NAS Home Lab TrueNAS Mini PC Options

DIY NAS Options

• Consider DIY for flexibility and performance. Don't skimp on storage capacity.
• Building a budget PC for RAID 5 setup with multiple HDDs directly attached to the motherboard is recommended.
• Mac Mini + OWC Thunderbay 4: Good enough speed, stable tank machine, apply patches regularly, backup plan needed.

NAS Recommendations

• Synology: Plug and play, but less customizable and may need replacement if something breaks.
• Ugreen NASync DXP4800 Plus: Can run custom OSes like unRAID or TrueNAS, good space and noise constraints option.
• Beelink SER8: Upgradability to 256GB, good choice for the future.

DIY NAS Pros

• Pros: More powerful, lifetime-supported software, customizable, lifetime support for software used.
• Cons: Higher maintenance, high learning curve for beginners.

NAS Enclosures and Drives

• Avoid external USB enclosures for NAS, not meant for 24/7 operation to prevent data corruption.
• Thunderbolt enclosures may have similar issues.
• For NAS, a machine that can hold all HDDs with a straight motherboard connection is recommended.

Recommendations for NAS Host System

• Host System: Consider Mac Mini or Lenovo ThinkPad as a home server but not ideal for a NAS.
• Linux recommended for better long-term support and free platform.
• Laptops not meant for 24/7 operation due to cooling limitations.

UBNT VLANs and Hotspot Zone Advice

• UniFi VLANs: Troubleshoot VLANs setup on Netgear GS308.
• For a home guest VLAN, avoid UniFi Hotspot zone for accessing NAS, create a custom zone for better control.

Best Practices for Storage and Backups

• ZFS Replication: Replication and snapshots protect against ransomware, ZFS handles bitrot and data integrity.
• Pool Naming: Use lower case for pool names, avoid uppercase naming.
• recommend using PBS for backing up VMs and containers.

Proxmox Recommendations

• Proxmox and PBS: Proxmox recommends running PBS baremetal.

NAS Software Suggestions

• TrueNAS: Run on bare metal if storage is the main function.
• unRAID: Easy option for NAS setup.
• Linux: Recommended for NAS host systems for better support and flexibility.

Mini PC Limitations

• Upgradability: Mini PCs like TrueNAS have limited space and PCIe lanes for drives.

Summary

Based on Reddit comments, for building a NAS home lab with a TrueNAS setup:

• DIY NAS options are flexible but require more maintenance.
• Consider Ugreen DXP4800, Beelink SER8, or building a budget PC for RAID 5 setup.
• Avoid external USB enclosures for NAS, opt for a machine with direct HDD attachment.
• Use PBS for backing up VMs and containers.
• Choose a host system like a Mac Mini or Lenovo ThinkPad for a home server, but ensure data lives on the NAS.
• Consider Synology for plug and play ease, but DIY offers more customization and performance.
• Follow best practices for storage names, backups, and use ZFS replication for data integrity and protection.
• Ensure Proxmox and PBS are used as recommended for optimal performance.