TrueNAS Core-need beginner help

[Chollymike]

Please feel free to correct me if I am in the wrong place.
I have had a FreeNAS server, that I built, about 5 years ago. It worked perfectly for my needs which is file sharing on our home network. To me, TrueNAS, Seems very complicated.
First of all, my equipment:
Old salvaged Compaq case.
Mother Board is Gigabyte GA E350N-USB3
Memory is 2 - 8GB Hyperex
250GB Kootion Model X1 Pro( for the TrueNAS Core OS to reside on. FreeNAS Core already burned on)
2 - WD Red 3 1/2 inch HDD's to be set up in RAID 1 (mirror)
1- Bestec 165 Watt Power Supply
1- 120mm Case Fan

After 5 years, The unforseen happened. Both WD Red 2 1/2" HDD's "cratered".

I had been using a thumb drive for the FreeNAS OS. On that server I had it setup and called "Z" Drive RaidArray. My Wife and I each had our own logins. It was a simple file tree. I also run Acronis which backed up all of our computers and the FreeNAS. So fortunately I still have my Data.

FreeNAS seemed easy at the time. Now that FreeNAS and TrueNAS have merged, I am going with Core.

Here is my problem: I am now 72 so I seem to have forgotten everything I knew about the "jargon". So I need some step by step reading to get my TrueNAS back up and running. I do not expect anyone to sit down and write it up for me, I would just like links where I can read and follow the steps. I have been searching and I am confused by the new terminology.

Thank you in advance.
Regards, Mike (Chollymike)

 

[joeschmuck]

Here is my problem: I am now 72

Mike, I'm 10 years behind you so keep moving it forward, that is not a problem

Yes, TrueNAS is more a more complicated as it becomes more advanced but it's a full blown corporate appliance these days.

I wish there was a simple guide, I've not seen one. And while there are videos on Youtube, be careful what you do. many are way out of date or flat out wrong.

I think you will find that many of us will offer our assistance to get you back up and running.

A few things first, questions to confirm I understand you correctly:
1) You have 16GB RAM?
2) You have a USB Flash Drive as the Boot Drive and it still works?
3) Other than the hard drives, you feel the rest of the system is operational?
4) Exactly what version of FreeNAS do you have running (may need to boot the system)?
5) You want to replace the two failed drives with two new drives?
6) Are both drives failed or just one? You said it was a Mirror, if only one drive is bad then fixing the issue is very easy and you would be back up on your feet again with few things to do.

Now for some warnings: The old WD Red lineup no longer exists as you remember it. Do not purchase "WD RED" as they will likely fail in a ZFS setting. These are called SMR (Shingled Magnetic Recording) or Archive drives. Stay way! You are looking for a CMR format drive. There are many out there and depending on what you want for capacity, just ask here and we will recommend a few drives that will work for you.

Additionally USB Boot Drives are no longer acceptable if you use upgrade to TrueNAS (which replaced FreeNAS). You would be good to purchase a small SSD. The capacity does not matter, let the cost be your guide. The capacity can be from 16GB to 1TB (256GB is a popular inexpensive size) and the manufacturer really does not matter either. The drive is under low use but enough to use it vice USB Flash Drives.

And I'm not going to tell you that your hardware is substandard for a new TrueNAS system, you already know that and it it's been working for you this long, keep using it.

One other way you could go here is if your Boot drive is good and all you want to do is replace the hard drives, let us know. Some of us old dogs are familiar with FreeNAS and you do not need to move to TrueNAS if FreeNAS is working for you.

Last thing for now, make sure you backup your FreeNAS configuration file. This will hopefully save time in setting up the system again.

Best of luck to you and time for me to make a sick wife some lunch.

-Joe

 

[Chollymike]

Sorry to hear your Wife is ill. I hope she is better soon. I appreciate your being a good caretaker for her.

I, honestly, never thought I could stay with FreeNAS. For some reason, I thought it had gone away.

So, I'll start by answering your questions.
1) I do have 16 Gig of RAM.
2) I had a 16GB Sandisk Cruzer Blade thumb drive for the FreeNAS Operating System. It was in an external USB port.
3) The system is operational other than the hard drives.
4) I do not know the FreeNAS Version.
5) I actually have already ordered 3 WD Red 3 1/2 inch HDD's to be set up in RAID 1 (mirror) plus 1 spare. They are due tomorrow.
6) Yes, both drives failed at the same time. I have put each one on a tester and they are inaccessible. They both are clicking loudly.

