Switching boot devices

[KenNashua]

I have a barley-used SSD sitting around so wanted to switch from USB to a SSD boot drive. In past threads it was suggested to just back up configuration and fresh-install to the new boot drive.

My question is my configuration is at 9.10.2-U5, the latest ISO is at 9.10.2-U4. Is the configuration compatible?

 

[BigDave]

To avoid complications, just wait until the U5 iso is available for download
as this would be the easiest. If waiting doesn't work for you, boot back into
U4 and save your config and install fresh version to the SSD. Once you can
boot from the new boot device, update to U5.
I would wait for the U5 iso to be available though...

 

[KenNashua]

To avoid complications, just wait until the U5 iso is available for download
as this would be the easiest. If waiting doesn't work for you, boot back into
U4 and save your config and install fresh version to the SSD. Once you can
boot from the new boot device, update to U5.
I would wait for the U5 iso to be available though...

Should have looked more carefully...thought the U5 update had been available for a while and the ISO is available, just not linked on the main download page.

https://download.freenas.org/9.10/latest/x64/FreeNAS-9.10.2-U5.iso

 

[KenNashua]

Well, that didn't quite work out. I installed fresh to the SSD with the U5 ISO, boot up, try to restore my configuration and it tells me the configuration is newer than what I'm running. My system info shows Build: FreeNAS-9.10-STABLE-201606072003 (696eba7) but when I go to updates, it says U5 has already been installed and to reboot. Does the same thing after a reboot.

 

[BigDave]

https://download.freenas.org/9.10/STABLE/9.10.2-U5/x64/

Ok, this link says June 8th (yesterday) version U5

My system info shows Build: FreeNAS-9.10-STABLE-201606072003 (696eba7) but when I go to updates, it says U5 has already been installed and to reboot.

This does not match your version number which indicates a release of June 7th @ 8:03pm

 

[KenNashua]

https://download.freenas.org/9.10/STABLE/9.10.2-U5/x64/

Ok, this link says June 8th (yesterday) version U5


This does not match your version number which indicates a release of June 7th @ 8:03pm

Worse, it doesn't match the year!

 

[BigDave]

Worse, it doesn't match the year!

Seriously! Please post a screenshot.

 

[KenNashua]

Seriously! Please post a screenshot.

I believe I've solved the problem. Even though I was booting from the new device via BIOS boot order, it looks like it somehow picked up the files from the USB stick. I went over to the BOOT tab and it said my boot device was 7GB which is the old stick.

Shut down, removed the stick, and saw DH keys being created during boot and the System Information now shows U5.

 

[BigDave]

As a FreeNAS rookie hazing, you must now scrub all you server's fan blades with a toothbrush:p

 

[zoomzoom]

@KenNashua Just an FYI, unless the SSD is an older cache drive of 32GB - 64GB, it's a waste as one will likely never exceed 32GB in data saved to the boot disk (one not only loses the SSD for another function, but also a SATA port). If your motherboard has an internal USB3 slot, I personally would utilize that with a SSD.

 

[Ericloewe]

I believe I've solved the problem. Even though I was booting from the new device via BIOS boot order, it looks like it somehow picked up the files from the USB stick. I went over to the BOOT tab and it said my boot device was 7GB which is the old stick.

That has happened to me. I thought I was going crazy at first...

Basically, the boot pool mounting logic is messed-up. I'm going to try to file a bug report for this one again, now that there's evidence that this happens.

 

[Ericloewe]

Relevant links:

https://forums.freenas.org/index.ph...weird-issues-strikes-again.42973/#post-281146
https://bugs.freenas.org/issues/24463

 

[BigDave]

Basically, the boot pool mounting logic is messed-up. I'm going to try to file a bug report for this one again, now that there's evidence that this happens.

You are probably right about the pool mounting logic being messed up, but IIRC the directions
(at the point of completion) state to remove the install media doesn't it? My memory may be
faulted about this though...

Edit: seems I'm not ready for the nursing home yet...

http://192.168.1.27/docs/_images/cdrom4a.png

 

[Ericloewe]

You are probably right about the pool mounting logic being messed up, but IIRC the directions
(at the point of completion) state to remove the install media doesn't it? My memory may be
faulted about this though...

I think you misunderstand. FreeNAS is being partially loaded from the older install, on the 8GB USB drive, even though the kernel was loaded from the new boot device.

The installer is not the problem because it's not a ZFS pool called freenas-boot.

 

[BigDave]

I think you misunderstand. FreeNAS is being partially loaded from the older install, on the 8GB USB drive, even though the kernel was loaded from the new boot device.

The installer is not the problem because it's not a ZFS pool called freenas-boot.

I never realized the original USB boot device was still plugged in, that's what you're
saying correct?

 

[Ericloewe]

I never realized the original USB boot device was still plugged in, that's what you're
saying correct?

Yeah, that's my understanding.