Why a NAS?
For awhile now I had read about all the cool things you could do using a network attached storage better known as a NAS. Back in the day I used to have one and got a lot of use out of it. However this was before you had the ability to run virtual machines (VM’s) & containers on it. I felt that it was time to start again as a component of a home lab. The problem was whether or not I was going to build one myself (DIY) or buy a prebuilt one.
In the end I decided to go with a combination of both DIY and Prebuilt. I ended up buying a 2 bay TerraMaster NAS storage unit, and Seagate 12 TB hard drives. After that I decided to install TrueNas Scale instead of using the TerraMaster’s operating system (more on that later).
Additional hardware included 2 1TB Nvme drives where one is used for cache storage and the other was used for the TrueNas OS. I also added an additional 4 GB stick of RAM which maxed out the RAM on the TerraMaster.
Why TrueNas Scale
With the hardware situation squared away I could have simply use the TerraMasters OS and been done with it. But no, I wanted something that at the time I thought would be more customizable (which is true) but also more of a challenge (which is also true).
There were various options available in regards to OS but the 2 that I looked at the most were TrueNas and Unraid. Both have their advantages and disadvantages but I decided on TrueNas because it was free and the most popular.
TrueNas Scale is an open-source operating system specifically tailored for building robust NAS solutions. Built on the foundations of the TrueNas file systems, TrueNas Scale combines storage management with virtualization capabilities, delivering a versatile and powerful platform. One of the standout features of TrueNas is its ability to support containerization through Kubernetes, allowing users to run applications directly on the NAS system. This unique approach enhances the functionality of traditional NAS systems and makes it an appealing choice for more advanced use cases.
Furthermore, TrueNas differentiates itself with its user-friendly interface, extensive documentation, and a supportive user community. It offers built-in features such as snapshots for data protection, data replication options for disaster recovery, and support for multiple file sharing protocols, including SMB, NFS, and iSCSI. These attributes make TrueNas not only suitable for home users seeking simplified media storage solutions but also for businesses requiring reliable data access and enterprise-level features.
Installation
Since I was using TrueNas as the OS I had to first download the ISO from the website www.truenas.com onto a flash drive.
The TerraMaster’s OS was already installed on a micro USB, so I had to install the software on a different micro USB and then boot into the system. In order to do that I had to take the case of the TerraMaster just to get to the motherboard and remove the existing USB drive and replace it with the new one.
To create the ISO file I used an application called Balena Etcher to write to the drive.
The installation was a breeze and within minutes I was in the OS dashboard ready to configure the system after creating login credentials.
Now here is where it gets a little tricky. Once I had TrueNas installed and ready to go, the system can look a little overwhelming for a beginner. Also it didn’t seem to be very user-friendly.
However with the help of various Youtube tutorials I was able to setup my 1st pool and dataset using a Raid1 configuration.
After setting up the 1st pool and dataset call JTS, I then moved onto User Permissions. Since am the only one that will be using the NAS, I just granted myself group and individual user full access.
Once access was granted I tested the configuration by creating folders on my computer and mapping the drive as a network drive. I was able to add and delete folders and files between the drives with the permissions given.
WHAT I LEARNED
Creating my own DIY Network Attached Storage (NAS) using TrueNAS was one of the most rewarding tech projects I’ve taken on. It wasn’t just about setting up a central storage solution—I learned a ton about networking, hardware compatibility, system performance, and open-source tools along the way. To be honest at first I made the mistake of just going with the flow and not really planning out what I was going to use the NAS for outside of backups. Here are a few key lessons from my experience that I learned.
1. Planning Hardware Is Just as Important as Building It
Before even touching a screwdriver, I had to carefully consider my hardware. Compatibility matters—especially with TrueNAS. I learned that:
- ECC RAM is recommended for better data integrity, especially with ZFS (though not absolutely required for home use).
- Drives need to be not just large, but reliable and ideally NAS-rated (like WD Red or Seagate IronWolf).
2. ZFS Is Powerful, but Demands Respect
TrueNAS uses the ZFS file system, and while it’s incredibly powerful, it comes with a learning curve. Some important takeaways:
- ZFS is not RAID—it’s more flexible, but understanding vdevs, pools, and datasets is crucial before configuring your storage.
- You can’t easily expand pools by adding single drives—something I didn’t fully grasp until after setup.
- Snapshots and replication features are amazing for backups, but you need to plan your storage structure ahead of time.
3. Network Speed Makes a Big Difference
If you’re storing and streaming large files, the bottleneck won’t be your drives—it’ll be your network. I quickly found that:
- Gigabit Ethernet is the bare minimum. For media editing or high-volume transfers, 2.5GbE or 10GbE is ideal.
- Make sure you have quality Cat6 or better cables, and a compatible switch or router.
4. Apps Are Awesome… Once You Get the Hang of Them
TrueNAS Core lets you run lightweight apps in “jails” (kind of like containers). I installed Nextcloud and Rustdesk this way. But:
- Setting up apps took trial and error, especially with network configurations.
- Some plugins aren’t actively maintained, so manual setup is sometimes better than using the one-click options.
6. Backups Are Non-Negotiable
Even with ZFS snapshots and redundancy, nothing beats a good backup plan. I learned:
- Redundancy isn’t a backup. If I delete a file or experience pool corruption, having an offsite or cloud backup is critical.
- Using rsync or cloud sync tasks in TrueNAS can automate this process with minimal effort.
Final Thoughts
Building my own NAS with TrueNAS taught me far more than I expected—from the ins and outs of drive pools to the value of proactive monitoring and backups. It’s not a plug-and-play project, but if you love learning and don’t mind tinkering, it’s a great way to take control of your data.