Reclaim Ownership of
Your Data
Reclaim ownership of your memories and documents. We build secure, localized personal cloud servers (NAS) for private, one-time investment storage, or cloud-based NAS solutions for worldwide availability. Whichever model you choose, your data remains securely vaulted and accessible only by you.
TrueNAS Community Edition or Unraid OS, your choice
Both are mature, actively maintained NAS operating systems with passionate communities. Both protect your data. The difference is in philosophy: TrueNAS is built around enterprise-grade ZFS and absolute data integrity. Unraid is built around flexibility, letting you grow your storage organically with any drives you have. We build, configure and support either.
Enterprise-grade ZFS, absolute data integrity
TrueNAS Community Edition is the completely free, open-source storage OS built around OpenZFS, the same filesystem trusted by enterprises and research institutions. Every block is checksummed, every write is copy-on-write, and data corruption is not just detected but repaired automatically. There is no license fee, no subscription and no feature gate.
- ✓OpenZFS: self-healing checksums detect and repair silent data corruption automatically
- ✓Unlimited, immutable snapshots with instant rollback and space-efficient clones
- ✓RAIDZ1, RAIDZ2 and RAIDZ3 configurations survive 1, 2 or 3 simultaneous drive failures
- ✓Remote and local replication with auto-resume, plus native cloud sync to S3-compatible targets
- ✓Docker-based apps (24.10+), virtual machines with PCIe passthrough, GPU support and CPU pinning
- ✓Completely free, open source, no license fee, backed by iXsystems
Ultimate flexibility, grow with any drives
Unraid was built around a different philosophy: your storage should grow with you, not the other way around. Mix any drive sizes and brands in the same array, add capacity one disk at a time, and keep every drive independently readable. It is the most forgiving NAS OS for anyone whose storage needs evolve organically. Every license is a one-time perpetual purchase.
- ✓Mix and match any drive sizes and brands in the same array, no matched vdevs required
- ✓Add one drive at a time to grow capacity; each drive stays independently readable
- ✓Real-time parity with optional dual-parity protection against two simultaneous drive failures
- ✓NVMe cache pools for instant writes and fast app/VM performance
- ✓Docker containers and KVM virtual machines (Windows, Linux, macOS) side by side
- ✓One-time perpetual license, no subscription. Starter $49, Unleashed $109, Lifetime $249
Every layer that keeps your data yours
A NAS is not just a box with drives in it. What sits between your files and the world, the filesystem, the parity, the encryption, the network, decides whether your data survives a drive failure, a theft, or a decade of use.
ZFS checksums every block, so silent data corruption is caught and repaired before you ever notice. Parity protects against drive failure. Your files survive both.
AES-256 encryption at rest, with keys that never leave your hardware. If a drive is stolen, the data on it is useless. GDPR-compliant by design.
Access your files from any device, anywhere. Local access at full LAN speed, remote access via built-in Tailscale or WireGuard on both platforms, with no subscription required.
TrueNAS is free forever. Unraid is a one-time perpetual license, not a subscription. Your data lives on your hardware, under your control. A cloud provider can change the terms; you cannot be evicted from your own server.
Two philosophies, both excellent
The right choice depends on how you think about storage. Do you want absolute data integrity with enterprise-grade ZFS, or maximum flexibility to grow with whatever drives you have? Both are valid. We help you pick.
Enterprise-grade, data integrity first
TrueNAS is built around OpenZFS, the same filesystem trusted by enterprises and research institutions. Every block is checksummed, snapshots are unlimited and instant, and data corruption is repaired automatically. It is the closest thing to a guarantee that your data will be exactly as you left it, decades from now. Completely free, no license fees, no subscription.
- ✓OpenZFS self-healing checksums eliminate silent data corruption permanently
- ✓Unlimited, immutable snapshots with instant rollback and space-efficient clones
- ✓RAIDZ1, RAIDZ2 and RAIDZ3 survive one, two or three simultaneous drive failures
- ✓Remote and local replication with auto-resume, cloud sync to S3-compatible targets
- ✓Docker apps (24.10+), VMs with PCIe passthrough, GPU support and CPU pinning
- ✓Completely free, no license fee, no subscription, backed by iXsystems
Maximum flexibility, grow with any drives
Unraid was built around a different philosophy: storage should grow with you. Mix and match any drive sizes and brands in the same array, add capacity one disk at a time, and keep every drive independently readable. It is the most forgiving NAS OS for anyone whose storage needs evolve organically. Every license is a one-time perpetual purchase, not a subscription.
