Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

OpenMediaVault VS unRAID Server

Compare OpenMediaVault VS unRAID Server and see what are their differences

OpenMediaVault logo OpenMediaVault

OpenMediaVault is the next generation network attached storage (NAS) solution based on Debian Linux.

unRAID Server logo unRAID Server

A scalable, consumer-oriented, server operating system.
  • OpenMediaVault Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-12-27
  • unRAID Server Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-31

OpenMediaVault features and specs

  • Open Source
    OpenMediaVault is free to use and customize, thanks to its open-source nature. This allows users to modify and extend the software to better suit their needs.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    OpenMediaVault offers a simple web-based interface that makes it easy for users of all skill levels to set up and manage their storage solutions.
  • Plugin Support
    The platform supports a wide range of plugins, enabling users to add additional functionalities like media servers, backup solutions, and more.
  • Regular Updates
    The community and developers frequently update the software, ensuring it stays current with new features and security patches.
  • Wide Hardware Compatibility
    OpenMediaVault is compatible with a wide range of hardware, from low-powered single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi to more robust server setups.
  • Community Support
    There is a strong community around OpenMediaVault that provides support, shares guides, and develops plugins to extend its functionality.

Possible disadvantages of OpenMediaVault

  • Limited Enterprise Features
    OpenMediaVault may lack some advanced features and scalability options found in commercial NAS solutions, making it less suitable for very large enterprises.
  • Initial Setup Complexity
    While the user interface is straightforward, initial setup and configuration can be complex for users unfamiliar with NAS systems.
  • Reliance on Plugins
    Many advanced features require third-party plugins. If these plugins are not well-maintained, it can lead to stability and compatibility issues.
  • Performance Overhead
    Being a software-based solution, OpenMediaVault can introduce some performance overhead compared to hardware-based NAS appliances.
  • Less Robust Technical Support
    Unlike commercial solutions, OpenMediaVault relies primarily on community support and forums, which may not always provide timely or comprehensive assistance.
  • Limited Mobile App Support
    There is limited support for official mobile apps, which might be inconvenient for users who want to manage their NAS on the go.

unRAID Server features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    unRAID provides a user-friendly web interface that simplifies the process of setting up and managing a NAS, making it accessible even for users without a deep technical background.
  • Flexible Storage Management
    It supports a mix of drive sizes and allows users to add drives as needed without rebuilding the entire array, offering significant flexibility in storage expansion.
  • Data Protection
    unRAID uses a parity drive system to protect against data loss. It allows recovery of data if one drive fails, similar to traditional RAID setups, but with more drive flexibility.
  • Docker and Virtual Machine Support
    Supports running Docker containers and virtual machines, enabling additional services and software to run directly on the server.
  • Energy Efficient
    Spins down drives that are not in use, reducing power consumption and extending the lifespan of the drives.

Possible disadvantages of unRAID Server

  • Cost
    Unlike some open-source alternatives, unRAID is not free and requires purchasing a license based on the number of attached storage devices.
  • Limited RAID Configurations
    Does not support some RAID levels (like RAID 5 or 6) natively, which can be a limitation for users seeking those specific features.
  • Single Parity Disk Limitation
    By default provides single or dual parity options, and users needing more robust redundancy need to consider this limitation.
  • Performance
    Write speeds to the array can be slower compared to traditional RAID configurations due to the parity calculations, which might affect large write operations.
  • Community-driven Support
    While there is an active user community, official support might not be as immediate or extensive as commercial solutions.

Analysis of OpenMediaVault

Overall verdict

  • OpenMediaVault is considered a good choice for users looking for a cost-effective and flexible NAS solution. Its open-source nature, combined with a powerful feature set and intuitive user experience, makes it suitable for different levels of technical expertise.

Why this product is good

  • OpenMediaVault is a popular open-source network-attached storage (NAS) solution designed for home users and small businesses. It is praised for its ease of installation, user-friendly web interface, and robust set of features. The platform supports a wide range of services such as SSH, (S)FTP, SMB/CIFS, DAAP media server, RSync, and more. Additionally, it allows for extensive customization through plugins and has an active community for support.

Recommended for

    Home users, small businesses, and tech enthusiasts who want a customizable and budget-friendly NAS solution without compromising on features.

