How to Create a NAS Server with a Raspberry Pi 4
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7 minute read
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
sshin 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:
```bash
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:
```bash
[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):
```bash
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:
```bash
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:
```bash
\\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:
```bash
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.