Hi selfhosters,

I would like to expand my server storage and I am confused now. For a bit of context, I have a mini pc running several Docker containers and I am pretty happy with it.

Right now I want to expand my server storage and after going though some options, this is my current understanding:

  • NAS: it is a real PC with its own chip/memory/OS and we can connect to the storage via network mount. Some are powerful enough to run docker containers on them and are generally not cheap.
  • HDD enclosure/docking station: it is just some enclosure to hold a lot of HDDs together and I could just plug it into my server like an USB.

I would like to ask:

  • Is my understanding above correct ?
  • Since I still have some resource left in the mini pc and want to save some bucks, is it safe to go with the HDD enclosure ?

Thank you very much and have a nice day :D

  • Bwaz@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    4 months ago

    Beware, an NAS will have its own file formats and structure. I put all my music files and backups on a NAS, which failed. Now I can’t recover them without buying another NAS of similar model. More ore less the opposite of why I got a NAS.

    • MentalEdge@sopuli.xyzEnglish
      0·
      4 months ago

      No sane NAS should work that way.

      Unless you have a giant raid array, where you need all the drives running at the same time on the same system, plugging in a single raid 1 member, for example, via usb to sata adapter, should let access its contents just fine.

      Provided you’re on an OS that can read the file system. That can require some extra effort on windows.

      But yeah. Beware of the pre-built NASes. The vendor lock-in is real.

      • folekaule@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        4 months ago

        This is a qualified truth. In theory what you’re saying is true but for example with Synology they use their own raid format and while they ostensibly use btrfs they overlay their own metadata system on top.

    • xana@lemmy.zipOPEnglish
      0·
      4 months ago

      This is also one reason why I am hesitant for a NAS. They might run on their own OS and have their own private format while I dont want to be vendor locked in in any ecosystem

      • folekaule@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        4 months ago

        True open source products are your best bet. TruNAS and Proxmox are popular options, but you can absolutely set up a vanilla Debian server with Samba and call it a NAS. Back in the old days we just called those “file servers”.

        Most importantly, just keep good backups. If you have to choose between investing in a raid or a primary + backup drive, choose the latter every time. Raid will save you time to recover, but it’s not a backup.