I’m having trouble deciding which software platform fits my hardware. This is not a standard “what’s the best” type of post, as ultimately they will all run containers so it’s more “I have this stuff, what would you do in my situation?”.

Not my first rodeo, familiar with linux and docker, I got tired of running commands to keep a plex service running and switched to Windows 11 which just worked. My new goal is to find a balance where I can run most containers but not have to fiddle with every config file in cli constantly. I almost bought a QNAP NAS but thought why spend another $500 when I have a nice box working fine now.

Hardware:

  • Mini PC with Xeon E-2144G 3.6ghz, 16GB RAM, 2x 1TB SSD
  • QNAP TR-004 dumb USB DAS with 32TB in a hardware R5. Not ideal but it’s what I have at the moment. About 6 TB currently in use.
  • Want to run local smtp for notifications, tautulli, plex (just me as user) and a few others apps like immich, wireguard and become more self-sufficient with cloud storage/passwords.

I’m testing Open media vault right now and OMV seems fine I guess. Probably a good fit balancing convenience with capabilities. I’m trying to keep it simple.

Unraid is enticing but I have a DAS with RAID capabilities already and matched drives, and also no reason to use a USB stick for an OS drive when I have perfectly good SSD’s, right?

Truenas is bsd which i’m not familiar with, I just don’t see the advantage for me but maybe I’m just not seeing why this is would fit my needs better.

Am I missing others? Something I didn’t think of? Maybe it’s easy, I pick OMV and move forward.

Thanks for any advice or input.

  • @Bitemyshinymetalass@lemm.eeEnglish
    1•1 year ago

    Right now I’m running my server on a raspberry pi 3B using OMV with one external drive for all my storage. I’m planning on upgrading soon, and was leaning towards basically what you have, some type of mini pc or a newer SBC connected to a DAS. What makes you say that setup is not ideal? If you were starting fresh would you go straight to a NAS or something else?

    • Objects in SpaceOPEnglish
      1•1 year ago

      The DAS seems limiting because it’s USB. I’m limited on speed, and configuration. It works fine for what it is but it’s basically just a giant USB drive.

      I purchased the TR004 because it was cheap and I needed storage. I don’t know what I would have done differently but I feel as though I’m limited by this device instead of enhanced.

      A normal HBA/Controller with attached drives in a server would be my ideal I guess. Not possible at this time so I’m working with what I have!