Affordable ITX board featuring multiple SATA ports under $100
Affordable ITX board featuring multiple SATA ports under $100
Absolutely, that's correct. I'm looking for another compact board that includes a soldered CPU, just like what you mentioned.
The buzz around TrueNAS comes from its ability to handle NAS software while supporting modern tech like Docker, containers, and virtual machines. Many prefer a straightforward method using Disk Management for volume mirroring, which offers a hassle-free RAID1 setup that automatically handles drive failures.
For "Just use linux," it might be a viable choice, though I’m comfortable with Windows too. I’m familiar with adjusting the system to meet requirements and prefer not to switch to a new OS. I’ve used Linux before for servers but didn’t enjoy it. I’m experienced with network shares and backups on Windows, so I’d rather avoid adding unknown software risks when handling critical data.
ZFS offers some advantages. If you're aiming to boost performance, it's an excellent choice. However, many tech enthusiasts tend to complicate things unnecessarily and overlearn. Running Windows is a reasonable alternative, though Windows 7 is quite outdated in terms of security patches. To be honest, I built everything from scratch using an Ubuntu image on my NAS as a project, then switched to TRUENAS afterward—it simplified the process significantly.
I completely understand your perspective. You feel Win7 isn't ideal for a continuously running system with frequent remote access needs, like mine for Plex and TeamViewer. I began exploring NAS solutions some time ago, and it seems TrueNAS or similar brands simplify RAID setup and recovery compared to Windows. Everything else felt unfamiliar. The Synology devices initially seemed intimidating due to their high prices... wow! A 4-bay rack system capable of handling 4K on Plex was around $1,200 before the drives, using a 1 Gbps connection. My $99 ASUS motherboard with a 2.5 Gbps NIC looked impressive. I found two used 2 TB WD NAS drives on Amazon for just $30 each, making it a great entry point that has proven to be very useful.