Setting up drives

[cholmes100]

Hi all, hope someone can help. I have installed freeNas on a computer (11.2-u3) and although I can't say it was easy at all it is done, could not get it to boot from a USB no matter what I did. I finally installed it on an additional HDD and got it running. I can log into the interface and am attempting the initial set up. Didn't get too far and it is asking to set up a "pool" (whatever that is) but informs me it will erase all data on the drives. Well that is my data and I don't want it erased. I have 2x 500 GB HDD's with Movies and music on one of them and the other is empty. How do I get around this? I am not real keen on buying another drive just to set it up, Anyone know of a solution?

 

[Basil Hendroff]

STOP! It sounds like you're trying to set up FreeNAS on a machine that's actively being used for something else. It's not a good idea, especially if you're new to FreeNAS and just learning to find your way around.

Let's have you start by providing a context. Describe your hardware in some detail (see the Forum Guidelines for tips on what information you should provide). You mentioned there are movies and music on it. What is that machine usually used for?

 

[cholmes100]

Well the computer is a Intel duo core 2.4 with 8GB ram that I plan on using strictly as NAS. The HDD's are drives that I have content on (one of them) the other empty at the moment. There is a 3rd drive with only freeNAS installed as the OS. It will not be used for anything else.

 

[Basil Hendroff]

The drives are drive that I have content on (one of them)

Where did that content come from? A Mac? A Windows PC?

 

[Chris Moore]

Well the computer is a Intel duo core 2.4 with 8GB ram that I plan on using strictly as NAS.

Too old. Get newer hardware. Look at the guidance:

Hardware Recommendations Guide Rev. 1e) 2017-05-06
https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?resources/hardware-recommendations-guide.12/

Hardware Recommendations by @cyberjock - from 26 Aug 2014 - and still valid
https://forums.freenas.org/threads/hardware-recommendations-read-this-first.23069/

The HDD's are drives that I have content on (one of them) the other empty at the moment.

When you create a pool on the set of drives, they will all be re-partitioned and formatted for ZFS (the file system of FreeNAS) so you need to get that data off the drives before you can use them with FreeNAS.

I have installed freeNas on a computer (11.2-u3) and although I can't say it was easy at all it is done, could not get it to boot from a USB no matter what I did.

That is because that system is an old hunk of junk that should be recycled.

I can log into the interface and am attempting the initial set up.

Use the legacy interface and follow this guide:

Uncle Fester's Basic FreeNAS Configuration Guide
https://www.familybrown.org/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=fester:intro

Didn't get too far and it is asking to set up a "pool" (whatever that is) but informs me it will erase all data on the drives.

If you don't know what a pool is, you need to read the introductory material to learn what it is you are getting into:

Slideshow explaining VDev, zpool, ZIL and L2ARC
https://forums.freenas.org/index.ph...ning-vdev-zpool-zil-and-l2arc-for-noobs.7775/

Terminology and Abbreviations Primer
https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/terminology-and-abbreviations-primer.28174/

Why not to use RAID-5 or RAIDz1
https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-raid-5-stops-working-in-2009/

Well that is my data and I don't want it erased.

You need to clear those drives of data before you can use them.

How do I get around this? I am not real keen on buying another drive just to set it up, Anyone know of a solution?

Why would you even waste time setting up a NAS for such tiny hard drives? Get some larger drives, even if you have to buy them used.

 

[cholmes100]

It was content that I put on them from downloading or ripping, I used them as external drives. Maybe I don't understand what a NAS is for but I assumed it was for streaming content through Plex or similar.

 

[Chris Moore]

I assumed it was for streaming content through Plex or similar.

FreeNAS is a NAS. NAS means Network Attached Storage. That is what the purpose is and it uses it's own file system. Plex is something that can be added to FreeNAS, but it is not the purpose of the system. Plex is something that requires some additional computational power, and that adds to the problem of your proposed system being too old and under powered.

 

[cholmes100]

I thought and still think I can use this to see if it's worth the trouble. It's an experiment, something basic is all I am interested in at the moment and I really have no interest in investing 2500-3000 in a NAS to watch a movie once in awhile. Yes I know there are "server grade" drives and "error correcting" RAM and the sky is the limit but at the end of the day it stores files and not much more. This "hunk of junk" runs plenty fast, it's the OS that doesn't make much sense. A lot of people drive $10,000 vehicles but telling them they should be driving $100,000 Mercedes doesn't mean they will run out and buy one. They will still get to where they are going albeit a bit slower and not as comfortable. I could go buy one but what fun would that be? Everyone has to start somewhere and everyone isn't an I.T. specialist so I learn by doing and asking questions as I thought the forum was for, to help people. I do thank you for your input and direction but I will figure it out on my own and deactivate my account.

 

[Basil Hendroff]

It's an experiment

By all means, use what you've got to find your way around FreeNAS, but remove that data drive first.

I plan on using strictly as NAS

If you start building a dependency on this hardware though, no one is going to take you seriously. The hardware you have is woefully inadequate for streaming movies.

Please keep in mind that everyone assisting you is a volunteer or/and an enthusiast sharing their knowledge and experiences. We're here to help. You were about to shoot yourself in the foot and that's been averted. That's a good thing.