is network so I wouldn’t worry about which OS is faster. Performance is not a concern on either operating system and I don’t think it’s a meaningful metric for home or prosumer applications.
I guess it could come into play when we’re talking about extremely high performance storage at hundreds of Gb/s or even PCIe over fiber.

If it’s a critical application for you consder investing into an IP KVM.

Yes, it’s really hit or miss for some reason. I’ve been using the same Docker deployment for years, using Linuxserver’s image, and updating it automagically through Watchtower twice a month and never had an issue. A friend is having some troubles with it but I’ve never had the time to dig in his setup to see what’s making a difference.
In my experience Linuxserver’s image is very good and requires very little maintenance.
But, if you only need to access documents or the shares though VPN you don’t need to install Nextcloud. Just mount the shares at the VPN address and you’re good to go.

Usually a system installation stays stable the less complicated it is and the less you mess with it. So you can consider not pushing too many changes or customizations in favour of a more stable experience.

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One thing that’s worth mentioning is that if you are going to use the ZFS filesystem. You really should learn it’s basics first. Some of ZFS’s caveats (especially in regards to storage expansion) often prove to be deal breakers for some users. More importantly though, I’ve seen far too many cases of new users making silly mistakes with ZFS at the cost of their data. Mistakes such as adding single disks to their RAIDz* pool or mixing parity levels within the same pool, not using snapshots, never scrubbing their pool… even people who really should know better… people who are employed by a certain large youtuber… I only mention it because you should not use certain youtube channels as a reliable source of information when it comes to ZFS.

There’s also a lot of misinformation out there such as ZFS requiring ECC RAM, or requiring 1GB of RAM per 1TB of storage… which is sometimes followed by someone saying that “no, that’s just if you’re using deduplication”. There’s people recommending the use of and L2ARC when a user only has a small amount of RAM, or have not maxed out their RAM. There’s similar advice for using a ZIL… I could go on but my point is, a lot of people (and I include myself here) don’t know enough about ZFS to give out technical advice. So they should stick to the basics, and point people in the direction of proper documentation.

“RTFM” can come off as hostile but sometimes it’s the best advice you can be given… “F” standing for "fantastic… just so we’re clear.

If you’re going to do your due diligence on the subject, then I would recommend that you go straight to the Oracle docs. They might be evil incarnate but their documentation is solid and authoritative. The TrueNAS documentation is also a must, and their forums also have a resources section that has some good quality information. As does the Proxmox documentations when it comes to OS agnostic ZFS stuff.

There is also another great website for ZFS but I can’t for the life of me remember the URL… I’ll edit this post if it comes to me.

[EDIT] The website I was trying to remember is pthree.org but unfortunately the website has been offline since November 2023 as far as I can tell [1]. it is on the Wayback Machine though. It was written by Aaron Toponce, who is a Linux systems administrator, and security researcher.

Just be aware though that the guide is over a decade old now. So it may contain outdated information, or lack information on changes made to ZFS in the intervening time. The fundamental stuff though, like the explanations of vdevs, or ZFS being a copy-on-write filesystem, should still be accurate.

https://web.archive.org/web/20210430213532/https://pthree.org/2012/12/04/zfs-administration-part-i-vdevs/

There’s also a mirror of it here.

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I am new to TrueNAS, but found this helpful. It has everything from how to choose parts, to pool configuration, to disk burn in. I found video instructions for setting up smb share permissions as well as apps more helpful, and this may not cover the new raidz expansion feature where you can now add more drives to a raidz pool later on, but it was a great start.

Resources List including Detailed Hardware and System Build Notes (plus new user advice / help) - Resources - TrueNAS Community Forums

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You’re making a solid choice splitting your workload across two dedicated servers. Use TrueNAS on the 12-bay system for work files—it’s reliable, fast, and solid with ZFS. For the 20-bay media server, unRAID is a good pick for its flexibility in mixing drives and handling large storage. Stick with VPN access for remote work, and use simple, reliable tools like Syncthing for syncing and FileBrowser for managing files through a web interface. Skip heavier setups like Nextcloud unless you’re cool with regular maintenance. This setup gives you performance, expandability, and peace of mind.