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My own NAS system: my Unraid setup for the best overview and performance
by Richie Müller
DIY NAS: community apps, Docker and VMs – my Unraid server is growing up
23/10/2025
Translation: Veronica Bielawski
Pictures: Richie Müller
My Unraid server is up and running. Now it’s time to teach it more. I’m diving into community apps, Docker containers, virtual machines and plugins.
In my last post, I set up the data storage and started the array. My Unraid server is ready for everyday use. But now I’m taking it a step further. For that, I need community extensions, containers and virtual machines (VM). This article outlines how I approached it and what considerations guided me. Again, this isn’t a step-by-step guide. You’ll find plenty of those on YouTube. Instead, you’ll get a look at how my setup works.
Community apps – the gateway to the Unraid world
At its core, Unraid is a lean system. Its real strength only unfolds through community extensions. The Community Applications plugin is the main access point. It adds an unofficial yet essential app store to the interface.
Without this plugin, I’d have to set up every Docker container manually. This includes path definitions, network options and custom parameters. With Community Applications, I get a searchable, filterable catalogue. It also adds smart presets and one-click installation. Any serious Unraid user won’t be able to avoid it.
Docker – the foundation for almost everything
Most Unraid extensions run as containers. This holds true for media servers, backup tools and small web services. The concept is modern, flexible and resource-efficient; each app gets exactly what it needs. Before installing new tools, always check the settings: you have to manually enable Docker.
The related Docker data and configurations are stored in the appdata share. I previously assigned this share to the cache pool (primary storage: cache). This way, the containers benefit from short load times. At the same time, the array is spared frequent writes.
The Docker system itself also runs entirely on the cache. I also customise the network settings. I plan to give certain containers such as Plex, Pi-hole and Nginx Proxy Manager their own IP addresses.
Virtual machines – when Docker isn’t enough
Not every application fits neatly into a container. Sometimes you need a full operating system. Unraid provides an integrated virtualisation environment based on KVM (kernel-based virtual machine).
It lets you run operating systems such as Windows, Ubuntu or macOS as virtual machines. In my setup, however, I use only Linux distributions. Why? Because they’re stable, resource-efficient and well maintained by the community.
I currently run several desktop distributions like Elementary OS, Zorin OS and Linux Mint, alongside several Ubuntu server VMs. These host, among others, the following services:
VM management is done entirely through Unraid’s web interface. Accessing it via virtual network computing (VNC) or secure shell (SSH) works smoothly too. In Unraid, resources such as CPU, RAM and storage can be assigned individually to each VM.
Plugins – small tools with a big impact
Plugins expand Unraid with features such as temperature monitoring, notifications and support for external drives. These are missing in the base system. The plugin manager makes it easy to find and install new extensions directly from the web interface. It also allows you to take care of updates and uninstalling in just a few clicks.
Ready for everyday use – and whatever’s to come
My Unraid server is ready for everyday use. The storage structure is set up, the key community apps installed. Docker and virtual machines are enabled and configured, meaning I can run containers and virtual machines flexibly in the future. Thanks to selected extensions, the system remains modular and can be expanded at any time.
I’ve achieved exactly what I set out to do: build a digital sandbox to test new tools, host services for my business or simply experiment around – all without putting my productive infrastructure at risk.
Header image: Richie Müller
Richie Müller
Teamleader Editorial
Richard.Mueller@digitecgalaxus.chI'm a journalist with over 20 years of experience in various positions, mostly in online journalism. The tool I rely on for my work? A laptop – preferably connected to the Internet. In fact, I also enjoy taking apart laptops and PCs, repairing and refitting them. Why? Because it's fun!
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