# Best Operating Systems for Home Lab, Server, and NAS Setups | **Operating System** | **Primary Focus & Use Cases** | **Key Features** | **GUI vs CLI** | **Strengths** | **Weaknesses** | **Ideal For** | | ------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **TrueNAS Core / SCALE** | Dedicated NAS OS (Core=FreeBSD, SCALE=Linux) focusing on secure file storage and RAID-Z . Also capable of hosting VMs/containers (especially SCALE). | Enterprise-grade **OpenZFS** filesystem (self-healing, snapshots, compression); web UI for storage & sharing; Core supports FreeBSD jails/plugins, SCALE adds Docker, KVM & K3s for apps. | Web GUI for all management; CLI available but not needed for typical setup. | - Rock-solid data integrity (ZFS checksumming, bit-rot protection).- Rich NAS features (snapshots, replication, iSCSI, etc.) out-of-box.- Free & open-source, with large community support. | - **High resource needs** (≥8 GB RAM recommended for ZFS); not ideal for underpowered boxes.- Complex setup for newbies; steep learning curve for advanced features.- Limited drive expansion flexibility (must follow ZFS vdev rules). | Power users with server-grade hardware who need maximal data protection and are comfortable with enterprise storage concepts. “Data hoarders” and homelab enthusiasts who want a free NAS with professional features. | | **Proxmox VE** | Open-source virtualization platform for running multiple VMs and containers on one host . Great for homelabs consolidating services on one machine instead of separate boxes. | KVM hypervisor + LXC containers with a unified web management; clustering & live VM migration support; ZFS and Ceph integration for storage; built-in backup/snapshot for VMs. | Modern web UI (port 8006) for nearly all tasks; CLI/API for automation if desired. | - Powerful VM/container management comparable to enterprise solutions, yet free.- **GUI-driven** admin – easy to create or snapshot VMs via browser.- Highly flexible: can run any OS or docker host inside VMs (great “lab in a box”). | - **Not a NAS out-of-the-box** – requires additional setup (or a VM of a NAS OS) to serve files.- Overhead of virtualization if only one or two services needed (might be overkill).- Needs periodic updates/upgrades (new Proxmox versions every ~year); admin must manage OS level as well. | Tech-savvy homelabbers who want to run many different services/OS instances on one machine (e.g., home automation, Pi-hole, Nextcloud each in separate VMs). Also those learning virtualization or seeking an ESXi alternative at home. | | **Unraid** | Hybrid home server OS combining NAS storage with easy Docker and VM hosting . Ideal for media servers, mixed drive sizes, and users who want an easy GUI. | Unique **mix-and-match disk array** with parity protection (no strict RAID, allows different size drives); web UI with Community Apps “app store” plugin for one-click Docker containers; built-in KVM for optional VMs. | Web GUI for all operations; extremely user-friendly – no Linux CLI needed for normal use. | - **Very easy setup** – popular as “NAS for beginners” due to intuitive interface.- Flexible storage expansion by adding drives of any size at any time.- Strong plugin/community app ecosystem (lots of pre-configured Docker apps). | - Not free (paid license ~$59+ after trial).- Parity array has no checksum – lacks ZFS-like data verification (unless using optional plugins).- Performance not as high as striped RAID (single drive I/O for most operations). | Home media enthusiasts, beginners, or “set it and forget it” users who want a combined NAS + Docker host with minimal fuss. Great for Plex, home labs that mix storage and light VMs, etc., especially on mixed older drives. | | **Ubuntu Server** | General-purpose **Linux server OS** for a variety of roles – self-hosted services, web servers, containers, etc.. Often used for home servers requiring flexibility (not NAS-specific). | Strong community support & **LTS releases** (5+ years support); huge software repositories (apt + snaps) – can install almost any server software; AppArmor security by default; cloud-ready (cloud-init, etc.). | Primarily CLI-based management (SSH & shell); can add web UIs like Cockpit or Webmin manually, but not included by default. | - **Versatile and widely supported** – virtually any software or tech can run on Ubuntu.- Large knowledge base and community (tons of tutorials, forums).- Regular updates with balance of new features and stability (LTS for stability, interim releases for newer packages). | - No native NAS UI – all configuration (shares, RAID, etc.) is manual or via add-on tools. Higher learning curve for new users.- Can be slightly heavier than distros like Debian due to additional services (but still reasonable).- Needs periodic upgrades (LTS every 2-5 years) – more maintenance overhead on the admin. | Users who need a **do-it-all server** and are comfortable (or want to learn) Linux administration. Good for running diverse workloads (e.g., web apps, databases, plus maybe Samba) on one OS. Also if you require up-to-date packages for things like Kubernetes, AI tools, etc., Ubuntu is a strong choice. | | **Debian** | **Ultra-stable Linux OS** – often used as a foundation for custom servers or NAS (OMV is based on it). Prioritizes stability and low requirements, good for DIY NAS or server for advanced users. | Renowned stability (long release cycles, thoroughly tested packages); very lightweight base install; vast package repository. Lacks a built-in GUI – minimal by design (can install what you need). | CLI-only administration by default. No graphical tools unless user adds them. Strong focus on manual configuration and community documentation. | - **Minimal resource usage** – great for low-power or old hardware.