From ready-made NAS to self-build: How Unraid redefined my infrastructure - the series at a glance

Richie Müller

5-11-2025

Translation: machine translated

What began as a spontaneous plan turned into a long-term project: building my own NAS. Seven parts, one journey and a server that grew up.

The simple plan to replace my Synology quickly turned into something more: a technical adventure, a learning project - and sometimes a test of patience. After failed attempts, hardware replacements and many discussions with the Community, the system is now stable. It offers me more freedom than I ever had with my old Synology.

You can find all the parts of my series here - from the initial considerations to the finished setup with Docker, virtual machines and Community apps.

Part 1 - Farewell with a stomach ache

After years with my Synology, I'm taking the plunge into the world of DIY. Why I want to replace my Synology and the concerns that accompany it.

Part 2 - Community versus Richie

As soon as part 1 is online, the Community comes forward with arguments, warnings and alternatives. I am persuaded to rethink my plans. I adjust my course accordingly.

Part 3 - Which operating system will it be?

Unraid, TrueNAS or OpenMediaVault? I test, compare and decide. The focus is on flexibility, simple administration and performance.

Part 4 - Hardware selection with brain and heart

From ECC RAM and economical processors to the housing: I put together my setup piece by piece, make mistakes and get valuable tips from colleagues.

Part 5 - USB stick, frustration and insights

Installation should be child's play. But it wasn't. Why this step almost drove me to despair and what I learnt from it

Part 6 - Shares, cache pools and tidying up the data chaos

Now it's getting serious: I plan the storage structure, set up shares and optimise the cache pools. The goal: maximum performance and overview in everyday life

Part 7 - The Unraid server comes of age

The final step: I expand my Unraid server to include Community apps, Docker containers, virtual machines and plugins. This turns my server into a versatile everyday server. It's modular, powerful and ready for whatever comes next.

My home-built NAS has taught me more than I originally expected: about hardware, networks, virtualisation and even patience. Today, Unraid runs exactly as I always wanted it to: flexible, transparent and with enough room to try out new things.

Richie Müller

Teamleader Editorial

Richard.Mueller@digitecgalaxus.ch

I'm a journalist with over 20 years of experience in various positions, mostly in online journalism. The tool I rely on for my work? A laptop – preferably connected to the Internet. In fact, I also enjoy taking apart laptops and PCs, repairing and refitting them. Why? Because it's fun! more

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