I created a “FreeNAS” server in 2017. I use it for personal storage of my family devices (photos/videos/games). Once I got it configured and working, I have never updated the OS My OS version is still 11.0-U1. I recently learned that “FreeNAS” has been transitioned/merged to TrueNAS. I would like to transition my “FreeNAS” system to “TrueNAS”. Unfortunately, the dropdown selector is not working on the system update tab of the FreeNAS web interface, and I am pretty sure the update server URL has changed (currently set to http>update>ixsystems>com>FreeNAS). I do not know where to change it (i.e. config file…, etc.)
Can someone directly me to an upgrade path? Ideally, I would like to use a simple method like what is available in the FreeNAS 11.0 web interface. However, if that is not an option, I can connect a monitor and keyboard to my Lenovo Think Server and perform the upgrade from a terminal. Though my server is in a small closet and not super easy to get to.
I might even got some 11 isos. Somewhere if you wanna upgrade that thing.
First Server only revealed those…
TrueNAS-12.0-U2.iso TrueNAS-12.0-U5.1.iso TrueNAS-12.0-U8.iso TrueNAS-13.0-U5.3.iso TrueNAS-13.0-U6.1.iso
And problem with that StorJ thing is 11. isn’t accessible and the archive (https://archive.freenas.org/ ) is older…
EDIT: NOW i can see the 11.0 files… That STorJ thing realy sucks
BTW: it’s likely to work again with the update if that was just coincidance that the mirrors were on maintenance
I downloaded a tar file and attempted a manual update. First, I downloaded update file “FreeNAS-11.3-U5-manual-updte.tar” and saved it to a local folder on my windows PC. Using the FreeNAS web interface, I selected Manual Update.
This displayed a dialog prompting to select a location to temporarily store the update file. A drop down selector defaults to my local volume on my FreeNAS server (i.e. /mnt/MY_Vol). An optional choice is “Memory Device”. I selected the default location. Next it prompts to browse to the file. So, I browsed to the *.tar file and selected it. This started the Manual Update process - step 1 of 3 - Uploading update. This took a couple minutes. When that completed it started step 2 of 3 - Extracting Update. When that completed it started step 3 of 3 - Applying update. This is where it displayed an exception. The gist of which is hown below:
“Exception Type: MiddlewareError at /system/manualupdate/ Exception Value: [MiddlewareError: b"Failed to apply update Command ‘[’/usr/local/bin/freenas-update’, ‘-C’, ‘/var/tmp/firmware’, ‘update’]’ returned non-zero exit status 1.: b’'”]"
I am wondering if this exception was caused by attempting an update from 11.0-U1 to 11.3-U5 (major version) or because I selected the local volume instead of a memory
So, I found this link to Forums>TrueNAS>TrueNAS Core>Hardware and Upgrades> Upgrading FreeNAS 11.0-U2 to any other version fails. Have not used ISO
This describes a path to upgrade FreeNAS 11.0-U2 by first upgrade with ISO to 11.1-U7. Then manual .tar upgrade to 11.3-U5. Then manual .tar upgrade to 12.0-U8.1.
Stepping through the ISO will work and you might be able to go up to top on 11.3, then top of 12, then to current 13. Next step after that will be to Scale because Core is end of new features.
I did a similar upgrade not too long ago, was a bit scary but it worked. If you have Active Directory integration, give the system an extra reboot at each stage, let the directory sync (or force it to sync), quick test, then move to the next level. Yes this is a couple hours of down time, but worked for me.
So, I created a bootable USB using Rufus and selected the iso file FreeNAS-11.1-U7.iso. When prompted I selected use “dd” mode for the write method. I then shutdown my FreeNAS server using the web interface. I then walked over to my Lenovo ThinkStation - FreeNAS server box and inserted the bootable USB stick into the USB slot and powered on the server. The boot sequence found the USB boot stick and started booting from it. Then at one point it showed some kind of hyphen dash border outline with something like FreeNAS installer with one other option. I did not see Install/Upgrade or any other options. This screen was displayed for about 30 seconds then it just started booting from the USB stick. I pulled it immediately and after few seconds it stopped and was looking for the device (USB stick). I powered down the server and restarted it. Thankfully it booted into its previous configuration (FreeNAS 11.0-U1).
