First decision
Pre-built NAS vs building your own
This is the first question everyone asks. Here is the honest answer:
Pre-built (Synology / QNAP) — best if you want it to just work
✓ Works in 30 minutes out of the box
✓ Polished UI and app ecosystem
✓ Very low power (15–25W idle)
✓ Great hardware support and updates
✗ Expensive per TB
✗ Limited upgrade path
DIY (TrueNAS Scale / Unraid) — best if you enjoy tinkering
✓ Full hardware control
✓ Much cheaper at scale (4+ drives)
✓ Can repurpose old PC parts
✓ Run any Docker app you want
✗ More setup and troubleshooting
✗ You are your own support team
First NAS ever and just want it to work: get a Synology DS923+. Enjoy tinkering and want full control: build your own with TrueNAS Scale or Unraid.
DIY hardware
What hardware to buy for a DIY NAS
You do not need a powerful CPU. What matters: low idle power, enough SATA ports, and enough RAM for ZFS.
CPU — pick one:
Intel N100 mini PC ← cheapest option, 6W idle, excellent value
Intel Core i3-12100 ← better for transcoding
RAM:
16 GB minimum — 32 GB if using ZFS or running many Docker apps
ECC RAM strongly recommended for ZFS (prevents data corruption)
Drives — use CMR not SMR:
WD Red Plus (CMR) ← best value NAS drive
Seagate IronWolf (CMR) ← good alternative
WD Red non-Plus (SMR) ← AVOID in any RAID setup
Case:
Fractal Design Node 304 ← 6 drives, compact
Silverstone CS381 ← 8 drives, hot-swap
SMR drives are catastrophically slow during RAID rebuilds and can cause your array to fail. Always check the manufacturer spec sheet and look for CMR.
Choose your OS
TrueNAS Scale vs Unraid — which one?
TrueNAS Scale — best for:
✓ Maximum data integrity (ZFS is exceptional)
✓ All drives are the same size
✓ Free and open source
✗ Steeper learning curve — more setup required
✗ ZFS needs lots of RAM (16 GB minimum)
Unraid — best for:
✓ Mixing different drive sizes in one array
✓ Best Docker and VM experience
✓ Easiest for absolute beginners
✗ Paid license ($49–$129 one-time fee)
Tip: both have free trials — test before committing
After install
First-boot checklist — do this before adding any data
Run through this every time you set up a new NAS. Takes 20 minutes and saves hours of pain later.
Security
□ Change the default admin password
□ Enable 2FA on the web UI
□ Disable Telnet — use SSH only
Network
□ Assign a static IP or DHCP reservation
□ Enable email notifications for drive alerts
Storage
□ Create your storage pool
□ Run SMART tests on all drives
□ Schedule weekly SMART tests and monthly ZFS scrubs
Backup — do this BEFORE putting any data on the NAS
□ Set up at least one backup destination
□ Test your restore — delete a file and recover it
Remote access
□ Install Tailscale
□ Do NOT open port 5000 to the internet (Synology)
The single most important item: test your restore. A backup you have never tested is just hope. Delete a test folder, restore it, confirm it worked.
Keep going