Comments on: FreeNAS Tutorial for Windows Users – Part Two – Configuration

By: High Point

High Point — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 21:06:55 +0000

Thanks for the simplified guide. I tried Openfiler, but could not figure out how to get one of the drives to show. I loaded Freenas in no time and configuration looks much easier.

By: John

John — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:02:59 +0000

Indeed.

The problem, IMHO, with JBOD & Raid0/1 is complete data loss if one drive fails.

This is why I ended up running a RAID5 configuration. I used four 2tb drives and ended up with 5.3 tb of space. The loss of space is okay since it has redundancy.

Thanks.

By: Tin

Tin — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 07:28:16 +0000

I’ve also just tried FreeNAS and agree. It’s not that it’s hard to use, but the simple things require trips to 3 different places. To add a CIFS share, it’s very easy. But you also have to add a ZFS dataset first. And set it’s permissions.

And a lot of the dialogs don’t really save me any time or explain themselves any better than simply logging into a server by SSH and editing configs by hand – So why bother?

By: Alan

Alan — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 19:11:02 +0000

Hi John,

I’m pretty sure you FreeNAS doesn’t stop you from adding multiple drives (that’s what the JBOD RAID type is: “Just a bunch of drives”). So, if you are having trouble adding a 3rd drive, then you’re either doing something wrong, or there is a problem with the HD.

I’m not a Linux or FreeNAS expert, I’m just poking around with it, but I do have a VM setup running FreeNAS and I’ve set it up for with multiple drives, no probs. For each drive you’ll need to add the disk, format the disk, mount the disk, and then create a share on the disk.

If you added the disk without problem, try checking the SMART status of the HD. Maybe it’s unhappy.

I’d suggest you reconsider the RAID approach though: The beauty of a RAID array, is if a drive fails (will happen eventually) you don’t lose ANY data, since the other disk has a constantly-maintained backup. If you just have a bunch of single drives, you’ll lose the data on the failed drive. The only downside, of course, with a RAID array is you get less total storage space – but if that’s a concern, you should consider a RAID 5 approach. I started looking into FreeNAS b/c I wanted a 1TB RAID-5 NAS solution for under $200 (I have old spare PCs I can use).

By: John

John — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 01:35:04 +0000

After looking into it further, I don’t believe that it is possible to add more drives (like you can in Windows) without turning them into a RAID. The RAID5 seemed to be the best option, so that is what I ended up doing.

By: John

John — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 02:50:07 +0000

instead of getting WHS I thought I would try FreeNAS. Set it up and it is running fine. I installed the OS on an old HDD and added a new big drive. However when I try and add a second big drive (identical) I cannot get it mounted, keep getting “Error-Retry”. It has been installed & formatted UFS.
I wanted to have just a bunch of drives, as opposed to RAID so that if one drive goes down, I don’t lose all the data.
Any ideas? Thanks.

By: Vara Prasad

Vara Prasad — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 01:20:05 +0000

at last I was able to ping Iam using windows 2003 when i am typing IP its taking me to the same configuration menu plz help me

By: Vara Prasad

Vara Prasad — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 01:13:54 +0000

Hi,
I am new to this , I don’t understand why I could not access my freenas i am trying it for trying purpose i use VMware 7 with PDC, ADC and one client i configured nas in client system , but i could not even ping to my domain please help me i desperately in need of this

By: Brent

Brent — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 01:34:19 +0000

I have different versions of this server in over 100 homes and businesses ,it works great and if you can’t read the manuals how are you going to setup any thing Microsoft ,spend 10 minute RTFM and setup is a breeze!

By: boby

boby — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 18:11:37 +0000

utilizez si eu freenas daca esti pasionat de asta …putem discuta:)

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 08:32:15 +0000

Very nice and what more important VERY useful. Thank You!

