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FreeNAS Install

Check Hardware Compatibility List

Don'tnmake the assumption that your hardware will work under FreeNAS. Takenthe time and verify all necessary components of your system arensupported.

First, check the HCL on the FreeNAS site:
http://www.freenas.org/index.php?option=com_openwiki&Itemid=30&id=freenas_users_hardware

Secondly,nsearch around the forums for your specific piece of hardware you'renchecking and see if anybody else is having problems.
Lastly, search around Google the same way but with FreeBSD or FreeNAS attached at the end of the search string.

Taking this time will save you from potentially head wrenching headaches later on.

Install Points

Anninstall point is where the embedded OS will reside that hosts thenconfiguration file. Upon boot everything is loaded into a RAMdisk andnonly changes to the configuration file are written. This is ideal for anCF card as it minimizes writes and prolongs the life of the card. Therenare several choices for an install point. The following arenrecommendations.

Recommended:

USB stick
CF Card

HDD install is not recommended for the following reasons:

Partitioning of data drives is messy
HDD replacement is messy
An install HDD requires another bay, which are limited in a slim PC case

Advantages/Disadvantages Of Install Points

USB Stick Pros:

Cheapest solution
Easiest install

USB Stick Cons:

Potential loss of configuration due to loss of USB stick
NOTE: This can be alleviated with the use of a USB pin header to Type A adapter for $15

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815201028&cm_re=usb_header_adapter-_-15-201-028-_-Product

CF Card Pros:

Integrated and permanent
Larger storage capacity

CF Card Cons:

DMA adapters/cards are expensive
Non DMA adapters/cards require complex install process
Potential for adapter+card being taller than case
Cheaper Non DMA cards are still more expensive than a USB adapter

Deployment Methods

Install via LiveCD with CD/DVD drive

If you don't have an existing internal/external CD/DVD drive this adds $20 to project total

Write image file to install point

If you don't have a CF reader already, this can add around $10 to project total

USB Stick Installation

This is the easiest installation method, and the cheapest. However, loss of USB stick is a loss of the configuration file.

Firstly, determine the deployment method:

Boot off of a LiveCD is the easiest and quickest way

Requires an external CD/DVD drive
Or your case has a full sized for a CD/DVD drive
Or your case has a bay for a slim CD/DVD drive
NOTE: Adding a drive may increase the cost, but it makes the install much easier now, and in the future.

Write image file to the USB stick

Working method requires Windows machine or virtual install

LiveCD Install

Select the Source CD drive (e.g. acd0)

Select da0

Write Image File

Download IMG file from FreeNAS ( http://www.freenas.org/index.php?option=com_versions&Itemid=51#FreeNAS%20Images )
If on Linux or Mac install and setup a Windows Virtual machine with Parallels or Vmware Fusion
Download physdiskwrite ( http://m0n0.ch/wall/physdiskwrite.php )

NIC Support Install

Ifnyou manage to end up with a board with an embedded chipset notnsupported under FreeNAS, but is still supported by FreeBSD then you'llnhave to manually copy over the necessary kernel module and add anPostInit command to have it loaded.

When checking compatibilitynyou should check across the two available versions of FreeNAS; one isnbased on FreeBSD 6 and the other FreeBSD 7. In the instance of thenchipset on my Intel Atom (RTL8102EL) the driver worked under version 6nof FreeBSD, but not 7.

A compile version of the RealTek kernel module is available through this forum post:
http://sourceforge.net/apps/phpbb/freenas/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=192&hilit=realtek+kernel+module

Ifnin the situation there is no support for your embedded chipset innFreeBSD, you'll have to find/buy a supported NIC. If you purchased anmicro case then you'll have to make sure the NIC includes a low-heightnfaceplate.

Options to transfer Kernel Module to Install Point.

Upload via a service on the FreeNAS box (FTP, SMB, etc.)
Transfer directly to the install point through a FreeBSD LiveCD

Upload via FreeNAS

NOTE: This requires a spare NIC on hand that is supported in FreeNAS.

Configure Network

Plugnin the spare NIC. You may have to take off the faceplate of the card ifnyour case doesn't support a full-height faceplate. But don't worry,nit's only temporary!
Start up FreeNAS
Type 1 to select option "1", "Assign Interfaces"
The NIC we just plugged in should be listed and highlighted, press Enter
Select "none finish and exit configuration" as we don't need an optional name
A summary screen will show the interface being assigned to the LAN, select Yes and press Enter
Back at the menu type 2 to select option "2", "Set LAN IP address"
If you have DHCP enabled on your network (most likely), select "Yes"

Ifnnot, then you'll be guided through a few screens asking for basic IPninformation. If you're not running DHCP then I'll assume you know whatnthis is all about.
The only "gotcha" is that the subnet mask isnasked for in bits. For a typical home network this is 255.255.255.0nwhich is 24 bits

Select "No" to skip configuration of IPv6
The network now has a basic configuration and the Web UI can now be accessed.

