Top XigmaNAS Alternatives: Find Your Perfect NAS Solution
XigmaNAS, formerly NAS4Free, has long been a robust and reliable open-source Network-Attached Storage (NAS) distribution based on FreeBSD. It offers comprehensive sharing across various operating systems, ZFS, RAID, encryption, and a highly configurable web interface. However, for various reasons – whether you’re looking for different features, a Linux-based system, commercial support, or simply exploring new options – you might be searching for a suitable XigmaNAS alternative. This article delves into some of the best alternatives available today to help you find the perfect fit for your storage needs.
Best XigmaNAS Alternatives
Whether you're a home user, small business, or enterprise, there's a XigmaNAS alternative out there that can meet your specific requirements. We've compiled a list of top contenders, each with unique strengths.
OpenMediaVault
OpenMediaVault is a powerful, free, and open-source NAS solution built on Debian Linux. It's a fantastic XigmaNAS alternative for those who prefer a Linux-based system, offering services like SSH, SFTP, SMB/CIFS, and a DAAP media server. Key features include Docker support, Google Drive integration, HTTP Web seeding, and S.M.A.R.T. data support.
FreeNAS
FreeNAS, now TrueNAS CORE, is another excellent free and open-source operating system based on BSD, much like XigmaNAS. It's renowned for its stability, security focus, and virtualization capabilities, making it a strong contender for centralized data storage over a network. It's a direct spiritual successor to the original FreeNAS 7 series, much like XigmaNAS itself.
Unraid
Unraid is a commercial Linux-based operating system designed for personal and small business use. It offers enterprise-class features, including parity drives for data redundancy, backup solutions, encrypted backups, and powerful virtualization capabilities with hypervisor support. While not free, its feature set makes it a compelling XigmaNAS alternative for those seeking robust data protection and VM hosting.
Rockstor
Rockstor is a free and open-source NAS operating system based on CentOS Linux. It's a software solution that can be installed on commodity hardware or within a hypervisor. A key differentiating feature is its native support for BTRFS, an advanced file system offering snapshots, checksums, and more. It also supports SFTP and WebDAV.
Amahi Home Server
The Amahi Home Server is a free and open-source solution designed for home and small office environments, focusing on ease of use. It's incredibly versatile, supporting a wide range of platforms including Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, iPhone, iPad, Playstation, and Xbox. Features include Nextcloud integration, backup, dynamic DNS, file sharing, music streaming, networking, and VPN capabilities, making it a feature-rich XigmaNAS alternative for a broader range of devices.
ReadyNAS
ReadyNAS OS is a commercial, Linux-based operating system exclusive to NETGEAR ReadyNAS products. While not a pure software download like XigmaNAS, if you're considering a pre-built NAS appliance, ReadyNAS offers a comprehensive solution with features like file sharing, SSH, and a web server, all managed via a web interface.
PetaSAN
PetaSAN is an open-source Scale-Out SAN solution built on Linux. It's designed for massive scalability and performance, leveraging modern cloud-based technologies. While XigmaNAS focuses on traditional NAS functionalities, PetaSAN is a powerful alternative for those requiring enterprise-level block storage scalability.
FlexRaid T-Raid
FlexRAID T-RAID is a commercial software solution for Windows and Linux (including Ubuntu) that helps unify and organize data while protecting against disk failures. It offers both Transparent RAID and RAID over File System options, making it a compelling XigmaNAS alternative for users primarily focused on data protection and organization.
EasyNAS
EasyNAS is a free and open-source NAS solution based on openSUSE Leap, featuring the Btrfs advanced file system. It offers a web-based interface for management and supports online growing of file systems. As an operating system focused on NAS, it's a straightforward Linux-based XigmaNAS alternative.
napp-it
napp-it is a freemium solution that provides high-quality block and file storage on common server hardware, often paired with a solid server OS like OpenIndiana or Linux. It's a flexible XigmaNAS alternative, especially for those looking to build powerful ZFS-based storage solutions with specific hardware configurations.
Ultimately, the best XigmaNAS alternative for you will depend on your specific requirements regarding platform preference (Linux vs. BSD), budget, desired features (virtualization, advanced file systems, cloud integration), and technical comfort level. Explore these options to find the perfect NAS solution that fits your needs.