This is my first TrueNAS project, although I have some experience setting up Linux systems. I am trying to convert an old Windows Server to a world class NAS. The system specs are just right: 8 GB ECC memory, two 1TB HDDs in FakeRaid. The only thing I have had to buy is the system SSD.
After reading this post, I decided to go with @WarnesJ’s solution. Instead of connecting the drive to a SATA port, use the internal USB port with a USB adapter for a SATA SSD.
Dealing with the hardware has been quite a pain. Each boot attempt takes over five minutes of self-tests and whatnot, so it took me a while to figure out how to boot from a USB drive, just to get the installer running.
The TrueNAS installer itself worked like a charm, fast and smooth, detecting the internal SSD connected to the USB port and installing TrueNAS there. So far so good.
But now, the machine keeps booting to the old Windows (still installed in the 1 TB HDDs). The boot order is still “First USB”, then the rest. I have tried both SATA Legacy and SATA AHCI, but it doesn’t make any difference.
Is there a trick to get the server to boot from the internal USB port? I expected it to behave as if it were connected to any external USB.
Thanks, I will try that. I also want to remove the disk from the internal USB and try it on the outside ports.
Unfortunately, I don’t have the server at home and I won’t go back to the server’s site for a few days, but I will report back.
Just to be sure. Did you really boot the system from a USB stick and then install it on the SSD? I ask because that happened to me at the beginning, back then with TN-Core In that case, booting from the HDD would be the logical consequence.
Otherwise, remove the two Windows HDDs and overwrite them with zeros for about 2-3 minutes each using dd. That should damage the Windows installation sufficiently. Alternatively, create new partition tables with gpt.
Yes, I booted from the TrueNAS installer on a bootable USB stick; the installer detected the two HDD’s and the SSD and I installed it on the SSD.
Sorry, I don’t get the part that booting from the HDD would be the logical consequence.
This makes sense to me because the typical boot order setting is USB, HDD/SSD. So if the USB drive is not bootable or cannot be booted from the internal USB port, the BIOS will try to boot from all selected drives in sequence.
Do you need to make any adjustments when booting from USB? It may be possible to adjust the USB boot order more precisely using the USB port itself or the device connected to it.
Otherwise, perhaps you should delete the Windows installation after all?
Turns out I had set up legacy boot instead of UEFI, because I thought the hardware was too old. I reinstalled TrueNAS with UEFI and it worked. I didn’t even have to move or disconnect any drives. Your guess was right. It couldn’t boot from the USB so it reverted to Windows.
Windows is gone, drowned under the new pool
Thanks a lot everyone!
In that case, booting from the HDD would be the logical consequence.