I’ve decided to migrate away from TrueNAS to a custom-built solution while simultaneously fixing a problematic RAID configuration. This transition is about developing personal skills and moving beyond turnkey solutions.
Why Switch?
I value TrueNAS’s straightforward WebUI and Docker support but want greater control than the platform provides. TrueNAS remains excellent for beginners but I feel ready for a more hands-on approach. The transition also gives me a chance to fix some mistakes in my current setup.
Core Requirements
Must-haves:
- Stable OS with strong hardware compatibility
- RAID support with filesystem-level redundancy
- Network file sharing protocols and ZFS ACLs
- Docker support with active community documentation
- Significantly more control than TrueNAS offers
Nice-to-haves: reduced WebUI reliance, lighter resource footprint, direct package installation, Linux/Infrastructure as Code experience.
Three Primary Candidates
Proxmox with TrueNAS VM — balanced approach, keeps TrueNAS benefits while gaining hypervisor experience. Strong community support.
Debian 12 + ZFS + Ansible — emphasizes Infrastructure as Code and Linux proficiency. Practical knowledge for DevOps career advancement.
NixOS — declarative configuration via .nix files. Cutting-edge but steeper learning curve and less portfolio relevance than Debian.
The RAID Miscalculation
I configured four 12TB drives in RAIDZ1 (4-wide), which offers only single-drive redundancy. The rebuild window spans 3-5 days, creating significant failure risk. An unrecoverable read error or second drive failure during reconstruction could result in total data loss. This stemmed from buying drives on sale without enough research.
Solution Paths
Option 1: Add one 12TB drive for 5-wide RAIDZ2 (2-drive redundancy, same 31TB usable, ~$90-110).
Option 2: Upgrade to a 6-bay chassis with two additional drives for 6-wide RAIDZ2 (2-drive redundancy, 42TB usable, ~$330-470).
Currently running SMART tests and backing up critical data while I decide. Planning to implement the fix during the OS migration.
Last modified on 2025-10-12