https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/ 2026-04-17T11:31:58+00:00 https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/ https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/_media/wiki:dokuwiki.svg text/html 2017-06-24T16:24:57+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:additional_configbackup?rev=1498321497&do=diff Backing Up The FreeNAS Configuration File Nightly Using A Cron Job This is entirely optional. It is recommended that you have email notifications setup on the FreeNAS server before embarking on this subsection. This is a guide for creating a Cron job to back-up the FreeNAS configuration file each night. text/html 2016-06-07T23:26:08+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:build_general?rev=1465341968&do=diff General Build Guide * Be careful of electric shock. Disconnect the power before working on a computer. NEVER dismantle a PSU, there are lethal voltages and currents inside and you can still get a shock off them even when they are disconnected from mains power. Computer parts are replaceable, you are not. text/html 2016-06-07T23:27:39+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:build_specific?rev=1465342059&do=diff Why No Specific Build Guide Fester! I had no idea at the time of building the server that I would end up writing a FreeNAS guide. So naturally I did not take any pictures (this is known as a Fester f@%k-up). If there is someone out there who is building a server and would like to provide detailed, copyright free pictures (stage by stage, no missing bits out because it’s a beginners guide) then let me have them, I would love to include them in this guide. text/html 2016-06-08T22:54:47+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:burnusb?rev=1465426487&do=diff Write an Image File to a USB Stick Many of the procedures in this guide require writing an image file (usually the file name ends in .img or .iso) to a USB stick, so that you can boot from that stick. Here's how you can do that. Windows Download the program “ text/html 2019-05-26T23:43:26+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:create_pool?rev=1558914206&do=diff Creating a FreeNAS Pool There are many different ways to organise the storage of your FreeNAS server. I can’t tell you what is best for you because it depends on various factors, how many vdevs and pools you want, how many data storage drives you have available, etc. Review text/html 2020-05-12T20:55:12+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:email?rev=1589316912&do=diff Email Notifications The FreeNAS OS and the IPMI monitor can give you warnings and other types of useful information delivered straight to your email account. This is an incredibly useful feature (not to mention important to the security of your data text/html 2019-05-26T21:18:07+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:hardware_general?rev=1558905487&do=diff General Hardware Recommendations In general: You're building a server, so use server-grade hardware. The “gamer” motherboard you bought may work (may even work well), but isn't going to be ideal. It probably won't support important features like ECC, it will most likely have a crappy Realtek NIC, and it will probably have other built-in hardware that you don't need and can't use, like a sound card. text/html 2016-06-15T13:26:04+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:hardware_specific?rev=1465997164&do=diff Specific Hardware Recommendations Selecting hardware can be a difficult business even for the initiated. It usually takes a lot of time and research, and even then it can still go very wrong (much like DIY surgery). For those who don’t have the time, here is a specific list of hardware for a quiet FreeNAS server I made in early January 2016. text/html 2016-06-08T23:27:27+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:hvalid_cpu?rev=1465428447&do=diff Processor Validation Processor validation is carried out by running a program on the server which works the processor at 100% of its capacity, 100% of the time. That means all threads in all cores working at 100% (or very near to 100%) all the time. text/html 2017-06-24T17:46:35+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:hvalid_hdd?rev=1498326395&do=diff HDD/SSD Validation HDD validation (in this case) basically involves 5 stages. * A SMART short test. This is a test that looks at certain aspects of the electrical and mechanical performance of the HDD. It is not a thorough test of the HDD. The tests take somewhere in the region of 2-5 minutes to complete. text/html 2016-06-11T12:21:57+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:hvalid_intro?rev=1465647717&do=diff Hardware Validation Statistically speaking electronic equipment tends to fail towards the beginning of its life cycle or towards the end. So when buying hardware to build a server, how do we know if we have a component or device that will fail early or towards the end of its life cycle? text/html 2016-06-08T23:35:32+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:hvalid_ram?rev=1465428932&do=diff Memory Validation Memory validation is performed by running a piece of software on the server that basically writes data to a memory location, reads it back and then checks it is correct. Once this has been done for