Always seemed as simple as that to me, but I've also never understood the need for specialized NAS software. And all I want out of NAS hardware is a box with a bunch of bays and a board with a bunch of ports/slots.
That being said, if you're trying stream your collection on the road (over your phone/at work/on a trip) it has to get more complicated than that. I'm not putting my shares on the public internet without a secure intermediary in some sort of streaming server. I used Gnump3d for that many years ago, but simply have settled for the 200 gigs of music on my phone's SD card since. I can't consider living with only 200 gigs of music such a hardship that I would be willing to set a new, possibly insecure thing up.
edit: Aiming ports towards the internet has been a job for me off and on, and the responsibility for keeping things updated yet also protecting against the new dangers potentially presented by each new update is something that I need a significant reward for.
That being said, if you're trying stream your collection on the road (over your phone/at work/on a trip) it has to get more complicated than that. I'm not putting my shares on the public internet without a secure intermediary in some sort of streaming server. I used Gnump3d for that many years ago, but simply have settled for the 200 gigs of music on my phone's SD card since. I can't consider living with only 200 gigs of music such a hardship that I would be willing to set a new, possibly insecure thing up.
edit: Aiming ports towards the internet has been a job for me off and on, and the responsibility for keeping things updated yet also protecting against the new dangers potentially presented by each new update is something that I need a significant reward for.