You could at least *try* to make the joke intelligent, instead of repeating a tired one...

Any modern OS is too complex for a single person to understand.

Windows is especially bad, given that the de facto goal is to maintain as much compatibility as humanly possible - including the antiquated Win32 API.

Starting with Windows 8.1, the tendency is more towards the Unix method of providing several versions of the same thing (much like what was done with the Visual Studio runtimes), presenting applications only the one they claim to target (or the default, which is Windows 7, IIRC). This should allow the API to be "broken" in newer releases, which should allow for better manageability.

Good, because these don't have Helium.

If you absolutely must, use a WiFi bridge. You're certainly within a tiny minority if that is the case.

I'd rather have real problems fixed than WiFi support added.

Ubuntu Server seems to be the standard non-ZFS open source solution. Other, more focused options exist.

Well of course. Only the new versions boot from ZFS and can thus roll back easily.

Actually, FreeNAS 9.2.1.6 and newer abstract it all away. Set up shares, set up their owner(s). Owner configures permissions from a client machine. I believe AD integration works similarly.

If you're using ZFS, prepare for major pain... If you aren't, why on earth would you use FreeNAS?

Way out of date? Compared to what, the FreeBSD nightlies?

I'm guessing it did not serve data stored on a ZFS pool via several protocols while still allowing for proper permissions.

Are you a FreeBSD admin? If not, you have no chance in hell of getting something usable in a decent amount of time.

You do have that chance with FreeNAS.

If you're ok with sub-100Mbit speeds, get a WiFI bridge.

Alternatively, solve your problem and run a cable.

You can't easily do much cheaper than the FreeNAS Mini. FreeNAS is not something you throw on an old computer.

The Hardware sticky over at the FreeNAS forums pretty much answers your questions: https://forums.freenas.org/ind...

The cheapest alternative for FreeNAS is probably something along the lines of:
Supermicro X10SLL-F + 8GB ECC DDR3 + Intel G3220 + case and PSU

miniITX would be more expensive, most likely.

NAS OS is restricted to doing NAS duty plus run arbitrary software via Jails. News at 11.

If only you could fork the project...

https://github.com/freenas/fre...