Switching Installation USB Drive

[Nick Marques]

Hi all,

I got FreeNAS running with a USB flash drive. I wrote the installation IMG with Win32 Disk Imager. If I want to move this to a different flash drive, or create a backup, how would I go about this? I could just use Win32 Disk Imager but they may be different sizes.

I could also just write the installation IMG with Win32 Disk Imager, but then what files do I need to copy from one to another to restore all settings and volume info?

Is there a one click backup option in FreeNAS?

 

[Yatti420]

Write freenas image to new USB drive.. Save current config.. Boot new usb.. Load old config.. http://doc.freenas.org/index.php/Settings

 

[joeschmuck]

It's amazing how easy that sounds yet so few people practice it ;).
I know that is the only way I do it, too much trouble the other ways.

 

[Yatti420]

I don't employ the 2-USB setup.. I probably should though as it makes it a little easier..

 

[Nick Marques]

Well that makes sense. What is the hard way?

And also, what size USB flash do I really need?

 

[pirateghost]

Well that makes sense. What is the hard way?

And also, what size USB flash do I really need?

4GB or better

 

[joeschmuck]

The hard way is to try and copy an image of your current USB flash drive to another flash drive. Some people can make it work well, others have issues and then you see postings asking for "Help, I've lost my configuration".

 

[Fabbat]

I have similar problem. Now my Freenas 9.1 runs on a hard disk but I would move to USB stick to free an HDD slot ( sorry I didn't understand raccomandations until now...)
Is it possible? And is iti easy?
Thank you

 

[joeschmuck]

Yes it's easy. Just save your configuration file first. Turn off your system. Remove your boot drive. Connect a USB Flash drive. Boot from the FreeNAS CD (preferably the same version you are currently running), load up the USB Flash drive and after you boot from the USB Flash drive, restore your configuration file. Simple.

 

[Fabbat]

Thank you very much for your complete answer. I'm using freenas 9.1.1 and I will upgrade to current version. Do you think I can move to USB stick and frenas 9.2.x at the same time? Or is better moving before to USB stick and then upgrade the version?

 

[joeschmuck]

You can upgrade before or after, your preference. Just ensure you backup the configuration file before moving over to the flash drive. Also it's my personal opinion to not upgrade beyond 9.2.0 yet, too many issues in 9.2.1.2. There is a 9.2.1.3 Beta out that is said to fix those issues, you could go there if you want but my advice is to start with 9.2.0, ensure everything works. Upgrade further at your own risk. The issues are mainly Samba (CIFS) upgrades.