Howto install FreeNAS on Dell R520

[Renato Ornelas]

Hello!

I managed to install the latest FreeNAS on Dell R520. I found that the server doesn't recognize the USB flash as an HD with the original MBR and that's cause it to stuck on the bootloader (F1 screen).

So I created a new MBR (from a working FreeBSD 10 USB install) and the server started booting fine.

All you have to do is to change the MBR. If you burned the IMG file to the Flash you need to install the new MBR using dd.

You can download the changed MBR on http://www.openx.com.br/?dl=312

If you're installing with the CD you need to open a shell after the installation to grab the new MBR an burn it on the USB Flash

Here's how I did it:

Code:

dmesg | grep ˆda.*device # to discover which device you should use, in my case da0
mount /dev/da0s1a /mnt
chroot /mnt
ifconfig bge0 x.x.x.x/24 up # substitute x.x.x.x/24 by the correct IP of your server
route add -net 0.0.0.0/0 y.y.y.y # substityte y.y.y.y by the IP of your router
echo 8.8.8.8 > /etc/resolv.conf
curl  www.openx.com.br/?dl=312 > mbr.bin
exit # para sair do chroot
cd /mnt
sysctl kern.geom.debugflags=0x10
dd if=mbr.bin of=/dev/da0 # substitute da0 for your USB Flash
rm mbr.bin
cd /
umount /mnt
exit

This also works with iDRAC7 enterprise vFlash