This is a NAS data disk and can not boot system. System halted.

[NinjaLee]

I purchased a "SanDisk Extreme PRO 128GB USB 3.1 Solid State Flash Drive" to install FreeNAS on since regular flash drive aren't reliable. I ran the installation with no errors but when booting up I get the message "This is a NAS data disk and can not boot system. System halted."

Installing on a regular flash drive boots up fine though.... please advise. Thanks!

 

[dlavigne]

Does the BIOS support booting from that device (and configured to do so)?

 

[NinjaLee]

Does the BIOS support booting from that device (and configured to do so)?

Yes, it's configured to boot from USB.

The SanDisk is connected to the USB port, I assume it is supported. It's just like a regular flash drive but with SSD technology, right?

 

[Chris Moore]

Please post your hardware details as described in this post:

Updated Forum Rules 12/5/18
https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/updated-forum-rules-12-5-18.45124/

Yes, it's configured to boot from USB.

Just because it is configured to boot from USB, does not mean it will boot from every (any) USB device.

I assume it is supported.

You might want to send it back because the system is skipping over it and trying to boot from one of your data drives.

It's just like a regular flash drive but with SSD technology, right?

No. USB drives are not just like SSD technology, not even close. That is actually something we have discussed a lot on the forum lately because we have seen a lot of the USB 3.0 drives that people attempt to use for their boot pool overheat and fail prematurely because they don't have enough endurance to handle the constant activity. Which is one of the reasons the Hardware Requirements say a SSD is recommended.

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

 

[NinjaLee]

Please post your hardware details as described in this post:

Updated Forum Rules 12/5/18
https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?threads/updated-forum-rules-12-5-18.45124/

Just because it is configured to boot from USB, does not mean it will boot from every (any) USB device.

You might want to send it back because the system is skipping over it and trying to boot from one of your data drives.

No. USB drives are not just like SSD technology, not even close. That is actually something we have discussed a lot on the forum lately because we have seen a lot of the USB 3.0 drives that people attempt to use for their boot pool overheat and fail prematurely because they don't have enough endurance to handle the constant activity. Which is one of the reasons the Hardware Requirements say a SSD is recommended.

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

My Hardware:
HP ProLiant DL360 G6

I meant, the SanDisk USB Solid State Flash Drive I purchased is an SSD in a flash drive form factor.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MU8TZRV/ref=twister_B01N6SN1JO?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

or did I get it wrong?

 

[Chris Moore]

I meant, the SanDisk USB Solid State Flash Drive I purchased is an SSD in a flash drive form factor.

I have a hard time trusting that marketing hype. Still, it isn't being recognized by the computer as a valid boot device. You would likely have been better off with a mirrored pair of these:

https://www.adorama.com/idsdcfuf16g.html?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=adl-gbase

 

[NinjaLee]

I have a hard time trusting that marketing hype. Still, it isn't being recognized by the computer as a valid boot device. You would likely have been better off with a mirrored pair of these:
View attachment 28903
https://www.adorama.com/idsdcfuf16g.html?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=adl-gbase

Does it matter that it's on exFat or does it have to be FAT32? The only option it gives me to format to is exFAT & NTFS.

 

[Chris Moore]

Does it matter that it's on exFat or does it have to be FAT32? The only option it gives me to format to is exFAT & NTFS.

That isn't even a question. If you are creating installation media, you put the ISO on a USB drive using the directions in the manual:
https://www.ixsystems.com/documentation/freenas/11.1/install.html#preparing-the-media
Once you boot from the FreeNAS install media, FreeNAS will format the OS boot pool with ZFS, the file system that FreeNAS uses.

 

[Turgin]

Do you have it connected to a USB 2 or 3 port? I think most operating systems need appropriate drivers to boot from USB 3 and I do not know if FreeBSD contains such. Is this the only storage device connected when you try to boot? Also, you mention FAT32 and exFAT which is concerning to me because as Chris says boot from install media and follow the prompts. Choosing a filesystem shouldn't be a thing.

If you can get this to work (and IF its reliable) I think it could be a viable option for people that can't spare a SATA port for a boot device but want the reliability of SSD.