Upgrade from FreeNAS 7.5 to latest NAS4Free

[streetwriter]

Hi all. First post on this forum.

I've been running FreeNAS quite happily and successfully for a while now, but think it's time to switch to N4F. Here's my current setup:

Version 0.7.5 TEST ONLY (revision 8854)
Built on Mon Nov 28 06:42:41 JST 2011
OS Version FreeBSD 9.0-RC2 (revision 199506)
Platform x86-embedded on AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3200+

In fact, I am running the OS from a USB key. I have one WD 1TB HD on which I've stored all my media. No RAID. I should add that I am running CIFS/SMB as a service. File system is UFS.

I'm wondering about the instructions in the top-level "Latest Upgrade Notes!"

BUILD 9.1.0.1.573
=================
Upgrading from FreeNAS server
=============================
This version supports upgrading from FreeNAS 0.7.2 or 0.7.5.

The supported lowest config version is 8.9. (0.7.2.5246)

Before 0.7.2.5246 is never supported in NAS4Free.
Also, restoring FreeNAS config is never supported.
The password in FreeNAS config is never changed.
If you want change it, use "3) Reset WebGUI Password" of Console setup.

First boot of NAS4Free after upgrading from FreeNAS, it takes special
convert mode for NAS4Free config 1.0.

I'm not really sure what I should do, other than back up my config file before starting (which I've done). Should I create a new embedded version on a new USB? How then do I use my old config file?

What I really want to be sure of is that I don't lose the data on my hard drive. I don't have the ability to back it all up at the moment.

Any help appreciated.

Cheers.

[al562]

Hi Streetwriter,

Hi Garyi,

Welcome to the NAS4Free forum. Below is information you may find helpful.

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It seems to me like your upgrade should be pretty simple based on the little information you've provided. For comprehensive instructions please review the newly updated Q: How can I upgrade my NAS4Free OS ? Please post here again if you have any further, specific questions.

All the best,
Al

[streetwriter]

Thanks for the reply. I followed the link to the instructions you provided; however, I am still not certain what to do to switch from FreeNAS (FN) to NAS4Free (N4F) while preserving the contents of my hard drive.

Here's what I am wondering. The logical order of working with FN is 1) disks must be added, then 2) formatted (if need be--emphasis added), then 3) mounted. Finally, 4) access is given to the mounted disk(s) by configuring a service such as CIFS/SMB, which is what I have done with my current setup. Could I simply create a new embedded version of F4N and then add my existing disk (with media data on it), mount it, and configure the service I want, and carry on happy as a lark?

In other words, I'd skip the Step 2, formatting the disk, which would overwrite the existing data. Could it be that simple?

Thanks in advance.

[al562]

Hi Streetwriter,

I am still not certain what to do to switch from FreeNAS (FN) to NAS4Free (N4F) while preserving the contents of my hard drive.

Hhmmmm, I am not sure why, it is all in there far as I can see. Please tell me what is confusing so I can improve the FAQ.

You have a simple Embedded system, nothing fancy. You are upgrading from old, non-NAS4Free system so you cannot use firmware upgrade. Use LiveCD or LiveUSB to do the upgrade instead.

Here's what I am wondering. . . . . and configure the service I want, and carry on happy as a lark?

You are upgrading, not installing new so I don't understand why this is even an issue. Is there something I overlooked or mis-read? Let me know please.

I'd skip the Step 2, formatting the disk

Well, of course you don't want to format the disk, that would be committing datacide. Nowhere is this part of a normal upgrade for your situation. Normal upgrade for you is straighforward:

1. Backup all your data.
2. Backup your config file.
3. Backup your OS drive. In your case I'd just get another flash drive, install your old OS on it and then restore the config you backed up in step #2, then check to make sure it works. If you can't install your lod OS the use dd to make a copy.
4. Boot LiveCDor USB as desired/appropriate.
5. Select #9 then #4 (I think) to upgrade Embedded on flash/CF.
6. When it's done, reboot.
7. If all goes well the new system will upgrade your config automatically.
8. Check everything. If OK you are done.
9. If there are any problems you can swap shutdown and swap flash drives to get your old system back.

Most people in your situation report few if any problems. Even if there are any, the steps above ensure you lose no data and can return to the old system if necessary.

Kindly let me know how the FAQ or anything else you read failed so we can improve it.

Thanks,
Al

[streetwriter]

I think some of my confusion stems from what appears to me to be only partial instructions from different sources and/or apparent contradictions in information I am reading.

