New to TrueNas, Direct Connection to PC and HD Size

TrueNAS General
, ,
1

Hey everyone! I’m new to TrueNAS and NAS in general. I just got a new PC and wanted to use my old PC as a Media Server. I have some issues, and I’m looking for some advice on what to do next.

First, I have 2 8tb hard drives, all full of data. Since I cannot use these drives without formatting them to zfs, I need to find a way to move the data in order to empty the drives to format. Originally I thought I could just start a raid and move one drive over, format the data and add to the pool. But this solution doesn’t seem to work.

I also just read that raidz1 is not recommended for 8tb drives. Well, I have two empty 8tb drives. So what should I do? Also, how should I setup the data so I can transfer files, empty my drive and add to pool. Raidz1 requires 3 drives, I can’t seem to empty the third drive :confused:

I’m ever trying to get rid of windows, and Linux (Bazzite) is new to me. I’m trying to direct connect my NAS to my PC. I am attempting to connect via 2.5g connections (old pc has this connection, new pc I had to buy separately…). For the life of me, I can’t figure out how to make this direct connection. I went into network, clicked on enp2s0 (shows 0 data transfered, so I know thats the 2.5g connection) went into edit, deselected dhcp, added a new address in Aliases, 192.192.1.192/24 (not the real address) and hit save. Went into my network connections on my pc and, created a new wired network, and shows that wired connection 2 is connected. However, when I attempt to log into during the test, nothing happens.

I’m very dumb, so some step by step guides would be great. I’m comfy with computers, but this is an element thats new to me!

Thanks for any help! Enjoying my time with TrueNAS so far, just gotta get it working :smiley:

(then to install jellyfin… I heard I can’t install on my TrueNAS os nvme… so that means I need another hard drive? Maybe like a small 1gb drive?)

2

With two drives you cannot use RAIDZn, anyway. Mirror is the only option.

You could free one drive, create a non redundant zpool from that, then move all your data to TrueNAS and finally attach the second drive to create a mirrored configuration. All of this is available in the UI.

3

Why? Connect both to a switch that’s connected to your router.

That’s correct; the boot device is only the boot device, as the installer tells you.

4

freeing the drive is the issue i’m having :smiley: where to dump 8tb?

5

Because I don’t have a switch? Also don’t have a router, just my ISP modem, which I believe also acts as a router. I plan on getting a router down the road.

And judging by your reply, seems like you think a direct connection is silly. Why shouldn’t I direct connect to my PC? something I’m missing here?

6

Then what is your NAS connected to?

So yes, you have a router. It probably incorporates a switch as well.

I don’t think I’d say “silly” so much as “pointless and easy to mess up.”

7

Gotcha! To me, a switch, router, and modem are all different. I suppose the vernacular has changed? Anyway, not really the point.

So as of right now, my current setup is…

ISP Modem/Router (since I can log into it… can’t remember if I could log in to modems :stuck_out_tongue: )

PC is connected to port, TrueNAS is connected to a port. My PC and TrueNAS have two ethernet ports, 1x 1g, 1x 2.5g. I’d like to connect them together for a theoretical faster transfer speed. However, I suppose if both of my 2.5g connections are connected the modem, I’m probably not getting anything faster. Unless I switch my internet to 1g, and direct connect with 2.5g. I’m working on getting a 10g switch eventually, just nothing immediately.

Is this connection pointless because there is no speed difference? Just trying to understand since I’m new. I’d like to get my NAS off the internet or at least more secure. Which is another reason I’d like a direct connection (Which i guess is still accessible if someone hacks my pc, haha.) And you sure are right, it definitely is easy to messup, I havn’t even been able to do it! lol :smiley:

Also thanks for all your feedback, appreciate it!

8

They are all different functions, but it’s common for a single piece of hardware to perform more than one of them–these days, most common ISP-provided devices perform all three and also act as a WiFi access point, and most consumer-grade “WiFi routers” incorporate all of them except for the modem.

Pretty much. If the direct connection is the NAS’s only network connection, you’ve greatly reduced its functionality (you won’t be able to install apps, update the NAS, or access it from any other device on your network), and only (at best) very marginally increased its security.

9

Thanks for the info and patience, I really appreciate it :slight_smile: For now, I’ll keep it as is then, and down the road get my 10g upgrades :slight_smile:

(I also exchanged my 2x 8tb barracuda drives that I bought recently for 3x 4tb ironwolf NAS drives, so now I can actually start this beast! haha.)