Re-Using my Gaming PC as a NAS

[DanTheMuffinMan]

Hey guys, I've never built or used a NAS before but would like to re-purpose my existing gaming pc into one for media server duty on my LAN.

 

It will only have one drive to start with, but I'll be adding more as budget allows for RAID. Anyway I'm pretty solid on the hardware but I wanted to know what my software options are.

 

I've seen Linus recommend PLEX and would definitely like to try that out for media streaming. However my main question is whether I should be installing that on a basic Windows 10 Home installation or should I be installing a more specialized OS like FreeNAS? I'd like to just leave the PC running 24/7 plugged into my gigabit switch with a static IP and remote into it whenever I need to manage it without having to hook up a monitor/keyboard/mouse.

 

It's primary purpose will be media storage and streaming, also things like family photo's, backing up documents, etc. Ideally I'd like to be able to access it over the internet, but that's not a huge deal.

 

Anyway, any tips or maybe a guide on this forum somewhere I should be following? Let me know if I need to provide any more info for you beautiful people to help me.

[svmlegacy]

3 minutes ago, DanTheMuffinMan said:

Hey guys, I've never built or used a NAS before but would like to re-purpose my existing gaming pc into one for media server duty on my LAN.

 

It will only have one drive to start with, but I'll be adding more as budget allows for RAID. Anyway I'm pretty solid on the hardware but I wanted to know what my software options are.

 

I've seen Linus recommend PLEX and would definitely like to try that out for media streaming. However my main question is whether I should be installing that on a basic Windows 10 Home installation or should I be installing a more specialized OS like FreeNAS? I'd like to just leave the PC running 24/7 plugged into my gigabit switch with a static IP and remote into it whenever I need to manage it without having to hook up a monitor/keyboard/mouse.

 

It's primary purpose will be media storage and streaming, also things like family photo's, backing up documents, etc. Ideally I'd like to be able to access it over the internet, but that's not a huge deal.

 

Anyway, any tips or maybe a guide on this forum somewhere I should be following? Let me know if I need to provide any more info for you beautiful people to help me.

Windows 10 Home has a nasty habit of rebooting on it's own for updates, so I'd reccomend moving to a server OS of some sort. I don't have PLEX, but I do run my own NAS via samba on Ubuntu server edition.

[DanTheMuffinMan]

1 minute ago, svmlegacy said:

Windows 10 Home has a nasty habit of rebooting on it's own for updates, so I'd reccomend moving to a server OS of some sort. I don't have PLEX, but I do run my own NAS via samba on Ubuntu server edition.

Are you using your NAS for media streaming?

[Votivee]

I run Plex on FreeNAS and it works perfect. I don't have any issues with it and it's very easy to set up. If you have a spare USB and hard drive laying around, pull your main drives from the PC and boot up FreeNAS to see if you like it.

 

One thing to keep in mind with using a gaming PC as a NAS 24/7 is electricity cost. If your PC idles at 100w the cost will add up quickly. A lower powered unit would pay itself off after a couple of years.

[svmlegacy]

Just now, DanTheMuffinMan said:

Are you using your NAS for media streaming?

I stream music, and run a couple portable applications from it. Not much of a movie/TV person myself.