How to Build Your First NAS

A network-attached storage (NAS) box gives every device in your home a central, reliable place to store files. Here's how to build one.

Step 1: Plan your capacity

Estimate how much you need today and in a few years. Our storage planner helps. Then choose a redundancy level with the RAID calculator.

Step 2: Choose your drives

Use CMR (not SMR) drives rated for NAS use. Buy from more than one batch to reduce simultaneous-failure risk. See the best NAS hard drives.

Step 3: Pick the software

• TrueNAS — enterprise-grade ZFS with checksums and snapshots. Wants more RAM.
• OpenMediaVault — lightweight and flexible; even runs on a Raspberry Pi.

Not sure? Read TrueNAS vs OpenMediaVault.

Step 4: Install and create your pool

Install your chosen OS to a small SSD, then create a storage pool from your data drives. A common ZFS layout for four drives is RAID-Z2 (survives two failures):

4 × 8 TB in RAID-Z2 = ~16 TB usable, tolerates 2 drive failures

Step 5: Create shares

Expose your data over SMB (best cross-platform compatibility) or NFS (fast for Linux). Create per-user accounts and set permissions.

Step 6: Enable snapshots

Schedule regular ZFS snapshots so you can instantly roll back mistakes or ransomware. Remember snapshots live on the same pool — they are not a backup.

Step 7: Back up off the NAS

Follow the 3-2-1 rule. Replicate snapshots to a second machine or an offsite/cloud target with tools like Restic or ZFS send/receive.

Step 8: Protect the power

Add a UPS so a power cut can't corrupt your pool, and configure automatic clean shutdown.

Your NAS is now the reliable foundation for media, backups and self-hosted apps.