Best Network Attached Storage (NAS) Software for Linux

TrueNAS is the world's most deployed storage software. TrueNAS is a universal data platform that allows users to easily adopt a modern, open source approach to storing and protecting their growing data. TrueNAS is open source and harnesses the power of the legendary ZFS file system to provide unified storage (File, Block Object, and Apps) with the reliability and performance demanded by virtualization, backup, and many other data-heavy workloads. The TrueNAS CORE edition (formerly FreeNAS) is based on FreeBSD for unified scale-up storage. The TrueNAS SCALE edition is based on Debian Linux for either scale-up or scale-out solutions, and offers Linux Containers, VMs (KVM), and scale-out ZFS storage capabilities. Both are known to work well on standard hardware. Join the millions already using TrueNAS, including the majority of Fortune 500 companies, and experience why TrueNAS is very highly rated for yourself.

Morro Data CloudNAS Global File Services enable companies with two or more offices to share their files in real-time and no VPN or sync software required. Cloud NAS combines the local network performance of a NAS with the reliability, scalability, and accessibility of the cloud for a cloud-first solution. It allows businesses to quickly and efficiently have unlimited file storage, collaborate with multiple office file sync & lock, and get instant disaster recovery. Morro Data CloudNAS enables remote users to work on the same project as if on the same local network. The remote users can collaborate on the projects across multiple global sites with file syncing and locking in the background. Cloud NAS supports file locking for AutoCAD, Civil3D, Bluebeam, Microstation, Adobe, and Microsoft Office. The project files are safely stored in the cloud and cached to the local CacheDrive gateway for performance.

Unraid OS allows you to have ultimate control over your data, media, applications, and desktops, using just about any combination of hardware. Video producers, streamers with extensive video libraries, media editors, photographers, musicians, and music collectors use Unraid to reduce their initial costs. Start with as few as two drives and scale using one or more drives at a time. Gamers who also have media servers and like to build their own custom systems use Unraid to do everything without losing their edge. Designers, 3D animators, developers, photographers, and other users who require significant storage use Unraid to locally store assets for fast access. Use Apple Time Machine and Windows Backup services to archive large quantities of infrequently accessed data off of your local devices. Software engineers, game development studios, AR/VR designers, and university labs use Unraid to test software on multiple platforms and across operating systems and devices.

Without a file system, information placed in a storage medium would be one large body of data with no way to tell where one piece of information stops and the next begins. By separating the data into pieces and giving each piece a name, the information is easily isolated and identified. Taking its name from the way paper-based information systems are named, each group of data is called a “file”. The structure and logic rules used to manage the groups of information and their names is called a “file system”. Network-attached storage (NAS) is a file-level computer data storage server connected to a computer network providing data access to a heterogeneous group of clients. NAS is specialised for serving files either by its hardware, software, or configuration. It is often manufactured as a computer appliance – a purpose-built specialised computer.

The XigmaNAS operating system can be installed on virtually any hardware platform to share computer data storage over a computer network. ‘NAS’ means “Network-Attached Storage”. XigmaNAS is the simplest and fastest way to create a centralized and easily-accessible server for all kinds of data easily accessed with all kinds of network protocols and from any network. XigmaNAS supports sharing across Windows, Apple, and UNIX-like systems. It includes ZFS v5000 , Software RAID (0,1,5), disk encryption, S.M.A.R.T / email reports etc. with the following protocols: CIFS/SMB (Samba), Active Directory Domain Controller (Samba), FTP, NFS, TFTP, AFP, RSYNC, Unison, iSCSI (initiator and target), HAST, CARP, Bridge, UPnP, and Bittorent which is all highly configurable by its WEB interface. XigmaNAS can be installed on Compact Flash/USB-key/SSD Drive, Hard disk or booted from a LiveCD/LiveUSB with a small usb-key/floppy drive for it’s configuration storage.

An easy to use file server that combines Windows-compatible network file sharing with a web based file manager. TurnKey File Server includes support for SMB, SFTP, NFS, WebDAV and rsync file transfer protocols. The server is configured to allow server users to manage files in private or public storage. Based on Samba and WebDAV CGI. An easy to use file server that combines Windows-compatible network file sharing with a web based file manager. TurnKey File Server includes support for SMB, SFTP, NFS, WebDAV and rsync file transfer protocols. The server is configured to allow server users to manage files in private or public storage. Based on Samba and SambaDAV.

