Yes I'm new to FreeNAS (Putting together a build)

[TheDanklestYo]

So I'm looking for hardware to put together a freenas, So a motherboard I'm looking at has a USB 3.1 Type C and also my main computer has one as well. So all I want to know before I buy the board is that can I use the USB 3.1 to transfer data between my main computer and NAS.

 

[tman5005]

Is USB C to USB C a requirement?

Otherwise it's probably easier just to use ethernet. If one or both of the computers doesn't have an ethernet jack I would recommend a USB C ethernet adapter, something like this https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics...pID=31jAuc8Y3oL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch. Then it is just standard network file transfers, something all relevant OS's can do for years with many guides on the internet for different options such as Windows file shares (SMB), FTP, SCP, etc.

Otherwise I found plenty of results with googling something like "usb c file transfer pc to pc", but the procedures described seemed a bit hokey to me and not quite as solid of a procedure as regular network file transfer. I don't know if FreeNAS supports such an option very well or easily.

 

[tman5005]

If you were going to use the ethernet route, then you might also need an ethernet crossover cable if you are going to directly connect them, or else a network switch in between the machines. Some ethernet adapters have auto MDIX so they wouldn't need the crossover cable, but I can't tell if the USB C ethernet adapter I linked to supports that feature.

This one seems to support auto MDIX, but is more expensive: https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-US1GC301AU2R-Gigabit-Ethernet-Adapter/dp/B01L3H31PY.

But honestly, for the difference in price you can buy an 8 port network switch, such as this one: http://www.trendnet.com/products/proddetail?prod=515_teg-s80g#tabs-solution02, which has auto MDIX ports. On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-Unmanaged-Switching-Protection-TEG-S80G/dp/B001QUA6RA/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1535526711&sr=1-4&keywords=trendnet+8+port+gigabit+switch&dpID=41EoAewOX%2BL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch. I have a slightly different 8 port version of that switch, but it's basically the same just some of the lights are slightly different, and it has worked very well.

 

[Ericloewe]

No. FreeNAS does not support acting as a USB Mass Storage Device.