How to Create a NAS Server with a Raspberry Pi 4

In today’s digital world, the need for centralized storage solutions is growing. Whether you want to store media files, backups, or documents, a Network Attached Storage (NAS) server offers a convenient way to access files across devices on a local network or even remotely. While commercial NAS devices are available, they can be expensive. Fortunately, with a Raspberry Pi 4, you can build your own budget-friendly NAS server.

In this detailed guide, we’ll walk you through the process of setting up a NAS server using a Raspberry Pi 4. By the end, you’ll have a fully functional NAS that can be accessed from various devices in your home or office.

What is a NAS Server?

A Network Attached Storage (NAS) server is a specialized device connected to a network, providing centralized data storage and file sharing across devices. With a NAS, multiple users can access and share data seamlessly over the network. NAS servers are commonly used for:

- ***Media streaming*** (movies, music, photos)
• Backup storage for computers and mobile devices
• File sharing within a home or office network
• Remote access to files from anywhere in the world

Creating a NAS server with a Raspberry Pi 4 is cost-effective, energy-efficient, and customizable, making it ideal for personal use or small-scale business environments.

Why Raspberry Pi 4?

The Raspberry Pi 4 is an excellent candidate for a NAS server due to its improved hardware compared to earlier models. Key features include:

- ***Quad-core 64-bit processor*** : Provides better performance for handling network traffic and file management.
• Up to 8GB RAM : Ample memory for managing multiple users and file operations.
• Gigabit Ethernet port : Enables fast and stable file transfer across your local network.
• USB 3.0 ports : Essential for connecting external storage devices such as hard drives or SSDs, providing high-speed data access.

The Raspberry Pi 4 also runs on low power, which is ideal for a NAS server that might need to stay online 24/7.

What You Will Need

Before starting, make sure you have the following components ready:

- ***Raspberry Pi 4*** (4GB or 8GB model recommended for better performance)
• MicroSD card (16GB or more) for the Raspberry Pi’s operating system
• External USB hard drive or SSD (to store your files)
• USB 3.0 powered hub (optional but recommended if using multiple hard drives)
• Raspberry Pi 4 power supply (official or high-quality third-party)
• Ethernet cable to connect the Pi to your router
• Keyboard, mouse, and monitor for initial setup (optional if using headless configuration)
• Raspberry Pi OS (Debian-based, previously known as Raspbian)

Now, let’s proceed with the step-by-step process to create your NAS server.

Step 1: Set Up Raspberry Pi 4

1.1 Install Raspberry Pi OS

- Download the latest ***Raspberry Pi OS*** from the official Raspberry Pi website.
• Use software like Raspberry Pi Imager or Balena Etcher to write the OS image to your MicroSD card.
• Insert the MicroSD card into your Raspberry Pi 4 and power it on. If using a keyboard, mouse, and monitor, proceed with the standard installation. If setting up headless (without peripherals), you can enable SSH access before inserting the SD card by creating an empty file named ssh in the boot partition of the SD card.

1.2 Update and Upgrade

Once Raspberry Pi OS is installed and running, it’s important to update your system. Open a terminal window and enter the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

This ensures that you have the latest software updates and security patches.

Step 2: Install and Configure Samba for File Sharing

We will use Samba to enable file sharing across different devices. Samba is a popular software suite that allows file and print sharing between Linux and Windows devices.

2.1 Install Samba

To install Samba, run the following command:

sudo apt install samba samba-common-bin

2.2 Create a Directory for File Storage

Create a folder where you will store your shared files. For example, let’s create a folder named shared in the /home/pi directory:

mkdir /home/pi/shared

2.3 Configure Samba

Next, we need to edit Samba’s configuration file to specify the settings for file sharing. Open the configuration file using a text editor:

sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf

Scroll to the bottom of the file and add the following configuration:

[Shared]
   comment = Shared Folder
   path = /home/pi/shared
   browseable = yes
   writeable = yes
   only guest = no
   create mask = 0777
   directory mask = 0777
   public = no

This configuration will create a shared folder that’s accessible over the network. The permissions allow read and write access to the folder.

2.4 Create Samba User

To secure your NAS server, create a Samba user who can access the shared files. Use the following command to add a user (replace pi with your username if necessary):

sudo smbpasswd -a pi

You’ll be prompted to set a password for the user. Once done, restart the Samba service to apply the changes:

sudo systemctl restart smbd

Step 3: Mount External Hard Drive

A NAS server typically relies on an external hard drive to store files. Let’s mount your external drive to the Raspberry Pi 4.

3.1 Identify the External Drive

First, plug your external hard drive into one of the USB 3.0 ports on the Raspberry Pi 4. To find the drive’s name, run:

sudo fdisk -l

Look for your external hard drive in the list (it’s typically named /dev/sda1 or similar).

3.2 Mount the Drive

Create a mount point for the drive:

sudo mkdir /mnt/external

Mount the drive to this directory:

sudo mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/external

To make the mount permanent (i.e., mounted automatically at boot), you need to add the drive to the /etc/fstab file. Open the file:

sudo nano /etc/fstab

Add the following line at the bottom:

/dev/sda1 /mnt/external auto defaults 0 0

Save and exit. Now, your external drive will be mounted automatically on startup.

Step 4: Configure Access to NAS from Other Devices

4.1 Access NAS from Windows

On a Windows computer, open File Explorer and type the Raspberry Pi’s IP address in the address bar, like so:

\\192.168.X.XXX

You will be prompted to enter your Samba username and password. After authentication, you’ll have access to the shared folder.

4.2 Access NAS from macOS

On a macOS device, open Finder , press Cmd + K, and enter the Raspberry Pi’s IP address like this:

smb://192.168.X.XXX

You’ll be asked for the Samba credentials, and once authenticated, the shared folder will be accessible.

Step 5: Optional - Set Up Remote Access

If you want to access your NAS server remotely, outside your home or office network, you can set up remote access via OpenVPN or WireGuard . Additionally, dynamic DNS (DDNS) can help you manage your NAS server’s IP address if it changes periodically.

Step 6: Optimize Your NAS Setup

While the basic setup is complete, there are several optimizations and improvements you can make:

- ***Add more storage*** : Connect additional external drives to expand your storage capacity. You can even set up a RAID configuration for redundancy.
• Automatic backups : Use software like rsync to automate backups to your NAS.
• Media streaming : Install media server software like Plex or Emby on your Raspberry Pi for streaming videos and music to your devices.

Conclusion

Building a NAS server with a Raspberry Pi 4 is a cost-effective and powerful way to create a personal cloud for storing and sharing files across your home or office network. With Samba, you can easily access files from Windows, macOS, or Linux devices, making it a flexible solution for your storage needs.

By following this guide, you’ll have a fully functional NAS server that can be further customized with additional storage, automated backups, or media streaming capabilities. Whether for personal use or a small business, a Raspberry Pi 4 NAS server offers performance, scalability, and convenience at an affordable price.