How to set up Ubuntu Server as a NAS?

I just finished doing this myself and I did it using Samba. I'm able to mount the samba shares from my windows & ubuntu computers

Here are some links that helped me get started:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SettingUpSamba

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=280473

Simples:

1. Install Ubuntu Server. Really helps if you can have the server with a keyboard and monitor for this bit... Although you can script a CD to auto-install if you want. More trouble than it's worth if you ask me.

2. Create a user, set up ssh (sudo apt-get install openssh-server), etc. Put your server in its final resting place and ssh in from your desktop.

3. Install & configure samba (see the manual configuration section)

4. Optionally install NFS for linux clients (faster, less taxing on the server CPU in my experience)

5. Relax. You're done.

For the filesystem, I have software RAID 5 across my drives, and encrypt the resulting filesystem. This way, I can use this system as a backup server as well.

Once the system is up, I use plain ol' NFS and Samba for the file level access. (apt-get install nfs-kernel-server samba). I also have a PS3 that I like to stream media to, so I use mediatomb for that (apt-get install mediatomb), and my wife uses iTunes on her Mac and netbook, so I also install mt-daapd (apt-get install mt-daapd) to share my music over the daap protocol, which rhythmbox can also use.

You might want to take a look at the Ubuntu based TurnKey File Server appliance. If you don't need a full-fledged appliance, you could use it as a reference for configuration on your own server.

if you wnat DLNA support, then see: MiniDLNA - Community Help Wiki

Posting this so I can find it in the future. Install Ubuntu Cloud VM (add an extra disk 1TB or larger.)

Note: you should replace username with your user.

Mount and Format the disk:

lsblk
sudo fdisk /dev/sdc
n
p
Enter defaults for rest of options

Make the filesystem

sudo mkfs -t ext4 /dev/sdc1

Make a mount path:

mkdir /home/username/data

Update Fstab

sudo echo "/dev/sdc1 /home/username/data ext4 defaults 0 2" >> /etc/fstab

Install the tools you need:

sudo apt install vim screen htop sysstat curl wget
sudo apt install nfs-server samba

Update Exports for NFS (I'm setting this based on subnet, you can change as needed)

sudo echo "/home/username/data 192.168.1.0/24(rw,no_root_squash)" >> /etc/exports
sudo exportfs -a

Make Cifs share:

sudo vi /etc/samba/smb.conf
shift+g
o

Paste the following

[data]
comment = Data
browseable = yes
path = /home/username/data
guest ok = no
read only = no
create mask = 0700

Generate smbpasswd (this will allow windows hosts to connect over smb, granted we are passing them in with the username account (smile))

sudo smbpasswd -a username

Update permissions if needed:

sudo chown -R username:root /home/username/data

Download some data (this is a good dump of isos)

cd /home/username/data
wget -H -r --level=5 --restrict-file-names=windows --convert-links -e robots=off --no-check-certificate https://ftp.nluug.nl/os/Linux/distr/

I made a Ubuntu based NAS with file sharing based on Samba and Nextcloud and works across Windows, Linux or Mac. I haven't yet setup a "real" streaming server (e.g. Plex), but I use Nextcloud which is something like a Google Drive clone, which allows easy viewing of photos, music and videos through web browser.

My Ubuntu NAS:

• Intel NUC PC
• Ubuntu Server 20.04 (headless)
• External RAID1 USB3 drive QNAP TR-002 (this whole drive is shared, LUKS encrypted ext4 partition)
• Samba (for LAN file-share access)
• Nextcloud (optional, for cloud access)
• UFW firewall (optional)
• iDrive (optional as cloud backup of all drives including RAID USB3)

Samba Setup:

First I mostly followed this guide to set up Samba users.

I edit the samba config (sudo nano /etc/samba/smb.conf) and make 2 changes:

1. Under [global] section I added inherit permissions = yes to make sure permissions for added files are correct.
2. Configure my shared folder by adding to the bottom as follows:

[mynas]
  comment = The Big USB drive
  path = /media/usb0/
  read only = no
  browsable = yes
  writable = yes
  create mask = 0640
  directory mask = 0750
  valid users = vijay
  hide files = /$RECYCLE.BIN/System Volume Information/thumbs.db/

Remember to restart Samba after changes:

sudo service smbd restart

And if your server has a firewall, remember to allow it:

sudo ufw allow samba

Access on Linux: smb://192.168.1.2/mynas/

Access on Windows File Explorer: \\192.168.1.2\mynas\

In my case I need to log in as "vijay" to access the shares, but the password can be saved on the client so it is only entered on first access.

Nextcloud Setup:

I used the Snap package which is probably easiest. I usually avoid Snap but in this case it worked well. You can also try Docker or manually set everything up if you are an advanced user.

For Snap version, I just ran the following after installation to allow access to USB drive and ports:

sudo snap set nextcloud ports.http=81 ports.https=444
sudo snap connect nextcloud:removable-media

I then set up a reverse proxy (Haproxy) and SSL for secure external access over the web, but that is beyond the scope of this short guide.