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Part 6: DIY NAS – Installing Two Samsung 990 Pro Gen 4 NVMe M.2 SSD in an Intel NUC 11 Extreme

Monday, December 1st, 2025

 

Welcome back to Hancock’s VMware Half Hour and to Part 6 of the DIY UNRAID NAS build series.

In this episode I install two Samsung 990 PRO Gen 4 NVMe M.2 SSDs into the Intel NUC 11 Extreme.
The NUC 11 Extreme has a surprisingly capable NVMe layout, providing:

  • 2 × PCIe Gen 4 NVMe slots
  • 2 × PCIe Gen 3 NVMe slots

The video walks through verifying the drives, opening the NUC, accessing both NVMe bays, and installing each SSD step-by-step, including the compute board NVMe slot that is a little more awkward to reach.
The episode finishes in Windows 11 where the drives are validated using Disk Manager and Samsung Magician to confirm that both NVMe SSDs are genuine.

What Is Covered in Part 6

  • Checking the authenticity of Samsung 990 PRO NVMe SSDs
  • Accessing both the bottom and compute-board NVMe slots in the Intel NUC 11 Extreme
  • Installing and securing each NVMe stick
  • Reassembling the NUC 11 Extreme, including panels, shrouds, NIC and PCIe bracket
  • Confirming both NVMe drives in Windows 11
  • Using Samsung Magician to verify that the drives are genuine
  • Preparing the NVMe storage for use in later parts of the UNRAID NAS series

Chapters

00:00 - Intro
00:07 - Welcome to Hancock's VMware Half Hour
00:29 - In Part 6 we are going to fit Samsung 990 PRO NVMe
01:24 - Intel NUC 11 Extreme has 2 x Gen3, 2 x Gen4 slots
01:45 - Check the NVMe are genuine
04:20 - Intel NUC 11 Extreme - open NVMe bottom panel
05:23 - Install first NVMe stick
06:33 - Remove NVMe screw
07:06 - Insert and secure NVMe stick
07:30 - Secure bottom NVMe panel cover
08:40 - Remove PCIe securing bracket
08:54 - Remove side panel
09:11 - Remove NIC
09:44 - Remove fan shroud
09:59 - Open compute board
12:23 - Installing the second NVMe stick
14:36 - Secure NVMe in slot
16:26 - Compute board secured
19:04 - Secure side panels
20:59 - Start Windows 11 and login
21:31 - Check in Disk Manager for NVMe devices
22:40 - This Windows 11 machine is the machine used in Part 100/101
22:44 - Start Disk Management to format the NVMe disks
23:43 - Start Samsung Magician to confirm genuine
25:25 - Both NVMe sticks are confirmed as genuine
25:54 - Thanks for watching

About This Build

This DIY NAS series focuses on turning the Intel NUC 11 Extreme into a compact but powerful UNRAID NAS with NVMe performance at its core.
The Samsung 990 PRO NVMe drives installed in this part will provide a significant uplift in storage performance and will feature heavily in later episodes when the NAS is tuned and benchmarked.

Support the Series

If you are enjoying the series so far, please consider supporting the channel and the content:

  • Like the video on YouTube
  • Subscribe to the channel so you do not miss future parts
  • Leave a comment or question with your own experiences or suggestions
  • Follow along for Parts 7, 8, 9 and beyond

Thank you for watching and for following the build.

Gear Used

More From Hancock’s VMware Half Hour

Enjoy the build and stay tuned for upcoming parts where we continue configuring UNRAID and optimising the NAS.
Do not forget to like, comment and subscribe for more technical walkthroughs and builds.

Support and Honey

Watch More Playlists

Follow Hancock’s VMware Half Hour

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Part 5: DIY UNRAID NAS: Making Use of the Free Internal USB Headers

Sunday, November 30th, 2025

 

 

Welcome back to Andysworld!*™ and to Part 5 of my DIY UNRAID NAS series.

In this instalment, I explore a small but very useful upgrade: using the free internal USB headers inside the Intel NUC Extreme 11th Gen to hide the UnRAID boot USB neatly inside the chassis. This keeps the build clean, reduces the risk of accidental removal, and makes the system feel much more like a dedicated appliance.

Why Move the UnRAID USB Inside the NUC?

UNRAID must boot from a USB flash drive. Most people leave it plugged into an external port on the back of the system, but the NUC Extreme includes internal USB 2.0 header pins.

By using those internal headers, we can:

  • Keep the USB drive inside the case
  • Free up an external USB port
  • Reduce the chance of accidental removal or damage
  • Improve the overall look and tidiness of the build
  • Make the system feel more like a self-contained NAS appliance

Credit and Hardware Used

This idea came from a very useful Reddit thread:

Reddit source: https://tinyurl.com/yd95mu37
Credit: Thanks to “JoshTheMoss” for highlighting the approach and the required cable.

Adapter Cable

The adapter used in this build was purchased from DeLock:

Adapter product page: https://www.delock.com/produkt/84834/merkmale.html

This adapter converts the internal USB header on the motherboard to a standard USB-A female connector, which is ideal for plugging in the UnRAID boot drive.

