17

How to Set Up NAS at Home in 2025

by with No Comment AI & ML Tech

What’s a NAS and Why It Belongs in Your Home Setup?

Think of NAS (Network Attached Storage) as your personal cloud—but one you actually own and control. It sits quietly in your room or office corner, silently storing your CCTV recordings, project files, movies, mobile backups, and more.

Instead of paying monthly to Google or Dropbox, you can set up a NAS at home and access your data from any device on your Wi-Fi. Whether you’re working remotely, running a smart home, or hosting family movie nights, a NAS gives you speed, privacy, and convenience—all in one box.

How I Set Up My NAS the Smarter Way

Setting up NAS might sound intimidating, but honestly—it’s simpler than wiring a new ceiling fan. Here’s a no-frills walkthrough that anyone can follow:

1. Pick the Right Operating System

If you’re using a Raspberry Pi, install OpenMediaVault—super flexible, open-source, and community-supported.
Prefer a cleaner, plug-and-play experience? Go with Synology or QNAP—they come with their own sleek OS like DiskStation or QTS.

2. Hook It Up to Your Router Like a Pro

Once your NAS boots up, connect it to your home router using a CAT6 LAN cable.
Then:

  • Log into your router settings
  • Reserve a static IP for your NAS (no more “where’s my NAS?” surprises)

LAN is the way to go here—Wi-Fi won’t cut it for heavy video transfers or backups.

3. Set Up Shared Folders That Actually Make Sense

You don’t want a dump folder. Make logical shared directories like:

  • /backup/ for family phone backups
  • /media/ for your movies and music
  • /cctv/ for your IP camera footage

Enable SMB or NFS so Windows, Mac, and Linux devices can all see your NAS on the network.

4. Create Users—Even for Your TV

Give each device or person a login:

  • Your laptop
  • Home Assistant
  • The CCTV NVR
  • Even that smart TV pulling movies from your NAS

Set access rights carefully. You don’t want your toddler’s tablet erasing the CCTV footage.

5. Don’t Forget the Backup Tools

On macOS? Use Time Machine.
On Windows? Set up File History.
You can also use:

  • rsync for manual control
  • Synology Drive or QNAP’s Hybrid Backup Sync
  • Or even Cloud Sync to mirror some folders to Google Drive

🔐 Safety First: Secure Your NAS Like a Fortress

A NAS is a server. Treat it like one.

  • Change the admin password—immediately
  • Enable two-factor authentication
  • Turn off external access if you don’t need it
  • Use firewall settings and auto IP block features
  • If your NAS supports it, encrypt sensitive folders

🔄 Real-World Ways I Use My NAS at Home

Here’s what I personally use my NAS for, and I’d recommend it to any Indian techie or creator:

  • 24×7 CCTV recording (4 camera feeds stored for 30 days)
  • Auto-backup of all family phones every night
  • Movie server using Plex—it’s like having Netflix, but local
  • Project sync between office and home devices
  • Local ML model runs and automation using Home Assistant + Node-RED

🔬 Setup at a Glance

🔸 Device: Synology DiskStation DS124
🔸 Drives: Western Digital 4TB WD Red Plus NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD
🔸 Switch: TP-Link TL-SG108E (Managed)
🔸 VLAN Setup: Separate zones for CCTV, Work, Guests

This setup has saved me from data loss more than once—and even handled 4K video editing over LAN like a champ.

Why a NAS is Non-Negotiable in 2025

We’ve moved beyond simple file storage. In today’s smart homes, remote work culture, and AI-integrated workflows, a NAS is the digital locker your home needs.

No monthly fees. No third-party snooping. Just a powerful, private, always-on data hub in your home.

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4

Deploying Edge AI at Home: What’s an On-Device LLM?

by with No Comment AI & ML Tech

Why Edge AI Matters Now—Especially at Home

Let’s face it: smart homes shouldn’t rely entirely on cloud servers to turn on a fan or switch off a light. We live in a country where internet stability varies, and privacy is a growing concern. That’s where Edge AI becomes a game-changer—especially when powered by on-device Large Language Models (LLMs).

This isn’t just future talk. It’s real, it’s accessible, and it works today.

1. What Is Edge AI?

Edge AI means the intelligence runs on your own devices—not on some remote server.
It works on local processors like your laptop, router, or microcontroller and responds to real-world inputs like temperature, sound, or motion.

Why it’s a big deal:

  • Real-time speed – zero lag
  • Offline operation – perfect when internet drops
  • Privacy-first – no data leaves the premises
  • No cloud bills – use once, no subscription

2. What’s an On-Device LLM?

An On-Device LLM is a trimmed-down version of large AI models (like ChatGPT) that runs right inside your devices.
That means no external API calls. The entire interaction—voice, text, automation—happens locally.

Some practical models:

  • Phi-2 – small, multilingual, works well on laptops
  • Mistral 7B – more powerful, great for desktops
  • TinyLLaMA – perfect for Raspberry Pi or ESP32 boards

These models can help us build smarter routines at home using natural language. They even understand Hinglish or local dialects when finetuned.