- Highly reliable – packages in Stable rarely have critical bugs, ideal for long-term running without issues.- Full control to the user – no vendor lock, pure open-source ethos. | - **Outdated software in Stable** – not ideal if you need the latest versions (could use Testing branch, but that sacrifices some stability).- Steeper learning curve than Ubuntu (assumes more from the user in setup).- No official support – rely on community and your own skill for troubleshooting. | Experienced Linux users who value **stability and control** over convenience. Also suitable for repurposing very old machines or creating a highly customized server/NAS. Good if you want a rock-solid appliance server that just quietly runs (and you’re okay doing the initial heavy lifting to configure it). | | **Fedora Server** | **Cutting-edge Linux server** – showcases latest open-source tech (new kernels, tools). Suited for those who want new features or align with Red Hat ecosystem, in a home server context. | Frequent releases (~12mo) with newest software (kernel, etc.); includes **Cockpit web console** for admin by default; SELinux enforced for security; strong support for containers (Podman, etc.). | Combines CLI and GUI: Cockpit gives web management for many tasks (services, storage, VM, updates), while traditional admin can be done via SSH/`dnf`. | - **Latest hardware support** – great on new CPUs, devices due to modern kernel.- Cockpit provides convenient management out-of-box (no need to install separate tools).- **SELinux & updated packages** – very secure defaults and access to newest capabilities (good for dev/test environments). | - **Short lifecycle** – must upgrade OS roughly yearly to stay supported (more maintenance than LTS distros).- Not aimed at NAS specifically (manual setup for shares similar to Ubuntu/Debian).- Some bleeding-edge software risks stability issues or changes frequently. | Enthusiasts or developers who run a home server and want the **newest tech or to mirror a RHEL-like environment**. Also those who appreciate built-in Cockpit GUI and aren’t afraid of frequent updates. Less ideal for “install and leave it” scenarios due to upgrade frequency. | | **OpenMediaVault (OMV)** | **Lightweight Debian-based NAS OS** with web UI – aimed at easy home file server setups on modest hardware. Good for basic NAS, backups, and a few extra services via plugins. | Web administration for storage (software RAID, LVM, monitoring) and sharing (SMB, NFS, FTP, etc.); plugin system (OMV-Extras) adds features like Docker, Plex, etc.; extremely low requirements (runs on Pi, 1GB RAM). | 100% Web GUI for normal operations (create shares, users, check logs, update system) – designed so that no direct CLI use is needed for typical use. | - **Very low resource usage** – ideal for old PCs or small devices; efficient headless operation.- **Simple, focused UI** – easy for beginners to set up a NAS (no Linux knowledge required for standard config).- Free and community-driven, with flexibility to extend via plugins or custom scripts. | - Fewer advanced features compared to TrueNAS/Synology (no built-in dedup or fancy apps – reliant on community plugins).- **Web UI is functional but not as slick** as commercial options; occasional plugin issues when OS updates (community support needed).- Lacks integrated remote access or mobile apps (users must set up own solutions for remote file access if needed). | Home users (including beginners) who want a **DIY NAS with minimal hassle** and have limited hardware resources. Great for simple file sharing, household backups, media serving with minimal configuration. It’s essentially a free alternative to commercial NAS firmware for those comfortable relying on community support. | | **Synology DSM** | **Vendor-specific NAS OS** known for extreme user-friendliness and a rich feature set beyond storage (media, surveillance, sync, etc.). Only runs on Synology NAS hardware. | Polished desktop-like Web GUI; Synology Hybrid RAID (mix drive sizes with redundancy); extensive official app ecosystem (backup, photo management, office, Plex, Docker, etc.); QuickConnect for easy remote access; mobile apps for files, photos, etc. | Fully **GUI-driven**, no Linux knowledge needed. Also offers mobile apps and PC clients for various services. SSH available but generally not required by user. | - **Easiest to use** – often cited as the most intuitive NAS OS. Little to no learning curve; ideal for non-IT folks.- Extensive capabilities out-of-box: personal cloud, media streaming, surveillance station – all integrated seamlessly.- Rock-solid reliability and integration with Synology hardware (one vendor to contact for support). | - **Tied to Synology hardware** – cannot install on custom builds (hardware upgrades limited to Synology’s offerings).- Higher cost: you pay for both the hardware and the software’s convenience (can be expensive per TB compared to DIY).- Less freedom to customize under-the-hood; power users might feel constrained and dependent on Synology for updates/features. | Consumers or small businesses who want a **plug-and-play NAS** solution with powerful features and aren’t concerned about the underlying OS specifics. Perfect if willing to invest in a Synology appliance for a maintenance-light, feature-rich experience – e.g., family photo cloud, office backup hub, or general home server for a non-technical household. | TrueNAS on bare metal is preferred over virtualization. More details here: [[Do Not Monolith NAS & Server]]