Thinknas 6-Bay Version Available

ThinkNAS 6-Bay Version Available: Ultimate Homelab Storage Solution

1. Introduction

The quest for efficient, scalable, and cost-effective storage solutions remains a critical challenge for DevOps engineers and sysadmins managing homelabs or small-scale self-hosted infrastructure. The newly released ThinkNAS 6-Bay Version (MakerWorld link) represents a significant evolution in DIY NAS enclosures, addressing key pain points in storage density, thermal management, and network integration.

For professionals managing self-hosted Kubernetes clusters, media servers, or backup repositories, this 6-bay solution transforms Lenovo’s M920q Tiny platform into a powerful storage workhorse. The latest version adds native RJ45 keystone mounting - a game-changer for clean network topology in compact setups.

In this 3,500-word technical deep dive, you’ll learn:

• How the 6-bay design enables ZFS/Btrfs configurations with enterprise-grade redundancy
• Thermal dynamics and hardware compatibility considerations
• Network throughput optimization for 10GbE environments
• Integration with modern DevOps toolchains (Ansible, Terraform, Docker)
• Real-world performance benchmarks and failure scenario analysis

2. Understanding the ThinkNAS 6-Bay Solution

2.1 Hardware Architecture

The ThinkNAS 6-Bay enclosure is designed for Lenovo’s M920q Tiny PC (or compatible models), transforming the ultra-compact form factor into a 6-drive NAS through innovative 3D-printed design. Key technical specifications:

Component	Specification
Host System	Lenovo ThinkCentre M920q Tiny
Drive Bays	6 × 3.5” HDD (hot-swap compatible)
Expansion	PCIe 3.0 x4 (for 10GbE/NVMe add-ons)
Network Interface	Native RJ45 + optional 10GbE expansion
Cooling	Dual 80mm PWM fans with ducted airflow
Power Delivery	Barrel connector + SATA power splitter

2.2 Key Features and Improvements

The version 6 update introduces critical enhancements:

1. Native RJ45 Keystone Integration
   • Direct rear-panel Ethernet port mounting
   • Eliminates cable strain and improves signal integrity
   • Supports Cat6A/Cat7 passthrough for 10GbE readiness
2. Thermal Redesign
   • Segregated airflow channels for CPU and drive bays
   • PWM-controlled fan curves based on HDD temps
3. Tool-less Drive Trays
   • Vibration-damped mounting system
   • Quick-release mechanisms for drive maintenance

2.3 Performance Considerations

When configured with modern high-density drives (20TB+), the 6-bay array can deliver:

• Sequential Throughput: 500-800MB/s (SATA III bottleneck)
• Random IOPS: 800-1200 (7200 RPM drives)
• Power Consumption: 18W (idle) to 45W (full load)

2.4 Comparison Matrix: DIY vs Commercial NAS

Feature	ThinkNAS 6-Bay	Synology DS1621+	TrueNAS Mini X+
Raw Storage Capacity	120TB (6×20TB)	120TB (6×20TB)	120TB (6×20TB)
Network Expansion	PCIe 3.0 x4	PCIe 3.0 x8	PCIe 3.0 x8
CPU Utilization	Host-dependent	AMD Ryzen V1500B	Intel Xeon D-2123IT
Power Efficiency	18-45W	28-65W	32-70W
Total Cost	$600-$800	$1,000+	$1,500+

3. Prerequisites for Implementation

3.1 Hardware Requirements

• Host System: Lenovo M920q Tiny (8th/9th Gen Intel Core)
• Storage Controllers:
  • Recommended: LSI 9300-8i HBA (IT mode)
  • Minimum: 2 × SATA ports + 2 × M.2 SATA adapters
• Network Infrastructure:
  • Gigabit switch (minimum)
  • 10GbE switch (recommended for multi-user)
• Power Supply: 120W+ barrel connector PSU

3.2 Software Stack

• Operating Systems:
  • Ubuntu Server 22.04 LTS (ZFS support)
  • Proxmox VE 7.4+ (hyper-converged deployments)
  • TrueNAS Scale 22.12.4+
• Filesystem Options:
  • ZFS (recommended for data integrity)
  • Btrfs (for flexible pooling)
  • XFS (high-performance use cases)
• Management Tools:
  • Docker 20.10+ (containerized services)
  • Cockpit Project 290+ (web management)
  • Ansible Core 2.14+ (automation)

4. Installation & Configuration Walkthrough

4.1 Hardware Assembly

Critical assembly steps with technical rationale:

1. Drive Backplane Connection:

   # Verify SATA controller detection
   lspci | grep -i sata
   # Expected output: Intel Corporation Cannon Lake PCH SATA AHCI Controller
   

2. Thermal Management Setup:

   # Install lm-sensors and configure fan control
   sudo apt install lm-sensors fancontrol
   sudo sensors-detect
   sudo pwmconfig
   

4.2 Filesystem Configuration

ZFS Pool Creation Example:

# Identify drive mappings
ls -l /dev/disk/by-id/

# Create RAIDZ2 pool (double parity)
sudo zpool create -o ashift=12 tank raidz2 \
  ata-ST20000NM007D-3DJ103_ZABC1234 \
  ata-ST20000NM007D-3DJ103_ZABC1235 \
  ata-ST20000NM007D-3DJ103_ZABC1236 \
  ata-ST20000NM007D-3DJ103_ZABC1237 \
  ata-ST20000NM007D-3DJ103_ZABC1238 \
  ata-ST20000NM007D-3DJ103_ZABC1239

# Enable compression and access control
sudo zfs set compression=lz4 tank
sudo zfs set acltype=posixacl tank

4.3 Network Optimization

10GbE Tuning (if using X710 adapter):

# Increase ring buffers for high throughput
sudo ethtool -G enp3s0 rx 4096 tx 4096

# Enable jumbo frames (MTU 9000)
sudo ip link set enp3s0 mtu 9000

# Apply TCP congestion control
echo "net.ipv4.tcp_congestion_control = bbr" | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf
sudo sysctl -p

5. Advanced Configuration & Security

5.1 Performance Tuning

ZFS ARC Size Adjustment:

# Allocate 40% of RAM to ARC (32GB system example)
echo "options zfs zfs_arc_max=13743895344" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/zfs.conf

# Enable prefetch for sequential workloads
sudo zfs set primarycache=all tank
sudo zfs set prefetch=enabled tank

5.2 Security Hardening

SMB Share Configuration:

# /etc/samba/smb.conf
[secured_share]
  path = /tank/confidential
  valid users = @smbgroup
  guest ok = no
  writable = yes
  browseable = yes
  create mask = 0660
  directory mask = 0770
  vfs objects = acl_xattr
  encrypt passwords = yes
  security = user

5.3 Containerized Deployment

Docker Compose for Media Stack:

version: '3.8'

services:
  jellyfin:
    image: jellyfin/jellyfin:10.8.9
    container_name: jellyfin
    volumes:
      - /tank/media:/media
      - /tank/config/jellyfin:/config
    network_mode: host
    devices:
      - /dev/dri:/dev/dri
    restart: unless-stopped
    environment:
      - TZ=America/New_York
      - UMASK_SET=022

  qbittorrent:
    image: linuxserver/qbittorrent:4.5.2
    container_name: qbittorrent
    volumes:
      - /tank/torrents:/downloads
      - /tank/config/qbittorrent:/config
    ports:
      - "8080:8080"
      - "6881:6881"
      - "6881:6881/udp"
    restart: unless-stopped

6. Operational Management

6.1 Monitoring Strategy

Prometheus Exporter Setup:

# Install ZFS exporter for metrics collection
docker run -d --name zfs_exporter \
  --restart unless-stopped \
  -p 9134:9134 \
  -v /proc/spl/kstat/zfs:/proc/spl/kstat/zfs \
  -v /var/run/sudo/:/var/run/sudo/ \
  --privileged \
  prom/graphite-exporter \
  --collector.zfs \
  --collector.zfs.pool-metrics

6.2 Backup Implementation

ZFS Snapshot Management:

# Create recursive snapshot
sudo zfs snapshot -r tank@$(date +%Y%m%d_%H%M)

# Send snapshot to remote backup
sudo zfs send -R tank@20231015_1200 | ssh backup-host "zfs receive backup/tank"

7. Troubleshooting Guide

7.1 Common Issues and Resolutions

Problem: Drives not detected after reboot
Diagnosis:

dmesg | grep -i sata
# Check for link negotiation errors
smartctl -a /dev/sda
# Verify drive health status

Solution: Update SATA controller firmware and check power cabling

Problem: Network throughput below expectations
Diagnosis:

iperf3 -c 10.0.0.2 -P 4 -t 30
# Check for packet loss
ethtool -S enp3s0 | grep errors

Solution: Disable power saving on NIC:

ethtool -s enp3s0 wol d

8. Conclusion and Next Steps

The ThinkNAS 6-Bay solution represents the pinnacle of DIY storage design, combining enterprise-grade capacity with homelab-friendly customization. By leveraging the Lenovo M920q’s computational power with proper ZFS configuration, professionals can achieve 99.99% storage reliability at consumer-grade prices.

For advanced implementations, consider exploring:

• Ceph Integration: Transform multiple ThinkNAS units into distributed storage
• Kubernetes CSI: Implement ZFS-based persistent volumes
• Edge Caching: Deploy as a local mirror for Linux package repositories

Recommended Resources:

• OpenZFS Mastery
• Linux Performance Tuning
• SMB3 Security Best Practices

This configuration delivers enterprise-level storage capabilities while maintaining the flexibility and cost-efficiency critical for DevOps environments. The 6-bay expansion pushes the boundaries of what’s possible with ultra-compact computing platforms, making it an ideal solution for space-constrained datacenter edge deployments or high-density homelabs.