Questions on getting started

[Awesome_Sheep]

I’m planning to build a home server and need advice before finalizing my setup. Since I lack spare PC parts, I’ll be sourcing new or second-hand components. Cost-wise, I'm keen on keeping to less than $1k (before HDDs) but am somewhat flexible/can save-up more before pulling the trigger.

 

My primary use case is simple: backing up photos and running a Plex server for up to 6 users (4k streams). But I have some questions:

1. RAID for Selective Backups Can I configure a RAID setup where only specific drives are mirrored while others retain full capacity? For example, in a 4-bay NAS setup, could I have one HDD backed up to another HDD while the remaining two are not mirrored? I’m looking to back up only essential files like photos, without duplicating large files such as TV/Movies folders.

2. Secure Remote Access How secure and manageable is it to enable internet access to a home server? I’ve heard of cases where misconfigurations unknowingly allowed third-party access. What tools or best practices can ensure secure remote access and mitigate such risks?

3. One NAS vs. Two NAS Setup Would it make sense to have two NAS devices: a Synology NAS for photo backups (and to also tap-on their solutions to minimise the odds of #2) and a custom-built NAS (likely running HexOS) just for Plex? Or can I combine these functions into one system, while resolving #1 and #2?

Any insights or recommendations would be greatly appreciated as I plan my setup!

[Bersella AI]

1. Yes. You may set up striped pools for each drive respectively, and schedule a periodic replication (or copying) task. Modern NAS systems have this functionality built in.
2. A VPN service would help. Examples include: Zerotier, Tailscale or NetBird.
3. Although I prefer having them all together on a single server, it should be noted that genuine Synology devices have official services, i.e. QuickConnect, for remote access, which may be useful for other users that are unfamiliar with tech. Custom VPN services tend to be more difficult to set up and use than QC. It's up to you whether having Synology services would be helpful.
4. How many users are expected to watch on Plex at the same time? This is highly relevant to hardware choices, as you have to prepare a powerful GPU for 6 concurrent streams. With no more than 4 streams, a recent Intel processor with iGPU would be sufficient enough.

[Soid]

Ive been planning my setup too, Im finding that the actual storage is costing as much as the other hardware combined. To save money I bought certified refurbished on ebay to get refurbished drives, and they seller I got them from offered a 5 yr warranty, though I’d personally be reluctant to use refurbished on a non-raid system. I also ended up buying much bigger drives than I planned since they only refurbish large drives.