I want to build a small NAS like machine that I can login from anywhere that I have internet access.
I also want it to be able to setup multiple accounts that have their own share of the storage space that they can use for their own means.
Is there any kind of software that would let me do this? Idc if the software is paid or free, so long as the paid software doesnt cost an arm and a leg.
There’s both: free and paid for. Both are fine for your use case. Investigate TrueNAS and Unraid for starters. Other options exist, may exceed your current knowledge level though.
There isn’t a lot of info to work with? What would you define a NAS as? Is it a classic network storage where you dump files to? Do you want an easy GUI to work with? Are you planning to use a VPN to connect to it, or expose it to the internet?
Let’s go with the basics. Simplest thing to recommend would be something like TrueNAS Core and just set up a Samba share, then create accounts for your users. But exposing SMB on the internet is highly insecure, so you’d better set up a Wireguard VPN to your home for that. But that means setting up 2 accounts, or rather 1 account and one Peer with a public key for the VPN. For a Linux experience, Open Media Vault would be a close contender, but I would prefer TrueNAS Core, just my biased opinion.
Second option would be somewhat easier and offer you a bit more options than just a simple run-of-the-mill NAS. If you install NextCloud, you can expose it to the Internet without requiring a VPN. You can use either a web browser to view your files, or you can install a nextcloud program / agent on your computer to sync your files to a local folder. That will use some additional space on your device, which may be undesirable, but depending on the size of the files, it shouldn’t matter that much. If you only use the web version, then you won’t have to deal with local files, unless you download them obviously.
The first option would be more generic and easier to work with, but the expense of setting up a VPN (which isn’t hard at all). The second one would be more accessible, but slightly more complicated to set up and have to deal with things like TLS certificates renewal, and if hosting HTTPS services on your residential connect is prohibited by your ISP, then having to also pay for a VPS and make a tunnel between the VPS and your home NAS.
Any more info about what you are planning to host on your NAS, what are your expectations and how you are planning to use it?
1 Like