I want to upgrade my FreeNAS server from version 11.0-U1 to FreeNAS-11.1-U7 and retain all my configuration settings and data files. I do not want to perform a new install. I was under the impression that when booting to the ISO boot image that I was see a menu with an option to “Install/Upgrade” and when I selected “Install/Upgrade” it would display something like “Upgrade this FreeNAS Installation” - “Upgrading this installation will preserve your existing configuration” - “Do you wish to perform an upgrade or a fresh installation on da5?” I did not see anything like this. Am I doing something wrong?
There’s a bit in here that’s a little beyond me.
I’m running Freenas 11.3 U5 and I want to upgrade.
My questions are:
is my data at risk?
do I upgrade gradually using a USB drive
I haven’t worked on the operating system for a long time, its content is a distant memory so I need a refresher in how to do it.
Thanks if you can
I think you can use either GUI or ISO and I think I’ve done this both ways, stepping up from 11 to 13.
The GUI method takes upgrading to the highest level of your current OS, then switching trains (after reboot) to the next highest, performing that, go to the next train, etc. until you reach the end. I did this on 2 servers and it worked. But I’ve also had to do a fresh install and restore from config file, which also works fine (at least for me).
I cannot use GUI. To use GUI I have to use Manual Update because the server URL no longer exists, and I don’t know where to change the URL value if a new one exists. I’ve downloaded a few different *.tar files thinking that I could bypass some of the intermediate 11.0-Ux updates. All of them resulted in the same exception that I previously listed.
So, it appears that i will need to use the ISO update method. But my first experience mentioned above was not good. I will try again later but next time I will take pictures of the server display to document the upgrade process.
The ISO doesn’t have an ‘upgrade’ method. Back up your current configuration. You are doing a fresh install on the boot device and reloading the configuration with all your settings.
It is my understanding that there is an upgrade path. Previously I mentioned a TrueNAS post where someone in a similar situation to mine was recommended as shown below in the quoted text:
" You may need to use the ISO upgrade path temporarily (perhaps to get to 11.1 or 11.3) but the general path is 9.3 > 9.10 > 11.1 > 11.3 > 12.0 > 13.0 - as you are on 11.0-U2 you’ll likely need to do the following:
ISO upgrade to 11.1-U7
Manual .tar upgrade to 11.3-U5 (if this fails, use the ISO)
Manual .tar upgrade to 12.0-U8.1 (should work)
Automatic upgrade to 13.0-U6.1
Check our Docs hub for the details and caveats here, especially regarding legacy encryption (if you are using encrypted pools now on FreeNAS 11) as well as note that mounting shares as the root user is not permitted:"
This is my backup server. There are 6 - 2TB drives in a Raid configuration. It maybe has 1.1 TB used and 9.3 TB available. I have backed up my windows 10 computer to my FreeNAS Windows Shares and copied my iPhone photos numerous times to my FreeNAS windows shares, but I have never backed up the backup server. I’m not sure how that would be done. Would I connect an external hard drive enclosure to the NAS server and run some sort of backup command from the terminal prompt?
I’m in learning mode. When I save my configuration (i.e. System > General > Save Config) from what I’ve read in the FreeNAS guide says that it makes a backup copy of my current configuration database. From what I’ve read online it seems like when this process is complete the system creates and downloads a *.tar file of my FreeNAS backup to the computer accessing the FreeNAS web interface. I kind of wish the FreeNAS guide would have stated that instead of reading it online. To know what to expect before trying it.
Based on this new information I have a question:
What is backed up in the current configuration database? Is it everything? All system and data files on all disks including my personal data, or is it just system configuration settings? The answer to this question will determine what to expect as far as how much free space I need to store the backup.
OK. So, FreeNAS ISO installs do not allow upgrading? I’m pretty sure I saw a screen capture of an FreeNAS/TrueNAS ISO install showing a menu allowing to either upgrade or install. If I had privileges, I would insert the screen capture.
This is different from Windows ISO installs. Some Windows ISO installers allow updating just the operating system leaving all system configurations and user data intact. Other windows ISO installs allow the user to perform a completely new install and provides options to delete/create/format partitions.
If FreeNAS ISO installs do not allow upgrades, why even list upgrade paths? Why not always save your configuration, then install new major releases and finally restore the saved configuration?
Anyway I’m just trying to figure out the best way to go about this upgrade from 11.0-U1 to TrueNAS 12.0-U5.
Since I have not saved my config before I need to know how much disk space I will need to do it. That’s why I asked if saving the config will backup all my data? Then also I will not trust restoring the saved config/data backup after an ISO install until I have had a chance to test restoring it to the current OS version.
