Cloud computing is fantastic and a miracle in today's connected world. The ability to quickly backup photos to your smartphone while on vacation to ensure no memories are lost was just a dream decades ago. The problem is our dependence on cloud servers and other companies to manage all of our data. Whether it's media, passwords, video games and more, we've handed the reins over to third parties. We have little control anymore, especially when it comes to our data. If there's a breach at the cloud company, you run the risk of being exposed to the attack. Network-Attached Storage (NAS) is one way to get all of your data back under local control.
What is HexOS?
The biggest criticisms of NAS are cost and ease of use. If you're new to NAS and don't have a technical background, you'll probably want a turnkey enclosure from a brand like Synology or Asustor. These companies specialize in making hardware and software for a complete package. All you need is a server, some drives, and a few minutes to set up the proprietary operating system, and you're good to go. These enclosures are significantly more expensive than what you can get with a DIY NAS where you use repurposed hardware or components purchased from classifieds sites.
If you're using your hardware to create a DIY NAS, you'll need an operating system, much like you'd get with a desktop PC. There are plenty of options, some more user-friendly than others, but all have quirks and issues that make them a bit daunting for beginners. Even using Windows or Ubuntu isn't entirely straightforward. That's where HexOS comes in. HexOS takes the TrueNAS SCALE foundation and layers a simpler UI on top of the NAS operating system. Add in live platform updates, email and SMS notifications, remote management, and automated management for storage, apps, VMs, and server syncing, and you have an operating system that's suitable for beginners.
If you're not familiar with IT, concepts like RAID, parity, file systems and access controls may be incomprehensible to you and many will likely struggle to get past the initial setup. We're here to change that!
Not everyone has the time to learn complicated new user interfaces or CLI commands. And that's where an operating system like this could come in handy. I've long touted NAS and home servers as worthy replacements for cloud storage and services, as they can save you a lot in the long run. The ability to break through RAID, party, file systems, transfer protocols, package installations, and other elements with easy-to-understand commands makes home servers more accessible. To install HexOS, all you need to do is boot up the device with the USB drive plugged in and load deck.hexos.com into your favorite browser.
TrueNAS SCALE is always there
The easiest way to think of HexOS is as a software layer running on top of TrueNAS SCALE. Should anything go wrong with HexOS, or you simply want to log into TrueNAS and see what's going on, the main operating system and its GUI are there and available. As a result, HexOS offers simplicity through its streamlined interface and system management without sacrificing performance and functionality. If you want to dig a little deeper and learn more about how a NAS works and optimize your installation, TrueNAS provides all the tools you need, so you can always go back to HexOS.
For now, you can try out TrueNAS SCALE and play around with the underlying operating system. HexOS is not available yet, but the beta program is scheduled to run later this year. If you want to try out this new operating system once the program goes live, visit the official HexOS website.