Question about my options when upgrading motherboard

[matulano]

Greetings

I'm seeking some advice regarding the upgrade process for my TrueNAS server.

I'm planning to perform a motherboard update, and here are the key specifications:

• 3x PCIe LSI Controller (all drives are connected to them)
• 2x SATA SSDs (boot pool) connected to the motherboard
• 1x U.2 Optane (SLOG) connected to PCIe via an adapter card
• 1x PCIe 10G Intel x520-da1 NIC

Based on my assessment, I believe I have the following options:

1. Swap out the motherboard and reconnect everything
2. Swap out the motherboard and reconnect everything except the 2 boot SSDs. Install a fresh TrueNAS on 2 new SSDs, then restore the configuration from the old system.

As far as I understood I don't have to make changes to the network interface, as I am using the PCIe NIC?

I've noticed some users exporting their pools and then reimporting them onto the new system. I'm a bit unsure about the reasoning behind this step. As far as I can tell, the only scenario where this would be necessary is when migrating the pool to a different TrueNAS installation. That case would essentially be the same as scenario 2, but without restoring the old configuration, instead importing the exported pool into the new TrueNas instance. Is my understanding correct?

I appreciate any insights or guidance on this matter. Thank you in advance.

 

[danb35]

Swap out the motherboard and reconnect everything

Do this. There's no reason to reinstall here.

As far as I understood I don't have to make changes to the network interface, as I am using the PCIe NIC?

With CORE, this is likely correct (with SCALE, I did have to reconfigure my network when I recently swapped motherboards, but I wouldn't expect the interface names to change with CORE).

 

[matulano]

Do this. There's no reason to reinstall here.

Well, actually i'm not sure my install will still work on the newer Epyc Rome platform, that's why I asked about reinstall.

I am still on a dual X5690 plattform. I actually had some trouble when trying to install TrueNAS few years ago because of my legacy BIOS. I had to install FreeNAS and then upgrade to TrueNAS once it was up and running as it appears that TrueNAS removed support for legacy somewhere along the way.

I have no idea if it'll boot once installed on the new MB. If I have to enable legacy mode in the BIOS, I might as well just reinstall it and restore the config, as that would be the same outcome, right?

 

[danb35]

True enough--if the new system won't handle legacy boot, you're in "reinstall" territory anyway.

 

[matulano]

True enough--if the new system won't handle legacy boot, you're in "reinstall" territory anyway.

Thanks for the feedback. And yes, I am talking about TrueNAS CORE here.

When restoring a config, it is not neccessary to go through the pool export/import procedure, correct?

 

[danb35]

No, there wouldn't be any need to do that.