Custom home server built from spare parts
4 hours ago
- Author built a custom NAS from a Zotac MAGNUS EN1070K mini PC to avoid cloud storage subscriptions and data privacy concerns.
- The NAS uses six 8TB hard drives in a RAIDZ2 pool (43.7 TB raw, 29 TB usable) with self-encrypting capabilities and automatic resilience testing.
- A 3D-printed extension holds a five-bay hot-swap cage and a sixth drive, powered by a Pico PSU and DC-DC converter from the original brick.
- The system runs Kubuntu 24.04 with ZFS, Docker Compose, and a custom dashboard, since TrueNAS lacked WiFi and NVIDIA GPU support for the GTX 1070.
- A 1.47-inch touch screen driven by an ESP32-S3 displays status (pool health, temps, network) and offers a power menu, synced via serial with the main dashboard.
- The author envisions such household computers as the norm for data ownership, independence, and repurposing existing hardware.