NAS using Raspberry Pi Zero 2W: Web-Based UI with Tailscale Integration

Abstract

We present a practical, low-cost Network-Attached Storage (NAS) solution built on the Raspberry Pi Zero 2W. The system combines standard Linux file-sharing tools with a custom web-based user interface written in Python. This interface enables users browse folders, upload and download files, create new directories, and delete items directly from any web browser. A simple password login, storage dashboard, client-side search bar, and real-time upload progress bar make the experience familiar and easy even for non-technical users. All file paths are strictly validated to stay inside the designated storage folder, and the application caps uploads at 5 GB to protect the limited 512 MB RAM. An unmount button safely flushes writes and detaches the external SSD. Tailscale can be added at the operating-system level for secure remote access without port forwarding. Tests on real hardware show stable transfer speeds and responsive operation for personal and small-team use. This work shows how a tiny single-board computer can deliver a capable personal NAS with modern usability.

Introduction

The text describes the design and development of a low-cost Network-Attached Storage (NAS) system built using a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W. Traditional NAS solutions are expensive and resource-heavy, while existing open-source options like OpenMediaVault and TrueNAS are not well-suited for the Pi Zero 2W due to limited RAM and processing power.

To solve this, the proposed system uses a lightweight, custom Flask-based web interface optimized for performance on constrained hardware. It provides essential file management features such as upload, download, delete, search, and folder organization through an easy-to-use web UI. The system also supports standard file-sharing protocols like Samba and SCP for local access.

For secure remote access, the system integrates Tailscale, a WireGuard-based VPN that enables safe connectivity without port forwarding or complex network setup. This improves security while keeping the NAS accessible from anywhere.

The Raspberry Pi Zero 2W serves as the core hardware, paired with external SSD storage. Despite its limitations (USB 2.0 speed and 512 MB RAM), careful software optimization ensures smooth operation and low power consumption.

Related work highlights growing interest in Raspberry Pi-based NAS systems, but also shows limitations in performance, usability, and security in existing solutions. The proposed system addresses these gaps by focusing on lightweight design, better usability, and secure remote access.

Conclusion

The proposed NAS solution demonstrates that the Raspberry Pi Zero 2W, despite severe hardware constraints, can serve as a highly capable platform for personal and small-scale network storage. By pairing direct Python file system manipulation with a lightweight web-based UI, the system achieves cross-platform compatibility while maintaining high usability. The software explicitly mitigates hardware limitations through, client-side rendering for search filtering, and safe unmounting procedures to protect data integrity. Furthermore, the integration of Tailscale effectively solves the complexities of remote access, providing secure global connectivity without the risks associated with traditional port forwarding. This work demonstrates that the Raspberry Pi Zero 2W can form the basis of a fully functional, user-friendly NAS when paired with a carefully designed Flask web interface. The system provides secure login, intuitive file management, real-time upload feedback, client-side search, and safe storage management all while staying within the hardware’s modest limits. By keeping the implementation lightweight and avoiding unnecessary dependencies, we created a solution that is both practical today and easy to extend. The combination of the web UI with Tailscale remote access offers a balanced, low-cost alternative to commercial NAS devices for home users, students, and small teams. While hardware limitations restrict this architecture from scaling to enterprise-level deployments, the solution successfully fills a critical niche for cost-sensitive applications where commercial NAS systems would be heavily overprovisioned. The project contributes a practical, open-source blueprint for transforming single-board computers into secure, highly functional data storage devices.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Zubair M. Alam, Shaikh Mohd Altaf, Usman Kazi, Omair Pathan, Prof. Nargis Shaikh. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.