Noob and Bewildered Trying to Update

[Mrfix71]

Recently bought a Dell R410. Installed Freenas and like the interfaces. But...I bought two new drives and cannot get them to be recognized. I have spent almost a week trying to get updates into the server. Every avenue has been met with some odd barriers. For example:
- The virtual console will not open anything but a text file, not matter what adjustments I make in Java or each one of the browsers I have tried (Edge, IE, Firefox, Opera, Brave.
- The USC does not recognize any of the updates from Dell, and repeats the software
- Trying to create a boot disk or other media fails because the files are allegedly not in the same bios format.
- The server connects fine to the network to share files, but claims it is not connected trying to share a file.

Is there a trick to getting the many software updates installed while using ?

 

[Chris Moore]

The virtual console will not open anything but a text file

That is usually a security setting. You might want to take a look at this instruction video to see if it helps with your problem:

IPMI Demo

How to mount virtual media using the Java Virtual Console

www.youtube.com

The video is about the virtual console on a Supermicro system, but it also covers the security setting of the Java, which is think is the problem there.

I am not entirely sure about some of those Dell specific questions. Hopefully someone else can contribute on that.

 

[Mrfix71]

Thanks Chris. I checked out the link and though it was good info, it did not help get the same results the presenter did. When I launch the Virtual Console, this is what pops up. This time I was using Opera browser. The second pic is from using Edge. No pic attached, but Chrome says there is not a file association.

 

[Mrfix71]

So I can try to the the iDrac functional, what browser has been working and with what settings? Same with Java?
Been working all day to get drivers and such updated. Only had luck with BIOS. Everything else runs into a problem such as browsers not liking the popups with Virtual Console, file recognition thru the Lifecycle Controller, or "This is a Freenas disk" message when trying to load files during system boot.
My goal is trying to get the two hard drives to be recognized. Probably a driver issue but I cannot get data to the server.

 

[danb35]

I'm trying to figure out what any of your questions have to do with FreeNAS, and not having a lot of luck. I guess it's this part:

My goal is trying to get the two hard drives to be recognized.

In what way do you want them to be "recognized", that they currently aren't?

Probably a driver issue but I cannot get data to the server.

It's highly unlikely that it's a driver issue--if it is, it's a strong indication that you're using an exceedingly poor choice of disk controller.

 

[Mrfix71]

Danb35... I posted the questions here is because it seemed that I could not boot a disk or USB due to the "This is a Freenas disk..." message. Even after I removed the drive that has the OS installed, I was getting the same message. A couple nights ago, I started fresh and updated firmware before re-installing Freenas again.
Now it is just a matter of getting familiar with this OS.

 

[danb35]

I could not boot a disk or USB due to the "This is a Freenas disk..." message.

When you get this message, it's because your system is trying to boot from a disk that you've made part of a FreeNAS data pool. You'd need to check your boot order settings, and perhaps verify that the device you intend to be your boot device hasn't failed.

 

[Mrfix71]

I don't think that is my problem. But....You brought up a good point that seems to be where I am likely messing up. Probably should go back to look at the OS installation. Current configuration is:
No DVD/CD drive
Internal 8GB USB flash drive for OS
Drive 0=blank
Drive 1=2TB
Drive 2=3TB
Drive 3=3TB

 

[Chris Moore]

Internal 8GB USB flash drive for OS

USB flash drives used to be the recommended boot device, but that recommendation changed several years ago due to a high failure rate from the USB drives. It might be that the USB drive isn't working properly.

 

[diedrichg]

It seems like you need to start at the very beginning and go with the basics. Here is a comprehensive guide by previous user Uncle Fester and was later updated and maintained by danB. The guide is the second link in the OP. You will want to start at the beginning, but specifically read over the BIOS section and go from there. Don't take this as "you're doing everything wrong", but as "let's look at your settings and setup to make sure everything is correct."

Uncle Fester's TrueNAS Beginner's Guide

User @UncleFester, some time ago, wrote a thorough beginner's guide for setup of FreeNAS 9.10. It seemed to me like something that belonged on a more permanent, and user-editable, location, so with his permission I wiki-fied the guide and have...

www.truenas.com

 

[Mrfix71]

Thanks. I found out that there are no updates available to the server as of 12-2019 and decided to return for an upgrade instead of days on end fighting it. That should settle my problem, but will keep that guide handy when the new unit comes in.