Server keeps rebooting after FNAS 9.3 installation

[erch]

After successful installation, the server keeps rebooting once it reaches the watchdog point.

I can boot in single user mode but don't know where I can find the logs. I'm new with FreeNAS

 

[dlavigne]

The logs are in /var/log/messages.

 

[erch]

Thanks. I booted in single user mode and realized the /var/log directory was missing so I remounted / writable and created the missing directory. The issue is still happening and the machine keeps rebooting. There is only a single binary file utx.log created in /var/log.

Is there an interactive boot option like in RedHat?

I really need this NAS working to move on with the deployment of my new virtualized infrastructure. This issue is holding me back.

The computer configuration is:

• AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4600+
• 8GB RAM
  
• 2 X 3TB SATA HDDs
  
• FreeNAS installed on a 16GB Kingston SD card

 

[dlavigne]

Which version of FreeNAS? Did you install from CD or USB? Can you post a pic of the screen just before the system reboots?

 

[erch]

Version 9.3 as per the title of the thread. FNAS installed from CD onto the Kingston 16GB SD card.

Just after starting the watchdog daemon (see below) the system reboots:

The same happens if FNAS is installed onto an internal 149GB SATA drive

 

[gpsguy]

My guess, is that your "server" (desktop) is at least 7+ years old.

IMHO, it's so old, that one can't expect it to work with the latest version FreeNAS.

You might want to try v8.3.2 or maybe? a 9.1.x version. But I wouldn't even attempt to run 9.3.

As an aside, I have/had two similar vintage systems. I gutted/rebuilt one in late fall and am still migrating programs/data from the 2nd one to new one. Neither ran as "servers" just a desktop OS.

 

[erch]

Yes, it is an old desktop but it fits FreeNAS hardware recommendations and FreeBSD minimum hardware requirements. Since I was previously running Citrix Xen Server 5.6 on this desktop which is a more demanding tasks, it seemed to me like a good idea to extend its service lifetime by turning it into a NAS for my home office.

Keep in mind that FreeNAS installation program successfully ran on it.

 

[dlavigne]

It might be this bug: https://bugs.freenas.org/issues/7094. Does installing the latest nightly and adding the mentioned lines to rc.conf fix it?

 

[erch]

Definitely there were some bugs on the initial 9.3 release affecting my installation.

I decided to wait for a newer release and it paid off since I just downloaded FreeNAS-9.3-STABLE-201501301837.iso, installed it twice for testing on a 16GB SD card and on an internal 150GB SATA HDD. Both installation were successful without any issues.

My current FreeNAS server configuration is as follows:

• AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4600+
• 8GB RAM
• 1 x 150GB SATA HDD (FreeNAS installed on it)
  
• 2 x 3TB SATA HDDs (Storage)

It seems that my old computer is not so old to support FreeNAS! ;-)