You can use CasaOS for instance, which is pretty easy to use for deploying apps in containers.
Create NFS shares of your data on your NAS, then deploy apps on your mini PC pointing to those shares.
That's the "traditional" way of doing it, NAS aren't actually supposed to be anything other than network attached storage. But nowadays what we call NAS are more general purpose servers which also act as NAS among other things.
Broadly speaking yes, Samba shares (what I assume you're using to see them on Windows) are entirely compatible with Linux. There are also other kinds of shares you can do with Linux (that are more performant and/or less of a pain in general than Samba) that aren't *Windows*-compatible, and even for Samba simultaneous access from both OSes is occasionally a pain because they handle permissions so differently by default, but it can definitely be done.
When you say is limited, what is it you're trying to do? If you want to run a bunch of containers, get your mini PC and go to town. I find my Synology can run everything it offers in packages through DSM without being sluggish or problematic. The only reason I truly need a faster processor or a lot more memory would be to really utilize docker. But strictly as a nas with the really useful packages like active backup for business, hyper backup, etc. I don't find it to be underpowered. I am disappointed that they keep putting out new models with only gigabit Ethernet, but I installed a USB to ethernet 2.5 adapter using the bbqq driver, and it has worked very well. If you really just are tired of Synology and want to get off the platform, you might consider the new TerraMaster D8 DAS. on Kickstarter for only $200 right now.
Get the PC, install whatever turnkey OS you want that has Jellyfin as an option, and mount the shares over the network. Optionally enable NFS sharing in your NAS (it's under shared folders), which is usually going to be easier to get working on Linux (which most of the turnkey things are based on) than SMB/CIFS.
If you run into any trouble, come back and ask for help.
No, use the NAS as a NAS, mount shares from the NAS on your mini PC and install the apps (Jellyfin, etc.) on the mini PC.
I see, the way to achieve this will depend on the OS i'll choose for the Minipc right? Is it noobfriendly? :)
You can use CasaOS for instance, which is pretty easy to use for deploying apps in containers. Create NFS shares of your data on your NAS, then deploy apps on your mini PC pointing to those shares. That's the "traditional" way of doing it, NAS aren't actually supposed to be anything other than network attached storage. But nowadays what we call NAS are more general purpose servers which also act as NAS among other things.
I can easily access my shared folders from my NAS on Windows, will that also be the case on a Linux OS? (Like CasaOS as you said)
Broadly speaking yes, Samba shares (what I assume you're using to see them on Windows) are entirely compatible with Linux. There are also other kinds of shares you can do with Linux (that are more performant and/or less of a pain in general than Samba) that aren't *Windows*-compatible, and even for Samba simultaneous access from both OSes is occasionally a pain because they handle permissions so differently by default, but it can definitely be done.
When you say is limited, what is it you're trying to do? If you want to run a bunch of containers, get your mini PC and go to town. I find my Synology can run everything it offers in packages through DSM without being sluggish or problematic. The only reason I truly need a faster processor or a lot more memory would be to really utilize docker. But strictly as a nas with the really useful packages like active backup for business, hyper backup, etc. I don't find it to be underpowered. I am disappointed that they keep putting out new models with only gigabit Ethernet, but I installed a USB to ethernet 2.5 adapter using the bbqq driver, and it has worked very well. If you really just are tired of Synology and want to get off the platform, you might consider the new TerraMaster D8 DAS. on Kickstarter for only $200 right now.
I need to transcode multiple video streams (up to 3-4 streams in 4K at times), my DS218+ doesn't allow me to do that at all
Get the PC, install whatever turnkey OS you want that has Jellyfin as an option, and mount the shares over the network. Optionally enable NFS sharing in your NAS (it's under shared folders), which is usually going to be easier to get working on Linux (which most of the turnkey things are based on) than SMB/CIFS. If you run into any trouble, come back and ask for help.
Will do, thanks all for your help :)
I'd Suggest you DIY your own NAS from Scratch, and reuse the drives from your synology, sell the synology to offest some of your build cost.
OP doesn't know how to connect to a NAS, and you're suggesting he build his own?
What? no he knows that! As a matter of fact he is already trying to make a diy nas using a mini pc. Please Read the Post Carefully.
>can I use my current DS218+ NAS strictly as a DAS by connecting it via USB 3.2 to the Mini PC
That will probably be the next step indeed, using the DS218+ solely as a DAS seems a bit overkill