Configuring TrueNAS Using the UI

14 minute read.

Last Modified 2024-11-15 16:32 EST

TrueNAS Enterprise
iXsystems TrueNAS Enterprise customers should contact iXsystems Support after their systems arrive to receive additional guidance on their next steps.
Contacting Support
Customers who purchase iXsystems hardware or that want additional support must have a support contract to use iXsystems Support Services. The TrueNAS Community forums provides free support for users without an iXsystems Support contract.
iXsystems Customer Support
Support Portal https://support.ixsystems.com
Email support@ixsystems.com
Telephone and Other Resources https://www.ixsystems.com/support/

iXsystems Customer Support
Support Portal	https://support.ixsystems.com
Email	support@ixsystems.com
Telephone and Other Resources	https://www.ixsystems.com/support/

TrueNAS users should follow the instructions provided below to complete the initial setup and configuration of their systems.

Use the information mentioned in the installation preparation instructions article for your TrueNAS installation type (Enterprise, non-Enterprise, or home use) to configure your network, SMTP, or directory service settings.

Root account logins are deprecated in TrueNAS Bluefin 22.12.0 or newer for security hardening and to comply with Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS). All TrueNAS users should create an administrator account with all required permissions and begin using it to access TrueNAS. When the root user password is disabled, only an administrative user account can log in to the TrueNAS web interface.
TrueNAS plans to permanently disable root account access in a future release.

After logging into TrueNAS, you can begin configuring TrueNAS using the web interface.

Enterprise Licenses and Proactive Support

TrueNAS Enterprise
Applying Enterprise Licenses
TrueNAS Enterprise customers should contact iXsystems support to obtain license information for their TrueNAS system. To apply the license information, go to the System > General Settings screen and use the Update License option on the Support widget (system information card).
Setting up Proactive Support
TrueNAS Enterprise customers with Silver or Gold Coverage support contracts can configure proactive support.
Customers with appropriate support contracts can configure Proactive Support after they apply their system license, and after acknowledging and signing the End User License Agreement (EULA).
The Support widget on the System > General Settings screen displays the Proactive Support option after entering your system license.

Setting Up Networking

TrueNAS uses DHCP to assign the IP address required to access the TrueNAS UI and displays it on the Console Setup Menu screen, and it sets the host name to truenas.

If you do not plan to use the DHCP-assigned network addresses provided by TrueNAS, identify your host and domain names, the static or fixed IP addresses you plan to assign to your network interface card(s), the default gateway, subnet mask(s), and the DNS name servers in your network.

TrueNAS Enterprise
For Enterprise systems, have your network information ready to provide iXsystems Support when they guide you through your configuration.

All other users should have their network information ready before starting to configure network settings. This makes the process go faster and reduces the risk of issues when you configure TrueNAS.

We recommend that only experienced administrators familiar with network configuration and the Console setup menu use it and that less experienced and knowledgeable system administrators use the TrueNAS UI to configure your network interfaces and other network configuration settings. The TrueNAS UI includes safety measures to prevent you from completely disrupting network connectivity for your TrueNAS if you make a mistake with network interface settings.

If you are unfamiliar with network services, devices, or configurations, you can find more information here to help guide you through this important and required configuration area.

TrueNAS Enterprise
You must disable failover in the UI on TrueNAS Enterprise HA systems to add or change any network setting. Complete network changes and test them, then re-enable failover.

Adding Network Interfaces

Multiple interfaces connected to a single TrueNAS system cannot be members of the same subnet but you can combine multiple interfaces with a link aggregation (LAGG) or network bridge. Alternatively, you can assign multiple static IP addresses to a single interface by configuring aliases.
Multiple NICs on One Subnet
When multiple network interface cards (NICs) connect to the same subnet, users might incorrectly assume that the interfaces automatically load balances. However, ethernet network topology allows only one interface to communicate at a time. Additionally, both interfaces must handle broadcast messages since they are listening on the same network. This configuration adds complexity and significantly reduces network throughput.
If you require multiple NICs on a single network for performance optimization, use a link aggregation (LAGG) configured with Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP). A single LAGG interface with multiple NICs shows as a single connection to the network.
While LACP is beneficial for larger deployments with many active clients, it might not be practical for smaller setups. LACP provides additional bandwidth or redundancy for critical networking situations, but it is limited because it does not load balance packets.
On the other hand, if you need multiple IP addresses on a single subnet, configure one or more static IP aliases for a single NIC.
We recommend using LACP if you need multiple interfaces on a network. If you need multiple IP addresses, define aliases. Deviation from these practices might result in unexpected behavior.
For a detailed explanation of ethernet networking concepts and best practices for networking multiple NICs, refer to this discussion from National Instruments.

