How to Seek Help Effectively in the TrueNAS Community

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How to Seek Help Effectively in the TrueNAS Community

Introduction

Recently, community members have posted requests for assistance that lack essential information. This can make it difficult for others to understand the problem or use case. To improve communication and support, this article provides guidance on how to create effective help requests.

Context

When seeking help, it’s crucial to provide background information about your system and network configurations. This allows others to assist you more efficiently, reducing the need for back-and-forth questions about the setup.

TL;DR version

The following are useful headings for forum posts seeking for assistance:

Describe the Operating System

Describe the Hardware Platform

Describe the Network

What’s Happening and How Can We Help?

Long Version

Key Information to Include in Your Post

Describe the Operating System

  • TrueNAS Version: Specify whether you are using CORE or SCALE, along with the version and release number.
  • Installation Type: Indicate if this is a new installation, an upgrade, or a steady-state production system.
  • Virtualization: Mention if your TrueNAS is running in a virtualized environment.
  • Boot Pool Location: State where the boot pool is installed.

Describe the Hardware Platform

Providing details about your hardware is essential for compatibility and troubleshooting.

  • Motherboard Model: Include the model of your motherboard.
  • RAM: Specify how much RAM is installed.
  • Disk Configuration: List the number of disks and any Host Bus Adapters (HBAs) in use.
  • Build Goals: Share your goals and intended use cases to help others provide relevant advice.

Describe the Network

Even if your question isn’t network-related, sharing network information can be helpful.

  • Logical Network: DC LAN with ToR, unmanaged, bridged, firewalls
  • Connection Type: Specify the physical connection type (e.g., Ethernet, fiber).
  • Number of Ports: Mention how many ports are available.
  • Additional Configurations: Note if you are using bonding (LAGG), a proxy server, or a VPN.

What’s Happening and How Can We Help?

Clearly describe the issue you are facing.

  • Problem Statement: Provide a detailed description of the problem. For example, instead of saying “My system won’t boot,” explain the context: Is this a new build? Did a power failure occur?
  • Troubleshooting Information: Include any relevant log extracts, screenshots, error codes, or links to information you found online but don’t understand.
  • Pool Questions or Issues: If you are experiencing pool issues or have questions, recommend sharing your configuration using:
    sudo zpool status
    or
    sudo zpool list

Additional Tips

  • Tagging: Use tags when posting topics. Tags help categorize and index posts for easier access by others. Examples include CORE, SCALE, ZFS

  • Update Your Profile: Consider adding a signature to your profile that lists your system implementation details. This way, you won’t need to repeat this information in every post.

Summary

By providing clear and comprehensive information in your help requests, you can facilitate better communication and support within the TrueNAS community. Remember, this is a global community where everyone is here to help and learn from one another. Don’t hesitate to post in your native language or use translation tools if needed!

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