MayaNAS Cloud is a full featured enterprise-grade software defined storage solution that provides high-performance, high-throughput file storage on standard object storage (S3) without any additional resources. It is fully software-defined with support for file storage over NFS, SMB-AD and robust block services through NVMeoF, iSCSI and FC interconnect. Features: 2-node High-Availability, compression, thin-provisioning, unlimited policy driven snapshots and continuous replication. MayaNAS is readily available as marketplace solution on major public clouds AWS, GCP and Azure. It is also available as ISO image for bare metal installation on-prem.

openmediavault is the next generation network attached storage (NAS) solution based on Debian Linux. It contains services like SSH, (S)FTP, SMB/CIFS, RSync and many more ready to use. Thanks to the modular design of the framework it can be enhanced via plugins. openmediavault is primarily designed to be used in small offices or home offices, but is not limited to those scenarios. It is a simple and easy to use out-of-the-box solution that will allow everyone to install and administrate a Network Attached Storage without deeper knowledge. openmediavault is primarily designed to be used in small offices or home offices, but is not limited to those scenarios. It is a simple and easy to use out-of-the-box solution that will allow everyone to install and administrate a Network Attached Storage without deeper knowledge.

Rockstor as a Cloud and Storage platform enables hackers, makers/re-distributors, and DIYers to build completely custom solutions. Storage is an essential part of most software and hardware projects – be it an embedded project or a web application, but options for a robust storage layer with complete control are limited. Rockstor Traditional NAS Server is the recommended solution if you need a robust NAS server without bells and whistles. It allows you to access centralized storage over the network (NAS). While Linux has become the best platform for many things, with great filesystems, it has until recently lacked one like NetApp’s WAFL or Sun’s ZFS. BTRFS is rapidly filling that void by offering many great features. Rockstor Small and Midsize Business (SMB) Cloud Server is the recommended solution for organizations with several hundred Terabytes of capacity requirement.

Amahi is software that runs on a dedicated PC as a central computer for your home. It handles your entertainment, storage, and computing needs. You can store, organize and deliver your recorded TV shows, videos and music to media devices in your network. Share them locally or safely around the world. And it's expandable with a multitude of one-click install apps. Amahi Sync™ is a new and exclusive Amahi app that very easily allows you to sync, share and back up files online automatically. It's your personal cloud. Without any extra software to install. Amahi Sync runs on your HDA and monitors files in shares that you enable for syncing. When new files are added, deleted or files change, they are automatically synced with Amahi's cloud storage. You can then browse the files there or share them.

PetaSAN is a scale-out active/active storage solution offering massive scalability and performance. PetaSAN uses modern cloud based technologies to provide the elasticity and agility to scale up the storage cluster simply by adding more nodes; this can be done at any time and in a truly non-disruptive manner. Although PetaSAN uses different underlying technologies that are inherently complex, it provides an integrated end to end solution that is very easy to install and operate. PetaSAN can be operated by non-Linux admins through its easy to use graphical interfaces while still allowing Linux experts full control if they wish. PetaSAN brings proven technologies powering many of today’s largest clouds to the datacenter with point and click interfaces. At the storage level PetaSAN relies on the Ceph storage engine. Ceph is the leading edge open source SDS cloud storage solution powering many of today’s private clouds and public clouds.

Openfiler converts an industry standard x86_64 architecture system into a full-fledged NAS/SAN appliance or IP storage gateway and provides storage administrators with a powerful tool to cope with burgeoning storage needs. Openfiler ensures that storage administrators are able to make the best use of system performance and storage capacity resources when allocating and managing storage in a multi-platform network. Openfiler provides key features such as iSCSI target for virtualization, Fibre Channel target support, block level replication and High Availabilty that are the mainstay of any business critical storage environment. Openfiler is the first commercially viable Open Source NAS/SAN solution and it comes with a wealth of features and capabilities that address specific storage management pain points. First, it can be installed on industry standard server hardware, negating the need for expensive proprietary storage systems.