If your system has more than one network interface card (NIC) connected to your internal network (wired to your router or Internet access point), you can add an interface in TrueNAS. DHCP is available for only a single interface; any other physical interfaces must be configured with static IP addresses.

You can also configure virtual network interfaces such as a bridge, link aggregate (LAGG), or virtual LAN (VLAN) interface.

You can use the Console Setup menu or TrueNAS UI to configure network interfaces. We recommend using the web UI the Network screen to add or change network interfaces or aliases, set up link aggregate LAGG or virtual LAN VLAN interfaces, and change or configure global network settings.

Adding Aliases or Static IP Addresses

Static IP addresses and aliases provide support for various network applications.

TrueNAS Enterprise
TrueNAS Enterprise HA systems use a virtual IP (VIP) to maintain access to the UI if the system fails over to the standby controller. This VIP address might experience a minor blip at failover, but you do not need to log in with the standby controller IP address to gain access to the UI after a failover.

You can configure a network interface with a static IP or add an alias IP address on the same screen in the TrueNAS UI. For more information on when to use an alias or a static IP address, see Managing Interfaces.

Setting Up Storage

TrueNAS requires at least one storage pool. We recommend you create the required pool and plan the rest of your storage needs before adding sharing, container applications, virtual machines, or data storage. When planning your data storage, consider the type of data sharing you want to do, any container applications you might want to deploy, and how you want to organize stored data.

The storage creation process begins with creating a pool, then adding datasets or zvols as needed. Creating your initial storage is explained here.

Setting the System Dataset

TrueNAS assigns the root parent dataset of the first created pool as the system dataset. If your system has enough disks to add more pools, you can change the system dataset to a root dataset of different pool.

Setting Up Shares

After setting up your system storage, you can configure data sharing using one of the sharing protocols available in TrueNAS.

These articles provide more information on configuring data sharing and the three built-in share types available in TrueNAS:

Share Type	Purpose
SMB shares	Used for Windows shares and also to set up deprecated AFP sharing.
NFS shares	Used for Linux-based shares.
iSCSI shares	Used for block shares.

Configuring System Services

Configure and enable the services you need based on what you deploy on your TrueNAS system.

TrueNAS Enterprise
Enterprise or TrueNAS systems with large numbers of disks should enable SMART service and configure SMART testing. TrueNAS Enterprise HA systems should enable and configure the failover service.

Configuring Services

Configure and enable these services based on your TrueNAS system needs:

SSH service
Set this service to allow SSH login for administration users (admin or, if also enabled, the root user) on all TrueNAS systems. All TrueNAS systems that need SSH access should enable SSH service as part of the initial UI configuration, but this is an area of security vulnerability. For security hardening, do not enable SSH and leave it activated at all times. Turn on the service when SSH access is needed and then turn it back off until it is needed again.
SMART service and SMART tests
SMART service and tests are important for systems with large numbers of disks. Managing systems with large numbers of disks can present challenges when determining the disk with issues if SMART service and testing are not set up.
Failover service on TrueNAS Enterprise High Availability (HA) systems
The failover service enables an HA system to fail over to the standby system controller after a disruption to the primary controller. This service is not included on non-Enterprise and non-HA systems.
Enterprise customers should not make changes to failover settings or the service on their own except when disabling failover to make changes to network settings. Contact iXsystems Support for assistance before making any changes to other failover settings.

When you add data sharing, the system prompts you to enable the appropriate sharing service as part of the configuration and setup process.

If your installation includes a UPS, configure and enable the UPS service.

Setting Up SMART Testing

All systems can take advantage of the SMART service and testing with compatible attached disks. Disks that do not support SMART testing do not display the option to set up testing.

See Managing SMART Tests for information on running or managing scheduled SMART tests or Managing Disks for more information on running a manual test from a selected disk.

Setting Up Backup Solutions

After completing your initial system configuration and before you begin day-to-day operations, we recommend configuring the system and data storage backup. Recommended backup options:

Saving the system configuration file.
Saving or creating a new boot environment to use as a restore point if system issues cause you to lose access to the TrueNAS UI.
Downloading a system debug to capture system information to use as a comparison against future debug files. To download a system debug file, go to System > Advanced Settings and click Save Debug to begin the download.

Keep both the system configuration file and the initial system debug file in a safe location where important files are regularly backed up. You can use the boot environment in an SSH session to restore your system to the point where you completed your system configuration, and then import data or pools to recover stored data.

