This summary of the video was created by an AI. It might contain some inaccuracies.
00:00:00 – 00:15:54
The video chronicles the creator’s transition from using external hard drives to constructing a custom NAS (Network-Attached Storage) system due to increasing storage needs from projects and YouTube videos. Initially, the creator describes the limitations of external drives, such as unreliability and high costs, leading to their decision to build a home server. They chose a NAS setup over a DAS (Direct-Attached Storage) for better reliability and expandability, using RAID 5 for resilience, built from old server components and utilizing the Linux-based Unraid OS for cost efficiency and ease of upgrading.
Assembly involved repurposing an old PC with sufficient specs, purchasing new 20 TB Seagate IronWolf Pro drives for data reliability, and adding a 500 GB SSD as a cache drive for improved transfer speeds. Unraid was selected for its simpler, more flexible storage management compared to traditional RAID systems. The setup includes remote management and additional features like virtual machines and VPNs, achieved with a $2,000 CAD budget primarily spent on hard drives.
To enhance data protection, the creator employed Backblaze for offsite backups while emphasizing the importance of a comprehensive backup strategy. The NAS offers significant storage of 60 TB with room for expansion and operates efficiently, though there are some minor issues like noise from old server fans. The video closes with the creator inviting feedback and encouraging viewer engagement.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, the creator discusses their experience with using external hard drives to store their growing collection of photos and 4K videos. This method worked for a while during their student years but became unsustainable as their freelance projects and YouTube videos now require significantly more storage space (ranging from 100 GB to 1 TB). They explain that continuously buying new hard drives isn’t reliable because it’s susceptible to data loss from drive failures or physical damage, and it becomes expensive over time due to the high dollar-per-gigabyte ratio of these drives. To address this, they plan to build and set up a home server using a NAS (Network-Attached Storage) system to improve storage efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. The video will detail how they construct and configure this server to meet those goals.
00:03:00
In this part of the video, the creator explains RAID 5, which uses at least three hard drives to create a resilient storage solution by striping data across drives and utilizing parity data for recovery in case one drive fails. They also differentiate between NAS (network-attached storage) and DAS (direct-attached storage), highlighting their advantages and limitations, such as cost, customizability, and expandability. The creator then describes their decision to build a custom NAS server using old server components and a Linux-based operating system called Unraid, due to the affordability, reliability, and ease of upgrading offered by used server hardware. They outline their basic hardware requirements and present the server they purchased for $140.
00:06:00
In this part of the video, the creator discusses assembling a NAS (Network Attached Storage) system using an old PC setup. Despite the aged motherboard and CPU, which date back to 2005, the system’s 3.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 8 GB of DDR2 RAM are deemed sufficient for a NAS since it isn’t very CPU-intensive. Key features of the case include six hot swap hard drive bays. While opting to keep costs low, the creator did not upgrade the RAM or CPU after testing showed no performance limitations.
The creator advises against using second-hand hard drives due to potential data reliability issues, instead purchasing new 20 TB Seagate IronWolf Pro drives designed for server use, each costing $470. Additionally, a 500 GB SSD was acquired to serve as a cache drive. After cleaning the case, the hard drives were installed in the hot swap bays, while the SSD was temporarily placed in one of the bays with plans to relocate it if expansion required more drive slots.
For the NAS software, the creator chose Unraid over alternatives like TrueNAS, which offers a free option. Unraid, costing a one-time fee of $90, is installed onto a USB drive that serves as the operating boot drive. Initial setup required a secondary monitor for configuration, but once set up, the system connects to the network and can be managed remotely through a web browser. The creator briefly explains that Unraid functions differently from traditional RAID 5 configurations.
00:09:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker explains the differences between traditional RAID setups and how Unraid works. In a typical RAID setup, data is striped across multiple drives with a portion reserved for parity, which helps rebuild data if a drive fails. In contrast, Unraid uses entire drives as parity and stores whole files on individual drives, allowing for easier expansion and management. This setup avoids the need to reformat when adding new drives, as long as the new drives don’t exceed the capacity of the parity drive.
The segment also details the functionality of the SSD cache drive, which enhances transfer speeds by initially copying files to the SSD before moving them to the larger hard drive array. Lastly, the speaker emphasizes the importance of backups since RAID alone does not protect against data loss due to array destruction, accidental deletion, or corruption, suggesting a three-copy backup strategy that includes on-site and off-site backups.
00:12:00
In this segment, the creator discusses backing up their server with Backblaze, a subscription service for continuous data backup. Although it lacks an on-site backup, having an offsite one offers better protection. The server is set up in the basement with a wired Ethernet connection. While setting up, the creator noticed slow transfer speeds due to their desktop PC being connected via Wi-Fi. After switching to an Ethernet connection, speeds improved to 110 MB/s, the maximum for their gigabit setup. The NAS server now has 60 TB of storage and offers future expandability. Using Unraid, the server supports additional features like virtual machines and VPNs. The build cost around $2,000 CAD, mostly for hard drives, and required significant research and effort. Despite some drawbacks like noisy old server fans and large server case, the creator is satisfied with the scalable and cost-effective solution.
00:15:00
In this part of the video, the creator wraps up the discussion about building a NAS, costs involved, and invites viewers to share their own experiences, whether they built a NAS themselves or opted for a pre-built one. They emphasize the effort put into this video, encouraging viewers to like and subscribe to support the channel and help others discover the content. The segment ends with a farewell and a promise of future videos.