What Happens in Part 5

In this episode I:

  • Open up the Intel NUC Extreme 11th Gen chassis
  • Locate the unused internal USB header on the motherboard
  • Prepare the UnRAID USB stick, wrapping it in Kapton tape for additional insulation and protection
  • Install the DeLock internal USB adapter
  • Route and position the cable neatly inside the chassis
  • Connect the USB stick to the internal adapter (with the usual struggle of fitting fingers into a very small case)
  • Confirm that the system still boots correctly from the now-internal USB device
  • Give a short preview of what is coming next in Part 6

Video Chapters

00:00 – Intro
00:07 – Welcome to Hancock's VMware Half Hour
00:47 – Using the free internal USB headers
01:05 – Reddit Source – https://tinyurl.com/yd95mu37
01:17 – Kudos to "JoshTheMoss"
02:32 – The Reddit Post
02:44 – Purchased from – https://www.delock.com/produkt/84834/merkmale.html
02:59 – Intel NUC Extreme 11th Gen close-up
03:58 – Internal USB header left disconnected
04:36 – USB flash drive is used for UnRAID
04:49 – Wrapped USB flash drive in Kapton Tape
05:31 – Fit the cable with fat fingers
07:09 – Part 6 – NVMe Time
07:51 – 4 × 4 TB Samsung 990 PRO NVMe Gen 4
08:25 – Thanks for watching

Watch the Episode

Embedded video:

Follow the DIY UNRAID NAS Series on Andysworld!*™

This project is progressing nicely, and each part builds on the last. In Part 6, I move on to storage performance and install 4 × 4 TB Samsung 990 PRO Gen 4 NVMe SSDs for serious throughput.

If you are interested in homelab builds, UNRAID, VMware, or just general tinkering, keep an eye on the rest of the series here on Andysworld!*™.

Thanks for reading and for supporting the site.

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HOW TO: Synchronize Changes in a Linux P2V with VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 9.0 (Part 101)

Thursday, November 27th, 2025

If you’ve ever attempted a P2V migration using VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 9.0, you’ll know that the product can be as unpredictable as a British summer. One minute everything looks fine, the next minute you’re stuck at 91%, the Helper VM has thrown a wobbly, and the Estimated Time Remaining has declared itself fictional.

And yet… when it works, it really works.

This post is the follow-up to Part 100: HOW TO: P2V a Linux Ubuntu PC, where I walked through the seed conversion. In Part 101, I push things further and demonstrate how to synchronize changes — a feature newly introduced for Linux sources in Converter 9.0.

I won’t sugar-coat it: recording this episode took over 60 hours, spread across five days, with 22 hours of raw footage just to create a 32-minute usable video. Multiple conversion attempts failed, sequences broke, the change tracker stalled, and several recordings had to be completely redone. But I was determined to prove that the feature does work — and with enough perseverance, patience, and the power of video editing, the final demonstration shows a successful, validated P2V Sync Changes workflow.

Why Sync Changes Matters

Traditionally, a P2V conversion requires a maintenance window or downtime. After the initial seed conversion, any new data written to the source must be copied over manually, or the source must be frozen until cutover.

Converter 9.0 introduces a long-requested feature for Linux environments:

Synchronize Changes

This allows you to:

  • Perform an initial seed P2V conversion

  • Keep the source machine running

  • Replicate only the delta changes

  • Validate the final migration before cutover

It’s not quite Continuous Replication, but it’s closer than we’ve ever had from VMware’s free tooling.

Behind the Scenes: The Reality of Converter 9.0

Converter 9.0 is still fairly new, and “quirky” is an understatement.

Some observations from extensive hands-on testing:

  • The Helper VM can misbehave, especially around networking

  • At 91%, the Linux change tracker often stalls

  • The job status can report errors even though the sync completes

  • Estimated Time Remaining is not to be trusted

  • Each sync job creates a snapshot on the destination VM

  • Converter uses rsync under the hood for Linux sync

Despite all this, syncing does work — it’s just not a single-click process.

Step-by-Step Overview

Here’s the condensed version of the procedure shown in the video:

  1. Start a seed conversion (see Part 100).

  2. Once complete, use SSH on the source to prepare a 10GB test file for replication testing.

  3. Run an MD5 checksum on the source file.

  4. Select Synchronize Changes in Converter.

  5. Let the sync job run — and don’t panic at the 91% pause.

  6. Review any warnings or errors.

  7. Perform a final synchronization before cutover.

  8. Power off the source, power on the destination VM.

  9. Verify the replicated file using MD5 checksum on the destination.

  10. Celebrate when the checksums match — Q.E.D!

Proof of Success

In the final verification during filming:

  • A 10GB file was replicated

  • Both source and destination MD5 checksums matched

  • The Linux VM booted cleanly

  • Snapshot consolidation completed properly

Despite five days of interruptions, failed jobs, and recording challenges, the outcome was a successful, consistent P2V migration using Sync Changes.

Watch the Full Video (Part 101)

If you want to see the whole process — the setup, the problems, the explanations, the rsync behaviour, and the final success — the full video is now live on my YouTube channel:

Part 101: HOW TO: Synchronize Changes using VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 9.0

If you missed the previous part, you can catch up here:
Part 100: HOW TO: P2V a Linux Ubuntu PC Using VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 9.0

Final Thoughts

This video was one of the most challenging pieces of content I’ve created. But the end result is something I’m genuinely proud of — a real-world demonstration of a feature that many administrators will rely on during migrations, especially in environments where downtime is limited.

