So i am trying to set up TrueNAS scale just as a “google drive”, i was wondering if there is a way to install the OS to a sata ssd plugged into my personal (Win 11) PC, then unplug that SSD and put it in the NAS, and it will boot? (display is broken on the motherboard and a GPU won’t fit) it is the only HDD/SSD that would have any files, so it should automatically boot, but then how do i access it to set up the HDD’s, with no display?
specs
I3 3220
Optiplex Mobo
2 1tb HDD’s
1 128 gb sata ssd
The same way as you do with any other TrueNAS installation: over the network, using your web browser. Now, whether that system will boot without a display attached is a question of the motherboard/BIOS involved, nothing to do with TrueNAS.
i know it will boot (already have), but im not sure how to install it since you would typically write it to the usb, select that as the boot, and then it would install it wherever you chose, but i wont be able to see the install wizard on the NAS
similar to thread 100197
FWIW, there was an onscreen prompt to which I had to respond during the initial TrueNAS installation. If I hadn’t had the foresight to buy a CPU with integrated graphics, I would have been boned. At the very least, ensure you can connect it to a TV or something via HDMI.
alright ill try to do that
Plug the SATA SSD into your PC. Boot your PC from the USB install drive. Install to SATA SSD. Shutdown, remove SATA SSD, plug SATA SSD into your to-be NAS.
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You said in your OP you wanted to do that part on a different machine, so the lack of a display on the NAS wouldn’t be an issue.
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There is no install wizard. Only the installer. If you install to an SSD on an arbitrary PC, then place that SSD in your headless NAS, it will boot right into fully operational state and acquire an IP address via DHCP on the first interface with a live connection.
You can check your router/firewall/whatever for the address it got and connect to the UI with your browser.