- ✓Mix and match any drive sizes and brands in the same array, no matched vdevs required
- ✓Add one drive at a time to grow capacity; each drive stays independently readable
- ✓Real-time parity with optional dual-parity protection against two simultaneous failures
- ✓NVMe cache pools for instant writes and fast app/VM performance
- ✓Docker containers and KVM virtual machines (Windows, Linux, macOS) side by side
- ✓One-time perpetual license, no subscription. Starter $49, Unleashed $109, Lifetime $249
The numbers every build ships with
Every NAS leaves the bench with a signed spec sheet. These are the numbers a typical private cloud build produces, measured under real load with TrueNAS or Unraid OS at the helm.
Saturates a 10-gigabit link with a multi-drive ZFS pool or Unraid array. Large file transfers finish in seconds, not minutes.
Dual parity in Unraid or RAIDZ2 in TrueNAS. The array keeps running, fully accessible, even with two drives offline.
ZFS checksums catch and repair bitrot automatically. Unraid with ZFS pools offers the same protection. Enterprise-grade integrity, at home.
ZFS snapshots are instant and immutable, no matter how much data you have. Roll back a file, a folder or the whole pool in seconds.
Your private cloud, your rules
A NAS is not just storage. It is a media server, a backup target, a photo library, a home lab and a private cloud, all in one box. Here is what that looks like in practice.
You cannot protect what you have not mapped
The build starts with everything you have: photos, documents, media, backups, work files, old drives you forgot about. Each dataset gets a pool, a policy and a backup target. You get a written storage map you can check against a year later, not a vague sense that your data is probably fine.
Every drive leaves the house encrypted
Data at rest is encrypted with AES-256, either natively in ZFS datasets or via LUKS on Unraid. If a drive is stolen, the data on it is useless. Keys never leave your hardware. Your private cloud stays private.
Plex, Jellyfin, Immich and more
Run Plex, Jellyfin, Emby or Immich from your NAS. Media streams at full LAN speed to every device, with no cloud subscription, no bandwidth caps, and no terms of service.
Your phone backs up to your NAS, not the cloud
Install Nextcloud or Immich on your NAS and your phone syncs photos automatically over encrypted connection. Files are available on every device, anywhere, without a public cloud in the loop.
Your storage needs will not stay the same
New photos, new projects, new family members, new work. The array is designed to grow with you. Add drives when you need them, swap larger ones when they exist, and never rebuild from scratch. Everything is documented so you are never dependent on one person.
Host your own services, on your own terms
Run Home Assistant, Nextcloud, Vaultwarden, Gitea, databases and dozens more as Docker containers. Your NAS becomes a private cloud, a media server and a lab all in one.
Tools chosen for your data, not for a feature list
Two people with the same amount of data can still need very different builds. We pick hardware and software around your files, your devices and how much you want to manage yourself.
NAS operating system
TrueNAS Community Edition with OpenZFS for absolute data integrity, or Unraid OS for unmatched drive flexibility. Both are mature, actively maintained, and fully supported by us.
Enterprise hardware
ECC RAM to catch memory errors before they corrupt data. 10-gigabit networking for fast transfers. Hot-swap drive bays so a failed drive is a swap, not a shutdown.
Data protection
ZFS self-healing checksums, RAIDZ or dual parity, unlimited snapshots, encrypted datasets, and 3-2-1 backup with tested restores. Your data survives.
Apps & self-hosting
Docker containers for Nextcloud, Plex, Jellyfin, Immich, Home Assistant and more. Virtual machines for Windows, Linux and macOS. Your NAS is a lab.
Pick the build that fits your data
The tiers below are examples. Within each one, the CPU, RAM, drive layout, networking and software are adapted to your actual files, your devices and your existing infrastructure. TrueNAS or Unraid, your choice, on every tier.
