Transfer boot USB

[cldavis58]

Noob warning!

I have set up my 9.2.1.8 NAS to boot from an external 4Gb USB drive. I have a virgin 8Gb USB drive ready to go and I want to transfer my boot drive from the 4 to the 8 so I can upgrade it to 9.3 using the GUI. I will then want to back up the 8 (somewhere?) in case it fails. Can someone direct me to a youtube or doc?

Thanks,

CLD

 

[hugovsky]

Best way to is to backup current config and install 9.3 to 8GB usb drive. Then, you just need to restore your config after boot.

 

[cldavis58]

Okay, thanks. Makes sense. Noobie doesn't know how to back up the current config. Is that part of the upgrade process?

 

[hugovsky]

Check web GUI, system -> general -> SAVE CONFIG.

 

[danb35]

Best way to is to backup current config and install 9.3 to 8GB usb drive. Then, you just need to restore your config after boot.

This. The same procedure would work to get 9.2.1.8 running on the 8 GB stick, but there's no reason to have that version running on the new stick if the goal is to upgrade to 9.3.

 

[cldavis58]

Doing the "Firmware Update". Turns out the option to save the config is available during the upgrade process. Question is when do I unplug the 4g stick and plug in the 8g stick. Sorry; need step-by-step.

 

[danb35]

Don't. Do what @hugovsky said. Go to the web GUI -> system -> general -> save config, and save the file your browser will start to download somewhere you can find it. Install 9.3 on the 8 GB stick. Boot into the web GUI. Go to system -> general -> upload config. Browse to your saved config file. Your system will upload it, reboot twice, and be online with your previous configuration.

 

[cldavis58]

Thanks for the reply. I am still lost. I boot from the 4gb USB now and it is 9.3 so the update must have worked, but on the 4gb stick. I can save the config, but I don't know how to restore it to the 8gb. The 8gb stick is virgin / FAT32; does it need to be formatted or initialized by FreeNAS first? I have tried removing the 4gb, installing the 8gb and uploading the config, but it just hangs. Step-by-step... When do I remove the 4 and replace it with the 8 and when do I kick off the upload? It never asks me where I want to send the upload so I am not sure it is defaulting to the USB, which now has the 8. Thanks in advance

 

[hugovsky]

- Make backup of your config as stated on another post;
- Shutdown down server;
- Remove 4GB usb drive;
- Plug 8GB usb drive;
- Use cd to boot freenas image;
- Follow install instructions (be absolutely sure that you are installing in your 8GB usb drive);
- After install complete, boot from new 8GB usb drive and go to web GUI;
- Restore config;
- Done!

 

[cyberjock]

Ok, I think you need to stop what you are doing cldavis58.

You aren't doing what people are recommending (your last post just confirmed it).

I think before you go further you need to go to our documentation (doc.freenas.org) and do some reading. Take a day or two to read through all of the sections that apply for your situation and do some reading on the forums. You're asking questions that you really shouldn't be asking (like how to backup the boot device). If you had any experience with FreeNAS that's not a valid question to ask. We don't backup the boot device. In fact, the manual tells you specifically NOT to try to backup the boot device.

So instead of trying to jump to the step that involves execution steps you need to stop and do more planning and analyzing what you actually need to do before you do it. But doing what you are doing before you even understand *why* you need to do things is how people lose their data. If you have any searching history on this forum you'll probably know that's the fastest way to lose all of your data in 1 swift step, and permanently.

Please, for the love of your data, slow down, read our manual, read our stickies in the forum, THEN see what steps you actually need to take.

 

[cldavis58]

I'm sorry. I thought this was a place for noobs to find experts and get helpful answers to specific questions. My bad. I will read your excellent material and will solve the problem on my own.
hugovsky and danb35, you were very helpful. Thanks for the step by step. The part I missed was having to make and boot from a new CD even though the 4gb USB updated with 9.3. The other part I missed was that my 8gb stick is a piece of junk and won't take the install. It is now corrupted and won't format, so I will get another one.

Thanks again,

CLD

 

[danb35]

I'm sorry. I thought this was a place for noobs to find experts and get helpful answers to specific questions.

It is. And when we gave you specific instructions, you ran off and did something else. We gave you more specific instructions, and you ran further off and did something else. We never told you to use the firmware update button or to swap USB sticks while your server was running, but you decided on your own that you should do both of those. At some point, we need to quote @DrKK and say "Sir, step away from the FreeNAS."

 

[cldavis58]

Again, thanks and, my bad. Your chastisement is legit, but if I did not follow instructions it is because I am too much of a noob to understand them clearly and I did not want to pester you with having to explain something that is simple and straightforward to your level of knowledge. Me needs more book larnin'.

I will drop this thread. Thanks to all of you for your help; you have solved the issue (once I get a decent 8g stick).

Take care,

CLD