Terramaster F5-221, new TrueNAS 22.12.1 build

Phil.61885

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Joined
Feb 26, 2023
Messages
5
Hi Folks, nice to meet you all!
I recently (Feb 2023) bought a Terramaster F5-221, new WD drives and copied over all of my many years of data, media, VMs, etc.
However, TOS 5.xx doesn't appear ready for primetime (cough, cough). After consolidating my old DLink DNS-323 drives, I found an alternative operating system for them, Alt-F.
This got me thinking, so I tried searching for alternative software for the F5-221 and discovered TrueNAS. After first trying it out on some old hardware I decided I liked it and long story short, I now have THREE TrueNAS SCALE servers!
I have just one thing needed to fix on my two F5-221s, and that is to replace the Sandisk Ultra Fit USB boot drive with an WD SSD using a usb to Sata adaptor. My only issue is that the space between the motherboard and the HDD metalwork is very tight and a right-angled usb adaptor will be required. Once I manage to get this, I can just about fit the internals of the SSD into the case of the Terramaster.

Next project is to get my three servers setup, so that my main server (#1) is automatically synchronized/backed up to my Plex media server (#2) and my Data backup (#3). After that, my hardware identical spare PC #2 will become my TrueNAS #4, so I can play around with all the other goodies that TrueNAS offers.
 

danb35

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Aug 16, 2011
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Running TrueNAS on the F5-221? From what I'm finding with a quick Google search, that system maxes out at 6 GB of RAM, while TrueNAS needs 16.
 

Phil.61885

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Joined
Feb 26, 2023
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5
Terramaster suggests that 4GB is all you can add but the hardware will definately accept an 8GB upgrade. I believe that 10TB of disks (which I have) will require 10GB of ram and both of my units run better than the original TOS software. Granted, this is not ECC ram, but both units are secondary to my main server so I don't mind taking a risk. The writing to these units will be low, the reading on the Plex server will be the highest, but still low volume.
I suppose time will tell!

Screenshot of the memory via my phone

This is the data server memory, the previous one was for the Plex server
 

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Phil.61885

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Joined
Feb 26, 2023
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Well, I sorted out my boot upgrade, I purchased https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BVR4Y49T (90 Degree Adapter, 2*Left Angle & 2*Right Angle USB A Male to Female Adapter) and https://www.amazon.com/dp/B083ZJZGH2 (SATA to USB A Cable) and a 250GB WD Blue SA510 SATA SSD for each Terramaster.
This did require the removal of the aluminum covers for the right-angled adaptor and also the usb to sata, as well as the removal of the ssd from its case, but once securely fixed to the top of the HDD bracket with some double sided tape, I was good to go!
Warranty, what's that?!

 

Protopia

Dabbler
Joined
Jul 11, 2023
Messages
36
I have just purchased an F5-221 (for delivery next week) with a view to installing TrueNas Scale and I am about to buy the additional memory and stuff to enable use of an SSD for boot etc.

My plan is to put the TrueNas install ISO on a SanDisk USB stick and install it to a 2.5" SSD temporarily located in bay 1. Once installed, I then plan to relocate the SSD to the side panel as shown in some YouTube videos and connect it to the internal USB port using a USB to SATA connector i.e. hopefully duplicating what was described above. Have I got this right?

So I need to buy a USB 90degree adapter, and I need to know in advance whether I need a left- or right-hand adapter. Can anyone tell me which handed adapter I need?

Thx in advance. P
 

Protopia

Dabbler
Joined
Jul 11, 2023
Messages
36
P.S. Or perhaps I can install the 90 degree USB and the USB-to-Sata and the SSD before installing TrueNas and insert the USB stick into one of the external USB ports?
 

Phil.61885

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Joined
Feb 26, 2023
Messages
5
P.S. Or perhaps I can install the 90 degree USB and the USB-to-Sata and the SSD before installing TrueNas and insert the USB stick into one of the external USB ports?
Get the parts I listed previously from Amazon. The 90 degree adaptor will require the removal of the outer casing at both ends and the removal of the ssd cover, but this will give you 5 hdd bays. It does look like a Frankenstein installation but it works like a champ. If you want to fit the ssd in one of the bays then you will need to purchase the other-handed adaptor so that the cable goes to the rear. You will still need to remove the outer case of the USB end.
I set the fan to max in the bios, as noise was not of a concern to me.
Insert the boot usd in one of the rear connectors to install Truenas. Don't lose the original Terramaster USB and consider updating it before the removal and subsequent storage.
Enjoy!
 

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Protopia

Dabbler
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36
Well, finally I got all the parts I needed to build the F5-221 to install TrueNas Scale - and I used the above suggestions as inspiration, but went a slightly different route whereby I bought a USB Stick SSD (note NOT a flash drive but a genuine SSD in the same style as a flash drive).

Here are the parts I bought:

USB SSD: https://www.amazon.es/dp/B0BS6NTT5Y - I could have bought the 128GB version but I would have had to pay postage on that whilst the 256GB one qualified for free postage. This SSD is surprisingly heavy for its size - I am guessing that the solid metal body is acting as a heat conductor. So far I have a 16GiB system partition, a 16GiB swap partition, and the remaining 200+GiB is still available for an App pool, and possibly for an SLOG.

USB 90degree Adapter: https://www.amazon.de//dp/B0734HQ178 - There is a circuit-board mounting post just next to the USB socket, and to get it it to fit inside the metal case I needed to whittle some of the rubber off either side of the adapter.

Here are the pics...
 

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