[SOLVED] how does FreeNAS work?

[habibrobert]

Hi there,

I'm looking into building my first NAS server. I'm curious about how FreeNAS works. In other words, does FreeNAS simply serve as the OS for the server? Does it also serve backup software that you install onto the PC you wish to backup?

I'm currently using Acronis to backup my data. Would I be able to direct Acronis to save the backups to the a NAS server running FreeNAS? Or do I need to use a new interface to backup my files? Better yet, have I misunderstood the whole concept of using a NAS server?

I hope I'm making sense, please let me know if I need to clarify anything. As I'm sure you can tell, I have no experience with NAS servers, but I've suffered enough HDD failures to finally say "Never Again," never again will I be cavalier with data storage and backups 😊

 

[punkncat]

FreeNAS is the OS and is a Network Attached Storage solution. It's got a small learning curve to the setup aspect but doesn't require much to run, there are add ons and loads of information/support/forums that discuss it.
I utilized it for some years on a purpose build system as a simple backup and storage solution. It was tremendously trouble free for me. It showed up in my network like any network share once properly configured.

In my own case, I ended up having a need for multiple Windows machines for various use. My familiarity with that OS, and ability to duplicate drives as backups within those various machines over-rode my desire to upgrade the hardware to the FreeNAS as it started growing long in the tooth.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

I have a small bit of experience with Freenas. I have a laptop running Freenas that serves as a network drive on my other windows or Linux machines and Macrium does an automatic backup to this nas over the network.

I have had no issues on the software side of things, just issues with my nas itself as it is very jenky.

In other words, does FreeNAS simply serve as the OS for the server?

Yes. It installs onto the server or a USB stick.

I'm currently using Acronis to backup my data. Would I be able to direct Acronis to save the backups to the a NAS server running FreeNAS? Or do I need to use a new interface to backup my files? Better yet, have I misunderstood the whole concept of using a NAS server?

Yes, you can map the nas as a network drive than set acronis to backup to this drive.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgTBUQ6C2ZY

This video is helpfull.

 

[USAFRet]

FreeNAS is simply the OS. Just like Windows or Linux.

Can you extract from your existing Acronis image to the resulting space in the NAS box? Probably, but from a Windows system.
I use Macrium from my Windows systems to back up to the NAS.



Basically, you build up the NAS box.
Make some folders available as shared folders.
Then, from the Windows systems, a mapped drive letter to easily access those locations. The PC sees it as just another drive letter.
In my systems, S is a folder to be shared among all the systems, N is one of the large (3x8TB) volumes. Each system also gets its own shared folder, mapped as M.
The 'M' on my system is a different folder than the 'M' on my wifes system.

 

[habibrobert]

Thank you all for the explanations, this makes much more sense now. I'll have to tinker around with FreeNAS to further familiarize myself with it. thanks for the help!

 

[punkncat]

Thank you all for the explanations, this makes much more sense now. I'll have to tinker around with FreeNAS to further familiarize myself with it. thanks for the help!

One of the wonderful aspects of FreeNAS is that it requires very little, hardware wise, to run. If you happen to have an aged computer that works laying around it's an excellent way to familiarize yourself with the process and get a real feel for what you are going to need.

With that said, if you are going all out on a build in order to provide safe backups there are a lot of great prebuilt, plug and play options that work well too. I used a Synology at one point, it's drawback was entry price. I used a very inexpensive Linksys 'DNS' model for a LONG time that was really a good unit for me. The simplicity and ease of setting things up was a real plus.

 

[wgulker]

I just built a FreeNAS computer to backup my the 20 TB's of photos on my Drobo. The FreeNAS computer is using 10 of my unused drives ranging from a 256 SSD (used as OS drive) to 6 TB drives. Below is a summary of my system.

My main photo editing desktop computer

• 2 TB M.2 NVMe - OS Drive
• 4 TB SSD - Editing Drive
• 29 TB Drobo 5C - Photo Storage Drive

Local Back-up (see photos below of FreeNAS computer)

• FreeNAS OS install on 256 SSD
• 5 4TD HD's in a software raid
• 3 6TB HD's in a software raid
• 1 3TD HD
• Using Allway Sync between Drobo and FreeNAS backup computer
• Transfer speeds between Drobo and FreeNAS ~ 100MB/s
• The FreeNAS computer is using my collection of HD's acquired over the years)

 

[mdd1963]

You might also explore/consider OpenMediaVault or NethServer, as each seemed quite a bit easier to initially setup/administer...(they are each likely have lower RAM requirements/recommendations as well...)