OpenMediaVault videos

Freenas vs Openmediavault: Battle of the NAS Titans

More videos:

  • Review - OpenMediaVault NAS Linux Distro Review
  • Review - OpenMediaVault Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Solution

unRAID Server videos

No unRAID Server videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OpenMediaVault and unRAID Server)
Cloud Storage
88 88%
12% 12
Storage
83 83%
17% 17
Cloud Computing
88 88%
12% 12
File Sharing
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare OpenMediaVault and unRAID Server

OpenMediaVault Reviews

9 Of The Best FreeNAS Alternatives For Your Storage Needs
Openmediavault is maybe the best FreeNAS alternatives in the market as of now. This comes with an appended capacity (NAS) arrangement. It works on Linux, and you can also use some powerful administrations like DAAP media servers.
Top 7 FreeNas Alternative For Your PC
Openmediavault is one highly advanced and next-generation NAS solution based on Debian Linux. This platform was designed mainly for small offices and homes and offers a simple GUI solution to manage NAS storage hardware. This has many services such as SMB/CIFS, FTP, SSH, DAAP media server, BitTorrent, RSync, etc. This software has a modular design and is made advanced with...
Top 15 Best TrueNAS Alternatives In 2022
The most notable characteristics of OpenMediaVault include its ability to operate right out of the box, web-based administration volume control, file sharing, including aggregation, email notification, and extensibility via a plugin, among others. This is another truenas alternative.
15 FreeNAS Alternatives 2020 | Best Storage Operating System
Known as the best alternatives to FreeNAS, OpenMediaVault is a free next-generation NAS solution based on Debian Linux. It contains administrations such as NFS (v3/v4), DAAP, SSH, (S)FTP, SMB/CIFS media servers, RSync, BitTorrent clients, etc. OpenMediaVault is simple, stable, comprehensive, and does not necessitate expertise to install and administrate.
10 Best FreeNas alternatives in 2020
Openmediavault is one of the most popular FreeNas alternative you can have a try. It is the cutting edge organize appended capacity (NAS) arrangement dependent on Debian Linux. It contains administrations like SSH, (S)FTP, SMB/CIFS, DAAP media server, RSync, BitTorrent customer and some more. Openmediavault is principally intended to be utilized in little workplaces, or home...
Source: omy9.com

unRAID Server Reviews

15 Best FreeNas alternatives in 2020
One of the special features of unRAID Server is that it boots from a USB device and it can store memory up to 38TB. UnRAID Server can be used in any IT companies and big corporates where there are large sized files and folders. It has both registered and unregistered versions. This server runs perfectly on any operating system such as Windows, Apple, Linux, Mac,and UNIX. It...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, OpenMediaVault seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 10 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

OpenMediaVault mentions (10)

  • Windows to Linux Switch
    I'm using openmediavault.org for my "NAS" OS. No desktop, but it does have a good web-based GUI. To automount your NAS drive, you'd have to modify your fstab file. Lots of good tutorials online. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Thinking about making a home storage server
    Basically, there a few options to start with. The most decent ones are TrueNAS/FreeNAS (https://www.truenas.com/) , OMV (openmediavault.org), both supports zfs. Also, you can look into UnRAID (https://unraid.net/) which allows you to scale easily. Also, some info on zfs https://www.enterprisestorageforum.com/hardware/10-reasons-why-zfs-rocks/ https://www.starwindsoftware.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-zfs. Source: over 2 years ago
  • just how well does the nvidea shield pro do as a plex server?
    I have 5 Optiplex 3010's (i3-3rd Gen processors) sitting in my closet with 4GB RAM that would work just fine as a direct play Plex server with openmediavault as it's OS. And should even HW Transcode a couple of 1080p files with a Plex Pass. Source: over 2 years ago
  • How I reclaimed my server after resetting devices after the breach (Ubuntu)
    Wow, I'm on a Debian based headloess OS (openmediavault.org) and my update was much easier. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • No write access after clean install of Linux Mint
    The link that u/Fribbtastic had quite a bit of detail. Or there is always r/linux4noobs. I don't have mine installed on Mint and the GUI of my openmediavault.org OS is quite a bit different (I.e. There is no desktop, only a web interface/command line). But the command line should be the same for all distros built off of Debian. Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

unRAID Server mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of unRAID Server yet. Tracking of unRAID Server recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing OpenMediaVault and unRAID Server, you can also consider the following products

TrueNAS Core - TrueNAS Core (formerly FreeNAS) is a storage operating system strong and robust enough to meet the needs of enterprise level businesses.

SnapRAID - A backup program for disk arrays. It stores parity information of your data and it recovers from up to six disk failures.

Rockstor - Rockstor is a free and open source NAS (Network Attached Storage) operating system.

XigmaNAS - File Sharing, OS & Utilities, and Security & Privacy

ClearOS - A very good alternative for Windows Server, for free

Unraid - Simplicity. Flexibility. Scalability. Modularity. Unraid empowers you to build the system you’ve always wanted using your preferred hardware, software, and operating systems.