Personal cloud
For individuals and couples who want their photos, documents and media off public cloud. A compact desktop chassis, quiet cooling, and enough headroom for years of use.
- PlatformTrueNAS or Unraid your choice
- RAM16 GB ECC
- Drives4-bay · dual parity capable
- Network2.5 GbE 10G optional
Family & home lab
Full household. Photos, media, documents, backups and self-hosted services. Strong CPU, plenty of RAM, 10G networking and a cache pool for instant app performance.
- PlatformTrueNAS or Unraid your choice
- RAM32 GB ECC · NVMe cache
- Drives8-bay · dual parity hot-swap
- Network10 GbE SFP+ optional
Rack build
For larger homes, small businesses and creative studios. Rack-mount chassis, redundant power, multiple 10G uplinks, and enough capacity for active archives and large media libraries.
- PlatformTrueNAS or Unraid HA optional
- RAM64 GB ECC · mirrored NVMe
- Drives12-bay+ · RAIDZ2 / dual parity
- Network2x 10G SFP+ 25G optional
Examples only · Every build is adapted · TrueNAS or Unraid on every tier
From the first conversation to a signed storage map
A short, evidence-first process. We plan, we build, we test, and you get the numbers before the NAS goes live.
Data audit
We map everything you have: photos, documents, media, backups, work files, old drives. How much, how fast it grows, what matters most, what can be archived. Nothing is bought until the picture is clear.
Platform & build
TrueNAS or Unraid, your choice. CPU, RAM, drives, cache pool and networking chosen for your workload. The build is done by hand, with cable routing and thermal paste done properly.
Configure & encrypt
Pools created, parity configured, datasets encrypted, snapshots scheduled, apps deployed. Remote access set up securely. Backup replication to a second location tested and verified.
Bench test & handover
A 24-hour soak at full load, thermal and throughput tests, drive failure simulation, restore test. Then a signed spec sheet, installation, and documentation handed over.
Fifteen years of photos, one failed drive, no backup
This is the most common story we see: nothing dramatic, no hacking, just a single drive that had been quietly filling up for years and a cloud subscription that had been quietly expiring.
A drive that had been failing for months before anyone noticed
The first sign was a clicking noise. By then, the drive had been failing for months, and the only backup was a cloud subscription that had lapsed two years earlier. Fifteen years of photos and documents, one drive away from gone.
- A single external drive held everything. All photos, all documents, all family videos. No second copy. No parity. No redundancy.
- The cloud backup had expired. A subscription that had lapsed two years earlier. The files were still there, but the account was locked and the provider wanted a premium to restore.
- No monitoring, no early warning. SMART data had been reporting reallocated sectors for months. Nobody was watching. Nobody knew until the drive stopped.
- No tested restores. Even if the drive had not failed, nobody had ever verified that the cloud backup could actually restore a file. It was a hope, not a backup.
- No encryption. If the drive had been stolen instead of failed, every photo and document would have been readable by anyone.
The fix was not dramatic. A TrueNAS build with dual parity, so two drives can fail without data loss. Unlimited snapshots, so a deleted or corrupted file can be rolled back instantly. AES-256 encryption, so a stolen drive is useless. And a tested, offsite replication, so a fire or flood is not the end. Same photos, same documents, completely different outcome.
One copy is not a backup
Three copies, two media, one offsite. A single drive, no matter how big, is a single point of failure.
Snapshots are time travel
A deleted file or a ransomware encryption can be rolled back in seconds. ZFS snapshots are instant and immutable.
Encryption is not optional
If a drive leaves your house, it should be unreadable. AES-256 at rest means a stolen drive is a worthless drive.
Ownership beats subscription
A cloud subscription can lapse, change terms or raise prices. A NAS you own is yours forever, regardless of what any provider decides.
The clicking noise was the only warning we got. Now we have parity, snapshots and an offsite copy. Sleep is better.
Family householdI never realised how much I relied on that cloud subscription until it expired. Now it is my hardware, my rules.
PhotographerThe restores actually worked. That was the moment I stopped worrying about the array.
Small businessBefore we start a build
The things people usually ask us before the first conversation.
Why a NAS instead of just buying more cloud storage?
