Can't install TrueNas in new system - CSM nightmare

TrueNAS General
, , , ,
1

Dear all,
Just a noob trying to migrate from a really old system to an upgrade new one.

I can’t install Truenas Core to a new SATA SSD, my original boot drive (mSATA), also can’t boot. Both are detected in UEFI.

As far as I understand it, my new motherboard (Asrock Z690M-ITX/AX with a 12400) does not allow CSM to be enabled without a discreet GPU and the system has no physical space for one (single PCIe already occupied and very small chasis). This seems to be the source for all my troubles. (Maybe not?)

Questions:
If I were to tear down my new system, boot again in the old one, and upgrade to Scale, would I be able to boot without enabling CSM? (I’m assuming trying to install Scale directly and using my backup from Core wouldn’t work - if Scale works without CSM)

Can I perform that operation without having to relocate all my HDDs again into the old system? (i.e. can I do it with just the boot drive and the configuration inc. pools, jails, etc. would remain even with the HDDs not present? - I understand jails and stuff work different in Scale, but as long as the pools survive I’ll reconfigure the rest-)

Does anyone have a suggestion that is not "plug in a graphics card’?

Does anyone have a symilar system and figured something like this already?
(Rolling back the BIOS version maybe?)

I mostly use the NAS for Backups, Plex and NextCloud, in case it makes a difference.

I know it’s a lot, but hank you one and all.

System info:
Asrock Z690M-ITX/AX
i5 12400 (intend to run it low power similar to 12400T)
64 GB DDR4 3600 CL 18
PSU: Silverstone sx500-G
Case: Jonsbo N1
Intended boot drive = SATA SSD 240 (cheapest reputable ssd available)
4 HDDs in two mirrored pools (22TB and 1TB) (For now)
PCIe expansion card, even to run 5 drives I need at least one more SATA port. (My worst case would be having no option but to rearrange everything to accomodate a low profile gpu, meaning I would need to get both a gpu and a m.2 to Sata adapter).

Old system
Z77X-UD3H
i5-3550
16GB RAM
GTX 1050 Ti
Boot drive = mSATA 64GB (Smallest I could find)

2

That’s absurd. Luckily, you don’t need CSM to run TN.

If only the install is the issue, you can do so with any other system then move the boot drive to your Jonsbo.

3

The motherboard is far from optimal. As long as you have only 4 HDDs (1 TB? why???), you can get a cheap M.2 NVMe to boot from rather than using a SATA port for that.
I don’t understand the GPU issue. At worst, the board should be able to boot on the iGPU.

4

It’s my only plausible explanation, it being TN Core.
Happy to hear other theories.

My boot drive from the previous system is recognised, just not as a boot drive.

Running Core 13.0-U6.2

5

It posts using the iGPU and it takes me just past the TN installer launcher from a USB stick, simply no text whatsoever after that when selecting to boot the installer.

GPU is only for the CSM theory.

Have tried several USB created in two different systems with two different programs (Rufus and Etcher).

6

Flash again the ISO after verifying the checksum, and if nothing changes use a different USB port.

7

Will verify the checksum, already used several ISO downloads, USB sticks and ports.

Doesn’t really explain why I can’t boot with my existing boot drive though.

8

It might be toasted, or something could be preventing it from boothing. Try a different port/slot, then a different drive.

If nothing changes, you likely have a configuration issue.

9

Still works in the previous system and is detected in the new one.
Definitely not just a busted drive.

The real question is what configuration issue?

10

Update

By the way, checksum checks out.

In desperation will try to testbench with a GPU.

All advise appreciated.

11

Abandon CSM. CSM (aka Compatibility Support Module) is an EFI program that emulates legacy BIOS behavior for older OSs (i.e. pre Windows 8) that can’t boot properly by default under EFI.

The biggest concern at the moment should be whether you have a current backup of your configuration. Make sure you have that first and foremost before continuing anything.

