Written 22 Aug 2026. Specs from the maker pages linked below. Prices from those stores. I haven't used these. Confirm the diskless SKU before you click. Amazon is full of drive bundles.
Stay on the maker OS, or wipe an x86 4-bay for TrueNAS
Stay on the maker software (DSM, ADM, or TOS), or wipe an x86 4-bay for TrueNAS. DIY on a mini PC is already the pain path. This is the next question.
Stay on the maker software (DSM, ADM, or TOS), or wipe an x86 4-bay for TrueNAS. Don't send a first-backup user to a used LSI HBA scavenger hunt. That is a project. Projects are allowed. They are not the default buy. ECC is the Mini X+ argument, and Mini is not the SKU on this page.
| Path | What you buy | You win | You lose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appliance, DSM / ADM | DS224+ B0C6927XPX; DS423+ B&H; AS5402T B0C5MB5MTS | Snapshots that restore. Sleep / S3. Not spending a weekend on an HCL. | RAM lids (6 GB Plus, 16 GB AS54). App tax on Synology. 1GbE on Plus. |
| Re-image path | F4-424 Pro B0CPPD51B9; DXP2800 B0D22HBFK1; optionally F4-425 | RAM, Docker, ZFS, no app tax. x86 board you can wipe. | Non-ECC on the TerraMaster / UGREEN. You own the install. I haven't re-imaged these. |
| Mini X+ (comparison) | iXsystems configurator. Forum 2026 ~$1909 diskless. C3758, 32 GB ECC, dual 10GBase-T. | ECC and a supported TrueNAS appliance. | Not the CTA. Historical Amazon B08FCWBVWX is not a stable buy link. linhpham.org $1448 is an older snapshot. Label it historical. |
DIY wins when you already know you want ZFS and you will read a HCL. Appliance wins when the copies have to work on a Sunday and you have not named a HBA chipset this year. The existing first-NAS page still holds: two-bay Synology if you want sleep; DXP4800 Plus if you want 10G and Docker; mini-PC DIY only if you already like pain. This page just names the x86 appliances you can re-image instead of scavenging a 1U.
Drives stay CMR on every path. ST8000VN004 (7200) or WD80EFPX (5640, still CMR). Skip EFAX / EZAZ / BarraCuda 3.5" 4 / 8 TB SMR. IronWolf 1–6 TB is 5400. ZFS does not make SMR polite. 5400 RPM does not make a VM LUN fast.
Live retail, no tags: DS224+ B0C6927XPX, DS423+ B&H, AS5402T B0C5MB5MTS, F4-424 Pro B0CPPD51B9, TerraMaster F4-424 Pro store ($730.99 on 22 Aug 2026), DXP2800 B0D22HBFK1, TrueNAS Mini (comparison).
Skip
Skip eBay “LSI 9211 flashed to IT mode, untested.” Skip Mini as the hero SKU. Skip used DS918+. Skip SMR in ZFS. Skip calling a first backup box a “homelab” until Hyper Backup or zfs send actually landed somewhere else.
Sources
Evezone 2026, DIY TrueNAS vs appliance. TerraMaster F4-424 Pro official spec. Synology DS224+ official page. iXsystems Mini page. TrueNAS forum 2026 US configurator $1909. linhpham.org Mini X+ older $1448 snapshot (historical). I haven't installed TrueNAS on a TerraMaster in this lab.