Starting TrueNAS [DIY NAS] for New Users

[1 Ghz]

**SHARING: [Beelink ME Mini] A mini and low-powered PC which supports up to 6x M.2 slots for building your DIY NAS**

Unboxing the Beelink ME Mini. A good choice for home users looking to run a mini and low-powered DIY NAS on any NAS OS (TrueNAS) when building a small network or a homelab. Support up to 6x M.2 NVME, which is easily available nowadays and comes equipped with an Intel N150, 12GB memory, 64GB eMMC and 2x 2.5GbE (would be perfect with Intel 10G!).

Got the gun metal grey version instead of the white. The eMMC could easily load the operating system of your choice. Or even as a mini Proxmox server running containers with PCIE passthrough to ZFS on TrueNAS (VM) as a storage backup.​

...

Support up to 6x M.2 and cooled with a "trash can" MAC pro like centre fan cooling design

Looks like TrueNAS CE 25.04.1 has some compatibility issues with the ASM2824 controller used in the Beelink ME Min, resulting in less than 6 drives being recognized.

https://forums.truenas.com/t/using-...ves-only-4-are-useable-in-truenas-scale/47306

 

[TanKianW]

Really Interesting: "TrueNAS on ARM is finally a thing"

For those who have been interested in "TrueNAS on ARM" (myself included), you can give the community-driven side project a shot. The project was run based on the aarch64 version of Debian. Frankly, with the improving ARM support on Debian in recent years, I will not be surprised if this eventually comes true. Now we just need more beta-testers, more release of ARM64 consumer motherboards (Eg. Orion O6 mitx board) to be released and for the TrueNAS team to justify an official release if this side quest project does take flight! Who does not want a TrueNAS on ARM running ZFS and apps?

Check out the developer project on GitLab and more info here:
https://forums.truenas.com/t/truenas-on-arm-now-available/49160



Check out the interview with the TrueNAS on ARM developer with the TrueNAS developers on T3
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[merriman]

Seeking help from experts here, anyone using wireguard app installed from Truenas. After update to ver 15, I unable to connect to other devices within the same network. I can only connect to the Truenas box and the various apps within. Is there other settings that I need to change to enable access to my other device in my network, including router at 192.168.1.1? It was working alright in ver 14

Client wireguard settings:
Allowed IPs:192.168.1.0/24
Server allowed IPs:192.168.1.0/24

Network configuration:
Flat network with all devices at 192.168.1.xxx

 

[TanKianW]

Seeking help from experts here, anyone using wireguard app installed from Truenas. After update to ver 15, I unable to connect to other devices within the same network. I can only connect to the Truenas box and the various apps within. Is there other settings that I need to change to enable access to my other device in my network, including router at 192.168.1.1? It was working alright in ver 14

Client wireguard settings:
Allowed IPs:192.168.1.0/24
Server allowed IPs:192.168.1.0/24

Network configuration:
Flat network with all devices at 192.168.1.xxx

I dun use the WG app on TrueNAS. May be you can try the "rolling back" on snapshot feature? Suggest you follow best practice to back up your settings using scheduled periodic snapshots if you have never done so.

At the same time to check if it was an app bug on TN forum if everything remains the same like you say before the update. Suggest to also check through the app configuration just in case you missed out on some of the options/clicks. Some app works with specifying the host addresses, some don't. You will have to try it out.

Client allowed IP you may want to set to 0.0.0.0/24 first then troubleshoot from there? Since you say your network pretty flat, there might also be a chance there is an IP clash btn the DHCP and static IP allocation.​

 

[merriman]

I dun use the WG app on TrueNAS. May be you can try the "rolling back" on snapshot feature? Suggest you follow best practice to back up your settings using scheduled periodic snapshots if you have never done so.

At the same time to check if it was an app bug on TN forum if everything remains the same like you say before the update. Suggest to also check through the app configuration just in case you missed out on some of the options/clicks. Some app works with specifying the host addresses, some don't. You will have to try it out.

Client allowed IP you may want to set to 0.0.0.0/24 first then troubleshoot from there? Since you say your network pretty flat, there might also be a chance there is an IP clash btn the DHCP and static IP allocation.​

Yea rolling back to previous version, everything works as expected. Updating to latest version, I punch in the config accordingly, I'm unable to access other devices.

Yea I have gone through all the app configuration to key in all the details accordingly, but the same.

Yea already attempted to key in 0.0.0.0/0 for allowed client IP for full tunnel as per documentation, but still the same..

Not sure if there is something else needed to be changed within Truenas for this updated version if wireguard.

 

[merriman]

Yea rolling back to previous version, everything works as expected. Updating to latest version, I punch in the config accordingly, I'm unable to access other devices.

Yea I have gone through all the app configuration to key in all the details accordingly, but the same.

Yea already attempted to key in 0.0.0.0/0 for allowed client IP for full tunnel as per documentation, but still the same..

Not sure if there is something else needed to be changed within Truenas for this updated version if wireguard.

Have narrowed down the issue. So actually I can access other devices in the network, except my router (192.168.1.1).

If anyone have any clue or hint for me to mitigate this issue, if any, will be great. Am using Unifi Dream Router, the capsule version.

 

[TanKianW]

Have narrowed down the issue. So actually I can access other devices in the network, except my router (192.168.1.1).

If anyone have any clue or hint for me to mitigate this issue, if any, will be great. Am using Unifi Dream Router, the capsule version.

Seemed like a firewall rule / zone / subnet issue (I could be wrong). TN allows for multiple IP (vlan/subnet) addressing but 1 as the main access IP.

