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OpenMediaVault Installation Guide

OpenMediaVault is a free NAS (Network-Attached Storage) solution based on Debian Linux. It provides a web-based management interface for configuring storage, file sharing, and network services.

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About OpenMediaVault

OpenMediaVault is designed for home and small office environments, offering features like:
  • Web-based administration
  • Support for multiple file sharing protocols (SMB/CIFS, FTP, NFS)
  • RAID management
  • Plugin system for extended functionality
  • Based on Debian for stability and security
Learn more at openmediavault.org

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Prerequisites

System Requirements
  • VirtualBox 5.0 or later
  • 64-bit processor recommended
  • Minimum 1 GB RAM (2 GB recommended)
  • At least 8 GB for system disk
  • Additional virtual disks for storage (optional)
  • OpenMediaVault ISO image

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Creating the Virtual Machine

1

Create New VM

  1. Open VirtualBox and click New
  2. Configure:
    • Name: OpenMediaVault
    • Type: Linux
    • Version: Debian (64-bit)
  3. Allocate 1024-2048 MB RAM
2

Create Storage

Create a virtual hard disk:
  • Format: VDI
  • Type: Dynamically allocated
  • Size: At least 8 GB for the system
You can add additional virtual disks later for data storage.
3

Configure Network

  1. Go to Settings → Network
  2. Set Adapter 1 to Bridged Adapter for network access
Bridged mode allows the VM to appear as a separate device on your network, which is ideal for a NAS.
4

Attach ISO

  1. Go to Settings → Storage
  2. Select the optical drive
  3. Attach the OpenMediaVault ISO image

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Installing OpenMediaVault

1

Boot Installation Media

Start the VM. The OpenMediaVault installer will boot automatically.
2

Select Language

Choose your preferred installation language.
3

Set Hostname

Enter a hostname for your NAS (e.g., nas-server, openmediavault).
This name will be used to access the server on your network.
4

Configure Domain

Enter a domain name or leave as default. For local networks, you can use:
  • local
  • lan
  • Your custom domain for future use
5

Create Administrator Account

Set up the root password for system administration.
Store this password securely. It’s needed for system-level access and troubleshooting.
6

Configure Time Zone

Select your geographic location for proper time synchronization.
7

Partition Disk

The installer will automatically partition the disk. Accept the defaults for a standard installation.
8

Configure Package Repository

Select a Debian mirror close to your location for faster package downloads.
9

Install GRUB Bootloader

Install GRUB to the master boot record when prompted.
10

Complete Installation

Wait for installation to complete, then reboot when prompted.

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First Boot Configuration

1

Boot System

After reboot, you’ll see the OpenMediaVault console with network information displayed.
2

Note IP Address

The console shows the IP address assigned to your NAS. Note this down — you’ll use it to access the web interface.
3

Access Web Interface

From another computer on the network, open a web browser and navigate to:
http://[IP-ADDRESS]
Default credentials:
  • Username: admin
  • Password: openmediavault
Change the default password immediately after first login!
4

Initial Configuration

From the web interface:
  1. Change the admin password
  2. Update the system
  3. Configure network settings if needed
  4. Set up storage devices

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Adding Storage

  1. Shutdown the OpenMediaVault VM
  2. In VirtualBox, go to Settings → Storage
  3. Add a new hard disk to the SATA controller
  4. Start the VM
  5. In the web interface:
    • Go to Storage → Disks
    • The new disk should appear
    • Create a file system on it
    • Mount the file system
    • Create shared folders

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Next Steps

After installation, you can:
  • Configure file sharing (SMB/CIFS for Windows, NFS for Linux)
  • Set up user accounts and permissions
  • Enable additional services (FTP, SSH, DLNA)
  • Install plugins for extended functionality
  • Configure RAID arrays for data redundancy
  • Set up automated backups
OpenMediaVault provides a complete NAS solution with minimal resource requirements, making it perfect for home labs and small office deployments.

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Troubleshooting

Can’t access web interface?
  • Verify network mode is set to Bridged Adapter
  • Check firewall settings on host machine
  • Confirm IP address from the VM console
Disks not appearing?
  • Ensure disks are attached to SATA controller in VirtualBox
  • Check that disks are properly initialized in the web interface

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