How to compactly place 4-5 HDDs and have access to them over the network?

Question

Hard disks

I have 4 disks of 2Tb each, which are located in the home server and are combined into a StableBit DrivePool soft array. The server needs to be moved to another location, but there are height and width restrictions. It will be a small shelf like a mezzanine and only something NAS-like will fit there. In view of such difficulties, I will break all this stuff into two physical parts: a file storage and a server part (several services and a database). Since these two parts are not critical to connect to each other over the network, I want to do something interesting with the disks. We don’t touch on the issue of data transfer, I’m more worried about iron.
My first option was microserver. But somehow a little expensive for just the ability to connect the HDD to the network.
The second option is NAS. It's a bit cheaper, but it's like a box in itself and each can have its own specific problems.
The third is self-assembly, but since I am limited by the size of the case, I cannot imagine what to collect and where to get it.
Honestly, I feel with my spinal cord that I am close to the answer ... But I can’t stumble. I ask to help to understand disks (and to myself).

Answer 1

Usually the answer is NAS. But here it was quite rightly noted - "the box, in itself." Inside the now most popular "boxes" of Synology and QNAP - linux. Stripped down, quite badly damaged, but linux. And you can put mc on it, and start a package manager - if the graphic muzzle is not enough.
In the service part - there is everything that is in Linux. Samba for sharing files over the network, iSCSI for organizing "raw" storage, Apache, torrent, damn it - there are a lot of packages (those that are installed through the graphic face - those that are installed through opkg - these are service programs like mc)
If you have experience in linux, you can assemble "your own Synology without graphics" - you take a case of the right size, insert disks into it, install linux, etc. Synology is usually taken by those who do not want to fool around with the console :)

Answer 2

Take a small barbon case that fits four screws.

Answer 3

Hello,
Do not reinvent the wheel, that is, a case for a computer :-). Get a NAS. Only when choosing a manufacturer and model, consider "your specific problems."

Answer 4

Solution for me: Fractal Design Node 304, Gigabyte Z270N + Intel Optane and don't split everything into two pieces of iron =)