Building a NAS on Proxmox Without VMs or Containers

When it comes to creating a robust and efficient NAS (Network Attached Storage), Proxmox offers a unique advantage. Unlike traditional setups that rely on virtual machines (VMs) or containers, you can harness Proxmox’s Debian roots and built-in ZFS support to build a NAS directly on your server, eliminating any performance overhead.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through setting up a high-performance NAS on Proxmox step by step.

Why Build a NAS Without VMs or Containers?

• Performance Boost: Avoid the overhead introduced by virtualization layers.
• Simplified Management: Use Proxmox’s native tools and command-line utilities.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Maximize your server’s efficiency without additional software.

Step 1: Create a ZFS Pool

ZFS Advantages:

• RAID Support: Ensure redundancy with RAID-Z or mirror setups.
• Snapshots and Self-Healing: Automatically detect and repair file corruption.

Steps:

1. Prepare Drives:
   • Plug the drives into your Proxmox server.
   • Navigate to the Disks tab in the Proxmox web UI and wipe the drives to prepare them for use.
2. Create the ZFS Pool:
   • Go to the ZFS tab.
   • Click Create ZFS and provide a name for your pool.
   • Choose a RAID level (e.g., RAID-Z for redundancy or striping for performance).
   • Click Create to finalize the setup.

Step 2: Set Up a Samba Share

Samba allows devices on your network to access the storage as a shared directory.

Install Samba:

Run the following command in the Proxmox shell:

apt install samba smbclient -y

Create the Share Directory:

mkdir /<zfs_pool_name>/<share_name>

Add a User for the Share:

useradd -m <user_name>
passwd <user_name>

Set an SMB Password:

smbpasswd -a <user_name>

Configure Samba:

• Edit the Samba configuration file:

nano /etc/samba/smb.conf

• Add the following to the bottom of the file:

[<share_name>] path = /<zfs_pool_name>/<share_name> read only = no valid users = <user_name> writeable = yes

1. Save and exit by pressing Ctrl+X, then Y, and Enter.

Adjust Permissions:

chmod 777 /<zfs_pool_name>/<share_name>

Restart Samba:

systemctl restart smbd.service

Step 3: Access the Network Share

To access the share from another device, follow these steps:

On Windows:

1. Open File Explorer.
2. In the address bar, enter the Proxmox server’s IP (e.g., \\192.168.1.100).
3. When prompted, enter the Samba username and password.

On Linux:

Use the following command to mount the share:

sudo mount -t cifs //<proxmox_ip>/<share_name> /mnt/<local_mount_point> -o username=<user_name>,password=<password>

Step 4: Manage Your NAS

Regular Maintenance Tasks:

• Scrubbing: Checks for data integrity.

zpool scrub <zfs_pool_name>

• Trimming: Optimizes SSDs.

zpool trim <zfs_pool_name>

• Resilvering: Rebuilds RAID when a drive is replaced.

Why Use Proxmox for a NAS?

While dedicated NAS operating systems like TrueNAS offer a polished experience, Proxmox provides unmatched flexibility:

• Native ZFS Support: Leverage Proxmox’s powerful ZFS capabilities without additional overhead.
• Custom Workflows: Add more services or even deploy a hybrid setup using VMs for other purposes.
• Low Hardware Requirements: Efficiently utilize resources without the need for a separate NAS OS.

By following this guide, you can transform your Proxmox server into a high-performance NAS without relying on VMs or containers. This setup combines the robustness of ZFS with the simplicity of Samba, delivering a scalable and efficient storage solution for your network.