Starting a project

[RammyBrad]

Good day

I going to start a project deploying a Freenas server for a company. I just want to know if I want to boot with a usb flash drive as well as store the configuration data, would I need two separate usb flash drive to do it? Also, I want to know if I put the Freenas server into production using virtual environment, will it have the same performance with or without it or which would be the best way to run the Freenas server?

I'm also asking if anyone has a copy of any ebook up to version 9.2 for Freenas, please to send a link or feel free to share with me

 

[Chris Moore]

up to version 9.2 for Freenas

Why would you be interested in such an old version? Latest is greatest. You should use version 11.1-U6, which is the current (non Beta) version and is working reliably.

I going to start a project deploying a Freenas server for a company.

You will want to learn a lot more about FreeNAS first, if that is your plan.

I just want to know if I want to boot with a usb flash drive

No, you should avoid using any USB device if at all possible, especially for a system that will be in 'production' in a company that will (I would guess) be relying on the system to be up forever, or until it is replaced by something better. Also, you would want to use mirrored boot devices. FreeNAS can mirror them on a software level, you just need to configure the BIOS to be able to boot from both devices. Supermicro server boards handle that pretty well in my experience. I have systems running with spinning disk boot drives and with SSD boot drives, either can be good, but SSDs are probably better.

as well as store the configuration data, would I need two separate usb flash drive to do it?

That can be stored somewhere that is accessible if the boot pool becomes invalid for some reason. I use a script that stores it in the pool, then a cron task that uses rsync to copy it to another server. It happens automatically every Sunday whether I need it or not. The config files are small, so I have all of them dating back a couple years now. It doesn't take up much space and I can always delete them manually if I feel the need.
Here is a link to some useful scripts:

Github repository for FreeNAS scripts, including disk burnin
https://forums.freenas.org/index.ph...for-freenas-scripts-including-disk-burnin.28/

Also, I want to know if I put the Freenas server into production using virtual environment, will it have the same performance with or without it or which would be the best way to run the Freenas server?

There is a lot involved in virtualizing FreeNAS. Here is a guide:

"Absolutely must virtualize FreeNAS!" ... a guide to not completely losing your data.
https://forums.freenas.org/index.ph...ide-to-not-completely-losing-your-data.12714/

and a build report:

Build Report: Node 304 + X10SDV-TLN4F [ESXi/FreeNAS AIO]
https://forums.freenas.org/index.ph...node-304-x10sdv-tln4f-esxi-freenas-aio.57116/

Here are some resources to review, note that the suggestion to use USB as a boot device is deprecated, but still listed in some of this material as it has not been updated:

Hardware Requirements
http://www.freenas.org/hardware-requirements/

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/

FreeNAS® Quick Hardware Guide
https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?resources/freenas®-quick-hardware-guide.7/

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

Building, Burn-In, and Testing your FreeNAS system
https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?resources/building-burn-in-and-testing-your-freenas-system.38/

 

[RammyBrad]

Thank you for your response Mr. Moore

I wanted to learn a lot more about it. If I could get my hands on a e-book or so that would be good

 

[Chris Moore]

Thank you for your response Mr. Moore

I wanted to learn a lot more about it. If I could get my hands on a e-book or so that would be good

Primary documentation is online because most documents have links to other documents, however there are some copies that have been made in PDF form for people that need to be able to download it and use it in an offline setting:

http://freenas.2trux.com/

 

[Chris Moore]

Sorry, no epub or pdf for 9.2 and again I say, why would you even ask about it?