Mawson

A more likely candidate would be IX systems, makers of TrueNAS. They already have hardware they sell with TrueNAS, so building something for HexOS might be as simple as changing the software image that is installed, possibly with some branding/aesthetic updates from TrueNAS to HexOS. Most of IX's offerings are 19" rack-mount chassis, but they do also have a couple smaller units: https://www.truenas.com/truenas-mini/

Good call, yes, I am using SwitftKey

Hello and welcome! You can/will be able to do pretty much anything with HexOS, either natively for NAS duties, or through docker apps and virtual machines for more advanced duties like web/game server hosting. HexOS is more than just a NAS OS, it is also a good platform for all sorts of home hosting! The caveat is that HexOS is currently in early access, so many features are still in development. Currently many things may require leaving the HexOS interface and going to the TrueNAS interface, which while more complicated, is also more powerful. Please check out the latest development progress update for details on upcoming features and suchlike: https://hexos.com/blog/hexos-q1-status-update

@jonp recently confirmed recently that there are plans to be able to adopt existing TrueNAS systems into HexOS for management, but that's not something that is likely to be implemented soon. If I were in your shoes and I wanted to make things happen quickly I would build your second server and install HexOS on it, copy all your files and such, and then convert TNS01 to HexOS as well. As far as how it all works, HexOS exists on an equal level as TrueNAS' GUI interface, and both of those talk to the TrueNAS API which is a layer down, and is what actually does the work. Both interfaces work side by side. They're like siblings in the way that they relate to the TrueNAS API. You could think of it as having two options for your user interface for TrueNAS. Here is a diagram to illustrate: On the left is a normal TrueNAS install, and on the right is HexOS. The HexOS installer has the HexOS command deck web connector added, and that's about the only difference as far as the actual installer goes. The rest of the interface is handled from the Command Deck web app, which is cloud based. A fully local HexOS UI option will be coming before full release. It's unlikely to be at full feature parity with deck.hexos.com. Details are TBA though.

Yeah that might win for the all time weirdest thing to run DOOM on

To add to @ubergeek's I have it on good authority that there is a pretty big "state of the union" style update coming at some point in the near to middle distant future. Should cover everything that has happened since the early access launch back in November. Don't expect it tomorrow, a week or two would be a more reasonable guess. Don't quote me on this though. @jonp is a VERY busy dude these days 😅

As someone using used and refurbished drives I would love to hear some instructions on how best to do some burn in testing...

I'm looking into doing this as well! amusingly the 240gig models are only like 5 dollars more

Yeah the only legetimately useful reason I can think of for "burning in" Hdds is as a stress tess to be sure they won't fail prematurely.

Original Video: Editorial Short:

I always burn in my disks for 100+ hours so that music sounds better when I stream the files from them. Sometimes I'll do it in the presence of certain crystals if I'm trying to emphasize certain frequency ranges for specific genres.

One of my servers is in a Nanoxia Deep Silence case that supports 12 drives and 3 front panel bays. There are definitely cases that can house a lot of drives. If you're looking to add drives to your current case there are options too, especially if you have 5.25" front drive bays you can use. If you have 2 you can fit 3 more HDDS, and if you have 3 open you can get adapters that will let you put 5x 3.5" hdds! Beyond that I would start looking into net cases with lots of drive bays. They can be tower style like the Nanoxia I have, or more desktop/cube-ish like a Jonsbo NAS case

Moved and Pinned!

Jonsbo has some nice looking NAS case offerings, with various numbers of drives and such: https://www.jonsbo.com/en/product/ComputerCase/NASMotherboardSeries.html Did you say you are in the UK?