Converter 9.0 may still have rough edges, but with patience, persistence, and a bit of luck, it delivers.

Thanks for reading — and as always, thank you for supporting Andysworld!
Don’t forget to like, share, or comment if you found this useful.

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Part 4: DIY UnRAID NAS – Insert new 10GBe NIC

Saturday, November 22nd, 2025

 

 

DIY UnRAID NAS Build – Part 4: Installing a 10GBe Intel X710-DA NIC (Plus an Outtake!)

Welcome back to another instalment of my DIY UnRAID NAS Build series.
If you have been following along, you will know this project is built around an Intel NUC chassis that I have been carefully (and repeatedly!) taking apart to transform into a compact but powerful UnRAID server.

In Part 4, we move on to a major upgrade: installing a 10GBe Intel X710-DA network interface card. And yes, the eagle-eyed among you will notice something unusual at the beginning of the video, because this episode starts with a blooper. I left it in for your entertainment.

A Fun Outtake to Start With

Right from the intro, things get a little chaotic. There is also a mysterious soundtrack playing, and I still do not know where it came from.
If you can identify it, feel free to drop a comment on the video.

Tearing Down the Intel NUC Again

To install the X710-DA NIC, the NUC requires almost complete disassembly:

  • Remove the back plate
  • Remove the backplane retainer
  • Take off the side panels
  • Open the case
  • Remove the blanking plate
  • Prepare the internal slot area

This NUC has become surprisingly modular after taking it apart so many times, but it still puts up a fight occasionally.

Installing the Intel X710-DA 10GBe NIC

Once the case is stripped down, the NIC finally slides into place. It is a tight fit, but the X710-DA is a superb card for a NAS build:

  • Dual SFP+ ports
  • Excellent driver support
  • Great performance in VMware, Linux, and Windows
  • Ideal for high-speed file transfers and VM workloads

If you are building a NAS that needs to move data quickly between systems, this NIC is a great option.

Reassembly

Next, everything goes back together:

  • Side panels reinstalled
  • Back plate fitted
  • Case secured
  • System ready for testing

You would think after doing this several times I would be quicker at it, but the NUC still has a few surprises waiting.

Booting into Windows 11 and Driver Issues

Once everything is reassembled, the NUC boots into Windows 11, and immediately there is a warning:

Intel X710-DA: Not Present

Device Manager confirms it. Windows detects that something is installed, but it does not know what it is.

Time to visit the Intel website, download the correct driver bundle, extract it, and install the drivers manually.

After a reboot, success. The NIC appears correctly and is fully functional.

Why 10GBe

For UnRAID, 10GBe significantly improves:

  • VM migrations
  • iSCSI and NFS performance
  • File transfers
  • Backup times
  • SMB throughput for Windows and macOS clients

It also future-proofs the NAS for any future network upgrades.

The Mystery Soundtrack

Towards the end of the video I ask again: what is the music playing in the background?
I genuinely have no idea, so if you recognise it, please leave a comment on the video.

Watch the Episode

You can watch the full episode, including all teardown steps, NIC installation, Windows troubleshooting, and the blooper, here:

Thank You for Watching and Reading

Thank you for following along with this NAS build.
Part 5 will continue the series, so stay tuned.

If you have built your own UnRAID NAS or have a favourite NIC for homelab projects, feel free to comment and share your experience.

Regards,
Andy

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Part 100: HOW TO: P2V A Linux Ubuntu PC using VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 9.0

Wednesday, November 19th, 2025

 

 

HOWTO: P2V a Linux Ubuntu PC Using VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 9.0

Migrating physical machines into virtual environments continues to be a key task for many administrators, homelabbers, and anyone modernising older systems. With the release of VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 9.0, VMware has brought back a fully supported, modernised, and feature-rich toolset for performing P2V (Physical-to-Virtual) conversions.

In this post, I walk through how to P2V a powered-on Ubuntu 22.04 Linux PC, using Converter 9.0, as featured in my recent Hancock’s VMware Half Hour episode.

This guide covers each stage of the workflow, from configuring the source Linux machine to selecting the destination datastore and reviewing the final conversion job. Whether you’re prepping for a migration, building a new VM template, or preserving older hardware, this step-by-step breakdown will help you get the job done smoothly.

Video Tutorial

If you prefer to follow along with the full step-by-step:
Embed your YouTube video here once uploaded.

What’s New in VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 9.0?

  • A refreshed and modern UI
  • Improved compatibility with modern Linux distributions
  • Updated helper VM for Linux conversions
  • Support for newer ESXi and vSphere versions
  • Better overall performance and reliability
  • Linux P2V via passwordless sudo-enabled accounts

This makes it far easier to bring physical Linux workloads into your virtual infrastructure.

