Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In this updated Unraid setup guide for 2026, I walk through building a modern, all-SSD NAS using Unraid with ZFS and NVMe storage. This tutorial covers the full Unraid installation process, USB boot requirements, licensing basics, and a practical storage layout that combines a traditional Unraid array with a high-performance NVMe ZFS RAID-Z pool. You’ll learn how to create users, configure secure network shares, and understand why this hybrid approach makes sense for modern NAS builds. Whether you’re upgrading an existing Unraid server or building a new solid-state NAS, this guide shows how Unraid is used today.
Check Out My Original UNRAID Setup Video Here! - youtu.be/huCE4jtXOjQ
Products Highlighted (Amazon Affiliate Links):
Linkstation N1 - amzn.to/3ZW2jsd
Linkstation N2 - amzn.to/3OscXEy
TeamGroup 2.5" SSD - amzn.to/4rEuc41
TeamGroup Gen 3 NVME SSD - amzn.to/3O4pLAW
00:00 - Intro
01:15 - System Overview and Setup
03:03 - BOOT Process and Storage
05:08 - UNRAID Boot Media Creation
05:34 - First Boot
06:39 - Headless Access / Licensing
08:18 - Updating Unraid
08:54 - The Need for an Array
09:45 - Creating the Array
11:15 - Creating ZFS RAIDZ Pool
12:39 - System Resource Allocation
13:35 - Formatting Pools
13:49 - Creating a User
14:06 - Adding a Network Share
14:47 - Accessing the Share
15:21 - Share Management
16:14 - Testing the Network Share
17:44 - UNRAID Strengths & Weaknesses
19:56 - The Rising Cost of Solid State NAS
20:59 - Dive Deeper!
Find me on Social Media
Patreon: patreon.com/elevatedsystems
X: https://x.com/elevatedsystem1
My Studio Equipment (Paid Links)
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema 6K Pro - amzn.to/3tA6ScP
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7 - amzn.to/2VjqKSR
Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ300 - amzn.to/2WJnxw6
Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens - amzn.to/3quDgM0
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens -amzn.to/3uv13Of
Panasonic LUMIX G Lens, 25mm, F1.7 - amzn.to/3A9f9Vi
Magnus REX VT-5000 2-Stage Tripod - amzn.to/3GxsGJH
Neewer 72.4-Inch Camera Tripod - amzn.to/3fsRuqU
SMALLRIG Parabolic Softbox - amzn.to/3Hyvbxt
SmallRig RC 120D COB Light - amzn.to/3S9Grp4
Kshioe Softbox Lighting Kit - amzn.to/3A5vZEq
Neewer Camera Slider Motorized - amzn.to/3ltX54e
Sennheiser MKE 600 Shotgun Mic - amzn.to/3fziRPv
SAMSON Q2U Dynamic Microphone - amzn.to/3ikExBe
Sennheiser XS Wireless Lavalier System - amzn.to/3ilSIpA
PreSonus Eris E3.5 Studio Monitor - amzn.to/3CcVx4d
Behringer U-Phoria UM2 USB DAC - amzn.to/3ZmyOOO
Gator Frameworks Deluxe Boom Stand - amzn.to/3fs7Os3
Glide Gear TMP100 Teleprompter - amzn.to/3CdgIDy
GLEAM Microphone Stand - amzn.to/3A4dth5
Davinci Resolve 17 & Speed Editor - amzn.to/3fsECRG
AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA - amzn.to/3CCH5nV
Apple 2022 Mac Studio - amzn.to/3GXW6mS
LG 40WP95C-W 40” 5K2K Display - amzn.to/3ZtiiN6
INNOCN 15.6" OLED Portable Monitor. - amzn.to/3jEOqgu
BenQ ScreenBar Halo - amzn.to/3XpUZ52
Audio file(s) provided by Epidemic Sound
https://www.epidemicsound.combeelink me pro
In this updated Unraid setup guide for 2026, I walk through building a modern, all-SSD NAS using Unraid with ZFS and NVMe storage. This tutorial covers the full Unraid installation process, USB boot requirements, licensing basics, and a practical storage layout that combines a traditional Unraid array with a high-performance NVMe ZFS RAID-Z pool. You’ll learn how to create users, configure secure network shares, and understand why this hybrid approach makes sense for modern NAS builds. Whether you’re upgrading an existing Unraid server or building a new solid-state NAS, this guide shows how Unraid is used today.
