OpenMediaVault (OMV) serves as a free, Linux-based alternative to expensive proprietary network-attached storage (NAS) devices. Users can transform their own hardware into a flexible NAS system using this distribution. It offers a web-based interface and supports various protocols for easy management.
Network-attached storage devices provide convenient backup options for multiple devices but often come at a high cost, ranging from $100 for basic models to over $1,000 for advanced ones, plus the need for specialized drives. Many such devices run Linux internally, prompting users to bypass proprietary solutions with open-source alternatives like OpenMediaVault.
OMV, a Debian-based distribution, allows users to convert existing servers and storage into a NAS. Installation uses a simple curses-based interface, navigable with arrow keys and the Tab key, taking under five minutes to set up an admin password and boot the system. The author tested it in a VirtualBox virtual machine, adding a new drive and rebooting to connect storage, which accounted for much of the initial time.
Key features include a multilanguage web-based graphical user interface (GUI) for administration, SSH access, and support for protocols such as CIFS via Samba, FTP, NFS versions 3 and 4, rsync, iSCSI, AFP, and TFTP. It handles RAID levels 0, 1, 4, 5, 6, 10, and JBOD, and is compatible with file systems like ext2, ext3, ext4, Btrfs, XFS, JFS, NTFS, and FAT32. Additional tools cover Syslog, Watchdog, S.M.A.R.T. monitoring, SNMP (read-only), email reports, and graphical statistics for CPU, LAN transfers, disk usage, and RAM.
User and group management features access controls via ACL and quota limits. The modular design supports plugins through the OMV-Extras repository to extend functionality.
To create a share, users must add a standard user, enable home directories in SMB/CIFS settings, attach a disk (separate from the OS drive), create a file system, and set up a shared folder via the GUI. For Samba access, command-line steps are required: grant sudo privileges, add the user with smbpasswd -a, and enable with smbpasswd -e. Updates are handled through the web interface under System > Update Manager.
This setup provides more control than off-the-shelf NAS devices, making OMV suitable for home and small business use without hardware costs beyond the user's setup.
