TrueNAS is an open-source network-attached storage (NAS) system based on FreeBSD and the OpenZFS file system. It is known for its reliability and versatility, offering features such as snapshots, replication, encryption, and a powerful web interface for managing storage. In this article, we’ll guide you on how to deploy and use TrueNAS.
Prerequisites
Before starting, ensure you have:
- A system or server with at least 8GB of RAM, a 64-bit processor, and a hard disk drive (HDD) or solid-state drive (SSD) for storage.
- An Internet connection to download the TrueNAS ISO image.
- A USB flash drive to create a bootable installation medium.
- Access to the system BIOS to change the boot order.
Step 1: Download and Install TrueNAS
To start, download the TrueNAS ISO image from the official website (https://www.truenas.com/download-truenas-core/). Once downloaded, create a bootable USB stick using tools such as Rufus or BalenaEtcher.
Insert the bootable USB stick into your system, reboot, and enter the BIOS. Change the boot order to boot from the USB stick first. Save your changes and exit the BIOS.
Your system should now boot from the USB stick and display the TrueNAS installer. Select ‘Install/Upgrade’ and choose the drive where TrueNAS will be installed. Keep in mind that all data on the selected drive will be erased.
After the installation process completes, remove the USB stick and reboot the system. You should now see the TrueNAS Initial Wizard in your browser by typing the server’s IP address.
Step 2: Initial Configuration
When you access TrueNAS for the first time, it will run an initial setup wizard. Here, you can configure basic settings such as the system hostname, time zone, and root password. You can also create your first storage pool during this step.
Step 3: Create a Storage Pool
To create a storage pool manually, go to Storage -> Pools -> Add. Provide a name for your pool and select the drives to include in the pool. You can choose between different levels of redundancy depending on your requirements.
Step 4: Create a Shared Folder
Next, you’ll probably want to create a shared folder. Go to Sharing, select the type of share you want to create (Windows (SMB) Shares, Unix (NFS) Shares, or Apple (AFP) Shares), and click on ‘Add’. Configure the share according to your needs.
Step 5: Set Up User Accounts
To enhance security and manage access rights, set up user accounts by going to Accounts -> Users -> Add. Enter the username, full name, and password. You can also assign the user to a group and specify a home directory.
Step 6: Set Up Regular Snapshots
One of the key features of TrueNAS (and ZFS) is the ability to take snapshots of your data. Go to Tasks -> Snapshots to set up regular snapshots. You can configure the frequency of snapshots according to your needs.
Step 7: Set Up Replication (Optional)
If you have a second TrueNAS system, you can set up replication to automatically duplicate data from one system to another. This provides an extra level of backup and can be set up by going to Tasks -> Replication Tasks.
Step 8: Monitoring the System
TrueNAS provides a dashboard for monitoring system health and performance. It includes information about CPU usage, memory usage, network traffic, and disk activity. Use this dashboard to keep an eye on the state of your system and troubleshoot any issues.
Congratulations! You’ve successfully