The original post: /r/homelab by /u/Klexal on 2025-01-29 08:34:16.

Hey all,

I’m building a home server for Plex and possibly other things down the line. I’m new to this, so looking for guidance on setting up a DAS storage array.

Current Setup:

  • Mini PC: BeeLink Sei12 running Ubuntu (for transcoding)
  • Storage: 1 x 6TB Barracuda USB (already full)

Planned Upgrade:

  • DAS: Terramaster D5-300 (retiring from my office)
  • Drives: Planning to use 16TB EXOS HDDs
  • Goal: Expandable storage with redundancy (RAID5 or RAID6)

My basic plan is to start with two 16TB drives, but I’m unsure about the best RAID setup. I’d like something that provides redundancy (RAID5 or RAID6?) and lets me expand storage over time without major headaches.

Can I just drop two drives into the DAS and configure software RAID easily? What’s the best approach here for someone running Ubuntu? I have no idea here to start, so any advice would be appreciated.

Appreciate the help!