TrueNAS Enterprise
For Enterprise customers with High Availability (HA) systems, the HA restore process requires recovering both controllers. Contact iXsystems Support for assistance before attempting to recover your system. If you choose to restore access to controller 1 and the TrueNAS UI, contact iXsystems Support to get assistance with properly recovering your second controller.
Enterprise HA customers should not start issuing CLI commands to recover the system!
Contact iXsystems Support after you restore access to controller 1 to request further assistance and before taking actions that can disrupt or damage system access further and result in requiring a complete reinstall to recover.
Contact iXsystems Support
Customers who purchase iXsystems hardware or that want additional support must have a support contract to use iXsystems Support Services. The TrueNAS Community forums provides free support for users without an iXsystems Support contract.
iXsystems Customer Support
Support Portal https://support.ixsystems.com
Email support@ixsystems.com
Telephone and Other Resources https://www.ixsystems.com/support/

iXsystems Customer Support
Support Portal	https://support.ixsystems.com
Email	support@ixsystems.com
Telephone and Other Resources	https://www.ixsystems.com/support/

Data Storage Backup Solutions

After saving system configuration and debug files, we recommend setting up data storage backups using any or all of the following methods:

Taking regular snapshots or creating periodic snapshot tasks
Setting up replication to another system (remote replication)
Adding a cloud storage provider service and setting up a cloud sync task

You can take single snapshots or schedule periodic snapshot tasks to capture changes to stored data without the storage overhead that comes with backing up through data replication, or you can use one of the replication options TrueNAS provides.

Another option is to create an account with a cloud storage service provider, then let TrueNAS manage the backups. Use the Backup Credentials screen Cloud Credentials to add authentication credentials for a supported cloud service provider, and go to Data Protection to schedule a Cloud Sync Tasks that regularly backs up your storage data to the cloud.

Checking System Alert Settings and Services

You can view system alerts, configure an alert service, and enter an email account to receive alerts from TrueNAS through the Alerts icon found on the top toolbar.

Configuring Alerts

The alert icon on the top toolbar displays a red circle with a number in it if TrueNAS encounters a configuration error or exceeds a threshold that you set (such as a temperature or a usage level). The number indicates how many new alerts have occurred. Click on the alert icon to open the Alerts panel.

The Alerts panel includes the Settings (gear) icon that provides access to the alert settings screen where you configure alert types and thresholds, and a system email option that opens a configuration screen where you enter an address to receive messages for a system event triggered by an alert.

Click Alert Settings to configure an alert service such as PagerDuty or customize alert settings such as type and threshold for triggering an alert.
Click Email to assign an email address to receive system alert notifications.

TrueNAS Enterprise
The Alert Settings screen includes access to the Enterprise HA setting options that customize HA-related event thresholds that produce alerts or send emails.

Setting Up Directory Services

TrueNAS allows you to configure an Active Directory or LDAP server to handle authentication and authorization services, domain, and other account settings. TrueNAS allows configuring either directory server but not both.

We do not recommended that you switch between directory services. This can result in configuration issues that could disrupt your system!
However, it is possible to change from either directory service to the other. If you want to migrate from LDAP to Active Directory, you must disable LDAP in TrueNAS and then remove the current directory server settings. To change from Active Directory to LDAP, use the Leave Domain option and then disable the service before attempting to configure and enable LDAP.

TrueNAS Enterprise
iXsystems Support can assist Enterprise customers with configuring directory service settings in TrueNAS with the information customers provide, but they cannot configure customer Active Directory system settings.

Non-Enterprise users can find support for configuring directory services in the TrueNAS Documentation Hub tutorials or in the community forums.

Using Enclosure Management

TrueNAS Enterprise
For TrueNAS Enterprise customers with compatible hardware, the TrueNAS main Dashboard displays an image of the TrueNAS system server on the System Information widget. Click on the image to open the View Enclosure screen, or select the System > Enclosure option on the main menu navigation panel.
The View Enclosure screen provides details on the system disks, the pools and VDEVs disks are in, the hardware details, and the disk status. Click on a drive to view the disk details. If the TrueNAS system has an expansion shelf, the Enclosure screen also displays an image of the expansion shelf populated with disks.

If using TrueNAS on hardware not provided by iXsystems, the System Information widget on the Dashboard displays the TrueNAS logo, and the System > Enclosure option does not exist on the menu navigation panel.

Using Applications in TrueNAS

TrueNAS provides a list of applications you can deploy on the Apps > Discover screen.

See the Apps tutorials for procedures on generically deploying and managing apps, app catalogs and images, custom apps, and specific app deployments and notes.

Updating TrueNAS

You can update your system with an iso file using the system administration console or an update file installed through the TrueNAS UI.

There are a few ways to find available updates for your instance of TrueNAS:

The main Dashboard > System Information widget alerts you when a TrueNAS update is available to download and install. Click the update option to open the System > Updates screen.
Go to System > Updates to check if an update is available.

For all update options and procedures using the TrueNAS UI see Updating TrueNAS.

Always save the system configuration file and save a new boot environment for your current release and configuration before updating to a new incremental or full release.

It is also good practice to download a fresh debug file before and after a system update.