12V DC home NAS server build! budget low power Atom, fanless, cheap RGB LEDs, embedded motherboard

This is a short presentation of an Atom-based home NAS server I built for my home network. It is 12V DC powered and was able to run successfully off of a ~12V DC li-ion battery bank. 12V motherboards are ideal for solar powered and electrical grid-independent networks. The NAS is part of my low power DC home computing project, which is a small home datacenter utilizing lower power Atom CPUs and solid state drive (SSD) storage. In this video I will give a brief overview of NAS servers, hardware and software.

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Storing your files and data in your own private "cloud" makes a lot of sense. A home NAS server can function as a virtual private cloud.

For this build I used an Intel Atom based motherboard EMB-CV1 from 2012. It was built by industrial manufacturer Aaon which is connected to Asus. The board uses only about 11.5-12.0 watts at idle. Instead of being thrown in the landfill, this motherboard is working well as an effective home NAS server, storing software, drivers, backups, documents and the list goes on. It is also able to back up all my desktop computers and servers (plus its own hard drive) with backup imaging software. Plus run various applications and scheduled tasks.

Intel introduced its Atom line of low power processors around 2008. The Atom processor is designed for power efficiency versus performance - so it makes an ideal platform for small servers that don't run up your power bill too much.

I like to collect older PC and server hardware, a trip down memory lane if you will. This board is certainly not the latest technology, but it's functional and valuable to me. Continuing the retro theme, I also used an older operating system to run my NAS server: Windows Server 2008 R2. It is not the latest Server OS available, but it functions well as a home NAS server, and is in fact overly qualified for the task.
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#PC #Computer #Networking
#lithiumbattery #lithium #lithiumion
#offgrid #offgridsolarpowersystem #offgridsolar #offgridandongrid
#solar #solarelectric #solarelectricity #diysolar #diy

[jacquesredmond]

This is an excellent video, thanks so much, and yes PLEASE make a more indepth video.

Everyone is making videos with TrueNAS Scale (Core is being phased out), UnRaid, OpenMediaVault, or ProxMox, etc.

I think there would be a lot of people interested in learning more about your method. :)

Also... I looked through your other videos, very well done. There are some Ham Radio videos out there that are showing using solar on a 12V off grid scenario, but they are extremely focus on using it with Ham Radios. I am a HAM myself, but my main interest is in 12V off Grid Cabin/MotorHome/CamperTrailer situation, so I will be looking through more of your videos. :)

[Sylvan_dB]

Various mini-desktops or "1 liter PCs" operate on 19vdc and 50w to 100w. There are many DC:DC boost converts to produce 19vdc from approx 12vdc input. It works great!

[ferencszabo]

Awesome build! I first used Raspy then it got overwhelmed with the IP cams, then finally I switched to an used laptop running Proxmox and Home Assistant! I didn't know that laptops actually can run for years without a hiccups! That mobo you're using is probably in the same lineup like the AMD Geode embedded stuff if I correctly remember..

[deltagamma]

Can this handle 8 HD iptv camera streams coming in from a POE switch? It should be able to write to a persistent storage as well as upload to a cloud (possibly after encrypting). Been looking around for a cheap low powered, fanless solution.

[StanisawSwierczynski]

my old laptop with (power on usb-c) Intel Pentium Silver N5000 processor, 4X cores, 4GB DDR4 + two nvme connectors, lan usb 2.5Gb, (proxmox = ARC-dsm, Casaos, Adguard), draws 8-9W idle. I wonder how many photovoltaic panels and how much power it needs, and how big a battery for it?

this video inspires me but I don't know how to take myself offgrid

[gabrielgabo]

how much power have thesystem under load?, thanks for the video

[George-pgii]

Great idea and information. Thank you!

[Deveak]

How do you regulate the 12 volt input? I was j see the impression computers where very voltage sensitive and needed a regulated source.