What is your current NAS usage? Is it just storing data and sharing over SMB? Are you using features like Jails or Plugins?
TrueNAS Core is essentially dead. It really doesn’t make sense to upgrade and stay on it unless absolutely necessary. TrueNAS Scale is getting all the development.
The configuration backup is small. You should of done that before even trying to do an regular update. With the configuration backup, you can destroy your boot disk or boot pool and then use the same version of the ISO to do a fresh install on the boot device, reload your configuration and you would be back to where you are now.
If your NAS is your only source of your data files, you need ALL the data backed up anyway. If you can copy the data from your Windows and phone again. it isn’t such a risk as having a single source of data.
Let’s look at your current pool situation. Type the following command in the Shell window and paste the results back using Preformatted Text (ctrl+e) Looks like (</>) on the toolbar above where you type your commands.
I just checked my latest config backup, 696KB. This isn’t a backup of your data pools but just the config to restore the boot disk/boot pool and your TrueNAS settings, like SMB shares, etc.
I will disagree partially in regards to Core vs Scale… If the server is somewhat old and may be replaced in a few years (2 or 3 years maximum), then staying on Core and upgrading may make the most sense. Then go to Scale with new hardware.
If your server is brand new, then Scale is the option to choose. Even on old hardware, if you decide to burn your storage down, then Scale is the one to chose when you build it back again.
I still have some Core machines running, probably stay on Core for a while longer because I’m begging for budget to replace a couple of them. My new servers will be Scale, running that in my lab and on a couple production servers that did get recently burned down and rebuilt.
My NAS server usage most recently is primarily used for offloading photos from 3 smartphones in our home. So that we can then delete them to free up space on our phones. Also, various smartphone videos and DVD ripped videos/movies. Also, a lot of audio files (*.wav, *.mp3) from my more than 200 vinyl records. A lot of software installers for various things. A lot of the installers are for Audio/Video editing, creation utilities. Some home remodeling design software. All personal data. Nothing related to a business.
I intended to play around with jails and VMs. I use VMware quite bit at work but have not had a personal need for it at home.
So, I have some questions: from what I’ve read, “Save Config”
essentially backs up the system config. Is that correct? It does nothing with user data files? So, I could install new FreeNAS/TrueNAS software and restore my saved config. Is that correct? Will installing new FreeNAS/TrueNAS software leave my user files intact? This is my primary concern.
It’s true that I have not backed up my user data. I probably need to get an external disk enclosure with a few terraBytes of storage that I could start using for monthly full backups. So that I always have a relatively recent copy of all my user data.
But until that time comes, I want to update my FreeNAS system to TrueNAS and leave my user data files intact.
Performing that zpool command showed info about my two pools: one is my boot pool, “freenas-boot”. The other is my user data pool. It doesn’t show anything with respect to sizes. Just shows that they are Online and Read/Write/Chksum are all 0 and no errors.
It wasn’t supposed to show the sizes. It would have give us information on how your pools were set up and what kind of drive redundancy you had. Without any information on your hardware and FreeNAS / TrueNAS setup it is hard to make suggestions. We don’t know how much RAM you have, etc.
Jails on TrueNAS Core could be a problem for you unless you upgrade to version 13.3. The version of FreeBSD that Core is based on will fall out of FreeBSD support before too long. TrueNAS Core does get security updates and got one just recently but bug fixes and enhancements may not come or be possible going forward. There are currently no plans to upgrade FreeBSD version and make new versions of TrueNAS Core.
The version of FreeNAS you are on appears to have a problem with updating through the normal way or using the TAR update file. The only way to get to the next versions is to back up the configuration to a file, use the ISO to overwrite the boot disk and restore the configuration file. There may be an option asking about an upgrade when you run it but it may only ask when your jump from one release to the the next. For example, 11 to 12.
It sounds like the NAS is your only source for some of your data. You really need to have another data copy somewhere. Right now, you could lose all your data depending on a drive failure or two.
My OS version is still 11.0-U1. I recently learned that “FreeNAS” has been transitioned/merged to TrueNAS. I would like to transition my “FreeNAS” system to “TrueNAS”. Unfortunately, the dropdown selector is not working on the system update tab of the FreeNAS web interface, and I am pretty sure the update server URL has changed (currently set to http>update>ixsystems>com>FreeNAS). I do not know where to change it (i.e. config file…, etc.)