I intend to replace the 16GB Sandisk Cruzer Blade thumb drive with the 250GB Kootion Model X1 Pro. It's an internal USB SSD. I have already burned the Core OS onto it. But, If I can still get the FreeNAS I would rather have that.

Would my new WD Red 3 1/2" drives be OK with FreeNAS?

If I can get FreeNAS back, I think I would be more comfortable with that.

Thanks for the quick reply. I wasn't expecting it.

Regards,
Mike

 

[danb35]

If I can still get the FreeNAS I would rather have that.

We generally recommend keeping your OS up to date, for security reasons if nothing else. But with that said, you can get at least the 11.x series of FreeNAS at https://download.freenas.org/. I'm pretty sure older versions can be found somewhere as well, but I'm not sure where at the moment.

 

[Jailer]

Would my new WD Red 3 1/2" drives be OK with FreeNAS?

Going to need to know the exact model number of the drives you purchased before that question can be answered.

 

[joeschmuck]

I'm pretty sure older versions can be found somewhere as well, but I'm not sure where at the moment.

In the old days of FreeNAS we would just build/compile it. I remember doing that every night at times.

But with that said, you can get at least the 11.x series of FreeNAS

I agree with that as well. Updating the software would be a good thing however TrueNAS has been made considerably more complicated over the years. I'm perfectly fine keeping it simple this time and if the OP wants to do a little upgrading, I know the team here will do an outstanding job. (Don't I sound like a freakin' manager, what happened to the younger me)

I have a soft spot for people my age or older. I can really relate to a lot if the not understanding all the technology issues with TrueNAS. I'm getting better but I'm not in my 20's anymore, 30's, or 40's, or even 50's, damn I'm old! Anyway, if his server is behind his router/firewall, the upgrade probably isn't a big deal.

 

[Redcoat]

I'm pretty sure older versions can be found somewhere as well, but I'm not sure where at the moment.

Following on for @danb35 here, in case these versions are needed - they're at https://archive.freenas.org

 

[Chollymike]

I finally settled on a Samsung 250 GB SSD for my boot drive. I also decided to go with TrueNAS Core 13.XXX. I have it installed and configured. It takes considerably longer to boot up than FreeNAS did. I was easily able to map the drive to each of our stations. My final problem is I am unable to find my backed up data on Acronis(to which I am subscribed). I have submitted a ticket to them but have not heard back as yet. Hopefully, they will be able to locate my data and restore it.
My sincere thanks to all of you that have attempted to help me out.
Warm Regards,
Mike

 

[Redcoat]

I finally settled on a Samsung 250 GB SSD for my boot drive. I also decided to go with TrueNAS Core 13.XXX. I have it installed and configured. It takes considerably longer to boot up than FreeNAS did. I was easily able to map the drive to each of our stations. My final problem is I am unable to find my backed up data on Acronis(to which I am subscribed). I have submitted a ticket to them but have not heard back as yet. Hopefully, they will be able to locate my data and restore it.
My sincere thanks to all of you that have attempted to help me out.
Warm Regards,
Mike

I don’t see that you ever provided the model numbers of your new WD Red drives to allow your question about the drives’ suitability for TrueNAS to be properly answered.

 

[Chollymike]

Sorry for my failure to reply. The WD RED NAS drives had already been installed, so I haven't shut it down now that it's running.

 

[NugentS]

You should be able to get the model number from TrueNAS.

We don't ask to be nosey. There are drives out there called WD Red that are a disaster when using with ZFS. They will eat your data

 

[joeschmuck]

Using the GUI -> Storage -> Disks -> all your drives should be listed now. Click the arrow on the far right side of each drive and the next screen will show the Model:, let us know each one.

 

[Chollymike]

ada1 WDC WD30EFZX-68AWUN0, ada2 WDC WD30EFZX-68AWUN0
Sorry I didn't know I could do that. I learned something new.
Oh, I did not think you were being nosey. I thought I had to take it apart to look on the HDD.

 

[joeschmuck]

That is good, you have CMR drives. With so many people purchasing the least expensive drives, many end up with SMR drives and ZFS does not play well with those.

 

[Davvo]

Many learn it the painful way.