The Ugreen DXP series runs Intel x86 processors and uses UEFI firmware, which means TrueNAS SCALE and Unraid can be installed on DXP hardware the same way they are installed on any x86 system. The DXP2800, DXP4800, DXP480T, DXP6800, and DXP8800 all support USB boot and UEFI, so booting an alternative OS is a matter of creating a boot drive, entering the BIOS, and installing. The hardware compatibility is not the obstacle. The obstacles are fan control, specific peripheral support, warranty implications, and the question of whether it is worth the effort given what UGOS Pro can already do.
In short: Yes, TrueNAS SCALE and Unraid install on Ugreen DXP hardware (x86, UEFI). Core functionality -- drives, network, NVMe -- works without special drivers. Fan control requires manual configuration. It voids the Ugreen warranty. The main reason to do this is ZFS (TrueNAS) or Unraid's flexible disk model. For everything else, UGOS Pro on the DXP is the lower-friction path.
Warranty note: Installing an alternative OS on a Ugreen DXP NAS voids the hardware warranty. If you install TrueNAS or Unraid and encounter a hardware fault, Ugreen's warranty claim pathway is complicated by the non-stock firmware state. Only proceed if you are comfortable with this trade-off and have assessed the warranty risk given Ugreen's current AU support chain.
Why Someone Would Want This
The primary motivation for installing TrueNAS SCALE on a Ugreen DXP NAS is ZFS. UGOS Pro does not support ZFS. TrueNAS SCALE is built around ZFS with full checksums, self-healing scrubs, snapshots, and compression. For users who specifically want ZFS data integrity in a purpose-built NAS enclosure without stepping up to enterprise hardware, the DXP series offers x86 compute in a compact form factor at a price that competes with DIY builds.
The DXP4800 and DXP6800 in particular are interesting candidates. Four and six bays, Intel processors, NVMe M.2 slots that TrueNAS treats as ZFS special vdev candidates, and 2.5GbE networking. The hardware is solid. The attraction is getting ZFS's data integrity guarantees on an otherwise capable prebuilt enclosure.
Unraid is the other common alternative, particularly for homelab users who want flexible disk management (mixing drive sizes without fixed pool architecture) and Docker and VM hosting in a single interface. Unraid's parity-based storage model suits users adding drives incrementally over time.
What Works Out of the Box
The Intel N100 and Core i5 processors in the DXP range have strong Linux kernel support. TrueNAS SCALE (Linux-based) and Unraid (Linux-based) both recognise the CPU, SATA controller, and network interfaces correctly on DXP hardware without special drivers.
The 2.5GbE network port (Intel I226 or similar) is supported by standard Linux kernel drivers and works normally in both TrueNAS SCALE and Unraid. The M.2 NVMe slots are recognised and available as storage devices. The SATA bays are presented through the SATA controller without issues. The USB ports work for installing the OS and for connecting peripherals.
For most users, the core NAS functionality (drives, network, M.2) works without configuration beyond the normal OS setup process.
What Requires Manual Work
Fan control. This is the most commonly reported issue. Ugreen DXP models use a proprietary fan control protocol managed by UGOS Pro's system daemon. Under TrueNAS SCALE or Unraid, the fan controller is not automatically managed, which means fans may run at full speed or at a fixed low speed depending on the BIOS defaults. Community members have worked around this with fancontrol and lm-sensors configuration on TrueNAS SCALE, but it requires manual tuning to set temperature curves correctly. Unraid's plugin ecosystem has additional fan control options. Without correct fan configuration, either the DXP runs loud (full speed) or drives run warmer than ideal (fixed low speed).
HDMI output and UGOS Pro-specific peripherals. HDMI output on the DXP series is connected through the Intel iGPU, which Linux supports via the i915 driver. TrueNAS SCALE does not use HDMI by default (it is a server OS). Unraid can display a console on HDMI. If HDMI output was part of the original UGOS Pro use case, this requires additional configuration in the alternative OS.
Power button and LED behaviour. Some DXP models have front panel indicators and a power button managed by UGOS Pro. Under TrueNAS or Unraid, the power button functions normally (ACPI shutdown), but drive activity LEDs and status indicators may not behave identically to the UGOS Pro experience without custom scripts.
TrueNAS SCALE on DXP4800: Community Status
The DXP4800 is the most commonly reported DXP model for alternative OS installation, reflecting its position as the most widely purchased DXP. Community threads on r/homelab, the TrueNAS community forums, and Ugreen's own NAS community report successful TrueNAS SCALE installations on the DXP4800 with the following outcomes:
- Storage pool creation with ZFS works correctly across the four SATA bays
- M.2 NVMe recognised and usable as ZFS special vdev (for metadata) or cache (L2ARC)
- 2.5GbE network interface works at full speed
- Fan control requires manual configuration via lm-sensors and fancontrol
- HDMI not used in most server deployments
- Docker apps (TrueNAS Apps/Dragonfish) install and run without DXP-specific issues
The DXP6800 with its i5 processor has also been reported running TrueNAS SCALE successfully, with the same fan control caveat. The additional compute of the i5 is useful for TrueNAS workloads that include VMs or compute-intensive containers.
