How to install FreeNAS and Get Started with FreeNAS

This is based on FreeBSD (www.freebsd.org), a free and open-source operating system designed for servers that’s easy to use and packed with features. You configure it through a web interface on another computer on your network, so you don’t need to keep a monitor attached to the PC you’ll be using for storage, once you’ve installed the software. You can download FreeNAS (web.freenas.org) as the operating system on which to build our NAS.

Step 1: Download the current stable release of FreeNAS from the website. Choose the correct version for your processor type (64- or 32-bit) and burn it to disc. There’s a USB image available that you can grab if you prefer. Restart your PC and boot from disc or flash drive. FreeNAS will load and eventually you’ll see the menu. Select the Install/Upgrade option.

Step 2: Make sure the USB flash drive on which you want to install the OS is connected. In the next window, you will see all the locations, including your destination drive, that you can install FreeNAS to. Select it and FreeNAS will install the OS. Eject the install disc/drive and reboot. The console set-up screen will load. Make a note of the URL at the bottom.

Step 3: Open a browser on any computer on your network and type in the URL you noted down from the console set-up screen. This will give you access to FreeNAS’s graphical web interface. Enter a new root password twice and click Log In. You’ll be able to view system information and settings configure the software and connect your storage.

Step 1: To connect your drives, click Storage (1) and then Volumes, (2) or click the Storage button at the top. (3) You have two choices. If you have a 64-bit CPU and 8GB of memory, click the ZFS Volume Manager. (4) If you have less memory, select ‘UFS Volume Manager (legacy)’ instead. (5)

Step 2: Create a new volume and you will see it appear under Storage. You now need to make the volume accessible over the network. Click the Sharing button. O You have three choices – Apple (AFP), UNIX (NFS) and Windows (CIFS). Select Windows, then click the Add Windows (CIFS) Share button.

Step 3: Fill in the requested details (name, path and permissions) and click OK. There’s an Advanced Mode available. You’ll be asked if you want to enable this service. Say Yes. You’ll now be able to access the drive under Network In Windows Explorer. You can enable various settings for the volume under Services.

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ZFS (the “Z” in the name doesn’t stand for anything) is the newest and best choice, provided you have enough memory. It offers safer, more resilient storage and data integrity checking, so you don’t have to worry about your precious personal data becoming corrupted.
UFS (Unix File System) is a much older file system that lacks features such as compression, encryption, deduplication, copy-on-write, lightweight snapshots and the ability to detect and prevent data corruption.
You should choose ZFS over UFS whenever possible. If you create a UFS volume as a temporary stopgap (for example, because you are waiting until you can afford better hardware) you’ll need to back up all your data because creating a ZFS pool will wipe an existing UFS volume.