Networking FreeNAS into Mac Workflow

[BlkMesa]

I've done quite a bit of looking into this and I can't really find what I'm looking for so hopefully this helps and if I missed something, please send a link my way!

I built a PC specifically for FreeNAS (here's the build specs: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/7Py9HB ) and I've got it up and running but before I get any further, this is where I'm at: What I was looking for was NAS for all my data - access and save work-in-progress from anywhere since I travel a LOT for work. I have a 2019 iMac and 2020 MacBook I primarily work on and a gaming PC I'm currently building that will be strictly for gaming (link for that just in case: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/Dm67jp ). All three would access the data at any given time like 'cloud' storage but what I'm running into is how to configure the datasets within the pools for access on my mac - I can't seem to locate any info on adding the FreeNAS to my iMac as a network location to begin file organization.

I consider myself to be pretty smart but beyond networking basics, it starts going over my head; maybe all of the videos have overcomplicated it for me. My ideal situation is two mirrored pools for data redundancy in the event of drive failure; similar to what my old job used to have: a Buffalo Terastation on the network with accessible folders. Simple as that. Music, Documents, Por...er, Videos, etc.

Any help from people more knowledgable than myself is appreciated!

 

[danb35]

I can't seem to locate any info on adding the FreeNAS to my iMac as a network location to begin file organization.

There's nothing unique to FreeNAS in this respect. Once you've created a share on your FreeNAS box (I'd recommend a Windows/SMB share), mounting it on your Mac(s) works the same as it would with any other NAS or fileserver--in the Finder, go to Go -> Connect to Network Server (or press Command-K), and enter smb://ip_of_freenas_box.

 

[BlkMesa]

There's nothing unique to FreeNAS in this respect. Once you've created a share on your FreeNAS box (I'd recommend a Windows/SMB share), mounting it on your Mac(s) works the same as it would with any other NAS or fileserver--in the Finder, go to Go -> Connect to Network Server (or press Command-K), and enter smb://ip_of_freenas_box.

That's exactly what I tried to do with any other network but I must not have completed the share of the pool - power supply shows up today so I'll be building the PC and take your advice on the Windows/SMB share. Thank you.

 

[danb35]

As to setting up the shares and users, there are lots of options, and really too many to give a "cookie-cutter" answer. Here's one guide for a simple arrangement with one user and one share:

fester112:shares_basic [danb35's Wiki]

www.familybrown.org

 

[BlkMesa]

I got about half way through but this looks EXACTLY like what I was looking for; thanks for your help!!