Who is running NAS in their home/office for data storage

January 27, 2026, 08:09 PM

archerman

quote:
Originally posted by FenderBender:
quote:
Originally posted by HRK:
quote:
Originally posted by FenderBender:
At one point I've looked into it, I just don't horde data.

What's your use-case? if you look at the costs, it could be more effective to use a privacy focused cloud like Proton Drive.

I'm not into PLEX or sharing audio/video files with family, although a good place to store images off phones/computers is something that should be in my consideration.

Mainly for small business, Database, word, pdf, spreadsheets, outlook file with contacts and emails, both backup and possibly to put the main files used on the NAS such as a spreadsheet and work it from there vs on the PC/Laptop.

Right now desktop is older, and at the end of upgradable options, main SSD 256 is just about full and will need to be upgraded or replaced with new Laptop, which is the plan.

This way I have a local backup solution, file access just like on a Windows Server where the applications reside on the desktop/laptop and then serve data from the NAS/Server if possible.

Been looking at Synology but if they are moving to locking people into their drives that is problematic since they could then raise drive prices beyond market price for those with their NAS units.

Final use would be to access a data file and outlook file from the laptop when travelling occasionally.

I pay $10 a month get 500gb of cloud storage, a VPN, 15 email addresses and effectively fully replace Google services.

Also I don't have to worry about power consumption, potential fire caused data loss, and outdated hardware. assuming I've got an internet connection I can access it just like a NAS.

also all my data is locked up under Swiss privacy laws, so no one can go snooping.

What service are you using that is offering those features?

Thanks,

January 27, 2026, 08:54 PM

sigmonkey

I manage my own NAS.

For the cat pichurz...

And the Grandfather-Father-Son backup offsite storage.

January 27, 2026, 10:35 PM

FenderBender

quote:
Originally posted by archerman:
quote:
Originally posted by FenderBender:
quote:
Originally posted by HRK:
quote:
Originally posted by FenderBender:
At one point I've looked into it, I just don't horde data.

What's your use-case? if you look at the costs, it could be more effective to use a privacy focused cloud like Proton Drive.

I'm not into PLEX or sharing audio/video files with family, although a good place to store images off phones/computers is something that should be in my consideration.

Mainly for small business, Database, word, pdf, spreadsheets, outlook file with contacts and emails, both backup and possibly to put the main files used on the NAS such as a spreadsheet and work it from there vs on the PC/Laptop.

Right now desktop is older, and at the end of upgradable options, main SSD 256 is just about full and will need to be upgraded or replaced with new Laptop, which is the plan.

This way I have a local backup solution, file access just like on a Windows Server where the applications reside on the desktop/laptop and then serve data from the NAS/Server if possible.

Been looking at Synology but if they are moving to locking people into their drives that is problematic since they could then raise drive prices beyond market price for those with their NAS units.

Final use would be to access a data file and outlook file from the laptop when travelling occasionally.

I pay $10 a month get 500gb of cloud storage, a VPN, 15 email addresses and effectively fully replace Google services.

Also I don't have to worry about power consumption, potential fire caused data loss, and outdated hardware. assuming I've got an internet connection I can access it just like a NAS.

also all my data is locked up under Swiss privacy laws, so no one can go snooping.

What service are you using that is offering those features?

Thanks,

proton.me

January 27, 2026, 10:47 PM

whanson_wi

I rolled my own using an old desktop, spare drives, and Truenas. I did this about 3 months or so ago. The NAS has not been turned off since.

I am absolutely satisfied with it, and wish I'd done it long ago. My regret is I used whatever drives I had available rather than buying larger new drives.

I use it for backups and as a means to transfer files from one PC to another, not as a media server.

I watched a youtube video to walk me through it. It was pretty easy.

I'll eventually go to new 4Tb drives, but I'll stick with spinners rather than SSDs: My network hubs, etc, are all old enough that they don't exceed the throughput capabilities of 7200rpm drives.

The big bonus for me: I've had persistent issues getting all the PC's that come and go on my network to see one another reliably. some are Windows 10, some are Windows 11, and two are linux boxes. After a box gets rebooted, it's a crapshoot if it restores all the connections to the other boxes. The NAS, on the other hand, is always visible to every other box, with no problems at all.

January 28, 2026, 11:54 AM

V-Tail

I have been thinking about doing this, but this thread has convinced me that using either iCloud Drive or Proton Drive is a better choice for me.

January 28, 2026, 12:09 PM

HRK

quote:
Originally posted by whanson_wi:
I rolled my own using an old desktop, spare drives, and Truenas. I did this about 3 months or so ago. The NAS has not been turned off since.

Thought about that, I still have a dual power supply server that Ran WinNT and has a Raid controller, removeable drive bays but it is older and the drives small from back in the day.

It also draws a ton of power and creates a lot of heat, the NAS does the opposite of that especially if you run SSD drives.

January 28, 2026, 04:06 PM

DonDraper

I have an older Synology 2 bay model, and a newer DS920+ 4 bay model. They have both been fantastic. I have older WD Red's (3tb 5400RPM) in the old 2-bay (I think it's a ds214). Those drives have to be 10 years + old by now. Still kicking. In the 4 bay I have Seagate Ironwolf 7200 8TB disks. So far those have been rock solid, and probably what I would continue to buy if I was doing it all over or upgrading disks.

I wish they had more CPU and ram options (you can run a LOT of apps and virtual machines), but for what I use them for (file storage and Plex media server) they are just fine.