Why Build Your Own NAS#
I previously had a pre-built NAS (JiKong Z4), and although I had no issues using it, I gradually realized...
- I never used the built-in features (such as JiYingShi and JiXiangCe)
- The built-in local network penetration only allowed for limited configuration and could only penetrate the built-in features of the machine
- I already have a public IP with v4/v6, so I don't need local network penetration at all
- I don't have root access to the machine, so I can't fully control the system
- The built-in Docker only supports GUI operations, and updating container images requires a complex process of deletion and recreation
Overall, in my understanding, this machine has become: a machine that I only use as a Docker launcher, but the experience of using Docker is extremely poor, which made me think about getting a new machine. Coincidentally, a colleague mentioned it recently, and I couldn't resist the urge to buy it.
Use Cases#
My NAS has the following use cases:
- Media server (Emby, Jellyfin, etc.)
- Game server (Minecraft, Don't Starve, etc.)
- Remote development server (providing x86 environment for ARM-based Mac)
- Unexpected use cases (such as software router, backup server, etc.)
Configuration Selection#
I don't have much knowledge about hardware, but because I have the need for a game server and remote development, I'll choose a better CPU and 32GB of RAM should be enough. Here is the final configuration:
| Component | Price |
|---|---|
| JINBADA 3200 Memory 16G * 2 | 356 |
| Qiaosibo N2 Chassis | 551 |
| FANXIANG 1TB SSD | 297 |
| TT 450W Full Modular SFX Power Supply | 422 |
| LIMIN AXP90-X53 Fan | 199 |
| MINGXIN H610 ITX Motherboard + i5 12400 | 1489 |
| Total | 3314 |
Assembly#
First, I received the chassis and power supply, and the chassis looks pretty good:
Connect the power supply for the motherboard, CPU, and hard drive backplane of the chassis, and then put it into the chassis:
Then, all the other components arrived, and I continued with the assembly:
First, install the CPU:
Then, insert the memory modules:
Install the M.2 SSD:
Attach a fan to the CPU:
Secure the motherboard to the chassis:
Connect the power cables:
Without closing the chassis, power on the machine to check for any issues:
Successfully booted into the system drive, assembly complete!
System Installation#
As a loyal user of Arch Linux, there was no doubt that I chose Arch Linux as the operating system for my NAS, with the Btrfs file system.
Thanks to archinstall, manual configuration is no longer necessary. Just select the options and click install. Here are my choices:
For the Network configuration, I chose Network Manager for convenience, but I forgot to take a photo after making the change. The other options remained the same.
Wait for the installation process to complete, then manually reboot: