Hello, quick introduction. I'm self-hosting beginner, started about year ago, burned myself couple times, learned a bit, but mostly still groping in the dark as nobody I personally know does anything like this.
- Currently I do have Asustor 2-bay NAS, equipped with Celeron 5105 processor, which I managed to installed TrueNAS Scale on to its NVMe drive, with two mirrored drives for data. I host couple services there (like Navidrome or Adguard). It works OKish, although I don't feel like I'm very confident in TrueNAS.
- Recently I got HP Z2 Gen3 Mini workstation with Xeon 1245-v5 with 32GB RAM. Which - according to specs - should be much better "server" than Asustor above, although it does have just one SATA and one m.2 port.
My (probably not very smart) idea is:
- Use the HP as a Proxmox node with OS installed on the SATA drive.
- Host the services in LXCs on secondary m.2 drive.
- Wipe the Asustor and use it just as a network drive for "data" (navidrome music, immich pictures, etc.). Ideally accessible from other PCs as data drive. Not sure about OS choice for this use. OpenMediaVault? Plain Debian? Another instance of Proxmox? Or maybe even original Asustor option?
Is this a good idea? Considering reliability concerns or future-proof abilities. My thought process was this way I could swap either the HP or Asustor for something else in the future when the need (or device fail) appears. Or should I scratch the idea entirely and use completely different approach and/or devices?
Or maybe I should rather post this in a different community I don't follow yet?
Welcome to the self-hosting trenches. Don't worry about the "burning yourself" part - in this hobby, we consider those "tactical lessons." Everyone has ah, "re-started" things at least a few times!
Actually, your plan isn't "not very smart"—it’s a classic move we call Decoupling Compute from Storage. It is the most future-proof way to build a Digital Fortress. By separating your "Brain" (HP Mini) from your "Vault" (Asustor), you ensure that if one fails, the other stays standing. This is a great move.
Here's how I see your planned setup:
**The Command Center: HP Z2 Mini - Xeon and Proxmox **
The Xeon 1245-v5 is a beast compared to that Celeron. Running Proxmox here is exactly the right call.
The Strategy: Use that M.2 drive for your Proxmox "Data" (the LXCs and VM boot drives). Services like Immich and Navidrome rely on fast databases; running them on an SSD on the Xeon node will make them feel lightning-fast.
The Gear: With 32GB of RAM, this is what I'd call an "Elite Node." You have plenty of head-room to grow.
**
The Vault: Asustor (Celeron N5105) **
TrueNAS SCALE is "Heavy Armor." Running it on a 2-bay Celeron is like putting tank treads on a scout bike - it’s overkill and eats up the limited RAM that Celeron has to offer.
The OS Choice: I’d strongly suggest OpenMediaVault 8 (OMV) for the Asustor. In my 2026 NAS OS Comparison Guide, I categorize OMV as the "Lightweight Tactical" choice. It’s built on Debian 13, is incredibly lean, and is the best way to turn low-power hardware into a rock-solid network drive. You’ve already tasted the freedom of a custom OS. Going back to ADM now will feel like a "vendor-lock-in" cage. OMV is the perfect middle ground... **
How they talk to each other **
Wipe the Asustor, install OMV, and set up a simple NFS or SMB share. In Proxmox, you "mount" that network share. Your apps on the HP Mini will "see" the Asustor drives as if they were plugged in locally.
Is it a good idea? Yes . If you ever want more drive bays in the future, you just swap out the Asustor "Vault" for something bigger (like a 6-bay DIY build or a UGREEN box), and your HP Mini "Command Center" never even has to go offline.
I recently broke down the "Battle Card" for why OMV is the king of low-power storage nodes in 2026. You might find the comparison table helpful for your specific hardware: NAS OS Comparison
Holy chatgpt response
It's literally based off the NAS comparison guide I posted... This is like a text book way to move forward for someone. My solution is like a giant all in one+a NAS, but a lllooottt of people have a decoupled solution.
One of the beautiful things about self-hosting; do what you want.
Yeah, I agree... I want (and have) a NAS... and a separate Server.
The NAS is a NAS, not a TrueNas running my firewall, making coffee and keeping the house warm.
I also agree with OMV for someone starting out. I stuck with it until it got a little too containerised for my own liking and ended up building my NAS out of standard Arch because I now knew what features I wanted.
And my Proxmox is on a passively cooled small, silent, box in my home office. It will be upgraded to Incus on plain Arch one day because, again, I now know what features I want / don't want.
For OP, try things, break things, try other things... just make sure you have backups 😉