the particular memory location under test, the program will then move on to the next location until all locations have been tested. text/html 2019-05-26T22:40:03+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:install_configuring?rev=1558910403&do=diff Configuring FreeNAS 11.2 (The essentials) There are a number of ways you can configure FreeNAS (e.g. through the GUI or through an SSH console, etc), this is just one way. Ordinarily the configuration should be done through the web GUI. text/html 2017-06-24T18:10:12+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:install_create?rev=1498327812&do=diff Creating A Bootable FreeNAS Installer Download the latest ISO for FreeNAS from the FreeNAS.org web site. Then follow the appropriate instructions for your operating system to write it to a USB stick, or mount the ISO using IPMI. text/html 2019-06-20T02:10:41+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:install_installing?rev=1560996641&do=diff Installing FreeNAS 11.2 Start by powering down the server if it isn’t powered down already. Insert the bootable FreeNAS 11.2 installation USB stick and switch on the server. If all goes well you will eventually be presented with the GNU GRUB screen. text/html 2019-06-20T01:37:19+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:intro?rev=1560994639&do=diff Uncle Fester's Basic FreeNAS 11.2 Configuration Guide Introduction This guide has been written with complete beginners to FreeNAS in mind (although some general computer knowledge is assumed). Therefore, depending on your level of knowledge and experience, you probably won’t need to read all the sections. text/html 2016-06-12T17:33:52+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:ipmi_iso?rev=1465752832&do=diff Mounting an ISO Image File via IPMI If your motherboard supports IPMI, you can mount image files (like the FreeNAS installer, Memtest86+, or other test utilities) through the virtual console. Your system will see the file as a local CD-ROM or flash drive. To start, open a web browser, and browse to the IP address of the IPMI interface on your server. text/html 2019-05-27T13:04:51+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:jails_global?rev=1558962291&do=diff Global Configuration of Jails Before setting up any plugins on the server we must first configure the global settings for all Jails. Click “Jails” in the left column. There is no need to change anything here, just click the “Config” button. text/html 2016-06-08T01:10:59+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:jails_intro?rev=1465348259&do=diff Jails I decided to create a separate section for Jails. I did this so others can easily add their plugin guides after this one. In this way a repository of different plugins can be accumulated over time. The user of this guide can then choose the one they need for the plugin of their choice. text/html 2019-05-27T14:44:20+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:jails_plex?rev=1558968260&do=diff Plex Media Server This is a guide for installing the Plex Media Server plugin. Create the Media Dataset Click “Storage” in the left column, then “Pools”. Click the three vertical dots to the right of your pool, and select “Add Dataset text/html 2019-05-27T11:55:08+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:messages?rev=1558958108&do=diff Enabling Console Messages in the Footer of the Web GUI It can be very useful to enable this function in the FreeNAS web GUI as it gives important messages at the bottom of the page that can help steer you in the right direction when a problem exists. text/html 2019-05-26T23:26:32+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:networkglobal?rev=1558913192&do=diff Network Global Configuration Click “Network” in the left column, then “Global Configuration”. * Give your server a name by typing into the “Hostname” text box. * Your server will most likely be on your private network behind the router so the “Domain” should be “local”. text/html 2016-06-08T10:21:50+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:prelim_barrier?rev=1465381310&do=diff Barrier Methods of Protection (Personal Firewalls) Fester approves of barrier methods of protection and so has always installed a personal software firewall on his computer (not the server, just the client computer). Don’t get confused, I am not referring to the firewall built into your router but an additional software firewall that you install on a personal computer. text/html 2016-06-10T17:34:55+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:prelim_bios?rev=1465580095&do=diff Configuring the BIOS We now need to configure the BIOS of the server motherboard. You can do this via a keyboard and monitor attached to the server or through IPMI as outlined in a previous section. The settings and screen shots are all taken from a Supermicro X10SRH-CLN4F, but most are applicable to most server motherboards (I would imagine). text/html 2016-06-11T12:15:33+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:prelim_modemrouter?rev=1465647333&do=diff Modem/Router Configuration I connect to the internet through one of these. It is a modem/router (I will just use the word “router” from here on) with a firewall and DHCP server built into it. I like to call it a POS router (POS=Piece of Shit) because