The earlier Pi’s are not bad as NAS devices, just USB 2.0 limited. Get roughly 30 MB/s read and 26 MB/s write on a Pi 3 B+ that has a old USB 2.0 drive hanging off it configured for Samba network access. Previously used that Pi as a Plex server and it worked fine for my needs for close to two years before moving to a dedicated (non WD) NAS capable of running Plex. If one doesn’t need fast read/write an older Pi works fine as a basic very cheap NAS using old unused external hard drives.
Don’t really participate on other technical forums unless I have a specific issue with a computer/electronic device. Only do so here because like quite a few others, I came here with a number of single bay My Cloud issues and stuck around to help others. Still keep the single bay My Cloud running as a backup and as something to mess around with, like using a 2.5 inch hard drive in it. Or putting other old unused drives in it when previous drives in it die.
