HP N54 Microserver Questions

[LeoLevosky]

Hi,

I've been running TrueNAS (and FreeNAS before it) for a while. In desperation to get my data off a WHS machine that was failing I setup the N54 in a hurry. That means I never really had the time to check things out properly before hand. The machine has 5 WD 4TB hard drives installed in a pool and everything has been running fine.

Recently the server crashed and I think it is because one of the boot flash drives died (there were 2 Samsung 128GB flash drives). After reading some stuff on this forum it seems flash drives are not a good idea. I didn't know that before reading this forum! I'm not sure if the flash drive failing caused the server to fail or the other way around.

I have some 128GB 2.5" SSD's that I am not currently using but no internal space in the N54 to install them. If I am reading the forum correctly I can plug these into the USB slots and use them externally. Is that correct? I don't know if the N54 USB ports provide enough power for the SSD's?

My main question is how do I get from where I am at to that configuration? What file system do I need to format the SSD's with? Should I use both SSD's in a mirror and if so how do I do that?

If I have read stuff on the forum correctly the flash drives should show up as da0 and da1 but I'm only seeing da0. Have I understood that correctly?

The data on the TrueNAS box is a backup of my music files, TV programmes, ebooks etc. All the files are on other machines but I'd like not to loose the data if possible. But I've never looked into checkpoints etc. I've no idea if the flash drives are being backed up and if so, where to?

Shortly I will build a new main PC and then look at doing things properly. Eventually I will also build a new TrueNAS server. For now though I just want to do whatever is necessary in case the other USB flash drive fails.

Any advice much appreciated.

 

[Spearfoot]

Hi,

I've been running TrueNAS (and FreeNAS before it) for a while. In desperation to get my data off a WHS machine that was failing I setup the N54 in a hurry. That means I never really had the time to check things out properly before hand. The machine has 5 WD 4TB hard drives installed in a pool and everything has been running fine.

Recently the server crashed and I think it is because one of the boot flash drives died (there were 2 Samsung 128GB flash drives). After reading some stuff on this forum it seems flash drives are not a good idea. I didn't know that before reading this forum! I'm not sure if the flash drive failing caused the server to fail or the other way around.

I have some 128GB 2.5" SSD's that I am not currently using but no internal space in the N54 to install them. If I am reading the forum correctly I can plug these into the USB slots and use them externally. Is that correct? I don't know if the N54 USB ports provide enough power for the SSD's?

My main question is how do I get from where I am at to that configuration? What file system do I need to format the SSD's with? Should I use both SSD's in a mirror and if so how do I do that?

If I have read stuff on the forum correctly the flash drives should show up as da0 and da1 but I'm only seeing da0. Have I understood that correctly?

The data on the TrueNAS box is a backup of my music files, TV programmes, ebooks etc. All the files are on other machines but I'd like not to loose the data if possible. But I've never looked into checkpoints etc. I've no idea if the flash drives are being backed up and if so, where to?

Shortly I will build a new main PC and then look at doing things properly. Eventually I will also build a new TrueNAS server. For now though I just want to do whatever is necessary in case the other USB flash drive fails.

Any advice much appreciated.

Did you ever save the system configuration from this server?

If you have a copy of the system configuration, you can re-install TrueNAS on new flash drive(s) and restore the configuration.

Afterwards you might consider setting up a more reliable boot environment, but this would get you up and running quickly.

 

[LeoLevosky]

Did you ever save the system configuration from this server?

If you have a copy of the system configuration, you can re-install TrueNAS on new flash drive(s) and restore the configuration.

Afterwards you might consider setting up a more reliable boot environment, but this would get you up and running quickly.

The server is still running on one flash drive but I don't know how to save the configuration file so I guess I've never done it. To be honest it has been running for so long that I don't remember what I have done in the past. The only thing I ever really do is check for updates.

 

[LeoLevosky]

Having searched the web I found out how to backup the config and I now remember that I did that before. But I don't understand where that backup is stored?

 

[Spearfoot]

Having searched the web I found out how to backup the config and I now remember that I did that before. But I don't understand where that backup is stored?

It's stored wherever you chose to store it, but if it's been a long time you probably should get a newer copy.

Do this soon, saving it to your local PC.

Be sure to include the 'secret seed' file.

More details here:

Using Configuration Backups

Provides information concerning configuration backups on TrueNAS CORE.

www.truenas.com

Once you have the configuration saved somewhere other than your TrueNAS system -- that's very important! -- you can re-install TrueNAS on new boot media and then restore your configuration.

Good luck!

 

[LeoLevosky]

I guess I'm doing something wrong as I don't see an option to choose where to store it. I'm in System/General and at the bottom of the screen I have options to save, save config, upload config and reset config.

Choosing save config it gives me no option as to where to save it to.

What am I doing wrong?

 

[Spearfoot]

I guess I'm doing something wrong as I don't see an option to choose where to store it. I'm in System/General and at the bottom of the screen I have options to save, save config, upload config and reset config.

Choosing save config it gives me no option as to where to save it to.

What am I doing wrong?

The 'save config' selection should open a 'Save File' dialog, perhaps prompting you first for the root password. You should be able to save the configuration file on your local system.

 

[LeoLevosky]

I guess I'm doing something wrong as I don't see an option to choose where to store it. I'm in System/General and at the bottom of the screen I have options to save, save config, upload config and reset config.

Choosing save config it gives me no option as to where to save it to.

What am I doing wrong?

Finally worked out what I was doing wrong. I expected a pop-up window but my browser had a lower toolbar and that obscured the info. The browser has been saving the files to it's download area but I couldn't see that.