USB Boot Device

[Akida]

Hello Everyone,

This is my first post here and it is a post out of concern! I recently turned my NAS off and tried to turn it back on but it is not coming back on!

I believe when I originally configured the server, that I set the boot device as the USB stick which had the OS on. I now fear that the USB has become corrupt or is not working correctly. This is because when I plug this into my Windows desktop, I am told that I need to format the disk before I can use it...

I also made the mistake of not writing down the OS version I am currently using.

My question is a simple one. Can I reinstall any OS onto the USB and load it up OR do I have to get the specific OS my system is currently using for it to boot properly? I know it sounds like a silly question but I really don't want to lose any data. Please help!!!


Regards.

 

[Patrick M. Hausen]

This is because when I plug this into my Windows desktop, I am told that I need to format the disk before I can use it...

This can happen because Windows does not recognise the FreeBSD installation on the drive.

My question is a simple one. Can I reinstall any OS onto the USB and load it up OR do I have to get the specific OS my system is currently using for it to boot properly? I know it sounds like a silly question but I really don't want to lose any data.

You can generally load the latest version of TrueNAS on your USB drive, although USB is not recommended as a boot medium, anymore. With TrueNAS booting again, you can import your existing data pool. You will have to do all the configuration (users, shares, ...) again, though, if you do not know your version. With an identical version we could search for a saved copy of the configuration on the so called system dataset and restore it.

What error message are you getting at the console of the system other than that it "is not coming back on"?