Build Your Own NAS - Step by Step Guide

A full step by step guide to building a NAS in the Fractal Design Meshify 2 using UNRAID. This guide assumes no previous knowledge and is perfect for a first time PC builder. Links to parts used in the build are below. In the video I demonstrate the steps I took to setup the software on my own UNRAID server, however of more detailed instructions and explanations of the available options, I recommended referring to the linked videos below.
00:00 Intro
01:25 Preparing the Case
08:25 CPU Installation
09:07 M.2 SSD Installation
09:30 RAM Installation
09:49 CPU Cooler Installation
11:46 Motherboard Installation
11:56 Case Cable Installation
12:35 Power Supply Installation
13:17 Hard Drive Installation
15:07 Cable Management
15:42 Complete Build Footage
16:14 Making UNRAID USB
18:03 Adjusting BIOS Settings
21:38 Start UNRAID
21:58 Accessing NAS Remotely
23:13 Setting up Drives
25:38 Adding a New User
26:08 Adding a Share
27:26 Map Share to PC
29:39 Outro
Parts used in the build (Amazon links are Affiliates Links)
• Fractal Design Meshify 2
UK - amzn.to/4bKQMRn
US - amzn.to/4bPkvZy
CA - amzn.to/3wuYChR
• MSI MAG B560 TOMAHAWK WIFI
UK - amzn.to/3xIC0oY
US - amzn.to/3iLMlMv
CA - amzn.to/3CPByZS
• Intel Core i5 11500
UK - amzn.to/33st6PG
US - amzn.to/3hcJxYo
CA - amzn.to/3nWaSQ8
• Be Quiet! Dark Rock 4
UK - amzn.to/49ptSgS
US - amzn.to/3OT2aAX
CA - amzn.to/3UPLrCk
• Silicon Power 16GB (2x8GB) XPOWER RGB Turbine Gaming DDR4 3200MHz
UK - amzn.to/3vAky5D
US - amzn.to/34CwPut
CA - amzn.to/2SHC3Ti
• ADATA Legend 960 1TB
UK - amzn.to/3UpzbEM
US - amzn.to/3VMWae4
CA - amzn.to/3XTiUuI
• ENERMAX REVOLUTION D.F.X 850W Power Supply
UK - amzn.to/485xHGm
US - amzn.to/3HKnTac
CA - amzn.to/3HMpxYV
• Seagate IronWolf, 8TB NAS HDD
UK - amzn.to/42S9UbV
US - amzn.to/3URgnSD
CA - amzn.to/4bKorKX
• Seagate BarraCuda, 4TB Internal Hard Drive
UK - amzn.to/3SRtekX
US - amzn.to/3SXsdZ0
CA - amzn.to/49r0wOY
• Seagate BarraCuda, 2TB Internal Hard Drive
UK - amzn.to/49pLgSE
US - amzn.to/3OT2Ar1
CA - amzn.to/3SXsjzQ
• Fractal Design HDD Drive Tray Kit - Type B, Black, Dual pack
UK - amzn.to/3T8MJa4
US - amzn.to/3T9HgzS
CA - amzn.to/3uy9j2I
• SanDisk Cruzer Blade 16GB USB Flash Drive
UK - amzn.to/3SK4ICq
US - amzn.to/4bOHZxJ
CA - amzn.to/3IbVZnI
• Gelid Solutions GC-Extreme Thermal Paste
UK - amzn.to/3tzlnwT
US - amzn.to/3mM8Sdm
CA - amzn.to/3xp1n0Z
• Maidesite Standing Desk S2 Pro Plus - shrsl.com/3wwme
Affiliate links
I am part of the Amazon associates program, this means I get a small commission when you buy through these referral links.
More photographs of the build can be seen at pcpartpicker.com/b/YB68TW and a time-lapse of the build can be seen at • Fractal Design Meshify...
Useful Links
• Fractal Meshify 2 Step-by-Step PC Build Guide - • Fractal Meshify 2 Step...
• Motherboard BIOS - www.msi.com/Motherboard/MAG-B...
• UNRAID Getting Started - docs.unraid.net/unraid-os/get...
• Elevated Systems - UNRAID Setup Guide 2022. PLUS! Intro to Docker Apps and VM's! - • UNRAID Setup Guide. PL...
• The Bear Tech - Turn an old PC into a powerful NAS solution using UNRAID! - • Turn an old PC into a ...
• AlienTech42 - Complete Guide: Unraid Home Server Installation & Setup - • Complete Guide: Unraid...
Music
Helium Drive - ELFL
www.epidemicsound.com/track/P...
#pcbuild #fractal #unraid #buildcomputers #tutorial #beginnersguide #buildingpc #electronics #personalcomputer #budgetgamingpc #budgetpc

[@Pincentral383]

Just wanted to take a minute to say, the way you build computers, with the step by step and visual representation, is the easiest to follow. I watch jays two cents, Linus tech tips, gamers nexus, der bauer, Paul’s hardware………it was your videos that helped me build mine and my sons pcs. So hat off to you for being more educational than those other guys with millions of viewers. You rock!

