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NAS

27
May
Codex needed a rescue! Now my wallet does, since I need a new UPS system...

When Power Outages Break Everything: Recovering an OMV8 NAS After Filesystem Corruption, Kernel Drift, and DKMS Failure

A complete technical post-mortem and recovery guide for OpenMediaVault 8 after rolling power failures corrupt the boot SSD, drift kernels, and break DKMS blocks.
11 min read
12
May
A picture showing the top of my server showing the USB3.0 enclosure connected to a USB3.0 port on the Fractal Design Define 7 XL.

The SATA Pivot: Mitigating IOPS Bottlenecks in a 18+ Drive Homelab

Is your ZFS array thrashing under Docker logs? You don't need a new server; you need a better bus. Learn how moving my OS to USB reclaimed SATA III ports for SSD caching - solving IOPS bottlenecks and extending drive life for under $20.
8 min read
12
May
A picture of Core Lab's own Codex NAS & Server, she's a dusty girl before my bi-annual cleaning attack!

🛠️ The Homelab Physical: A Guide to Annual & Bi-Annual Maintenance

Neglect is the quiet killer of uptime. Don't let dust or "chip creep" sabotage your ZFS pools. This guide covers essential bi-annual routines - from LSI HBA cooling to reseating the "Big Three" - to keep your custom server healthy for the long haul.
11 min read
18
Apr
Comic-style illustration of Synology, QNAP, and UGREEN NAS units side by side, highlighting storage vs computing differences.

NAS vs Server: What’s the Difference? (2026 Guide for Homelabs)

NAS vs server isn’t just semantics - it’s the difference between smooth performance and constant frustration. Learn when to use each and how to build the perfect homelab in 2026.
18 min read
17
Mar
A three-part composite showing an old Dell PC, a modern white cube server, and a professional rack-mounted server with glowing green lights on a wooden desk against a bookshelf.

Best Plex Server Hardware (2026): Budget Builds to Enterprise NAS Guide

Building a Plex server in 2026? Learn how to choose the best hardware for 4K transcoding, from scavenged Intel QuickSync builds to high-end enterprise ZFS rigs.
21 min read
05
Feb
The default OpenMediaVault 8 web interface login screen featuring a dark, textured background and a central, minimalist login box for system administration.

OpenMediaVault 8 Upgrade Guide: Navigating the Jump to Debian 13 & Kernel 6.17

Master the OpenMediaVault 8 (Synchrony) upgrade. Learn to fix PHP 502 Bad Gateway errors, handle SHA-1 repo issues, and optimize Kernel 6.17 for your homelab.
16 min read
25
Aug
Open Media Vault 8 (OMV8) dashboard.

How to Setup Open Media Vault 8 (OMV8) for 2026

Master OpenMediaVault 8 on Debian 13. Learn to configure ZFS pools, switch to the Proxmox kernel, and deploy Docker containers for the ultimate 2026 homelab.
15 min read
02
May
Face/Off - Quick breakdown of the most popular NAS OS in 2026.

The Best NAS OS of 2026: Beyond Synology & Vendor Lock-in

Ditching Synology? Our 2026 guide compares TrueNAS SCALE, Unraid, and OMV8. Build your digital fortress with the best NAS OS for Plex, ZFS, and Docker.
15 min read
22
Apr
Split screen showing Plex Media Server library home screen and OpenMediaVault 8 (OMV8) Dashboard workbench interface.

The Ultimate OMV8 & Plex Media Server Guide (2026): Build Your Own 100TB NAS

Master your home lab with this 2026 update for OpenMediaVault 8. Learn to set up Plex on OMV8 using Docker Compose, optimize ZFS pools, and enable 4K transcoding.
9 min read
22
Apr
A picture of Core Lab Custom Server/NAS while being built, on a floor beside oragizer bin, with drive cables hanging out and side, top panels removed.

The "Core Lab" Monster: My 80+TB DIY NAS Build (2026)

A 17-drive, 80TB+ DIY NAS build log: enterprise SAS hardware, ZFS pool design, HBA cards, and the 3.3V pin gotcha that stops drives from spinning up.
20 min read