Title: DIY NAS/Server - Part one Date: 2015-04-19 14:45 Author: Michael Category: Hardware Tags: Linux, NAS Slug: diy-nasserver-part-one Status: published
I am currently in the process of evaluating several different NAS operating systems as part of the back-up 3-2-1rule. I am going to go with a home rolled solution and open source software. That is, I am going to build the computer from off-the-shelf parts and use OSS software to run it… mostly.
I have not settled on the specifications for the new machine, but I have a spare laptop and VMware to test the software. This will be a series of posts that outline the trials and tribulations of building my home NAS/server.
The first software I am going to evaluate is called OpenMediaVault (OMV). It is based on Debian Wheezy at the time of this writing. The developer(s) are working on a Debian Jesse version according to the OpenMediaVault forums. Truth be told, I may not attempt to evaluate another NAS operating system as this system may fit perfectly with what I am trying to do.
Other NAS OS’s that may get a shake:
The real issue with all of these systems as compared to a Synology or QNAP unit is cost vs. performance, upgradeability, and what you plan to do with the system. I admit that I really like the look of Synology’s DSM software. The newest incarnation incorporates Docker technology which is really, really cool. The lacking point from Synology is the performance of their hardware. The “bang for your buck” is quite low compared to QNAP and even worse compared to rolling your own. Further, the commercial units are not really upgradeable and are quite expensive.
My plan is to use the NAS for backup of all devices in my house and my parents, serve media to my HTPC and devices, and provide a play ground. I also want to learn networking, Linux system administration, and a level 1 hypervisor like EXSi or KVM. In addition to that, I would like to continue to learn Python programming for both system management and the web with Flask/Django.
I will post my trials and tribulations as we go….