Are you talking Core or Scale? Their boot processes differ a bit, can you take a picture of the screen (or even video)? I know in Core the installer switches to a nonstandard resolution after loading into the installer, which most of my digital monitors do not like at all.

Wait, what’s this about installing a different GPU if you already have the iGPU? That actually makes even less sense.

If you’re talking about booting your old install (in the new system), it sounds like you originally installed it in Legacy (i.e. would need CSM) mode, which would obviously not work unless you enabled CSM.

So, with all that being said, here is my recommended actions:

  1. Assuming you have no backup of your config (Living dangerously I see!) Take the boot drive and place it back in the old system and boot it, and take a darn backup of your config! (System → General settings) Have this before doing literally anything else!
  2. It seems like you have no extra mSata drive and are thus running off a single boot drive. That’s a little risky and is why I’m mentioning having a good backup of your config. Have you got it? Please say yes. :innocent:
    This is fine and dandy, it just means we won’t have what I’d consider to be standard safety nets to catch us. Hope you have a good backup because the next step…
  3. Nuke and pave! On the old system, boot up the installer and select your boot drive. If it’s recent enough it might be able to migrate your config automatically, but continue until you’re lead to a choice that will look like this:
    Scale
    Core
    Core703×165 1.96 KB

Choose “Yes” if using Scale, “Boot via UEFI” for Core.

  1. Shutdown the system and put the boot drive back into the New system
  2. It should just boot, if not you’ll need to fiddle your BIOS settings to make sure the mSata drive comes first before any data drives in the boot order (the option to set the actual Hard Drive Priority might be somewhat hidden).
  3. If it does, hooray! :tada: Import your configuration (which will reboot once more) and you’re done.
    If not… well, report back. You do still have that config backup, right?
2 Likes
12

Thanks for that! Best answer yet.

I do have backups of my config, I’m a noob, but I run only a mirror because I need the redundancy over capacity/performance. Original plan was to do a clean install and load the config.

In the end, the crazy GPU theory worked, mobo did require CSM enabled to launch the installer. Once I did that (selecting Boot via UEFI) I was able to disable CSM, remove the GPU and boot normally into TN using the iGPU.

This is all Core by the way.

Many thanks to everyone!
Hope I can actually finish the move without issue now!

13

*makes note to avoid Asrock*

Sometimes motherboard manufactures get a little silly, but this is the second thread I’ve read this week about users having booting issues with them :woozy_face:

Glad you got it figured out at least! :clap:

14

Two pools, the actual one is 22TB, the 1TB one is just a couple of old HDDs and I am using it mostly to try out things without killing my main.

Plan now is to keep my mirrored 22TB (main backup) and since the new case has space for 5 HDD, I’ll replace the other pool with three new drives and run those in RaidZ1.

And still space for figuring something interesting for two NVMe slots yet to be filled.

15

Last question, sounds like you are very much in favour of running at least two boot drives, should I mirror my boot pool?

16

Same here, never again, I think I’ll stick with Gigabyte, which is what has worked best for me so far.

17

When feasible, definitely, especially if getting to the system to replace a failed boot drive is inconvenient. Even though modern SSDs are increasingly more reliable, they do sometimes fail and it’s always nicer to be able to deal with a dead drive on your own time rather than being down if it happens to go.

1 Like
18

Done, will mirror from now on.

And thanks again!

19

There is little point in doing so. Just keep a backup config and a spare drive at hand; of you require real redundancy, see Highly Available Boot Pool Strategy | TrueNAS Community.

2 Likes
20

I personally see little point in it, and with a severely I/O-limited mini-ITX, it’s certainly better not to waste a second slot on boot redunadancy but to just keep a copy of the configuration file.

If you can find a second-hand, mini-ITX size, X10SDV board, you can have 6 SATA ports (including a SATADOM port) and 4xM.2 on adapter in the PCIe slot, plus one M.2 on-board.

1 Like