Configure Share

Configure FreeNAS to Load Module at Run time

The kernel module must be loaded at run time and this is done via the kldload nprogram on FreeBSD. FreeNAS can be configured (via WebUI) to runncommands prior to initializing; this is the "Post Init" process.

PostInit Command: kldload /cf/boot/kernel/if_rl.ko

FreeNAS System Configuration

Access the WebUI using the IP address reported when the LAN interface was configured.
The default username and password is: admin/freenas
Thenleft hand side is the navigation for all the configuration options innFreeNAS. The right hand side is for viewing and updating the settingsnfor an option.
Change the default username and password.

Click the System->General link in the Navigation side of the WebUI
Type in a new admin user name
Type in a new password and verify
Click the " Apply Changes " button

Set up a RAID array

NOTE: BEFORE AN ARRAY CAN BE SETUP DISKS MUST FIRST BE ADDED TO MANAGE
NOTE: TO KNOW WHICH DISK TO SELECT USE TABLE 1 ON FREEBSD DEVICE NAMING
Add Disks

Click the Disks->Management link in the Navigation side of the WebUI
Click the " plus " graphic image to add a disk
In the " Disk " drop-down box, select the first HDD (See above NOTE)
Leave other options at their defaults
Click the " Add " button
Repeat steps 4 and 5 for the number of HDDs in the system, probably 2 or more.
After all devices have been added, click the " Apply Changes " button at the top of the " Disks: Management " screen.

Format the disks

Click the Disks->Format link in the Navigation side of the WebUI
In the " Disk " drop-down box select the first HDD to format
In the " File System " drop-down box select " Software RAID "
Click the " Format disk " button
Repeat this step for all disks to be added to the RAID array

Create the Software RAID Array

Click the Disks->Software RAID link in the Navigation side of the WebUI
Click a tab along the top to select a RAID configuration setup. In our instance, we're doing a RAID 1 (Mirror) so we click on Geom Mirror
Click the " plus " graphic image to add an array
In the " Raid name " textbox give the array a meaningful name
Check the boxes next to each drive listed. It will only list the disks formatted as " Software RAID "
Click the " Add " button
The array has been added, click the " Apply Changes " button
The array will now start to be initialized

NOTE: DEPENDING ON THE SIZE AND TYPE OF RAID ARRAY, THIS CAN TAKE A WHILE. H-O-U-R-S
NOTE: EVEN DURING A BUILD FREENAS DOCUMENTATION STATES THAT THE ARRAY CAN STILL BE USED. WTF?!

Format the RAID Array

Make sure the status of the array is " Up " or " Rebulding "

You can check this under the " Disks->Software RAID" link, the array will be listed with the status to the right.
The page does not auto-refresh, so you'll have to manually refresh the page to get the latest status of the array

Click the Disks->Format link in the Navigation side of the WebUIThe RAID array should now be listed in the "Disks" drop-down menu, select it.Leave the "File System" option at the default of "UFS"Click the "Format Disk" buttonCreate a Mount Point: this mounts the volume within FreeBSD which will enable it to be visible to the system

Click the Disks->Mount Point link in the Navigation side of the WebUI
Click the " plus " graphic image to add a mount point
In the " Disk " drop-down box select the RAID array
In the " Partition " drop-down box select " EFI - GPT "
In the " File System " select " UFS "
In the "Share Name" text box give the mount point a meaningful name
In the " Description " text box you can elaborate on the share name and purpose further’
Click the " Add " button
Click the " Apply Changes " button

Configure a Service: this will enable a mounted drive/array to be visible across the network

Since SMB is lowest common denominator for a mixed environment, it's the safest one to setup
Click the Services->CIFS/SMB link in the Navigation side of the WebUI
If you have an existing NetBIOS network in place:

Give a more meaningful NetBIOS name for your FreeNAS box if you wish to in the " NetBiosName " text box
Change the " Workgroup " text box to match the name of your network
Click the " Save and Restart CIFS " button

Click the "Shares" tab to go to the share management pageClick the "plus" graphic image to add a share

Table 1. Disk Naming Convention in FreeBSD

/dev/ad0 : Is the First ATA hard drive on the ATA channel 1
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/dev/ad1 : Is the Second ATA hard drive on the ATA channel 1
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/dev/ad2 : Is the First ATA hard drive on the ATA channel 2
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/dev/acd0: Is the first ATA CD/DVD drive detected
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/dev/da0: Is the first SCSInhard drive. USB key device under FreeBSD are using an SCSI driver, thennthis name can link to your USB key/drive too.
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/dev/da0p1: The ‘ p ’ represents an EFI/GPT partition type, and ‘ 1 ’ represents the first partition on the device. This is the new standard starting from version 0.684
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/dev/da0s1: The ‘ s ’ represents the old standard partition type. For any filesystem other that UFS you should look for an ‘s’ type partition.
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/dev/raid5/RAIDname: ‘RAID’ is only the array device.
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/dev/raid5/RAIDp1: This is the filesystem on the RAID device.
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