⚠️ Hardware Modification — voids warranty if damaged
The LocalNode comes with a 1TB NVMe SSD. If you outgrow this storage and don't want to use an external USB drive, you can physically open the server and replace the internal drive with a larger one (up to 4TB).
Overview
Because the entire operating system is stored on that single NVMe drive, replacing it means you are replacing the brain of the computer. You must back up your configuration, install the new blank drive, flash the operating system onto it via a USB thumb drive, and then restore your backup.
Step 1: The critical backup
Before you touch a screwdriver, you must back up everything.
- Plug a USB drive into the LocalNode.
- Follow our guide to Backup your System Configuration. This saves your passwords, settings, and Home Assistant dashboards.
- If you have photos in Immich or files in Nextcloud, you must manually back those up to the USB drive using the Backup Manager's specific tasks for those apps.
Step 2: Physical installation
- Shut down the LocalNode from the dashboard and unplug the power cable.
- Turn the device upside down. Remove the four rubber feet to expose the case screws.
- Unscrew the four screws and gently lift the bottom plate off.
- You will see the green NVMe SSD slotted into the motherboard. Remove the tiny screw holding it down, and gently pull the drive out at a 30-degree angle.
- Insert your new NVMe drive (M.2 2280 PCIe Gen3 x4) and screw it down.
- Reassemble the case.
💡 Tip: We highly recommend Western Digital Blue (SN580) or Samsung 970 EVO drives for maximum reliability and heat management inside the small chassis.
Step 3: Reinstalling the OS
The new drive is completely blank. The server will not boot.
- On a separate computer (Windows or Mac), download the latest LocalNode OS Recovery Image from your account portal.
- Download a free tool called BalenaEtcher.
- Plug a blank USB thumb drive (at least 8GB) into your computer.
- Use BalenaEtcher to "flash" the Recovery Image onto the thumb drive.
- Plug this thumb drive into the LocalNode.
- Turn the LocalNode on. It will automatically boot from the thumb drive and install the operating system onto your new NVMe SSD. This takes about 10 minutes. The server will power itself off when finished.
- Remove the thumb drive and turn the LocalNode back on.
Step 4: Restoring your data
You now have a fresh, blank, 4TB LocalNode.
- Plug your backup USB drive into the server.
- Navigate to
http://localnode.local on your computer. - Open the Backup Manager.
- Go to the Restore tab and select your System Configuration backup ZIP file.
- Wait 5 minutes while it restores your data and restarts the apps.
Congratulations! You have successfully upgraded your server's capacity.
Need help? Email hello@localnode.tech or visit localnode.tech/contact.