Cheers

By: GardenMaker

GardenMaker — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 12:48:55 +0000

Hi, I have been managing, building and playing with pc’s since they first appeared in the early 80′s. Last year decided to move my server onto Ubuntu – gave up in frustration, just couldn’t get anywhere with it. Earlier this year decided to try FreeNAS on an old PC with a 500Gb drive put in. Installation was dead easy and SOOO quick, but fell flat on my face trying to see it from the Windows PC’s. Found your website, followed your lead, WOW so easy when you follow the instructions (not something that comes easy to me – what are manuals for?!) The system had been brilliant, 100% uptime, only reboots have been when we have lost the power (thanks to EON). Just decided to move all my media files onto a separate drive on the system, read your notes above, FOLLOWED THEM, step by step – perfect first time. Can’t ask for more, keep up the good work, FreeNAS + Your notes = 1 BRILLIANT SYSTEM,
Many, many thanks

By: Danijel James

Danijel James — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 10:55:52 +0000

This guide is EPIC! I had so much trouble understanding the userguides of freeNAS on their website and then I found your blog! Now I’m glad I did, for I am now heading towards my goal of making my own iTunes server for this house. It’s much more fun to be able to do things myself, rather than rely on a Windows iTunes server. And I’m learning about things I never did along the way! Thank you!

By: Rob Devery

Rob Devery — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 11:48:09 +0000

You have worked with computers for over 30 years and you can’t get freenas to work. I really wouldn’t like to have you working for my company.

I setup FreeNas in my offices (5) to server over 150 employees and also use it at home to store and serve up media and have had no problems. Setup was a walk in the park and up time has been 100% with no issues. It has been running for 326 days consecutively and no issues.

PEBCAK is also my opinion.

By: Frederick

Frederick — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 06:25:30 +0000

PEBCAK – Problem Exists Between Chair And Keyboard

By: Gerd

Gerd — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:53:29 +0000

Hi, I am working for a hospital and I have been trying to make freenas work for about two days now. I only wanted to have some shares for intermidiate backup. All I read here was easy enough to figure out but still AD integration is not working at all. If you search for it, you finde nothing in the internet. Conclusion: it is much cheaper to buy a Windows-License and do it this way (considerring the costs for my working time + so on).
Since no one seams to be interested in real Userguides this will only stay a toy for private use. This is my opinion.

By: Phil

Phil — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:33:17 +0000

thanks for this tuto! my freenas work great now!!!!

thanks again!
Phil

By: pool

pool — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 01:52:34 +0000

you sir, suck!

By: Mike Morrow

Mike Morrow — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 07:19:13 +0000

When people write to me, I answer. That seems easy enough to understand. I asked questions here and elsewhere and got few reasonable answers or more likely NONE at all. So where are all these people with this junk in production? As far as I counted there are NONE! I used all the patience I had, waited and tried and implemented the miniscule answers I got and, still, after it was running, it would let me load it up and then fail before I could move it to production. I hear defenders but have heard exactly ZERO people who use this, currently, in production. I would love to work with someone who is a pro and list the exact steps and see where the problem is. Well, less now than before, I used something else to get the functions I need. After (lost count of) months of waiting, STILL, something useful has NOT happened. Yes, I had a lot to learn and did. And then tried to use it and it would not continue to run more than a couple of days, maybe up to five and then, that was it. Start over! And this was with disparate HDs and CPUs, Power Supplies, etc. No common point of failure. I am not stupid. I have been working with computer for over 30 years. I can tell junk when I see it and that is what I saw.

If you don’t want me to answer, don’t mention my name or refer to my posts. Simple? Seems so. Does that answer your question? Hope so, jack. I will not mention where you can put your PEBCAK, whatever that is…

By: Rob

Rob — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 04:46:23 +0000

Jack, thanks for jumping in. I’ve had several detractors make rude comments in the years since I initially wrote this post. (It seems a lifetime ago). I just tend to ignore them. The ones that don’t drop the f-bomb every other word, I publish. The others perish

I’m amazed how many page views this old post still gets. I hope that means it is still helpful.

As much as I would like to update it, I just don’t have the time.

If anyone wants to create a similar, more contemporary series, I will certainly link to it from here.

I just really hate it when people ask questions I can no longer answer!

Thanks again,

Rob