I asked regarding what would be a good distro for setup of a home NAS server and remote access and the answer I got was Any one you want. I get it. But I was looking at some options, suggestions etc that I can research and make and informed decision. There is SO much freedom to do what you want with linux.
The server is still sitting here waiting to be mainlined. OS'less, and off for the time being until I can figure out what to use for what I want to do.
Don't bite the hand that feeds you, You could be on windows like I am still trying to get the time, energy and knowledge to get everything moved.
For a home NAS/server setup, I think the real answer is: first decide what you actually want the machine to do.
A “NAS” can mean very different things. For one person it is just shared folders on the local network. For another person it is backups, Plex, remote access, Docker, camera recording, DNS, DHCP, VPN, firewall rules, and half the house running through that one box.
In my case, I use a normal PC with Ubuntu Server 26.04 LTS. It is not only a NAS. It is set up as my router/firewall, it runs Pi-hole, it controls DHCP and DNS, it runs Plex, and I use it for backups over SFTP. I have also ordered a camera, so I plan to use it as a security camera server too.
Everything is locked down as much as I can. I do not just open ports for fun. Services are only exposed when they actually need to be, and remote access has to be handled carefully with firewall rules and proper setup.
One thing people also forget is that remote access is not only about the OS. Your ISP setup matters too. I had to call my ISP because even though my fiber box was in bridge mode, I was still behind CGNAT/shared NAT. My WAN address was in the 100.64.0.0/10 range, which is not a normal public IPv4 address. That means port forwarding and direct remote access can fail because you are still behind the ISP’s NAT. I asked them for a real public IPv4, and they gave me one.
That is why “just use any distro” is not always a helpful answer to a beginner. Technically, many Linux distros can do the job, but the best choice depends on what you want.
If you want a dedicated NAS interface, then something like TrueNAS, OpenMediaVault, or Unraid may make sense. If you want a general-purpose Linux server you build yourself, Ubuntu Server or Debian can also make sense. I have not used the dedicated NAS operating systems enough to judge them properly, so I will not pretend they are better or worse. I can only say that Ubuntu Server does what I need, and I learn as I go.
So my advice would be: do not start with “which distro is best?” Start with the job list.
Do you only want file storage?
Do you want backups?
Do you want Plex?
Do you want remote access?
Do you want Docker or virtual machines?
Do you want camera recording?
Do you want it to also handle DNS, DHCP, routing, or firewall duties?
The more jobs you put on the machine, the more serious the setup becomes. A simple file server is one thing. A server that also handles routing, firewall, DNS, Plex, backups, cameras, and remote access is a different level of responsibility.
Linux gives you freedom, but that also means you have to make choices. That can be overwhelming at first, but it is also the good part. You can start simple and build it up as you learn.
