Freenas platform swap

[Daviddimo]

Hi everyone, I have had a search of the forum and couldnt really come up with a confident yes or no answer to my issue.

My current Freenas set up is an intel based running the following config

FreeNAS-11.1-U7
Intel(R) Pentium(R) CPU G4560 @ 3.50GHz
16 GB Ram
3 tb capacity with 3 tb back up drive attached.

I currently use an AMD Ryzen 1700 for my daily driver which I am planning to upgrade to the new Ryzen 9 platform so this will leave me with the 1700 and an x370 motherboard spare.
I would like to swap out the Intel CPU and mobo from my Freenas and replace it with the spare Ryzen 1700 and X370 Mobo.

Wondering if there is a step by step available or if anyone has done a platform swap before and could point out some things I should consider first.

Also should I upgrade the Freenas OS to 11.2 first and then do the swap or do the swap and then upgrade?

 

[Daviddimo]

Hi Guys, continued digging and found this little gem on YouTube by Lawrence Systems

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DmMpETyBsY

Virtually answered my questions in relation to the swap. I am going to go ahead and back up my configuration and remain on the 11.1 version for the time being. Once the swap is done I will consider upgrading to 11.2

I did notice that he did not mention if Jails or VMs would also migrate over? im assuming they would.

 

[sretalla]

I did notice that he did not mention if Jails or VMs would also migrate over? im assuming they would.

If you move all data pool disks and copy your config (or use the original boot drive(s)), all will work as before, including jails/VMs*.

* With VMs, you will need to ensure BIOS settings allow for the VTx extensions properly to get bhyve going on the new board.

 

[Chris Moore]

I would like to swap out the Intel CPU and mobo from my Freenas and replace it with the spare Ryzen 1700 and X370 Mobo.

This might not actually be an upgrade as far as FreeNAS is concerned. What is the model of the system board you are using now? FreeNAS doesn't always benifit from having the latest gaming board with LED lights going like a disco.

 

[Daviddimo]

If you move all data pool disks and copy your config (or use the original boot drive(s)), all will work as before, including jails/VMs*.

* With VMs, you will need to ensure BIOS settings allow for the VTx extensions properly to get bhyve going on the new board.

Great to hear, thank you. I am planning on using the existing boot drive in the new system. I will also go ahead and save out a copy of my config just incase.

 

[Daviddimo]

This might not actually be an upgrade as far as FreeNAS is concerned. What is the model of the system board you are using now? FreeNAS doesn't always benefit from having the latest gaming board with LED lights going like a disco.

Hi Chris, I am mainly interested in re using the Ryzen 1700 CPU, the Motherboard is ATX and is an ASUS ROG STRIX X370-F "Gaming". (what a mouth full)

Had a think about it last night and do not want to really change to an ATX chassis so I am going to purchase an ITX AM4 motherboard to suit my current Nas Chassis. Im sure either an A320 or B350 should do the job just fine. My Main goal is to increase Cores and Ram for VMs so I agree the gaming board would be overkill. Besides I can possibly sell it on.

I also agree with the stupidity of RGB, I purposely turn off all RGB components as my CAD station is all Matte Black.

 

[Daviddimo]

I had one thought, will I now require a graphics card to be installed in order to get a display up and running? As the 1700 does not support internal graphics.

 

[sretalla]

If you managed to get FreeNAS installed on a USB/SSD drive and connect it as the boot drive with no monitor, you can probably run.

I think it's still supported to run in Serial/TTY mode if you have an interface for that. I have not tested that in any way, so you might want to do some reading on it to prepare yourself for the situations that may arise from it.

 

[Daviddimo]

If you managed to get FreeNAS installed on a USB/SSD drive and connect it as the boot drive with no monitor, you can probably run.

I think it's still supported to run in Serial/TTY mode if you have an interface for that. I have not tested that in any way, so you might want to do some reading on it to prepare yourself for the situations that may arise from it.

I just took a look around a Junk box of mine and found an old GPU, think im going to just throw this in and be done with it. the board will have a spare slot and the case will accommodate. Keep it simple i think lol