Changing to new Hardware (Mobo, CPU, Memory)

[eddi1984]

Hi,

I have a FreeNAS 9.3 (FreeNAS-9.3-STABLE-201602031011) install with M1015 HBA (IT Mode, firmware P19) and 6x 1TB WD RE drives. FreeNAS is installed on a USB Stick. Motherboard is in INTEL (not sure of the model number). Problem is, the max memory on this Mobo is 24GB, I want to upgrade to 32GB.
I also want to move everything from the Tower Server (max 6 bay) used now, to a Rackmount 24 bay Supermicro.

So I decided to install a different Mobo I have. Its also an INTEL brand Mobo. Difference is more/less the socket. Old socket is 1366, the one I want to use is 1156.

Will this work:
1. Shutdown current NAS.
2. Install new Mobo in Case and move M1015 and HDD's to new Case (Keeping the HDD's connected in the same order they were before).
3. Move current USB Stick with FreeNAS 9.3 to new Mobo and plugin.
4. Start new NAS and insure it boots from USB.

Will this work? I don't want to reinstall 9.3 and do export/import ...
If possible, I would also like to upgrade the firmware version of the M1015 from P19 to P20 in step 2.

Thanks.

 

[BigDave]

Folks do this all the time, there should only be some minor settings that need
changing (the changing of NIC will be one), but over all it will work.

move M1015 and HDD's to new Case (Keeping the HDD's connected in the same order they were before).

FYI, you will not need to worry about drive order or any specifics when it
comes to your pool. FreeNAS reads meta data contained on the disks and
your pool will automagically re-appear whole

 

[danb35]

Folks do this all the time, there should only be some minor settings that need changing (the changing of NIC willmay be one), but over all it will work.

Fixed that for you. Changing the network settings would only be necessary if they were manually configured in the first place (and the new system uses a different NIC driver than the old one). If the FreeNAS box were picking up the IP via DHCP, it should continue to do so. And if the new MB uses the same NIC (or NIC driver) as the old one, there's no problem anyway.

 

[eddi1984]

Thanks for the reply. Both Mobo's are Intel boards. I think that the NIC chipset is the same on both. I will do a backup and try the HW swap.

One thing I am still unsure about. The flash of the M1015 from FW P19 to P20 will not affect anything? That is probably the biggest change for the system.

And my last question: Where can I get the right P20 firmware? I have read, that LSI had a buggy P20 for some time.

Thanks.

 

[danb35]

The flash of the M1015 from FW P19 to P20 will not affect anything?

Nope. I even did it from my running FreeNAS system, with the pool mounted (though that isn't recommended). You should be able to get the appropriate firmware from LSI/Avago.

 

[BigDave]

Fixed that for you. Changing the network settings would only be necessary if they were manually configured in the first place (and the new system uses a different NIC driver than the old one). If the FreeNAS box were picking up the IP via DHCP, it should continue to do so. And if the new MB uses the same NIC (or NIC driver) as the old one, there's no problem anyway.

Thanks!