Don't let the jargon intimidate you since you're unlikely to use all the functions at the beginning, just like other complex software. Learning about custom operating systems will require plenty of time and aren't always so approachable for beginners. These are all standard components, so they'll hold a reasonable resale value in the future or come in handy for other PC projects. You'll need at least a novice level of custom PC building knowledge since that's what you're building a desktop focusing on high-speed storage instead of graphical fidelity. Follow the official documentation for either OS and you'll at least get started, with any potential issues usually troubleshot from the interface.īuilding your own NAS server is a fantastic project and a rewarding hobby, giving you rapid access to backups that won't be inaccessible if you lose Internet access, something cloud storage can't escape altogether. Depending on how experienced you are with such software packages, the initial setup process may be a little daunting at first, especially if you're coming from a pre-built NAS enclosure. For the OS, you can go with any free NAS software, though two of my favorites are openmediavault and TrueNAS.

Setting up a home media server