Steve mentioned it might be possible to install Linux on a QNAP device, and it turns out it can in fact run Debian.
I don't know much about QNAP devices or NASes in general, but this got me wondering... compared to running a general-purpose distribution like Debian on a QNAP or similar device... wouldn't you almost be better off hooking up some external drives to a Raspberry Pi?
Raspberry Pi
I don't know much about QNAP devices or NASes in general, but this got me wondering... compared to running a general-purpose distribution like Debian on a QNAP or similar device... wouldn't you almost be better off hooking up some external drives to a Raspberry Pi?
Raspberry Pi
- Significantly cheaper than a NAS device. RP4 2GB is about $40, call it $60 with accessories. Entry-level dual-bay diskless QNAP devices and similar NASes start at around $150-$200.
- Internal and external drives cost about the same.
- Four USB ports: 4x USB 2.0 (RPi 3 B+), or 2x USB 2.0, 2x USB 3.0 (RPi 4)
- Very good Linux support. Likely to be supported for the foreseeable future.
- Supports a variety of distros, including NAS distros like OpenMediaVault. Also supports some non-Linux OSes.
- Better specs than any of the supported QNAP devices that can run Debian.
- Hackable hardware. E.g. PoE support can be added.
- Probably requires either external 3.5" drives, or a powered USB hub for 2.5" drives. (I doubt the Pi can power four 2.5" drives on its own.)
- Not aesthetically pleasing - a potential rat's nest of wires.
- More expensive.
- Inferior or comparable specs compared to RPi.
- Poor support for third-party Linux distros. E.g. Debian 11 is not supported on QNAP.
- Can use internal drives; no enclosure or external power supply necessary.
- Internal drives use SATA instead of USB
- OS may have better control over drive power management
- Probably more reliable than USB
- No faster than USB, in many cases.
- USB 2.0 = 480Mbit/s, USB 3.0 = 5Gbit/s, SATA3 = 6Gbit/s; actual speeds vary
- In reality, many modern inexpensive high-capacity spinning disks are so slow they cannot even max out a USB 2.0 interface.
- I assume some models can use external drives via USB, eSATA, or some other interface
- Looks pretty. One unit, one ethernet cable, and one power cable (if only using internal drives).