PiNAS Uses a Raspberry Pi to Power a Network Attached Storage Unit

NAS (Network Attached Storage) units are a great piece of technology to have on hand, especially if you are looking to build a web server, deal with a large amount of multimedia data, or need a stable backup platform in case something goes wrong. NAS systems used to cost an arm and a leg a decade ago due to hard drive costs, but prices have gone down significantly for platter-based drives and even for SSDs.

Of course, assembling your own NAS using parts you may already have laying around can save even more money, and creating one isn’t that difficult as one might think. German maker Arturos Rex (AraymBox) designed a compact NAS system that’s easy to put together and is powered by a Raspberry Pi and a single USB cable.

All the parts required to build the PiNAS can be found nearly anywhere that sells electronics unless you already have readily available which includes a Raspberry Pi, 8Gb or 16Gb micro SD card, and a pair of 2.5-inch hard drives.

For his project, Rex chose to use notebook hard drives, but any 2.5-inch drives will do. You will also need a micro USB breakout board, SATA to USB adapter, Raspberry Pi power supply, and a handful of nuts and bolts.

Connecting everything is a straightforward process, and Rex has uploaded a detailed walkthrough on the PiNAS project page. It should be noted the project does require some soldering skills and a hot glue gun for part of the assembly, as well as access to a 3D printer for the case.