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We are digital librarians. Among us are represented the various reasons to keep data -- legal requirements, competitive requirements, uncertainty of permanence of cloud services, distaste for transmitting your data externally (e.g. government or corporate espionage), cultural and familial archivists, internet collapse preppers, and people who do it themselves so they're sure it's done right. Everyone has their reasons for curating the data they have decided to keep (either forever or For A Damn Long Time (tm) ). Along the way we have sought out like-minded individuals to exchange strategies, war stories, and cautionary tales of failures.

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Seeking Advice: Using a 2019 MacBook Pro as a NAS for Media Production (alien.top)

submitted 11 months ago by azz3879@alien.top to c/datahoarder@selfhosted.forum

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Hello everyone,

I run a small media production company and am currently exploring efficient ways for remote collaboration with my editor. I’m considering setting up a NAS system and need some advice.

I have a top-of-the-line 2019 MacBook Pro that’s currently underused, and I’m thinking about repurposing it as a NAS server. Before I proceed, I’d love to get some insights and experiences from the community.

Here are some specific questions I have:

Has anyone here used a MacBook Pro as a NAS? What was your experience like in terms of performance and reliability?
What free NAS software would you recommend for a Mac setup? I’m considering TrueNAS, but open to suggestions.
For those who have used both a dedicated NAS (like Synology) and a repurposed computer, what are the pros and cons you’ve observed?
Any recommendations on external storage solutions (like SSD arrays or enclosures) compatible with a MacBook Pro?
What network setup considerations should I be aware of, especially for handling large video files?

Any advice, tips, or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated, especially from those in the media production field.

It’s worth mentioning I’m considering this as an alternative to buying a dedicated Synology NAS.

Thanks in advance!

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[–] cosmin_c@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

This is a bad idea. Why not use the Macbook for what it was designed, namely editing things instead of hosting things?

A run of the mill PC can run TrueNAS way more efficiently and everything in one box instead of having a laptop with tons of cables coming and going from it.

[–] sallysaunderses@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

What is the network/other system you are connecting it to, 10G? Sell the MacBook and get a mini with 10G.

[–] Joe-notabot@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

No, this is trying to solve the wrong issues.

What's the internet connection like?

How do you currently store files? Qualify what you think is large - 10gb, 100gb, 1tb. What is a project size currently? How many cameras & at what resolution/codec?

What editing tools are you working in? Have you looked at cloud editors that allow for collaborative remote editing?

Do not install TrueNAS on the Mac - it's not going to work. A dedicated NAS like a Synology will be cheaper than anything done on the Mac. What is the total storage you have currently & how much does it grow per month?