For example, the top-level announcement "Latest Upgrade Notes!" tells me I can upgrade from FreeNAS 0.7.5. That's encouraging, but it's a brief advisory only, not a step-by-step guide.

The FAQ, "How can I upgrade my NAS4Free OS?" does provide more detailed information and seems to confirm that I can use an embedded firmware option; however, your reply above suggests that because I am upgrading from an "old, non-NAS4Free system," I cannot use the upgrade option and must use Live CD or USB instead. That seems contrary to what's in the announcement and FAQ.

Also, if I follow the LiveCD instructions in the FAQ, the process omits steps included in your follow-up instructions.

So, from the outset, it would be helpful to find definitive initial "if-then" conditions, as in "IF upgrading from FreeNAS 0.7.2 or 0.7.5 THEN use LiveCD option" (if that's accurate), etc.

Your latest instructions do seem clear--we're using the Live CD to upgrade the embedded OS and config file from FreeNAS to NAS4Free--and for that, I am grateful. However, I have questions about step 3. I understand we're backing up things in case something goes wrong, but…to back up my OS drive, or install my OS on a new drive, can I simply copy the files on the USB to another blank USB using my normal desktop computer (running Ubuntu 12.04)? Do I copy it with command-line instructions from within FreeNAS? How then do I "restore" the config? Wouldn't it be included in the backed-up or copied OS? If my old OS fails, what do you mean by "use dd to make a copy"?

Some clarification about the third step, including some insight into why certain things are done, will probably get me successfully to NAS4Free.

Thanks again.

[al562]

Hi Streetwriter,

Thanks for the feedback, I will review the docs with an eye towards your suggestions . However, since the documentation is meant to encompass as many different situations/configurations as possible it needs to be generic to a certain degree. If we try to make it more specific we run the risk that it will not be applicable for some people, but we will try to do better.

can I simply copy the files on the USB to another blank USB using my normal desktop computer (running Ubuntu 12.04)?

Yes! This is documented in Q: How do I upgrade/replace/clone my USB Flash drive/CF card running Embedded platform? and Q: What is the best way to backup & restore my NAS4Free system partition?

Do I copy it with command-line instructions from within FreeNAS?

Yes, that is one way. It is how you would normally backup the entire system to a file (or clone to other device) so you could restore it (or switch to the other device) in case of disaster.

How then do I "restore" the config?

That is a very open-ended question, it depends on what caused the disaster to begin with and where specifically you saved the backup. Let's say the disaster is that your CF card dies and that you made the backup to a mounted drive on the server (as in the backup FAQ). To recover the system you would replace the CF card, boot from LiveCD (NAS4Free or some other FreeBSD distro) mount your server drive manually then restore from the saved file per the backup FAQ. If the disaster or backup location were something else, you'd have to follow a different procedure.

How then do I "restore" the config? Wouldn't it be included in the backed-up or copied OS?

Yes, it is. Remember though that you can use the WebGUI to backup the config to your desktop. So in many cases it is simpler to just replace the failed CF, install a fresh copy of your original (not a new) OS version, configure the network and then restore the backed up config in the WebGUI. The choice is up to you, either way, done properly, gets your system back up and running like magic.

If my old OS fails, what do you mean by "use dd to make a copy"?

If your old OS has failed it is too late to make a copy by any means . dd is software available in *nix OS's, you already have it in Ubuntu 12.04. See the above FAQs for examples and further reading to learn how it can be used.

Let me know if you have further questions,
Al

[streetwriter]

Well, I finally upgraded but not without some problems along the way. But what surprises me is that the GUI still shows the FreeNAS logo in the header. What's up with that?

[al562]

Hi Streetwriter,

Glad you got it done .

the GUI still shows the FreeNAS logo in the header

This is probably just cached in your browser, clear the cache and it should go away.

Regards,
Al

[streetwriter]

It was quite an adventure upgrading, but today I upgraded my other USB key with FreeNAS and it went smoothly. In order:

Back up config file.
Load LiveCD, shut down server, remove USB key, and reboot.
When the setup console appears, insert USB and select 9) and 4) from the menus.
When instructed, remove LiveCD and reboot.
NAS4Free should load and, in my case, my preferred IP address should still be there above the setup console.
Login to the GUI--you'll have to use your old FreeNAS login credentials for now--and confirm that everything is as it was before upgrading. Clear your cache to see the NAS4Free header.
If everything works, back up your config again.

That's it. Thanks again for your help.

J.