The short answer
A NAS is the cleanest path for shared media, backups, snapshots, and multiple clients. A DAS is cheaper and simpler when one machine owns the storage. An old desktop is flexible, but it can become noisy, power-hungry, and harder to maintain.
Storage options compared
| Option | Best for | Strength | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| NAS | Shared files, media, backups, snapshots | Clean network storage and easier separation from compute | Costs more up front |
| DAS | One host with local bulk storage | Cheap capacity and simple cabling | Less elegant for multiple hosts |
| Old desktop | Budget storage plus compute | Flexible and easy to expand | Power, noise, and maintenance vary wildly |
What matters most
- Backups: RAID is not a backup. Keep important data somewhere else too.
- Drive type: Prefer CMR NAS-grade drives for arrays and always-on storage.
- Noise: Hard drives are often louder than the mini PC people obsess over.
- Network: 2.5 GbE is a practical upgrade before jumping to 10 GbE.
- Recovery: Document shares, pools, users, and backup jobs before the first failure.
What I would buy first
For a first serious lab, I would use a mini PC for compute and a small NAS for shared storage and backups. If budget is tight, start with DAS, but keep the backup plan honest from day one.