I wanted to share my experiences with different NAS systems, which might help others in a similar situation. I’ve been searching for the perfect NAS, and with my IT background, I sometimes overthink the functions I need. This might come off as a bit of a killjoy post, but it’s meant to be helpful.

I’ve tried several NAS systems, including Synology, TrueNAS, Unraid, OMV, and Proxmox. My main goals have been to have a good *arr stack in Docker, basic file sharing, and VMs (I use VMs for gaming with tools like Parsec).

Initially, I was put off by Unraid’s flexibility, as I wanted to run things like Compose on my terms. However, I found Unraid’s system works well for running Docker containers (without Compose). Updates and backups work reliably, and permissions are managed well. For VMs, Unraid is superior. Its easy access to IMMOU groups and binding makes it a breeze. With the upcoming V7, it’s expected to get even better with features like snapshots.

I switched to OMV for its Debian base, which I could customize. However, I found its tutorials and support lacking. I encountered issues like passwords stopping working, shares not sharing, containers refusing to start after updates, and random Docker permission issues. These problems are probably solvable, but they were frustrating. OMV is largely a one-man project, which is concerning. Additionally, it requires a custom kernel for proper ZFS support and setting up VMs is cumbersome.

I’m planning to transition back to Unraid with V7. My initial reasons for leaving were not well-founded. A NAS should be stable and reliable, and Unraid offers a good set of functions without needing kernel modifications. This was one of the things I loved about Synology – it just worked.

Too much modding isn’t always the best approach. When it comes to payment, I have no issues paying for a product. As a developer, I understand the need for financial support for passion projects. Unraid’s price is very reasonable. One downside of Unraid is its outdated design, which looks like it’s from 1997, but that’s not a dealbreaker.

I hope this post helps others in choosing the right NAS system. Remember, stability and reliability should be top priorities.

My main thing I don't like though is the design, I think its very outdated, but it works and it works well.

I really want to jump on the beta, but I think that it would be clever to wait since its a production server, though I will keep a keen eye on development and will be returning to team unraid very soon