Update HTTP error 308 - what are my options for an update?

TrueNAS General
1

Update server could not be reached

HTTP Error 308: Permanent Redirect

Traceback
Traceback (most recent call last):
File “./freenasUI/system/views.py”, line 1424, in update_check
train=updateobj.get_train(),
File “./freenasUI/system/models.py”, line 625, in get_train
trains = conf.AvailableTrains() or
File “/usr/local/lib/freenasOS/Configuration.py”, line 1064, in AvailableTrains
fileref = self.TryGetNetworkFile(file=TRAIN_FILE, reason=“FetchTrains”)
File “/usr/local/lib/freenasOS/Configuration.py”, line 787, in TryGetNetworkFile
raise url_exc
File “/usr/local/lib/freenasOS/Configuration.py”, line 761, in TryGetNetworkFile
furl = opener.open(req, timeout=30)
File “/usr/local/lib/python3.6/urllib/request.py”, line 532, in open
response = meth(req, response)
File “/usr/local/lib/python3.6/urllib/request.py”, line 642, in http_response
‘http’, request, response, code, msg, hdrs)
File “/usr/local/lib/python3.6/urllib/request.py”, line 570, in error
return self._call_chain(*args)
File “/usr/local/lib/python3.6/urllib/request.py”, line 504, in _call_chain
result = func(*args)
File “/usr/local/lib/python3.6/urllib/request.py”, line 650, in http_error_default
raise HTTPError(req.full_url, code, msg, hdrs, fp)
urllib.error.HTTPError: HTTP Error 308: Permanent Redirect

This machine used to be on an isolated network and I did not update it for a number of years.

It is running 11.0-U4, boot volume is on a USB flash drive. What are my update/upgrade options?

I understand a manual upgrade may be possible, but which version?

2

Welcome to the forum!
I think the information and links you need will be found within the thread here: Upgrading old FreeNAS system? (v9.10) - TrueNAS General - TrueNAS Community Forums

3

I know where to get the files for the manual update, or at least I found everything after posting. My question is, what version would be practical in this situation?

And I was interested if there’s a way to patch the update mirror so it would pull the updates.

And I believe I came up with the answer. 11.x versions, especially 11.2 and beyond seem to wear USB flash drives at a rate that would be unsustainable. The fact that my drive has been fine for 8 years likely means I should stay with the version I have and not update.

4

11.x versions, especially 11.2 and beyond seem to wear USB flash drives at a rate that would be unsustainable.

Where do you see such information?
The documentation for FreeNAS 11.x essentially says that usb memory sticks are ok as boot drive.
https://www.ixsystems.com/documentation/freenas/11.2-U8/intro.html#hardware-recommendations
https://www.ixsystems.com/documentation/freenas/11.3-U5/intro.html#hardware-recommendations

The device can be an SSD, a small hard drive, or a USB stick.

However, for TrueNAS 12, as I understand it, the documentation becomes more ambiguous if usb sticks are ok as boot device.

You don’t need an SSD boot device, but we discourage using a spinner or a USB stick for obvious reasons.

This is actually a pretty strange phrasing: You don’t need an SSD, but all other options are discouraged (traditional HDD or usb stick). :thinking: And the “obvious reasons” are not explained.

It would be great if we could get some input if there is anyone running TrueNAS v12-13 off usb sticks as boot drive, and if it works in practice.

5

Later in the same doc, find:

Boot Devices
Booting legacy FreeNAS systems from 8 GB or larger USB flash drives was once very popular. We recommend
looking at other options since USB drive quality varies widely and modern TrueNAS versions perform increased
drive writes to the boot pool. For this reason, all pre-built TrueNAS Systems ship with either M.2 drives or SATA
DOMs.
SATA DOMs, or disk-on-modules, offer reliability close to that of consumer 2.5” SSDs with a smaller form factor
that mounts to an internal SATA port and doesn’t use a drive bay. Because SATA DOMs and motherboards with m.2
slots are not as common as the other storage devices mentioned here, users often boot TrueNAS systems from 2.5”
SSDs and HDDs (often mirrored for added redundancy). The recommended size for the TrueNAS boot volume is 8
GB, but using 16 or 32 GB (or a 120 GB 2.5” SATA SSD) provides room for more boot environments

6

Where do you see such information?
The documentation for FreeNAS 11.x essentially says that usb memory sticks are ok as boot drive.

  1. Based on what I read the installer for 11.x very much “essentially” says that USB flash drivers are not “ok” anymore. 11.x is a significant change from 9.x back when the OS loaded the image into RAM and did not use the boot storage for writing.
  2. 11.2 update is a significant jump in file size over all previous versions, and 11.2 documentation now shows the new user interface as standard.
  3. Large number of reports for 11.2 of failing USB flash drive installations, I did not see such number of reports for 11.0 and 11.1…

I’ll leave this box alone, as for now it does the job. If newer features become necessary I will buy two SATA SSDs to make a boot pool.

A part of this thread is unresolved though, whether there’s a new URL mirror for the update system (not the manual one).

7

I’m thinking of testing boot drive write activity across different versions of FreeNAS/TrueNAS. I would do the test by using virtual machines.

The question is if it would be sufficient just to have the virtual machine up and running, but not really doing anything, or if I need to simulate some activity in order to get meaningful measurement of boot drive write activity.

8

If I were to try 11.1 on USB install, my understanding FreeNAS/TrueNAS supports keeping around multiple versions, and allowing booting into an older one. What would be the procedure to prepare the system to try a newer version, and roll it back if I don’t like it, without consequence?

I can always dd clone the existing USB flash drive no problem, but what happens to the ZFS volumes/datasets of my NAS storage, would I be able to just boot the old USB install without consequence?