Full Tutorial Breakdown (Step-by-Step)

Below is a summary of all the steps demonstrated in the video:

  • Step 1 — Open Converter & Select “Convert Machine”
  • Step 2 — Choose “Powered On”
  • Step 3 — Detect Source Machine
  • Step 4 — Select “Remote Linux Machine”
  • Step 5 — Enter FQDN of the Linux PC
  • Step 6 — Use a passwordless sudo-enabled user account
  • Step 7 — Enter the password
  • Step 8 — Proceed to the next stage
  • Step 9 — Enter ESXi or vCenter Server FQDN
  • Step 10 — Authenticate with username and password
  • Step 11 — Continue
  • Step 12 — Name your destination VM
  • Step 13 — Choose datastore & VM hardware version
  • Step 14 — Go to the next screen
  • Step 15 — TIP: Avoid making unnecessary changes!
  • Step 16 — Next
  • Step 17 — Review settings and click “Finish”
  • Step 18 — Monitor the conversion job
  • Step 19 — Review Helper VM deployment on ESXi
  • Step 20 — Cloning process begins
  • Step 21 — Converter best practices & tips
  • Step 22 — Conversion reaches 98%
  • Step 23 — Conversion reaches 100%
  • Step 24 — Disable network on the destination VM
  • Step 25 — Power on the VM
  • Step 26 — Teaser: Something special about Brother 52 (esxi052)!

Why Disable the Network Before First Boot?

Doing this avoids:

  • IP conflicts
  • Hostname duplication
  • Duplicate MAC address issues
  • Unwanted services broadcasting from the cloned system

After confirming the VM boots correctly, you can safely reconfigure networking inside the guest.

Final Thoughts

VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 9.0 brings P2V workflows back into the modern VMware ecosystem. With full Linux support—including Ubuntu 22.04—it’s easier than ever to migrate physical workloads into vSphere.

If you’re maintaining a homelab, doing DR planning, or preserving old systems, Converter remains one of the most valuable free tools VMware continues to offer.

Stay tuned — the next video showcases something special about Brother 52 (esxi052) that you won’t want to miss!

Don’t Forget!

  • Like the video
  • Subscribe to Hancock’s VMware Half Hour
  • Leave a comment — What P2V tutorial should I do next?

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PART 3: DIY Unraid NAS: Power Testing & Stability Checking with OCCT

Sunday, November 16th, 2025

 

PART 3 – DIY Unraid NAS: Power Testing & Stability Checking with OCCT

Welcome back to Part 3 of the DIY Unraid NAS series!
In Part 1, we unboxed and assembled the hardware.
In Part 2, we ran a quick Windows 11 installation test (and of course, everything that could go wrong… went Pete Tong).

Now that the system boots and behaves under a “normal” workload, it’s time to get serious. Before committing this Intel NUC–powered machine to Unraid full-time, we need to ensure it’s electrically stable, thermally stable, and capable of running 24/7 without surprises.

This stage is all about power draw, thermals, and stress testing using OCCT — a powerful tool for validating hardware stability.

Why Power & Stability Testing Is Essential for a NAS

A NAS must be:

  • Reliable
  • Predictable
  • Stable under load
  • Able to handle long uptimes
  • Capable of sustained read/write operations
  • Tolerant of temperature variation

Unlike a desktop, a NAS doesn’t get breaks. It runs constantly, serving files, running Docker containers, hosting VMs, and performing parity checks. Any weakness now — PSU spikes, hot VRMs, faulty RAM — will eventually show up as file corruption or unexpected reboots.

That’s why stress testing at this stage is non-negotiable.

Using OCCT for a Full-System Torture Test

OCCT is typically used by overclockers, but it’s perfect for checking new NAS hardware.
It includes tests for:

1. CPU Stability

Pushes the CPU to 100% sustained load.
Checks:

  • Thermal throttling
  • Cooling capacity
  • Voltage stability
  • Clock behaviour under load

A NAS must not throttle or overheat under parity checks or rebuilds.

2. Memory Integrity Test

RAM is the most overlooked component in DIY NAS builds.
Errors = silent data corruption.

OCCT’s memory test:

  • Fills RAM with patterns
  • Reads, writes, and verifies
  • Detects bit-flip issues
  • Ensures stability under pressure

Memory integrity is vital for Unraid, especially with Docker and VMs.

3. Power Supply Stress Test

OCCT is one of the few tools capable of stressing:

  • CPU
  • GPU (if present)
  • Memory
  • All power rails

simultaneously.

This simulates worst-case load and reveals:

  • Weak PSUs
  • Voltage drops
  • Instability
  • Flaky power bricks
  • VRM overheating

Not what you want in a NAS.

4. Thermal Behaviour Monitoring

OCCT provides excellent graphs showing:

  • Heat buildup
  • Fan curve response
  • Temperature equilibrium
  • VRM load
  • Stability over time

This shows whether the NUC case and cooling can handle long running services.

Test Results: Can the Intel NUC Handle It?

After running OCCT, the system performed exceptionally well.

CPU

  • No throttling
  • Temperatures within acceptable limits
  • Clock speeds held steady

RAM

  • Passed memory integrity tests
  • No bit errors
  • Stable under extended load

Power Delivery

  • No shutdowns or brown-outs
  • The power brick handled peaks
  • VRMs stayed within thermal limits

Thermals

  • Fans behaved predictably
  • Temperature plateau was stable
  • No unsafe spikes

In other words:
This machine is ready to become an Unraid NAS.

Why Validate Hardware Before Installing Unraid?

Because fixing hardware problems AFTER configuring:

  • Shares
  • Parity
  • Docker containers
  • VMs
  • Backups
  • User data

…is painful.

Hardware validation now ensures:

  • No silent RAM corruption
  • No thermal issues
  • No unexpected shutdowns
  • No nasty surprises during parity builds
  • The system is reliable for 24/7 operation

This step protects your data, your time, and your sanity.

What’s Coming in Part 4

With the hardware:

  • Burned in
  • Power-tested
  • Thermally stable
  • Verified by OCCT

We move to the exciting part:
Actually installing Unraid!

In Part 4, we will:

  • Prepare the Unraid USB boot device
  • Configure BIOS for NAS use
  • Boot Unraid for the first time
  • Create the array
  • Assign drives
  • Add parity
  • Begin configuring shares and services

We’re finally at the point where the NAS becomes… a NAS!

Stay tuned — the best parts are still ahead.

 

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Part 2: Building a DIY NVMe NAS with the Intel NUC 11 Extreme (Beast Canyon) – Testing hardware with Windows 11 (and When Things Go Pete Tong!)

Sunday, November 16th, 2025

Welcome back to Part 2 of our DIY Unraid NAS adventure!
In Part 1, we unboxed the hardware, checked the spec, and got ready to build a tiny but mighty home-brew NAS around the Intel NUC “Skull” chassis.

Before committing this machine to Unraid full-time, I wanted to run a quick hardware test — and what better way than to throw a Windows 11 installation at it? Simple, right?

Well… maybe not.
As usual, things went a bit Pete Tong along the way! ?

Booting the NUC – and Immediate Problems

The video starts with the NUC firing up nicely… until I discover the mouse isn’t working.
Not ideal when you’re trying to install an OS.

After poking around, I realise the issue is down to the NanoKVM I use for remote access.
The trick?
Switch the KVM to HID mode only — suddenly the mouse returns from the dead.

Lesson learned:
Tiny KVMs can cause BIG installation headaches.

Ventoy + Windows 11 ISO = Let’s Try This Again

Once the input devices were behaving, I booted Ventoy from USB and selected the Windows 11 ISO.

This part should be smooth.
Except it wasn’t.

Windows 11 booted fine…
The setup loaded…
Language and keyboard selected…
Version chosen…
Installation begins…

Then:
“Windows 11 installation has failed.”

No reason.
No explanation.
Just a failure screen and a shrug.

Excellent.

If At First You Don’t Succeed – Install Again

Time for round two.

Ventoy ? Windows 11 ISO ? Setup ? Install
Copying files…

YES!
It finally completes.

That warm feeling of success lasted a whole ten seconds before Windows restarted to continue configuration — and hit me with another set of “what now?!” delays.

Still, persistence wins.
Eventually we get to:

  • Keyboard setup

  • Feature selection

  • Updates

  • Account creation

  • Security questions

  • More updates

  • Even more updates

Whoever said installing Windows 11 only takes 10 minutes was telling porkies.

Finally… Windows 11 Desktop

After the second attempt, repeated reboots, KVM issues, updates, and the bizarre initial failure, we finally land on a clean, working Windows 11 desktop.

Why bother with all this before Unraid?

Because hardware burn-in testing NOW can save hours (or days) of pain LATER.

And, despite the chaos, the system:

  • Booted reliably

  • Handled disk I/O without any red flags

  • Passed the Windows installation stress test

  • Proved the RAM and NVMe are behaving

  • Survived the “Hancock Troubleshooting Gauntlet”™

So we can move into Part 3 with confidence!

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Part 1: Building a DIY NVMe NAS with the Intel NUC 11 Extreme (Beast Canyon)

Saturday, November 15th, 2025

 

Part 1: The Hardware Build

Welcome to AndysWorld.org.uk! Today, we’re diving into a project that’s perfect for anyone looking to build a powerful, yet compact, DIY Network-Attached Storage (NAS) solution. In this post, I’ll walk you through the first part of building a ‘MEGA’ NVMe NAS using the Intel NUC 11 Extreme (Beast Canyon). This mini-PC packs a punch with its powerful hardware, making it a great choice for a NAS build, especially when combined with UnRAID to handle storage and virtualization.

Why Choose the Intel NUC 11 Extreme for a NAS?

If you’ve been looking into NAS setups, you know the balance between power, size, and expandability is crucial. The Intel NUC 11 Extreme (Beast Canyon) checks all the right boxes, offering:

  • Compact Form Factor: It’s a small but powerful solution that doesn’t take up much space.

  • High-Performance NVMe Support: NVMe drives provide incredibly fast data transfer speeds—perfect for a NAS that needs to handle heavy workloads.

  • Flexibility for Virtualization: With UnRAID, you can set up multiple virtual machines, containers, and storage arrays, making it a versatile solution for any home or small office.

For this build, we’re focusing on using NVMe storage for high-speed access to files and a 64GB Kingston Fury DDR4 RAM kit to ensure smooth performance under load.

What You’ll Need for This Build:

  • Intel NUC 11 Extreme (Beast Canyon)

  • 64GB Kingston Fury DDR4 RAM

  • 2 x 512GB XPG GAMMIX NVMe SSDs

  • UnRAID Operating System

  • A few basic tools for assembly (screwdriver, anti-static mat, etc.)

If you’ve never worked with the Intel NUC before, don’t worry! I’ll guide you through every step of the assembly process. Let’s get into it!

Step-by-Step Build Process:

1. Unboxing the Intel NUC 11 Extreme

First things first, let’s unbox the Intel NUC 11 Extreme (Beast Canyon). When you open the box, you’ll find the compact, sleek chassis, which packs quite a punch for such a small form factor. This NUC is equipped with an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and can support a variety of high-speed storage options, including NVMe SSDs.

2. Installing the RAM and NVMe Drives

With the NUC unboxed, the next step is to install the Kingston Fury RAM and XPG GAMMIX NVMe SSDs. Be careful during installation—especially with the tiny NVMe screws! The NUC has an easy-to-access compute board where both the RAM and NVMe drives will fit.

  • Installing the RAM: Simply slot the 64GB Kingston Fury DDR4 RAM sticks into the dedicated slots, making sure they’re fully seated.

  • Installing the NVMe SSDs: These go directly onto the motherboard and can be secured using small screws. Be sure to handle them gently as the connectors are quite delicate.

3. Reassembling the NUC

Once the RAM and NVMe drives are installed, it’s time to reassemble the NUC. This involves:

  • Reattaching the fan tray and shroud

  • Reinstalling the side and back panels

At this stage, everything should feel secure and ready for the next steps.

Why NVMe Storage for a NAS?

NVMe drives are game-changers when it comes to NAS storage. Here’s why:

  • Speed: NVMe offers lightning-fast read/write speeds compared to SATA SSDs or traditional HDDs. For anyone who works with large files or needs to serve data quickly, NVMe is a must.

  • Future-Proofing: With more applications and data being handled in the cloud, having NVMe in your NAS ensures your storage solution is ready for the future.

  • Reliability: NVMe drives are more reliable than traditional spinning hard drives, with less moving parts and faster data recovery times.

What’s Next?

Now that we’ve completed the hardware installation, in the next post, we’ll dive into setting up UnRAID on the NUC. UnRAID will allow us to easily configure our storage arrays, virtual machines, and containers—all from a user-friendly interface. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll cover configuring the software, optimizing the NAS, and making sure everything runs smoothly.

Helpful Resources:

To help you along the way, I recommend checking out the blog posts from two experts in the field:

Wrapping Up

This build was just the beginning! The Intel NUC 11 Extreme provides an excellent foundation for a fast, reliable NAS. With NVMe storage and the flexibility of UnRAID, you can build a high-performance system that’s both versatile and compact.

What do you think of this build? Have you used the Intel NUC for similar projects? Drop a comment below or connect with me on social media—I’d love to hear about your experiences!

Follow Andy’s World for More DIY Tech Projects
Don’t forget to check out the latest posts and tutorials on AndysWorld.org.uk to keep up with all things tech and DIY. Happy building!

 

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A Heartfelt Thank You – 3,000 Subscribers on Hancock’s VMware Half Hour

Thursday, August 28th, 2025

I’m truly humbled and overjoyed to share that Hancock’s VMware Half Hour has reached 3,000 subscribers on YouTube!

What started as a passion project — a way to share knowledge, experiences, and insights into VMware, virtualization, and homelab technologies — has grown into a community of like-minded professionals, enthusiasts, and learners from around the world.

Each view, like, comment, and subscription means more to me than I can put into words. Your support has made this journey worthwhile, and it’s your engagement that inspires me to keep producing content. Whether you’ve been here since the very first video or only recently joined the channel, please know that you are a vital part of this milestone.

I created Hancock’s VMware Half Hour to make complex technologies more accessible and approachable, while also providing a space to experiment and have a bit of fun along the way. To see that 3,000 of you have found value in this journey fills me with both gratitude and excitement for what’s ahead.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of this community. Here’s to more videos, deeper discussions, and continuing to learn and grow together.

If you haven’t already, I’d love for you to subscribe to the channel, share it with friends or colleagues, and let me know what topics you’d like to see covered next. Together, we can keep building this incredible community.

And finally — here’s to the next big milestones: 5,000, 10,000, and beyond…

— Andrew ‘Andy’ Hancock

 

 

Hall of Fame – Thank You for 3,000 Members!

thanks . Awaiting for VCF 9.0 videos for learning

— @ajeeshisacsamuel3423

I loved watching your videos, but they seem to be underperforming in search results. ? I can help with that by tweaking some SEO settings. Reach out if you’d like my help!

— @AL-AMINSHEIKHH

Thanks I was wondering how to migrate the vcenter server appliance and now I know. unregister and register using vsphere. Can you set the EVC mode of a host or only a cluster and a VM? thanks

— @alexwells2231

@ thanks for the reply

— @alexwells2231

Thanks my friend, your channel is very valuable ?

— @Amamosni

Great LAB , thanks for the explanation

— @AnasAlwerfally-e3c

YOU ARE MY HERO, your content about vm vsphere is what I need. Thanks sir

— @Andrew-i2f1s

@ Thank you. Wanted to give this a go but went to VMUG today and they’ve stopped lab licensing which is a shame. Thanks for the info though.

— @andreww3575

 @einsteinagogo  thanks for the reply although I don’t think HR would approve of the beer 😉

— @andybailey4466

Great and detailed video, cheers mate! ??

— @Angelos_yu

I love you man, I’ve received a mail from my host telling me to upgrade my ESXi but I was lost with the whole broadcom thing, you saved my life ?

— @AntoineNiveau-ty1vw

Saved me tons of hours, thanks

— @Assah_Bismark

Thank you for video.

— @avinash0072355

Thank you for this video This tutorial just helped me recover my xbox series x as I accidentally used a drive with a diff data size

— @beegeex2jenkins850

Thank you, VMware doco a nightmare to navigate and you’re vid got me sorted 🙂

— @benniemc2002

Thank you Andrew.

— @bgenner59

Hi, thanks for the video Thanks in advance

— @Bob-n2f8x

Very well explanation, thank you very much for the content, really useful!

— @bravazq

Thank you so much, Sir. Finally, my virtual machine it’s running.

— @brayanpachongo

Thanks for these tutorials.

— @brianmorgan7207

Great video! Easy to follow. But, my brother, an Espresso and Pepsi Max at the same time might not be good for blood pressure 🙂

— @chancebingen6760

Thanks for your guide Thanks for rhe videos. I’ll subscibe & like. A source for VMware info may be helpful down the road.”

— @DataOnline_VN

?? @einsteinagogo Thank you sir. i have very minimal hardware like i have an i3 6100 , 12GB ram. Any advices to run these resource hungry programs ?

— @DeekshithAE

Thanks so much, worked flawlessly on my production setup. It is so much easier using vLCM !!

— @FlemmingWiltonHansen

Thanks. This was quite helpful. Side note, your config file has SAN (hostname, fqdn, ip). With this, when you sign in a Microsoft CA, it pulls this all the way through. When you set the SAN in the MSFT CA, you actually dropped the hostname and IP. At least that’s what I’ve observed but I’m not a cert guru.

— @FrostbyteVA

 @einsteinagogo  I actually found how to fix it. Thank you.

— @garychios

Great tutorial, thanks!

— @gerardgajda2236

great video!

— @GoodBoy-zc3ol

I’ve a A2. Great vids. Subscribed ?

— @GPUGear

Thanks for sharing this! I’m with you, adding this plugin just adds complexity, yes you will login to one place ONLY, but how many times you’re sizing luns etc I just dont see the productivity for small environments. Not to mention with updating your vcenter etc things can get melted and plugins might just stop working.

— @hahahaha7023

 @einsteinagogo  That was what i was looking for exactly. Thank you very much Andrew.

— @harbinur

very useful and informative video. thanks

— @harbinur

Very good, thank you!

— @josephtnied

Thanks for the video, how did you download the patch?

— @JulSaraci

Can you use the free version in a production environment or is there something in the eula that doesn’t allow for this? Thanks!

— @kabookeo

 @einsteinagogo  Awesome! Finally, some good news from Broadcom. Yup. Subscribed weeks ago when I found your channel and always like. Do you ship your honey to the US?

— @kabookeo

Excellent video, perfect example of how a tutorial should be done – doesn’t waste time. Thank you!

— @Kimomaru

Thanks for this (and the link in Reddit!) – my old VMware account was well and truly buggered!

— @leopoldbluesky

Thank you so much for your insight! I was looking to run a spp on a hpe proliant dl380 gen 9 remotely but couldn’t seem to get it to run on any of the virtual machines. I now know that I need to be in front of the server in order to run the spp.

— @leviwinkels9465

Well, Mr. Hancock, you are much smarter than I am when it comes to driver manipulation. Awesome job. Based on this video, my device manager is clean, and my OCD is in check. 🙂 Looking at some of your other videos, I think we are in the same industry. I worked for Citrix for fourteen years. I left in 2022 when they were acquired and taken private by two PE firms. I saw the writing on the wall, but never imagined where that writing would take Citrix.
My next project for this A2 is to install an A2000 and utilize GPU-P in Hyper-V. If you have any videos lying around for that, let me know 🙂

— @MarkHowell-wm3dj

Hi, let me know if you find anything regarding Server 2025 and drivers. I need to run Server 2025 for Hyper-V and like you, I have OCD when it comes to not having the drivers installed.
Thanks,
Mark.

— @MarkHowell-wm3dj

Thank you very much for your videos. Thanks again and great job!

— @matteobruno83

Your channel has great content, but I noticed your SEO could use a boost. ? Want me to help you optimize it for better reach? Let me know if you’re interested!

— @MD-AL-AMIN-SHEIKH2

Hello! I was wondering if you had any success with the M.2 (A+E) Key converter ? Thanks in advance!

— @medismailben

? @einsteinagogo  thanks man, solved it

— @Minavenesi839

Great video, Thanks!

— @MJSEdgar

thanks vmware brotha! i just patched my sandbox environment. much appreciated. cheers

— @MotoTrackSide

thank you! it works for me. other tutorials(disable hyper-v in Turn Windows features on or off) are completely out of date.

— @phakedreamer

Hey man, thank you very much for this video. I learned how to update ESXi — really appreciated!

— @PoudandaneOUTCHADEVIN

Thanks for the video

— @refra78

Thanks , great video

— @rikirapper

I want to get one of these, great video. I was super curious if you would replace the wifi card with a small sata SSD for boot drive. I want all the m.2 for storage. and you answered my question. thank you

— @rushunt2131

Thanks for the video. Just curious why you went Veem vs Nutanix move?

— @seanwoods1526

Thanks for the video. Next to build-24723872, I now see “standard.” That didn’t appear before… Should I be worried? Thanks again.

— @Sergiopalm

Thank you so much!

— @Servietsky_

 @einsteinagogo  Thank you!!

— @Servietsky_

Hi there. Thank you for taking the time to make your videos. They have been extremely helpful. So hard to find good VMware walkthroughs, and good teachers! Thx.

— @shavonne4831

Thank you Andrew it was really useful session. Kindly upload more videos on zerto related to journal alerts, rpo etc. There is hardly any available explaining these concepts and how to trouble shoot. Thanks much ??

— @shikvrm537

hi thanks for the video, can i also do this on ESXI 8u3c installed with HPE custom iso? hpe does not care to bring out 8u3d somehow 😀

— @snaporama

 @einsteinagogo  Thanks!

— @Spartan-u1l

Excellent content as usual!

— @stangbanger903

Thanks for the shout out! Awesome video!

— @StephenWagner

Bravo Sir, Thank you for posting

— @theboywholived2

Thanks Hancock’s!

— @TheWillkson

Great video! Just one question: do I need a unique token for each product? For example, here I’m using vCenter 7.0.03, Lifecycle Manager, vROps 8.16, and ESXi 7…

— @tiagoolv5115

super nice ! thank you for the video ! What would be helpful, if you list the commands in the description, like it was before. Anyway, the most comprehensive tutorials about ESXi !

— @tibigrigorescu94

Excellent, thank you.

— @tonyhall699

Many thanks for the great video

— @tuxmsantos

Thank you Andrew Hancock

— @velikadirkozan

Great summarized info! Only thing is after this, on fairly updated versions, it still throws an “System logs on host 10.1.1.4 are stored on non-persistent storage” message, any idea on that one?

— @VictorEstrada

Thanks for this video. Is it possible to create a video on how to monitor vSphere infrastructure by creating customized alerts for and send those via email whenever any configuration changes are made.

— @VikasSharma-ns7sp

 @einsteinagogo  Thank you

— @vinothjijan6114

Excellent video

— @VirtualJamesKing

Hello. Thanks for video. Helpful but 1 question. In your video, when you install, at 6:25, you only have option Upgrade or Install. I have Upgrade, install and preserve datastore and Install and overwrite datastore. If I choose to install preserving datastore, one installation completes my datastore browser is completely empty. Any suggestion? Please take note that the vmware esxi of which I am recovering lost password is version 7.0.2, and that I am installing a 8.0.2 version. Thank for help!

— @WeddingPlannerRome

@einsteinagogo  thank you it just for my home lab for learning, any way I finally upgraded via DCUI incase someone have same problem

— @wilsonsony

 

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Minisforum MS-A2 Can it Play Nutanix AHV Minisforum MS-A2 Series Part 17 Ultimate #homelab

Sunday, August 24th, 2025

In Part 17 of the Minisforum MS-A2 Ultimate #homelab Series, we put the Minisforum MS-A2 mini PC through its paces to see if it can handle Nutanix CE 2.1 (AHV).

This isn’t just a quick test — we go through the entire process of installing, configuring, and running Nutanix AHV on the MS-A2, step by step. If you’ve ever wondered whether a compact system can run enterprise-grade hyperconverged infrastructure, this video will show you how it’s done.

Here’s what you’ll learn and see in this deep dive:

Preparing the Installer: We boot the MS-A2, then use Rufus to create a USB ISO installer for Nutanix CE.

Kernel Panic Fix: Early in the boot we hit a kernel panic, but don’t worry — you’ll see how to fix it by disabling PSS support, and then boot Nutanix CE cleanly.

Installing Nutanix CE: Once the installer runs, we select hypervisor, CVM, and data devices, configure host and CVM IP addresses, set subnet/gateway, and accept the EULA.

First Boot & Cluster Setup: After rebooting, Nutanix AHV comes up. We SSH into the host and CVM, check VMs with virsh, and run the key cluster creation commands (full details on GitHub).

Cluster Status & Web Access: With the cluster online, we connect to Prism through the external IP, log in, change passwords, and link to the NEXT account.

Upgrades with LCM: Using Lifecycle Manager, we update the cluster to the latest AHV build, confirming the upgrade process works on the MS-A2.

Creating a VM: We upload ISOs (including Guest Tools), create a network subnet, and build our first VM on Nutanix AHV. You’ll see the MS-A2 handle a 4TB allocation (4096G) without issue.

Running Windows Server 2025: Finally, we boot a Windows Server 2025 ISO, walk through installation, and log in with our configured credentials — proving the MS-A2 can run Windows on top of Nutanix AHV.

By the end of this video, you’ll know exactly what to expect when running Nutanix CE 2.1 on the Minisforum MS-A2 — from install quirks and cluster setup to VM deployment.

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