TurnKey File Server
turnkeylinux.org
What it is
TurnKey File Server is a free Linux appliance for network-attached storage on self-hosted systems. It combines Windows-compatible file sharing with a browser-based file manager and supports SMB, FTP, SFTP, NFS, WebDAV, and rsync. The WebDAV CGI interface offers web access, previews for major formats, and drag-and-drop handling. Samba is preconfigured with user home directories and public storage, using /srv/storage as its default shared path. Webmin includes a Samba configuration module. The appliance also provides SSL, zip, rar, and bz2 compression, plus a utility for converting text file endings between UNIX and DOS formats. Automatic security updates are included, and passwords are set during initialization. TurnKey supplies a 723MB ISO and supports TurnKey Hub deployment on Amazon EC2. Documented build types include bare metal, VirtualBox, VMware, OpenStack, Proxmox, Xen, LXC, and Docker. The appliance is free and open source. Hub Cloud Servers — Free costs nothing, with AWS usage billed separately.
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- TurnKey File Server is a ready-to-use network attached storage appliance combining Windows-compatible file sharing with a web-based file manager.Read 9 Oct 2026 · turnkeylinux.org
- Deployment
- TurnKey offers the appliance as a 723MB ISO and supports deployment through TurnKey Hub on Amazon EC2.Read 9 Oct 2026 · turnkeylinux.org
- Security
- Automatic security updates are listed as an appliance feature, and passwords are set during system initialization rather than supplied as defaults.Read 9 Oct 2026 · turnkeylinux.org
- Support
- The maker describes free community help through its website and offers Hub paid plans with email or priority support.Read 9 Oct 2026 · hub.turnkeylinux.org
- Headquarters
- Ra'anana, IsraelRead 28 Sep 2026 · turnkeylinux.org
- Founded
- 2008Read 28 Sep 2026 · turnkeylinux.org
- Maker
- TurnKey GNU/Linux describes itself as a free Debian-based library of system images that integrates free software components into ready-to-use solutions.Read 9 Oct 2026 · turnkeylinux.org
- Additional features
- The appliance includes SSL support, zip, rar and bz2 compression support, and a utility to convert text file endings between UNIX and DOS formats.Read 9 Oct 2026 · turnkeylinux.org
- Administration
- The appliance includes Webmin with a module for configuring Samba.Read 9 Oct 2026 · turnkeylinux.org
- Backup limitation
- The maker notes that backing up many, large, or frequently changing files can substantially increase backup and restore times and storage costs.Read 9 Oct 2026 · turnkeylinux.org
- Protocols
- It supports SMB, FTP, SFTP, NFS, WebDAV, and rsync file transfer protocols.Read 9 Oct 2026 · turnkeylinux.org
- Secure remote access
- The maker recommends exposing only encrypted file-sharing protocols to hostile networks and suggests a VPN or SSH tunnel for external SMB/CIFS access.Read 9 Oct 2026 · turnkeylinux.org
- Storage setup
- Samba is preconfigured with user home directories and public storage, and its default shared storage path is /srv/storage.Read 9 Oct 2026 · turnkeylinux.org
- Upload limit
- The WebDAV CGI web UI has a default maximum upload size of 1GB, which can be changed in its configuration file.Read 9 Oct 2026 · turnkeylinux.org
- Virtualization
- TurnKey documentation lists build types for bare metal, VirtualBox, VMware, OpenStack, Proxmox, Xen, LXC, and Docker among other environments.Read 9 Oct 2026 · turnkeylinux.org
- Web file manager
- The WebDAV CGI interface provides web access with online previews of major formats and drag-and-drop support.Read 9 Oct 2026 · turnkeylinux.org
Plans and prices
Hub Backup and Migration — Free Free $0/ month 1 backup record · Community support · Encrypted cloud storage · Restore and migration tools · Storage $0.03/GB per month Read 9 Oct 2026 · hub.turnkeylinux.org
Hub Cloud Servers — Free Free $0/ month Micro server size · Unlimited servers · Community support · AWS usage billed separately Read 9 Oct 2026 · hub.turnkeylinux.org
TurnKey File Server appliance Free Free and open source; no appliance price is stated. Stable release 19.0-trixie · 723MB ISO Read 9 Oct 2026 · turnkeylinux.org
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Supports SMB, FTP, SFTP, NFS, WebDAV, and rsync
- Browser interface offers previews and drag-and-drop uploads
- Samba storage is preconfigured
- Automatic security updates are included
- Free and open-source appliance
Limits
- Web interface defaults to a 1GB upload limit
- Large or changing-file backups can take longer and cost more
- External SMB access requires a VPN or SSH tunnel recommendation
Who it suits
It suits users needing Linux-based, self-hosted network storage with multiple file-transfer protocols and browser access. Deployment documentation covers physical, virtual, container, and Amazon EC2 environments.
Verdict
TurnKey File Server packages common network-storage protocols, browser management, and preconfigured Samba into a free appliance. Its broad deployment choices are useful, but backup scale and the web upload ceiling deserve attention.
Where Specifiction places it
- NAS Software#18 of 217.5