You can check through your FW rules and try pinging from your NAS itself to the router through shell cmd to verify the connection. If connection is working right but problem persist, it might be a TN app issue. You can also try selecting the "hosting" checkbox on the app to see if it works.​

 

[merriman]

Seemed like a firewall rule / zone / subnet issue (I could be wrong). TN allows for multiple IP (vlan/subnet) addressing but 1 as the main access IP.

You can check through your FW rules and try pinging from your NAS itself to the router through shell cmd to verify the connection. If connection is working right but problem persist, it might be a TN app issue. You can also try selecting the "hosting" checkbox on the app to see if it works.​

Final nuclear solution is adding static route to the router, with destination IP 10.8.0.0/24 hop to 192.168.1.69. I'm still not fully clear why this is needed when previous version of wireguard works without any additional setting or whatsoever need from router side,if anyone could fill in for me to understand this better? am still noob in networking stuff

Flat Local network: 192.168.1.0/24
Router:192.168.1.1
Truenas:192.168.1.69

Wireguard network:10.8.0.0/24

Client settings:
Allowed IP:192.168.1.0/24
Allowed server IP:192.168.1.0/24

 

[TanKianW]

TrueNAS Connect Beta: One Dashboard to Manage Them All​

For those considering to manage their TrueNAS from a single web interface, especially if you are running several (or few) TN boxes in your homelab, this could be quite a good fit or solution. For enterprise users, you will be using TrueCommand. On TrueNAS Connect, you can also easily install TN headless using the web interface, which could be really convenient. Feel free to contribute $50/yr subscription too, if you would like to support the project, or try out the beta and contribute to bug reporting. Do note that you must be running TrueNAS Scale 25.10 (currently in RC) and above to deploy this.

Can read up more here: https://www.truenas.com/blog/truenas-connect-open-beta/​

 

[TanKianW]

SHARING: Switch out the HDD backplate, which causes my ZFS pool to keep spitting out I/O errors
There is a saying (I mean my saying ).....when you DIY your NAS, you can easily RIY (Repair It Yourself) your NAS. The new bunch of HDDs on my ZFS pools have been spitting out I/O errors on my TrueNAS for the past few months. Scanned the drives for errors on another Linux machine, formatted and resilvered some of them, tried them on different SATA slots.....in the end, the faulty backplate connectors were zeroed in as the main culprit! But no worries, just simply purchase a new pair of backplates (even from a different manufacturer) and easily replace them. The luxury of a DIY NAS, not tied to any proprietary hardware and software. Another lesson learnt, never ignore the error messages spat out from your routine/scheduled HDD scans!

 

[morimorimori]

Are backplane layouts standard? Thinking the mount holes and little cage differences might make things tricky.

 

[loganrunning]

The luxury of a DIY NAS, not tied to any proprietary hardware and software. ​

yes, especially a particular nas manufacturer with forcible lock-in and poor support, even on consumer models.

 

[TanKianW]

Are backplane layouts standard? Thinking the mount holes and little cage differences might make things tricky.

Most rackmount chassis are pretty standard. Even up to aligning the screw holes.

Suggest checking with the seller on the measurement prior to purchase.

 

[TanKianW]

yes, especially a particular nas manufacturer with forcible lock-in and poor support, even on consumer models.

They have recently retracted their decision on HDD lock-in. Not sure if it works for all their new/legacy models. Have not been following.

But surely, damage has been done. Trust once broken will be hard (or never) to earn back.

@loganrunning
Since you may be switching to TN, feel free to check out some good beginner & advanced tutorials from these 2 YouTubers:
https://www.youtube.com/@WunderTechTutorials
https://www.youtube.com/@ServersatHome

 

[loganrunning]

They have recently retracted their decision on HDD lock-in. Not sure if it works for all their new/legacy models. Have not been following.

yup, saw the news, but its for new OS, didn't mention earlier/existing installations. Still, not itchy to try out, in case get some irrevocable changes, then really stuck.

But surely, damage has been done. Trust once broken will be hard (or never) to earn back.

yup. i know many in the prosumer space (eg small video editing houses) who are no longer enthusiastic on syno.
oh well, not my problem.

 

[TanKianW]

**GOOD WATCH: 5 Reasons Why You Should LOVE TrueNAS**

A quick breakdown on the "Pros" of the TrueNAS system for those sitting on the fence, whether to set up a TrueNAS or buy one with proprietary NAS software off-the-shelf. With more and more off-the-shelf NAS that support loading FOSS NAS Operating Systems, it is fitting to look for a reliable and stable system/platform like TrueNAS.​

 

[TanKianW]

How to Get the Most Out of Your ZFS Setup: Drive Layouts & Workloads​

Once in a while, I still get pinged by forumers or clients (bobian) on how to optimize or get the most out of their ZFS setup. This video from Tom of Lawrence System will be a good (updated) wrap-up and refresher on all the zlog, vdevs, arc, l2arc, metadata, etc., for new users/veterans of ZFS alike. Most questions I get from users of NAS/storage servers are about why chose TrueNAS? Well, the reason is simple, it is because of the ZFS at its very core. If you are serious about data integrity or even a long-term data hogger like me, there is none other like ZFS.
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[TanKianW]

<<Thread UPDATE>> Some features and updates on TrueNAS CE: Setting up Network Bridge, ZFS Rewrites and ZFS Dedup

Update some of the TrueNAS Scale tutorials since my earlier posts and tutorials are mainly for TrueNAS Core, which is based on FreeBSD. With the majority moving over to TrueNAS CE (based on Debian), these updated videos should be useful for both veterans and beginners.





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