However, setting it up as one used to be an involved process. That's until the Debian-based OpenMediaVault (OMV) distro decided to roll out a version specifically tuned to the Raspberry Pi.

A NAS solution can cost several hundred dollars. If you have an unused Raspberry Pi and a few hard drives lying around, you can make one yourself without spending a dime.

The affordability and innovation that comes packed in Raspberry Pi computers changed the game for technophobes. Here's how to turn one into a media center.