Cloud storage is convenient, but it is rented. You pay monthly, the terms can change, the provider can lock your account, and your data lives on someone else's hardware in someone else's jurisdiction. A NAS is a one-time investment that you own. Your data stays on your hardware, encrypted with your keys. There is no subscription, no bandwidth cap, and no provider that can decide to change the rules. Over five years, a NAS is often cheaper than the equivalent cloud storage, and you own it outright from day one.
TrueNAS or Unraid, which one should I pick?
It depends on your priorities. TrueNAS Community Edition is completely free and open source, built around OpenZFS, which offers the best data integrity available: self-healing checksums, unlimited snapshots, and RAIDZ configurations that survive multiple drive failures. It is the choice if you want maximum data safety and do not mind matched drives in vdevs. Unraid is a one-time perpetual license (Starter $49, Unleashed $109, Lifetime $249), built around flexibility: you can mix any drive sizes and brands in the same array, add one drive at a time, and keep every drive independently readable. It is the choice if your storage needs grow organically. We walk through both during the survey and build the one that fits the way you think about storage. Both are excellent. Both are fully supported by us.
What happens if a drive fails?
With parity protection, nothing. In Unraid, single parity protects against one drive failure and dual parity protects against two. In TrueNAS, RAIDZ1 survives one drive, RAIDZ2 survives two, RAIDZ3 survives three. The array keeps running, fully accessible, while you replace the failed drive. When the new drive is inserted, the array rebuilds and you are protected again. The only scenario that causes data loss is more simultaneous failures than your parity level can handle, which is why we also configure offsite replication for critical data.
Can I access my files when I am away from home?
Yes. Both TrueNAS and Unraid have free built-in remote access options. Unraid includes Tailscale (built on WireGuard) as a built-in feature, and also supports standard WireGuard VPN, both without any subscription. TrueNAS offers Tailscale, ZeroTier and WireGuard through its app catalog, all free. You can also self-host Nextcloud on either platform for file sync and share with mobile apps. Everything is encrypted in transit, and nothing is exposed to the public internet unless you choose to make it so. There is no annual subscription required for remote access on either platform.
Do I need to know anything about Linux or storage administration?
No. We configure everything, document it, and hand it over with a plain-language guide. TrueNAS and Unraid both have excellent web interfaces for day-to-day management. If you want to tinker later, both platforms are well-documented and we are always available to answer questions. If you would rather never touch it again, that is fine too. The array will run the same either way.
What about warranty and support?
Every build ships with a component-level warranty that covers the parts we selected, and a support agreement that covers the software and configuration. If a drive fails, we replace it. If an update goes wrong, we roll it back. If you need more capacity, we help you plan the expansion. You are not left holding a box with a support number that does not answer.
Can I start small and grow the array later?
Yes, and this is one of the main advantages of a custom build. With Unraid, you can start with two or three drives and add one at a time, any size, whenever you need more space. With TrueNAS, you can start with a single vdev and add more vdevs as your needs grow. We design the initial build with expansion in mind, so adding capacity later is straightforward and does not require rebuilding from scratch.
Is this overkill for a home user?
Not if you have data you cannot afford to lose. Photos from the last fifteen years, tax records, work projects, family videos. These are not recoverable if a drive fails and there is no backup. A basic NAS build is not expensive, and it replaces a monthly cloud subscription that you would otherwise pay forever. For anyone with more than a few hundred gigabytes of irreplaceable data, it is not overkill. It is overdue.
Is there any subscription required for either platform?
No. TrueNAS Community Edition is completely free and open source, with no license fee and no subscription. Unraid uses a one-time perpetual license (Starter $49, Unleashed $109, Lifetime $249) and does not require a subscription. Both include free remote access options (Tailscale on both, WireGuard on both, ZeroTier on TrueNAS). TrueNAS offers an optional paid tier called TrueNAS Connect Plus at $60 per year for managing multiple systems, but it is entirely optional and not required for anything, including remote access.
Ready to own your data again?
From the first data audit to a signed storage map, Davidsons IT Agency designs, builds and benches a private cloud tuned to your files, your devices and the way you actually use them. TrueNAS Community Edition or Unraid OS, your choice. One-time investment, no subscriptions, your data stays yours.
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