Running FreeNAS from an SDCARD

[TGM]

Hello,

I have a HPE ProLiant MicroServer Generation 8 (Gen8). I want to run FreeNAS from and SDCARD.

The storage configuration is as following:
1x SDCARD
4x HDD's (STORAGE)

I'm thinking of the following options.

1. Install /boot partition on SDCARD and /root on STORAGE in a ZVOL or DATASET, for example tank/os. I don't know if this is possible with FreeNAS or if it permits per device partioning.
2. Install FreeNAS on SDCARD completly and disable any write activities like logs or any other scheduled tasks that can shorten the SDCARD's life.
3. Install FreeNAS on SDCARD completly and load it to RAM, separatly loading the config files from tank/os.

Witch one of the above options is doable and easy to implement?

Thank you.

 

[danb35]

Witch one of the above options is doable and easy to implement?

None of the above; SD cards aren't recommended as boot devices. Why not use a USB stick, as hundreds of others have? It's not as good of a choice as an SSD, but still better than an SD card.

If you really want to do it, (2) is pretty close to the default; once you create a storage pool, the .system dataset will be put there, and that's where logs and reporting databases are stored.

 

[TGM]

What about FreeNAS configuration files? Are those stored under .system (/var/db/system) dataset as well?

 

[danb35]

No, the config file is saved on the boot device and is rewritten whenever the configuration is changed. Backups are saved in the .system dataset, but the live database is on the boot device.

 

[Inxsible]

I would second just using a USB and calling it a day !

 

[TGM]

IDK guys, I have a pretty good SDCARD, atleast that's what the manufacturer claims http://www.samsung.com/uk/memory-storage/evo-plus-microsd-card/MB-MC32DEU/

 

[Inxsible]

IDK guys, I have a pretty good SDCARD, atleast that's what the manufacturer claims http://www.samsung.com/uk/memory-storage/evo-plus-microsd-card/MB-MC32DEU/

Hmmmm.... Well in that case, go ahead and do it. Also, if you ever find a manufacturer that claims their SDCARD is not "pretty good", let us know. ;)

Let us know if you have issues/problems or not

 

[TGM]

Good one. :) Thumbs up!

 

[danb35]

IDK guys, I have a pretty good SDCARD, atleast that's what the manufacturer claims http://www.samsung.com/uk/memory-storage/evo-plus-microsd-card/MB-MC32DEU/

But yet you're wanting to go to some pretty extreme lengths to minimize writes to the device. I think you already know why it's a problem. The good news is, as long as you keep an up-to-date backup of your config file, a failed boot device is really just an inconvenience.

 

[helios_x]

Hi,

I have been running FreeNAS on a HP Microserve gen8 for 2 years now with a sdcard as boot. First install was 10.1-U2 and now it's 11.0-U4. It doesn't boot fast but how often do you reboot.

Thanks to the FreeNAS team.

GJ