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Network-attached storage (NAS) is usually simply a small slab of plastic and metal running some form of Linux with custom software slapped on top. Top brands include Synology, Asustor, and QNAP, but while these are fantastic for storing and streaming data, they can also be used for running services like Jellyfin and Immich. It's what I did when I transitioned into the self-hosting game, but I quickly realized that these devices just aren't designed for running countless containers and virtual instances. That's where a used compact PC like the Dell Vostro can really make a difference.
Where a NAS shines is storing data
It can save a lot of your stuff
NAS enclosures are absolutely brilliant, and I continue using them today for storing data and running a few things. Even more affordable enclosures like the BeeStation range from Synology can be a great starter NAS to reduce reliance on cloud-based services. Inside these devices are similar parts your smartphone and PC have. There's a CPU, some RAM, a mainboard, and connected storage drives. The primary difference is these NAS enclosures are designed to interact with clients over the network, allowing for files to be transferred and saved within the local storage pool(s).
But that's largely where the similarities end, at least when compared to a traditional mid-tower PC system. There may be an M.2 slot or two, as well as a spare SODIMM memory slot, but that's it. The CPU is soldered. There's no way to replace the motherboard without going to the manufacturer, and even then it's a tall order to get one sent out. Should you encounter an issue relating to the hardware, you may need to navigate through support channels, which is fine if your device is relatively new and still in warranty, but what if your NAS has been happily running for years?
These NAS enclosures are designed to be easy to configure and manage. The onboarding process is largely seamless, especially if you choose an established brand like Synology. The Synology DiskStation Manager (DSM) even resembles a desktop OS UI like you'd see with a Linux, macOS, or Windows device. Adding users, managing drives, installing apps, and even configuring a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) is largely painless with only a few clicks required. In fact, it's actually incredibly easy to set up Plex on a Synology NAS and have it externally accessible in no time.
So, why don't I simply use NAS enclosures for the home lab? It all boils down to performance and availability.
Don't put your home lab on a single system
Leave some room for availability and redundancy
You've likely already seen my colleagues and I here at XDA bang on about the power and capabilities of Proxmox, but we're not kidding when we state it's one of the best ways to set up your home lab. The hypervisor is designed for this very task, albeit admittedly for a data center. But it's readily available for the home, and it doesn't take a networking enthusiast to set up servers and run a few services from within the home LAN. Whether you're wanting to run a few containers or start testing the waters with virtual machines and trying out some weird and wonderful things with Linux distros.
The primary reason I separated my NAS and home lab was for redundancy. Instead of running services and storing data on the same box, I could manage everything using Synology's brilliant DSM interface, but if the NAS goes offline or needs to update, the entire stack goes down. That's fine for general use and a few minor containers running, but when you have multiple family members streaming and interacting with self-hosted services, this downtime becomes unacceptable, especially when it happens at the wrong times. It's similar to why I never handle DNS and filtering outside of OPNsense.
I don't want my NAS or home lab server going down to take out the network, which is where segmenting stuff comes into play, and it's the same with a NAS and small desktop PC like a Dell Vostro. I bought one off eBay for a little less than $50, rocking an Intel Core i5-7400 and 8GB of RAM. I know what you're thinking, but before you close the tab and think to yourself why anyone would want a system with a four-core CPU and mediocre performance, that's precisely what makes this such a great addition to my home lab and a brilliant NAS successor ... for running containers and the like.
Loading Proxmox on a Dell Vostro compact PC
Running your own home-based datacenter is anything but terrifying
Setting up Proxmox on a new system is as simple as installing any flavor of Linux. Create a bootable USB drive, load it with the latest Proxmox image, and you're good to go. Before making any progress, I removed the single 8GB DDR4 module and installed a 16GB kit I had collecting dust from a precious PC build. That provided the four-core Core i5-7400 with all the system memory it required for running the underlying hypervisor OS as well as all the VMs and LXCs I could want. Throw in a mini PC and a Fujitsu Siemens business desktop, and we've now got a three-node Proxmox cluster.
Instead of tasking the NAS to run Frigate, stream to Jellyfin clients, and back up mobile devices with Immich, I can not split up all these demanding tasks and run them on specific hardware. The Fujitsu system is largely the Frigate NVR. It has a single 3.5-inch surveillance drive running and saving footage, with events captured and stored on the NAS and another location for safekeeping. The mini PC and Dell Vostro handle the large bulk of self-hosting work, splitting many LXCs and VMs between them. Thanks to Proxmox snapshots, I can quickly and conveniently back up, transfer, and roll back pretty much anything.
This setup offers something the NAS simply cannot alone. Sure, more power is drawn from the outlet, but even with the six-bay NAS and three systems, I'm still only seeing around 120W or so pulled through the smart plug. That's not terrible when compared to a single AMD Threadripper server idling at 150W, if not more. What you get in return for this slight power increase (a single one of these PCs pulls just 30W or so) is the means to run plenty of community-provided containers and other software to create the ultimate home lab and smart home.
I'm keeping my NAS for storage
I won't be getting rid of my Synology NAS anytime soon. It still serves an invaluable purpose: to keep all our data safe. I could (and probably will) eventually replace it with a custom DIY system, but for now it works really well with my home lab setup. The Node 804 from Fractal also supports more than 6 drives, which would allow me to start fresh with TrueNAS again and build it out for the future with 24TB drives. Fewer drives, less power, fewer vibrations. But I'll continue to keep everything segmented just like my network.
