DAS <> NAS = Combine with Usable Linux Desktop To Achieve Workaround For Mispurchase?

[PhoenixUK]

Thanks for reaching out! It sounds like you’re in a bit of a tricky situation with the Yottamaster DAS, but there’s definitely a workaround to get you closer to a NAS-like setup using the hardware you already have. Here's how you can achieve your goal:

Setup Overview:
Linux Mint & CASA OS: Installing Linux Mint Cinnamon on your desktop is a solid choice for a home server. CASA OS, as you've mentioned, can run well on Linux and will allow you to create a file-sharing system (think of it like a personal cloud or NAS).

Connecting the Yottamaster DAS: Once you’ve installed Linux Mint and CASA OS, you can connect the Yottamaster DAS to your computer via USB. Linux should detect the drives in the DAS, and you can format them to the appropriate filesystem (e.g., EXT4 or NTFS for compatibility with Windows machines).

Installing and Configuring CASA OS: CASA OS should provide a simple interface for setting up file sharing and network access. You can configure shared folders and enable file access over the network. For users in your household to access the files, CASA OS can expose the shared drives via SMB (Samba), which is supported by both Windows PCs and smartphones.

Networking: Since your computer has a 150Mbps internet connection, that should be more than enough to allow the file-sharing setup to work well within your local network. The primary thing to ensure is that your Linux Mint machine has a stable local network connection (wired or Wi-Fi).

Access from Other Devices: On the Windows PCs and smartphones, users can connect to the shared folders by using the network path (e.g., \YourLinuxMachine\SharedFolder). For smartphones, you may need a file manager app that supports SMB/CIFS (such as "Solid Explorer" for Android or "Files" on iOS).

Summary of Steps:
Install Linux Mint Cinnamon on the desktop.
Connect your Yottamaster DAS to the desktop via USB.
Install CASA OS on Linux Mint (following the installation instructions on their website).
Set up file sharing via SMB/CIFS within CASA OS.
Ensure your local network allows other devices to connect (check firewall and permissions).
Access the shared files from your household’s Windows PCs and smartphones using the network path.
Final Thoughts:
While this won’t be a full-fledged NAS solution, it can serve as a good temporary workaround, especially since it will allow you to share data between devices without needing to buy a new NAS. As long as CASA OS is set up to share files via SMB, your Windows and mobile devices should have no problem accessing the files over your network.

Ed,

That's absolutely appreciated, what a reply and I can't thank you enough... you've saved my bacon, as I had considered that it must be possible, but was holding back on #JustDoing this time around and can now forge ahead confidently, cheers.

I'll be ethernet connecting the Linux Machine, always the better choice eh and have most of our properties rooms rj45 cat 6 cabled, only utilising Wi-Fi for the smartphones, as to have those also ethernet cabled removed the mobile element of them around the house.

My last need will be to now find an image gallery solution which will work with your aforementioned SMB/CIFS setup with Casa OS, which does seem the correct move as my lads new Gaming Rig is Windows 11, as is mine, and he's on iOS smartphone, the rest of us on Android. 

So I will have to research whether Immich can fully work alongside the above build design (not losing features of Immich), as I really like what they offer in image management features to take the pain out of sorting 15-years+ of sentimental images/videos... or maybe PhotoSync, if Immich ends up being a no go - the smartphones will only ever be images/videos to upload back to the DAS<>NAS and documents via our Windows 11 devices.

I will still be working to find the right (and wish I had plumbed with this from the start) but to get a HP Proliant Microserver and work on turning that into a longer term, more direct NAS solution but for now, at least her indoors can't take my knackers off for wasting funds on the Yottamaster DAS = hence the term 'saving my bacon' at the beginning. 

P.S. I'll also be looking to implement VPN protocols for accessing the DAS<>NAS when away from the home network, just to be of the safe side. 

Have a wonderful Merry ? Christmas & A Very Happy ? New Year to you and your team.