[@ChristopherFlannigan]

Thanks for the feedback and glad you found them helpful

[@nielderfp]

I've been using UNRAID for a few years and am very happy with it. My MB is a server type with a Pentium CPU and 16G RAM. The MB has an onboard USB A socket for the boot drive. I've setup a parity check on the first Saturday of the month starting at 17:00, it takes about 15 hours to complete.

[@704Productions]

Thanks! I built my Unraid rig a few months ago and this would have greatly helped me avoid a few hassles. I'll be updating my system this summer and I'll definitely be referring back to this video to keep me in the straight path!!

[@ruimoura]

This is fire, best step by step ever made on this subject. I believe you just “sold me” that case, it’s incredible. Take good care and keep up with this awesome and detailed videos. I’m building my first Unraid setup soon, the case is decided 😂

[@MikeBob2023]

Thank you Chris! It's awesome to see you sharing this new project with your viewers. (And it's also cool that you're putting the parts from your son's old rig to good use. 👍🏼) (And look out, Wendell: Chris Flannigan is getting into networking!)

[@johnedison04]

Your the best in step by step it helps me a lot!

[@ChristopherFlannigan]

Thanks

[@AWR1ddle]

just what I needed, looking to put together a server build myself

[@Marcinos1985]

Great video

[@moonstomper68]

Have literally just built an Unraid server in my silent base 801 as I had just upgraded my main system into the King 95 Pro after watch your build guide and review Christopher. As for yourself lots of drive bays was the reason for that chasis choice.

[@ChristopherFlannigan]

Good choice for the NAS. I always enjoy learning something new

[@moonstomper68]

@@ChristopherFlannigan One thing, the single cache drive leaves data unprotected until mover clears it down. I created a cache with 2 SSD's using zfs and mirrored to provide redundancy, I can always add a third later for a zfs pool working similar to raid 0 + 1

[@ChristopherFlannigan]

Yes this is the next thing for me to look at. All my drives are in main system holding the files that were on the hard drives. Once these are moved over planning to expand the cache

[@shetho1]

What a brilliant video I allways learn more off your videos than others are you going to be doing a update video for the server

[@AnonymousMiner2]

This Gud. I make soon. Thank yew.

[@TheSwayzeTrain]

Great timing, I literally just started researching NAS to provide how shall I put it, 'yarrrrr matey TV' to family members in different parts of the country. I'm considering getting a Synology NAS and loading it with Plex. Alternatively building my own NAS with second hand parts is another idea Im toying with.

[@ChristopherFlannigan]

Looking forward to finding out what it can do

[@iam_anderdingus]

Appreciate you are a build channel, but I think I would opt for a Synology NAS - something like a 4 or 5 bay. Probably quieter and less power consumption. Oh and love the outdo music ❤

[@dixonmak]

Thank you for showing us how to use UNRAID. Would love to give it a try. Looking forward to your followup videos on this topic. I do have one question...at 21:38 mark, is it safe to assume I have to connect the UNRAID computer to my local network before reboot so I can get an assigned IP address? Cheers.

[@davedenis]

If you did want to add a GPU what would be the max length when this case is in storage mode?

[@gloth]

no matter how many drives and/or cache drives you have, you are still transferring data over the network. 113mb/sec, that seems like an gigabit connection

[@yogibbear]

"I can't see it, but it'll drive me mad knowing it's there". Yeah I hate that too! 🤣

[@ChristopherFlannigan]

It's a very real problem

[@hyperjohnable]

Just wanted to say: great video. It made me to check the case. But I fell on the fractal marketing naming issue. Apparently this case has a lot of variations like: lite, compact, compact lite, etc that makes everything so complicated. Can someone explains ?

[@markwith140]

I'm going to build a NAS at some point. I have a consumer Asustor NAS, but as a project and maybe to have an off site backup capability I fancy building a NAS. One comment, I assume that the motherboard has only a 1gbit network connection and you used this for your network connection. If so then this will be the major bottleneck in your speed... I bought a cheap 2.5Gbit switch and upgraded my pc with a 2.5gig pcie card (the Asustor has 2.5gig connections built in). I get transfer rates of around 280Mb/s. One question I had was the use of different sized drives, I was happy to hear that Unraid supports this, how is that working out for you? I have a bunch of drives of different sizes that I could use in a home built NAS, and if it works well then I will use them in my project

[@bustyjoe]

I'm new to this. What exactly is NAS? Anyone mind giving me the readers digest version?

[@estebangardila]

Network Attached Storage. So basically your own little file server to preserve all your documents and media and whatnot; server which you can access from the web and not only when you're on your house.

[@markod7662]

Network attached storage.

[@dirkgoodman4282]

Going from your accent I can tell you're from Northern Ireland. I've just found your channel. I'm wondering if you have a business here building/selling pcs and also maintenance?

[@ChristopherFlannigan]

No, I only build for KZbin

[@ryangardner9683]

How much does this cost

[@AkhiSyahmi_]

The bottleneck you are having is mainly because you use gigabit connection. Plug in a 10 gigabit card, and you're golden.

[@markod7662]

11:15 you do not have enough RGB in this rig.

[@ChristopherFlannigan]

Too much for my liking

[@markod7662]

@@ChristopherFlannigan why do you care then, how the fan is placed then? It can not be seen.

[@ChristopherFlannigan]

I can see it in my head