it’s always giving trouble. text/html 2016-06-10T02:16:01+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:prelim_post?rev=1465524961&do=diff Getting Past the POST Now that the server is built and you have checked all the connections are good, the memory and any cards you might have installed are properly seated in their sockets, fans are installed correctly and are not obstructed, etc, it’s time to see if it clears the POST checks. text/html 2016-06-08T01:00:30+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:prelim_prerequisites?rev=1465347630&do=diff Prerequisites There are a number of preliminary things we need to do before the final installation of the FreeNAS OS. * Assuming your internet access is via a modem/router setup (this is not always the case), this will need to be configured. * Personal firewall configuration. text/html 2019-05-26T22:50:42+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:root_password?rev=1558911042&do=diff Changing the "root" Super User Password During installation, you had the ability to set a root password. If you entered a strong password at that time, you do not need to reset it now. If you entered no password, or a weak password, you should change it to a secure password. To do this, open your web browser and type in the IP address of the FreeNAS web text/html 2019-05-27T11:19:10+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:scrub?rev=1558955950&do=diff Scrub Schedules Maintaining your FreeNAS server is very important. It can be the difference between knowing your server may be developing a problem which gives you some time to take remedial action, or getting up one morning and realising your servers bust and the data has been lost. text/html 2019-06-20T02:13:06+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:shares_basic?rev=1560996786&do=diff Fester's Very Basic One User/One Dataset Experimental Starter Share Fester is still learning about shares and in particular share permissions. As Fester learns more I will try to pass on what I have learned by adding to this section and creating additional guides for more “real world” share scenarios (if time permits). text/html 2016-06-08T01:08:42+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:shares_intro?rev=1465348122&do=diff Shares I decided to make this a separate section of the Fester FreeNAS guide. I did this because shares cause the most problems for new users of the FreeNAS OS and within this category it is permissions that cause the most problems when it comes to shares. text/html 2019-05-27T00:17:14+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:smart_email?rev=1558916234&do=diff Configuration Of The FreeNAS SMART Monitoring Service I would recommend you set up email notifications before configuring this. Click “Services” in the left column, scroll down to find “S.M.A.R.T.”, and click the pencil icon to the right. text/html 2019-05-27T11:34:45+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:smart_schedule?rev=1558956885&do=diff SMART Test Schedule There are two types of SMART test that require schedules. We need to create a Long SMART test schedule and a Short SMART test schedule. Long SMART Test Schedule Click on “Tasks” in the left column, then “S.M.A.R.T. Tests” text/html 2019-05-27T11:51:04+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:snapshots?rev=1558957864&do=diff Creating a Periodic Snapshot Task This is an extremely useful function within FreeNAS. It allows you to travel back in time (without the use of a DeLorean car) to a point when that important file you deleted was still on your FreeNAS system (and Fester’s restraining order was not yet in place). OK I am exaggerating about time travel, but this marvelous function does work a bit like that. It takes a snapshot of the volume or any dataset on the FreeNAS system at a particular point in time. A s… text/html 2019-05-27T12:06:54+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:ssh_setup?rev=1558958814&do=diff Setting Up an SSH Console SSH stands for Secure SHell, and is a secure method to connect to a remote computer over a network. There are many advantages to using an SSH console rather than say the shell facility in the FreeNAS GUI. The SSH console is a window that has a scrolling function which means you can go back and view the output in the console. You can also select large bodies of text and copy and paste them. This can be particularly useful when trying to get help from someone as they n… text/html 2019-05-26T22:57:08+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:staticip?rev=1558911428&do=diff Configuring a Static IP Address So far we have relied upon the DHCP server built into the router to assign IP addresses to the NICs in the server. This is inconvenient for reasons already outlined. So let us assign static IP addresses to these NICs. This will ensure that the FreeNAS web text/html 2019-05-26T23:07:55+00:00 Anonymous (anonymous@undisclosed.example.com) https://dokuwiki.familybrown.org/fester112:systemgeneral?rev=1558912075&do=diff Settings for System -> General Click System in the left column, then General. * In the “General” page select “HTTP” from the “Protocol” drop down menu if it isn’t already selected. * There is no certificate at this stage. * Select the static IP address you want the FreeNAS web