Building My Own NAS Server with FreeNAS

I am thrilled to share the exciting project I embarked on in 2020: building my own Network Attached Storage (NAS) server using FreeNAS. At that time, iXsystems had not yet released TrueNAS Core and TrueNAS Scale, so FreeNAS was the ideal choice for my project. NAS devices offer a range of functionalities, including file storage and sharing, personal cloud storage, data redundancy using RAID, media streaming, and even virtualization.

My fascination with RAID and data redundancy stemmed from a critical incident in February 2020, when a Windows update bug resulted in file deletions for many users. This event sparked my desire to have a reliable storage solution that would protect my data and prevent such mishaps.

To kickstart my project, I utilized spare components from previous computer upgrades and invested in dedicated NAS hard drives and an SSD boot drive. 

1. To create the installation media, I configured a USB flash drive. With my monitor connected to the system, I initiated the installation process, carefully following the prompts. During installation, I designated the SSD as the boot drive to ensure optimal performance and reliability.

2. To streamline connectivity and simplify network management, I set a static IP address for my NAS server outside the range of DHCP. This ensured consistent and reliable network access.

3. As a crucial security measure, I set a root password to protect my NAS server from unauthorized access.

4. Upon completing the installation and rebooting, I gained access to the FreeNAS web interface using the designated IP and credentials. This user-friendly interface provided extensive configuration options for my NAS server.

5. One of the primary tasks was creating storage pools using four of the available drives. I assigned another drive as a spare to safeguard against potential drive failures. This ensured data redundancy and improved overall system reliability.

6. To enable seamless file sharing with Windows systems, I enabled SMB (Samba: Windows file services) on my NAS server. This allowed for easy access and file sharing between my NAS and Windows devices on the network.

7. To ensure proper access management, I set up access control permissions for my user account. By granting appropriate privileges, I could access the storage pools and Windows shares securely and efficiently.

8. To integrate my NAS server with Windows, I added a network drive in Windows File Explorer and entered my user credentials. This enabled smooth and convenient access to the NAS storage from my desktop computer.

Building my own NAS server using FreeNAS was an enriching and rewarding experience. It not only enhanced my technical skills but also empowered me to take control of my data storage. I am excited to continue exploring and expanding my NAS setup in the future.