Check Out My Original UNRAID Setup Video Here! - youtu.be/huCE4jtXOjQ
Products Highlighted (Amazon Affiliate Links):
Linkstation N1 - amzn.to/3ZW2jsd
Linkstation N2 - amzn.to/3OscXEy
TeamGroup 2.5" SSD - amzn.to/4rEuc41
TeamGroup Gen 3 NVME SSD - amzn.to/3O4pLAW
00:00 - Intro
01:15 - System Overview and Setup
03:03 - BOOT Process and Storage
05:08 - UNRAID Boot Media Creation
05:34 - First Boot
06:39 - Headless Access / Licensing
08:18 - Updating Unraid
08:54 - The Need for an Array
09:45 - Creating the Array
11:15 - Creating ZFS RAIDZ Pool
12:39 - System Resource Allocation
13:35 - Formatting Pools
13:49 - Creating a User
14:06 - Adding a Network Share
14:47 - Accessing the Share
15:21 - Share Management
16:14 - Testing the Network Share
17:44 - UNRAID Strengths & Weaknesses
19:56 - The Rising Cost of Solid State NAS
20:59 - Dive Deeper!
Find me on Social Media
Patreon: patreon.com/elevatedsystems
X: https://x.com/elevatedsystem1
My Studio Equipment (Paid Links)
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema 6K Pro - amzn.to/3tA6ScP
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7 - amzn.to/2VjqKSR
Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ300 - amzn.to/2WJnxw6
Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens - amzn.to/3quDgM0
Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens -amzn.to/3uv13Of
Panasonic LUMIX G Lens, 25mm, F1.7 - amzn.to/3A9f9Vi
Magnus REX VT-5000 2-Stage Tripod - amzn.to/3GxsGJH
Neewer 72.4-Inch Camera Tripod - amzn.to/3fsRuqU
SMALLRIG Parabolic Softbox - amzn.to/3Hyvbxt
SmallRig RC 120D COB Light - amzn.to/3S9Grp4
Kshioe Softbox Lighting Kit - amzn.to/3A5vZEq
Neewer Camera Slider Motorized - amzn.to/3ltX54e
Sennheiser MKE 600 Shotgun Mic - amzn.to/3fziRPv
SAMSON Q2U Dynamic Microphone - amzn.to/3ikExBe
Sennheiser XS Wireless Lavalier System - amzn.to/3ilSIpA
PreSonus Eris E3.5 Studio Monitor - amzn.to/3CcVx4d
Behringer U-Phoria UM2 USB DAC - amzn.to/3ZmyOOO
Gator Frameworks Deluxe Boom Stand - amzn.to/3fs7Os3
Glide Gear TMP100 Teleprompter - amzn.to/3CdgIDy
GLEAM Microphone Stand - amzn.to/3A4dth5
Davinci Resolve 17 & Speed Editor - amzn.to/3fsECRG
AVerMedia Live Gamer ULTRA - amzn.to/3CCH5nV
Apple 2022 Mac Studio - amzn.to/3GXW6mS
LG 40WP95C-W 40” 5K2K Display - amzn.to/3ZtiiN6
INNOCN 15.6" OLED Portable Monitor. - amzn.to/3jEOqgu
BenQ ScreenBar Halo - amzn.to/3XpUZ52
Audio file(s) provided by Epidemic Sound
https://www.epidemicsound.combeelink me pro
