Okay, so I’ve been wanting to build a low-power NAS for a while now. You know, something that sips electricity but can still handle my basic file-sharing needs. I finally took the plunge, and let me tell you, it was a bit of a journey. But a fun one!
The Idea
I started by thinking about what I really needed. I wasn’t planning on running a massive media server or anything crazy. Just something to store my photos, documents, and maybe some videos that I could access from my other devices. And, most importantly, it had to be quiet and not guzzle power.
Gathering the Parts
First things first, I needed the hardware. This is where I spent a lot of time researching. I ended up going with:
- A used, low-power motherboard and CPU combo:I found the core parts in an used PC. Didn’t need anything fancy, just something with integrated graphics and low TDP (Thermal Design Power). That’s the key to keeping power consumption down.
- RAM: 8GB of DDR3, cause I had some on hand.
- Hard Drives: I chose a 1TB hard drive. Since this is all about low power, spinning rust is the way to go.
- Power Supply:This is important! I picked up a small and efficient that has enough power.
- Case:An old case.
Putting it Together
The build itself was pretty straightforward. I’ve built PCs before, so this wasn’t too different. The trickiest part was probably figuring out the best way to mount the hard drives to maximize airflow, also I have connected an old case fan. I didn’t want any overheating issues, even with low-power components.
Software Setup
Now for the software side. I decided to go with OpenMediaVault. It’s free, open-source, and designed specifically for NAS setups. Plus, it has a pretty user-friendly web interface.
The installation was surprisingly easy.
After the build, the first thing to do is create a bootable USB.
I burned the OpenMediaVault ISO image onto a USB drive, booted the NAS from it, and followed the on-screen instructions. After a bit of configuration (setting up users, shares, and all that), I had a working NAS!
Testing and Tweaking
Of course, it wasn’t perfect right away. I spent some time tweaking the power settings in the BIOS and in OpenMediaVault itself. Things like enabling hard drive spindown, adjusting fan curves, and making sure everything was running as efficiently as possible.
Also tested the SMB and tested the copying speed.
The Result
In the end, I’m pretty happy with how it turned out! I’ve got a low-power NAS that does exactly what I need it to. It’s quiet, it doesn’t use much electricity, and I can access my files from anywhere on my home network. It’s not the fastest or most feature-packed NAS out there, but for my needs, it’s perfect. And the best part? It was a fun project!