Headless update of Truenas from Core to CE 25.04

TrueNAS General
1

I have wanted to do this update for awhile. But I am getting stuck in that I own a TRUENAS-MINI-3.0-X which is headless server. Most all the video’s and instructions I have seen involve manually updating using a ISO file to do a new installation and then reload the settings/keys.

But with a headless unit I am not sure how to do this. I found that the system has IPMI which would appear to be system designed to do that. But as someone who likes working with systems but with no knowledge other then what I can glean from online sources I am at a loss how to proceed.

The IPMI software is apparently called ASRockRack.

Under maintenance there are options to update Firmware and Bios. But I don’t see one for updating from an ISO. There is a place for media and also a KVM setting but am not clear how this is all supposed to work.

Can someone help navigate me thru my blackhole problem?

Thanks!

PS-I have been following from both the Truenas doc pages and a video that Tom Lawrence did on this process.

2

Check the remote control section of the manual.

Launch html5 should allow you to work on the server as if you are sitting in front of it.

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Regarding the updating, download the iso, write it to a usb stick and boot from that stick to install it (while being connected to the server via html5) should work, but there are probably other ways. It should be possible to mount iso via the ipmi.

Depending on the versions you are on, there is an upgrade path that you should follow. Not sure it that would be possible via the web gui oder would involve repeating the process several times.

It might be easier to export pool and settings, and start with a fresh install of 25.04. and then import settings, or just import the pool and “rebuilt” or your settings like shares.

3

Post your complete hardware, OS and software details. Apps, jails, pool details.

If this is just data only with an SMB share, it may be real easy. The more details your provide on your current set up, the better the advice from everyone.

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4

Thanks for this reply. I did find that document after I sent my message.

I am on Core TrueNAS-13.0-U6.8 which is the last update available on the Core path.

I was planning to do the upgrade path jumping to 25.04 with me copying my config files off and once updated re-creating the system with those files. I know I could do an upgrade to an older version of Truenas without the jump or need to use the IPMI but didn’t want to do multiple upgrades to get to 25.04. thought it would also give me a cleaner build that way.

so my understanding from what was posted is that

  1. IPMI is the way to get my iso installed into the system. Thank you for those documents on it. I need to re-read them some more.
  2. The iso should be on a thumbdrive and boot to it. (and that drive may or may not need to be bootable??) plugged into the USB port on the server.
  3. I can run this procedure from my other PC logged into my TrueNas server via the internal html web.
  4. My config files that I will need to recreate my system should also be loaded via a USB drive directly plugged into the computer? I presume it won’t work uploading from my other PC??

As to the system itself. It is a very plain file sharing machine only at this point. I do want to make some improvements to it. So hopefully that vanilla setup will make this process easier.

Specs, I bought the system from IxSystems with Truenas preinstalled. It replaced an old and increasingly feeble Xigmanas machine that was suffering more and more hardware issues.

This is what they said was installed on my receipt:

Platform:

TrueNAS Mini X/X+

Mini X, 4 Core, 4xGbE, 32GB RAM

Intel(R) Atom™ CPU C3558 @ 2.20GHz

3.5″ Hot Swap Bay #1 X:

4TB WD RED PLUS

3.5″ Hot Swap Bay #2 X:

4TB WD RED PLUS

3.5″ Hot Swap Bay #3 X:

4TB WD RED PLUS

The drives are configured into a single pool with 3 drives in it. Just shared via SMB at this time.

Thanks for all the responses. Unfortunately I don’t get to work on this as quickly as I would like but hope to do this project tomorrow. Appreciate all of the help given so far.

5

Are you quite certain about this? Because I’m 99+% sure the Mini still has a VGA port. And while you can certainly do the upgrade via IPMI as has been discussed so far in this thread, that would make it unnecessary to do so.

6

I just looked and checked the docs and yes it does. I either never realized that or had forgotten it. and I even found an old VGA cable and think my oldest monitor still has a VGA port on it, surprisingly. So it looks like the iKVM via HTML5 is part of the IPMI? So if I have a monitor, then use IPMI to run KVM I can run the system like a normal computer getting upgraded?

7

Yes.

If you have a monitor, there’s no reason to use IPMI at all.

8

Download the iso to a computer.

Write it to an empy usb stick with rufus, balener etcher pi imager whatever. It has to be bootable.

Plug a monitor keyboard mouse to your mini and plug in the usb stick.

Boot from the stick and install truenas on the boot drive of the mini. unplug an let it reboot.

Look which IP it has and than connect via another computer with the gui.

From the gui, import your configuration file, which you have downloaded before you startet the whole process of course.

For safety reasons, you could unplug the data disks so you do not accidently pick the wrong drive to install on.

9

thank you to all who responded.

Cold day today so hopefully will be done by end of day.

10

Well I got it done yesterday and was successful. I appreciate all the advice as I learned a lot and the info here was very helpful. Thanks all!

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