Posts Tagged ‘build’

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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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 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!

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