I Tried To Build My Own Cloud And Cancel EVERY Subscription

Frustrations with Subscription Services 00:38

"I got tired of paying for subscriptions and feeling like I don't own anything."

• The speaker expresses frustration regarding the continual increase in subscription fees for streaming services and the lack of actual ownership of media.

• After a realization while scrolling through Netflix, the speaker decides to cancel all the subscriptions they could find. They acknowledge a continued desire to watch movies and store personal media, leading to the contemplation of building a personal cloud service.

The Concept of Self-Hosting and NAS 01:30

"Self-hosting is where people build and maintain their own servers."

• The speaker discovers the concept of self-hosting, which involves individuals creating and managing their own server setups.

• They mention that building a NAS (Network Attached Storage) became the central focus, which can operate continuously and provide access to personal media across different devices.

Building a NAS: Priorities and Parts Selection 02:48

"When building a PC, you usually need to pick out seven parts: CPU, motherboard, memory, graphics card, storage, power supply, and a case."

• The emphasis is placed on the unique requirements of a NAS compared to a regular PC build, underscoring the need for a focus on storage and performance.

• Key priorities include achieving high data storage capacity, smooth streaming capabilities, low noise levels, and affordability, although it becomes clear that maintaining a budget will be challenging.

Choosing Hardware Components for the NAS 03:39

"I ended up taking a risk and going the used route."

• The speaker faces challenges in selecting parts, particularly in finding a CPU and motherboard that support ECC memory, which helps prevent data corruption.

• After much consideration, they opt for used components to stay within budget while acknowledging the risks involved. They select an Intel i3-9100 CPU and a compatible motherboard, along with ECC RAM.

Understanding Storage Needs and RAID Configuration 06:38

"RAID, which stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks, is software that lets the NAS treat a bunch of hard drives like they're just one big hard drive."

• Both hard disk drives (HDD) and solid-state drives (SSD) are discussed, with a preference for HDDs in NAS setups due to lower costs per terabyte.

• The speaker plans to use RAID 10 for improved speed and redundancy and selects four 18TB drives to achieve 32TB of usable storage. They acknowledge the high investment but stress the importance of reliable data storage.

Final Steps Before Assembly 07:54

"Let's build it."

• The speaker prepares to proceed with assembling the NAS, having selected additional parts such as SSDs for the operating system and applications, alongside necessary components like a power supply and cooling system.

• Before final assembly, a test of all components outside the case is prioritized to ensure everything functions properly.

Building the NAS and Installing TrueNAS 10:41

"First, I chose to use TrueNAS after assembling the NAS. We just needed to put the installer on a thumb drive and boot it up."

• The assembly of the NAS involved installing components like the CPU, RAM, and NVME drive using the motherboard manual for guidance.

• Attention was given to ensure the CPU and RAM were properly placed, but there was a concern about a potential fake RAM.

• Upon powering up, the BIOS confirmed that all components were recognized, signaling a successful assembly.

• After completing the hardware setup, the next step was installing the operating system TrueNAS, which initially faced issues with a thumb drive that was too large.

• Eventually, the installation was successful, and TrueNAS allowed access through a browser on any device within the house, facilitating further configurations.

Self-Hosting Applications and Alternatives to Streaming Services 11:22

"I realized why people like self-hosting so much; there's so many things that you can run."

• The excitement of self-hosting applications was evident as various options were explored, including setting up Jellyfin and Navidrome as replacements for Netflix and Spotify.

• The setup process was manageable, with Nextcloud installed as a private Google Drive alternative.

• The ease of accessing NAS folders on any device was highlighted as a significant advantage over traditional streaming services.

• Shopping for physical media to replace streaming services led to an exploration of thrift stores, where low prices for albums and movies offered a compelling alternative.

Cost Comparison Between Physical Media and Streaming Services 12:39

"The price of a newish Blu-ray is more than a single month of Netflix, but you own the highest quality and it'll never be taken away."

• The financial consideration of building a physical media library versus continuing subscription services was analyzed.

• While initial spending on physical media was higher, the long-term value of ownership and the ability to curate a personalized collection were emphasized.

• The analysis noted that streaming prices are likely to increase over time, while the cost of collecting physical copies could absorb the initial investment over time.

• A balance between the convenience of streaming and the rich experience of personal collections was considered.

Transferring Media to the NAS 13:34

"CDs were super easy to rip, but DVD and Blu-ray transfers required additional tools and time."

• The process of transferring purchased CDs to the NAS was straightforward, utilizing old disc drives and appropriate software.

• Challenges arose with DVDs and Blu-rays, which needed a competent drive and software such as MakeMKV and HandBrake for ripping and transcoding.

• Time investment was noted, with Blu-ray files taking hours to rip, but resulting in a successful library for streaming through Jellyfin.

Evaluating the NAS Setup and Performance 15:40

"We have 32 TB of storage with some RAID protection and automatic backups, and I tested streaming a 4K video while transcoding on every device."

• After setting up the NAS, performance tests showed that streaming capabilities were robust even under high load conditions.

• Noise levels from the NAS were minimal, creating a quiet operation suitable for home use.

• The power consumption was quantified, estimating that operating the NAS costs around $7 a month.

• Overall financial investment in the project was viewed as worthwhile when considering the ownership of data with a substantial storage capacity compared to the recurring costs of cloud services.