HexOS and the Importance of Networking

The first product we will review is HexOS, a project developed by Eshtek Inc. and built on TrueNAS SCALE, which is developed by iXsystems. HexOS promises to simplify network-attached storage (NAS) management while expanding the capability to host various applications locally (on your local network).

Eshtek used the “innovator’s gift” to develop HexOS. The innovator’s gift is a concept popularized by Ash Maurya in Running Lean. It describes the idea that every new solution creates new problems. If a solution is good, solving the problems it introduces will have a ready market—this is the gift. When you find problems with good solutions, the market for those existing solutions will also create desire for your product. This is exactly what we see with HexOS. iXsystems built their business around Network Attached Storage, but since their solution is geared towards businesses, it assumes a level of IT support beyond the capacity of most home users. This gap creates a market for people who want a self-hosted storage solution without the complexity and demands of an enterprise system.

In this respect, HexOS is a compelling offering. Even in its beta version, it’s clear that significant thought and effort went into making it user-friendly. Many technical aspects are abstracted away, and decisions are made for the user so they don’t need to be IT experts to leverage the benefits of a NAS. However, HexOS has fallen into a “local maximum” trap. They identified that setting up a NAS was hard and made it much more approachable. But they missed the bigger opportunity: abstracting away file storage entirely.

What is a NAS and Why Might You Want It?

A Network Attached Storage device solves the problem of files being trapped on specific devices. For instance, if you save your pictures to your PC’s hard drive and then want to show them to Aunt Prudence during a visit, you’d have to lug your desktop along. Instead, a NAS lets you save files on a device with networking capabilities, allowing you to access them through a network protocol, such as the internet.

Today, most people use network-attached storage owned by a business: cloud storage. The cloud’s primary appeal is its ubiquitous availability. So why would you choose to own a NAS over renting access to someone else’s NAS in the cloud? Several major reasons stand out:

1. Cost: A NAS requires an upfront investment, but it eliminates the recurring subscription fees of cloud storage. With affordable hardware, hosting your own storage is often cheaper in the long run.

2. Permanence: Large companies are pretty good at avoiding data loss. It does happen¹, but it’s rare. More commonly, you lose access to the data. Companies like Google or Apple might lose your data, but it’s far more likely the company itself could change direction, shut down the service, or lock you out of your account (like the TikTok shutdown last week)². In all likelihood you, and your desire to access your data, will persist longer than Google’s desire to store your data. Owning your storage avoids this risk.

3. Privacy: Cloud providers offset the cost of storage through surveillance capitalism, gleaning valuable information from your data and interactions. Even if they promise not to look at your files, they extract insights from how you use their system and either use these insights or sell them. A NAS allows you to maintain control of your data free from this exploitation.

What is NAS and Why You Might Not Want It

While NAS offers clear advantages, it remains too complicated for most users. Even with HexOS, the cognitive load of managing hard drive pools, folders, and shared locations can be overwhelming. Users also need to consider data backups and maintain a mental map of their storage environment—“Did I save this to my NAS or my laptop?”

With modern technology, managing files and folders should no longer be necessary. Instead, users should operate at the application level. Data should persist automatically, accessible across compatible applications. For example, when you jot down notes in a word processor, you shouldn’t need to think about saving the file periodically or choosing file locations. The data should simply be there the next time you need it, even in a different app.

Hardware ownership is still essential for access, permanence, and privacy. But using it should be as simple as plugging in the device and having it “just work.” Imagine an inverse battery indicator showing how full your storage is. When it’s full, you can delete unnecessary data or expand storage by plugging in another device.

What We Learned from HexOS

HexOS has shown us both what’s possible and where there’s room for improvement in the self-hosting space. Here’s what stood out to us:

What Eshtek Has Done Well

1. Spiffy User Interface: The UI is polished and accessible. Eshtek has taken what’s often a daunting experience for home users and made it inviting. We’re inspired to make Tealok’s interface just as smooth and intuitive.
2. Build on a Solid Foundation: By using TrueNAS SCALE, HexOS benefits from years of development and stability. It’s a reminder that leveraging existing tools can save time and reduce risk when building something new.
3. Promote with Influential Voices: Getting someone like Linus at Linus Tech Tips to endorse the product was a masterstroke. It highlights how the right advocate can significantly amplify awareness.
4. Be Responsive to Critics, but Brave Enough to Chart Your Path: HexOS shows that listening to feedback is essential, but so is staying true to your vision—even when it means making decisions that some users won’t love. This balance of responsiveness and conviction is a lesson we’re taking to heart.

Where We See Opportunities for Growth

1. Beware of Local Maximums: HexOS solves the problem of making NAS setup easier, but it doesn’t go far enough. The real opportunity lies in abstracting storage entirely, moving beyond the files-and-folders paradigm to create a system that “just works.”
2. Tackle Networking Head-On: The choice to use a hosted cloud service for management simplifies networking for users, but it comes at the cost of autonomy. We believe there’s a way to make networking approachable without relying on external infrastructure.
3. Find Out Where the Market Really Is: HexOS caters to a specific niche—users who want control over storage without the complexity of enterprise tools. But what about the broader market of people who don’t want to think about storage at all? That’s where we think the real opportunity lies.
4. Reimagine the Files-and-Folders Paradigm: Managing files and folders feels outdated in 2025. HexOS makes it easier, but the bigger leap is to design a system where users don’t need to think about file locations or backups. Data should be automatically available wherever it’s needed.

HexOS has set a high bar, and we’re grateful for the lessons we’ve learned by studying their approach. With Tealok, we’re taking these insights and applying them to build something that doesn’t just meet users where they are today but anticipates where they’ll want to be tomorrow.

Notes on Tealok in This Space

We aspire for Tealok to offer a UI as polished as HexOS while making it easier for today’s cloud users to transition to self-hosting. But Tealok will go far beyond storage, meeting users where they are and offering a seamless experience. Using Tealok will feel like using the cloud, but without its downsides—and with added superpowers.

Join Us

We value your feedback. If you’ve used HexOS or read about it, let us know what you liked or disliked. If you’re a cloud user looking to transition, tell us what Tealok would need to offer. And if you’re a self-hoster or part of the tech elite, share how you would solve these challenges.

Notes