Unraid on DXP Hardware
Unraid installs via USB boot and treats the DXP hardware as a standard x86 system. The SATA drives, NVMe slots, and 2.5GbE interface are all detected correctly. Unraid's array setup works normally with DXP bays as standard SATA drives. Community reports note the same fan control issue as TrueNAS, and Unraid's Community Applications plugin ecosystem includes fan control plugins that simplify the configuration process.
Unraid's Docker and VM management runs well on both the N100 and i5 DXP models. For homelab users who want a flexible Docker environment alongside NAS storage, Unraid on a DXP4800 or DXP6800 is a viable and reasonably well-documented community path.
Is It Worth It Over Just Using UGOS Pro?
For most DXP buyers, no. UGOS Pro handles Docker, file sharing, RAID, and the common homelab use cases without requiring warranty-voiding OS replacement. The effort of configuring fan control, working around UGOS Pro peripherals, and maintaining an alternative OS on hardware that was not designed for it is real ongoing friction.
The case for installing an alternative OS is specific: you want ZFS (TrueNAS) and UGOS Pro's non-ZFS storage is not acceptable for your data integrity requirements. Or you want Unraid's specific disk management model and are comfortable running community-supported hardware. Those are legitimate reasons. For general homelab use, streaming, Docker, and file storage, UGOS Pro on the DXP is the lower-friction path.
Before you install: Back up any existing data on the NAS. TrueNAS SCALE installation will wipe the drive used for the OS (typically a USB drive or M.2 boot device, not the storage drives). Have a plan for the UGOS Pro configuration you want to preserve before wiping. The storage drives themselves are not affected by installing TrueNAS on a separate boot device, but always have a confirmed backup before any OS installation.
Related reading: our NAS buyer's guide, our Synology vs QNAP comparison, and our NAS RAID guide.
Free tools: RAID Calculator and RAID Rebuild Time Estimator. No signup required.
Does installing TrueNAS on a Ugreen DXP void the warranty?
Yes. Installing non-stock firmware or operating systems on any NAS hardware voids the manufacturer warranty. Given that Ugreen does not yet have an official AU distributor, the warranty escalation path is already limited. Factor this risk into the decision. If the NAS is within a period where warranty coverage matters for your use case, staying on UGOS Pro preserves the warranty path. If the NAS is out of warranty or you have assessed the risk as acceptable, the technical installation itself is straightforward.
Can I switch back to UGOS Pro after installing TrueNAS?
Yes. UGOS Pro can be reinstalled from Ugreen's recovery image. The process involves downloading the UGOS Pro recovery image, creating a bootable USB, and reinstalling. Your storage pool data is not affected by reinstalling the OS to a separate boot device or M.2 slot. Ugreen's community documentation covers the recovery process. If you are running TrueNAS from a dedicated USB boot drive rather than an internal M.2 drive, switching back is particularly straightforward: remove the USB and boot from the internal storage.
Is TrueNAS SCALE or Unraid better for a Ugreen DXP?
TrueNAS SCALE if ZFS data integrity is the primary goal. Unraid if flexible disk management (mixing drive sizes, incremental expansion) and a simpler Docker interface are priorities. TrueNAS SCALE is free and open source. Unraid requires a one-time licence. Both have active communities and work on DXP hardware with the same fan control caveat. For homelab Docker and VM workloads, Unraid's interface is often preferred. For a NAS where ZFS checksums and scrubs are the reason for the installation, TrueNAS SCALE is the correct choice.
Does the DXP2800 work with TrueNAS?
Yes, with the same caveats as the DXP4800. The N100 processor, SATA bays, M.2 slots, and 2.5GbE interface are all Linux-compatible. The two-bay limitation means TrueNAS SCALE is running ZFS in a mirror configuration (RAID 1 equivalent), which works correctly but limits usable capacity to one drive's worth of storage. For a two-bay setup, TrueNAS's mirror vdev provides ZFS data integrity on both drives. Fan control requires the same manual configuration as on other DXP models.
Does TrueNAS SCALE support the Intel Quick Sync GPU in DXP models?
TrueNAS SCALE can access the Intel iGPU in DXP models for hardware transcoding in Plex or Jellyfin deployed via the TrueNAS app framework. The i915 driver is included in the TrueNAS SCALE Linux kernel. Configuring Plex or Jellyfin to use hardware transcoding through TrueNAS requires passing the GPU device to the app container, which is supported in the TrueNAS SCALE app configuration. This is more involved than the automatic Quick Sync integration in UGOS Pro's native Plex or Jellyfin Docker setup, but it works with the correct configuration.
Comparing prebuilt NAS to a full DIY TrueNAS or Unraid build? The prebuilt vs DIY guide covers the real cost and complexity differences.
Prebuilt NAS vs DIY