What are the best operating systems for a NAS/File server?

Question

9

Options
Considered

15

User
Recs.

Jun 3, 2020

Last
Updated

Here’s the Deal

9 Options Considered

Best operating systems for a NAS/File server	Price	Based On	Default Desktop Environment
-- OpenMediaVault	-	Debian stable	NA
-- FreeNAS	-	FreeBSD	NA
-- EasyNAS	-	openSUSE	NA
-- Rockstor	-	CentOS	NA
-- Unraid	0	-	-

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Unraid

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score 6 · Answer 1

OpenMediaVault

Top Pro

Fully debian compatible

You can use all debian packages. See More

Top Con

Extras not integrated by default

omv-extras.org is not integrated by default. See More

NeighborlyCromCruach's Experience

Works like a charm. The only issue is that there are not many plugins available so you have to run them in docker. See More

Specs

Based On:Debian stable

Default Desktop Environment:NA

Init-System:Systemd

Package Manager:Debian Package Manager

See All Specs

Top Pro

Clean UI

has a clean and simple to understand Webinterface. See More

Top Con

Not many plugins

There are not many plugins available so you either need to run their Debian packages or you have to set up a Docker container. See More

NiceTlilhua's Experience

it is great and one of the best. See More

Top Pro

Easy

It is very easy to install. See More

See All

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score 4 · Answer 2

FreeNAS

Top Pro

Native ZFS support

It has full support for the Solaris ZFS filesystem. See More

Top Con

Limited hardware support

BSD has less support for newer hardware compared to Windows or Linux. See More

Holo Deck's Experience

Personally I wouldn't use anything else for my home NAS See More

Specs

Based On:FreeBSD

Default Desktop Environment:NA

Init-System:BSD-init

Main usage:NAS

Top Pro

Traditional Init-system

It uses a traditional UNIX init system. See More

Top Pro

Solid BSD core

it runs on the stable FreeBSD kernel See More

Top Pro

Can use plugins

Its able to use Plugins See More

See All

score 3 · Answer 3

EasyNAS

Default Desktop Environment:NA

Init-System:systemd

Main usage:NAS

score 1 · Answer 4

Rockstor

Default Desktop Environment:NA

Init-System:Systemd

Main usage:NAS

Answer 5

FreedomBox

Default Desktop Environment:N/A

Init-System:Systemd

Package Manager:Debian Package Manager

See All Specs

Answer 6

Amahi

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Answer 7

NexentaStor

Based On:OpenSolaris>Illumos

Default Desktop Environment:NA

Init-System:SMF-init

Answer 8

XigmaNAS

Default Desktop Environment:NA

Init-System:BSD-init

Main usage:NAS

9 Options Considered

My Recommendation for OpenMediaVault

My Recommendation for OpenMediaVault

Fully debian compatible

Extras not integrated by default

Clean UI

Not many plugins

Easy

My Recommendation for FreeNAS

My Recommendation for FreeNAS

Native ZFS support

Limited hardware support

Traditional Init-system

Solid BSD core

Can use plugins

My Recommendation for EasyNAS

My Recommendation for EasyNAS

My Recommendation for Rockstor

My Recommendation for Rockstor

My Recommendation for Unraid

My Recommendation for Unraid

My Recommendation for FreedomBox

My Recommendation for FreedomBox

My Recommendation for Amahi

My Recommendation for Amahi

My Recommendation for NexentaStor

My Recommendation for NexentaStor

My Recommendation for XigmaNAS

My Recommendation for XigmaNAS

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