3. Why This Is Ideal for Indian Homes?

Let’s break it down from an Indian perspective:

  • Internet isn’t always reliable—especially in Tier-2/Tier-3 cities.
  • Privacy matters—no more uploading voice data to unknown servers.
  • Regional support—train models in Marathi, Hindi, or Tamil.
  • Zero recurring cost—no tokens, no APIs, no renewals.

Edge AI at home means true independence from cloud limitations.

4. What Tools & Hardware We Can Use?

Here’s a practical starter toolkit:

Tools:

ToolPurpose
LM StudioGUI for running models locally
OllamaCLI to manage on-device models
Home AssistantSmart home control hub
OpenWRTAI-capable custom router firmware

Recommended Hardware:

  • 💻 Laptops (i5/i7 with 8–16GB RAM)
  • 🍓 Raspberry Pi 5 or Jetson Nano
  • 📱 Android phones with high-end Snapdragon chips

Real-World Use Cases for Indian Homes

ApplianceSmart Edge-AI Feature
FanAuto-adjust speed based on room temperature + presence
LightSwitch on when room gets dark or senses motion
TVAutomatically mute on incoming calls
RouterAlert when new/unknown devices connect

And yes, all of this can be done offline, without cloud sync.

Things to Keep in Mind

IssueHow to Fix
High memory usageUse quantized .gguf models (Q4_0 or Q5)
Model slow to respondUpgrade SSD or RAM; reduce model size
Language issuesTrain LoRA adapters for dialects
Compatibility problemsStick to formats like .gguf, .onnx

Beginner Tips to Get Started

  • Start simple: Try automating just one light or fan.
  • Use LM Studio to test LLMs without writing code.
  • Use Node-RED or Home Assistant for visual workflows.
  • Look for community projects on GitHub or Reddit (r/LocalLLaMA).

Edge AI is no longer reserved for research labs or big tech companies. It’s available to us—engineers, makers, and homeowners—who want local control and smarter environments without giving away our data or relying on cloud infrastructure.

For Indian homes, it’s more than just automation—it’s personal, secure, and offline intelligence built on our terms.

3

Sovereign AI: Telecom’s Next Infrastructure Priority

by with No Comment AI & ML Tech

Let’s talk plainly. Telecom has always been about control – control of networks, control of uptime, control of data paths. Now, that same logic is moving up the stack to AI.

What is Sovereign AI?

Sovereign AI is the idea that AI systems models, data, infrastructure should be owned, hosted, and governed within national borders. Not rented. Not licensed. Not dependent on some opaque model sitting on a cloud server outside the country.

In short: build and run AI in your own house, not someone else’s.

For telecom, which is already critical infrastructure, that mindset isn’t optional anymore. It’s survival.

Why Now?

1. Data Residency is Non-Negotiable

Telecom firms sit on petabytes of personal data: location, voice, behavior, payment history, and more. With data protection rules tightening globally, shipping that data across borders to train foreign AI models is not just risky, it’s likely illegal soon.

2. Vendor Dependency is a Strategic Risk

Relying on LLMs from foreign players sounds convenient. Until a policy shift, sanction, or license change hits and your ops grind to a halt.

Having your own sovereign AI stack means:

  • You tune the models.
  • You control costs.
  • You decide what gets shared, and what stays internal.

This is about resilience, not just innovation.

AI at the Edge Needs Local Intelligence

Network complexity, urban load, rural latency, multi-lingual usage isn’t something Silcon Valley models understand out of the box.

If you’re trying to:

  • Optimize BTS backhaul,
  • Automate outage triage,
  • Translate customer IVR in 12 languages,

you need AI that’s tested on network conditions, and hosted in data centers.

That’s Sovereign AI.

What It Looks Like in Practice

Telecom operators are starting to:

  • Build on-premise model training infrastructure
  • Adopt open-source AI frameworks (like Falcon, Mistral, etc.)
  • Integrate AI in NOC/SOC tools without data leaving
  • Use in-house language models for multi-lingual chatbot support

The goal isn’t to beat OpenAI or Google. It’s to have enough AI in your own toolkit to solve your operational problems without calling HQ in California.

Why Telecom Leaders Are Pushing This

Ask any network head or CTO – they’re not chasing AI for vanity. They want:

  • Better predictive maintenance
  • Lower MTTR
  • Faster customer resolution
  • Optimized spectrum allocation

But they want it without giving away the keys to the kingdom.

Sovereign AI isn’t just a buzzword. For telecom, it’s the next layer of control. after spectrum, infrastructure, and cloud. It’s a logical step in owning the stack. And frankly, if we don’t build it here, we’ll rent it forever. That’s not how telecom backbone was built. So why start now?

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2A

Agentic AI Home Assistants: The Future of Smart Living

by with No Comment AI & ML Tech

Agentic AI Home Assistants are redefining how we interact with technology. These systems don’t just respond—they think, plan, and take actions autonomously, giving you a smarter and stress-free home environment.

Unlike traditional assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant, these new-age agents act without waiting for commands. That’s right—your devices can now predict your needs, solve problems, and carry out tasks on their own.

What if your tech didn’t just follow commands, but actually thought ahead?

That’s the promise of Agentic AI—a new wave of intelligent systems that don’t wait for your input. They plan, decide, and act on your behalf. Let’s explore 5 real-world platforms that are already putting this future in your hands.

🔸 1. Rabbit R1 – Your Pocket-Sized Taskmaster

A tiny AI device that connects with your apps and carries out tasks automatically.
Why it’s smart: Understands what needs to be done—no instructions required.

🔸 2. Humane AI Pin – Wearable Assistant

It clips to your shirt and talks to you like a mini assistant.
Why it’s smart: Offers suggestions and takes action without wake words.

🔸 3. Auto-GPT / BabyAGI – DIY Smart Agents

For techies and tinkerers: AI agents that plan goals and complete tasks solo.
Why it’s smart: Sets its own steps and solves problems autonomously.

🔸 4. Samsung SmartThings Energy – Smarter Power Use

Optimizes your energy consumption at home.
Why it’s smart: Learns your usage patterns and cuts waste on its own.

🔸 5. TP-Link Deco AI Mesh – Self-Adjusting Wi-Fi

No more slow zones. It adapts your network in real time.
Why it’s smart: Switches channels, balances devices automatically.

⚙️ Also Catching Up…

  • Google Home + Bard
  • Alexa Smart Home Routines
  • Home Assistant with GPT

These systems are on their way to becoming fully autonomous, but they still rely on partial human input.

Benefits of Using Agentic AI Home Assistants

  • Eco-Friendly – Minimizes unnecessary power consumption
  • True Automation – Less micromanagement
  • Efficiency – Saves energy and bandwidth
  • Proactive Safety – Takes protective actions automatically
  • Time-Saving – Cuts repetitive tasks

🚀 Final Thought

Agentic AI is quietly taking over your home—not with sci-fi robots, but with smarter routers, plugs, and apps. You won’t notice them working. But you’ll definitely feel the difference.

Want more of this? Stay tuned to TechieBano—where we decode the future in simple

1

Agentic AI Home Assistants: Simplifying Smart Living with Autonomous Intelligence

by with No Comment AI & ML Tech

Imagine a home assistant that doesn’t just follow commands—but thinks, decides, and acts for you.
Welcome to the world of Agentic AI home assistants—where automation meets intelligence.

In this blog, we’ll break down this tech evolution in simple terms, show you how it works, and guide you on how to get started—whether you’re tech-savvy or not.

What is Agentic AI?

Agentic AI refers to artificial intelligence systems that operate independently. Unlike traditional assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant that wait for your input, Agentic AI:

  • Identifies tasks
  • Plans its actions
  • Executes them without instruction

💡 Think of it like giving your smart home a brain—and initiative.

1. How Agentic AI Works in Your Home

Let’s compare how Agentic AI changes the way your devices behave:

TaskTraditional AIAgentic AI
Adjust Wi-FiOnly on requestBoosts speed during peak usage
Turn off appliancesNeeds manual schedulingDetects idle devices & shuts them down
Monitor powerJust reports usagePredicts and reduces energy wastage
Manage home securitySends alerts onlyLocks doors and alerts authorities

✅ No micromanagement. Just results.

2. Real-World Uses of Agentic AI

Many companies are already embedding Agentic AI into their products:

  • TP-Link Deco AI – Optimizes Wi-Fi bandwidth in real-time
  • Samsung SmartThings Energy – Learns your habits to reduce power waste
  • Bosch Security AI – Automatically reacts to unusual behavior
  • Cleaning Robots – Learn room layouts and clean more efficiently

👉 These aren’t futuristic ideas—they’re available now.

3. Benefits of Agentic AI at Home

  • 🧠 True Automation – No need to give commands
  • 💡 Smarter Efficiency – Your devices work smarter
  • 🔐 Enhanced Safety – Acts before danger strikes
  • ⏳ Time Saving – Reduces manual tech hassles
  • 🌍 Eco-Friendly – Cuts energy usage and cost

4. Is Agentic AI Safe?

Yes – when used correctly. Leading brands design Agentic AI with:

  • Data Privacy Tools
  • Fail-safes and manual overrides
  • Transparency in decision-making

Tip: Always choose trusted apps like Rabbit R1, Humane AI Pin, or Samsung SmartThings.

5. How to Start with Agentic AI (Step-by-Step)

  1. Buy a smart device with AI automation (e.g., AI router, energy hub)
  2. Install its app and explore automation options
  3. Monitor results—like faster Wi-Fi or lower energy bills
  4. Add more AI-compatible devices over time
  5. Let it learn from you—don’t interfere too much

📌 Pro Tip: Start with a TP-Link Deco AI router – it’s user-friendly and powerful.