FreeNAS: mirroring USB boot drive after the fact (looking for the easiest way)

[hestermofet]

I have a FreeNAS that has generally been working ok. I was messing around with the hardware that led to instability from FreeNAS's point of view. Specifically, I did a fan mod on one of the redundant power supplies on the desk shelf that stores the HDDs. They're redundant so it shouldn't have been an issue, but I messed up a few times and disconnected both at the same time accidentally.

Not worried about my data as ZFS is pretty resilient to power loss, but it may have caused issues with the USB flash drive that FreeNAS boots from. On a handful of warm boots, the UEFI on the server couldn't find a bootable device.

I could backup the config and reimport it into a brand new USB, but I wanted to explore mirrored boot drives. I plan on backing up the config anyway, but now that I have FreeNAS installed, what's the easiest and fastest way to add a mirrored USB to boot from? Can I do this via the Web UI?

 

[Utwig]

The way I did it (I had corruption with Sandisk SSD, so I had to switch to Samsung 860 which I knew was fine, I got sent wrong size SSD but went with it anyway, then bought smaller Samsungs):
- back up config
- Install FreeNAS on mirrored drives (tell it to create mirror on install)
- restore config or just import ZFS Volume

I decided at start to not go with two USBs as one of them would have to be external (can get knocked, unplugged) - motherboard only has single USB and small SSDs don't cost much, I have enough ports and you can fit two in 5.25" bay.

 

[hestermofet]

Hmmm.... I was trying to avoid reinstalling FreeNAS, but I guess it's not so much a pain because exporting and then importing an old config is so easy. Thanks, I guess that is the best way to go.

I was worried about an external USB getting knocked out too, but I will use a tiny USB like this* so it's harder to knock out, plus I'm the only one who messes around on my rack, so if it gets knocked out, I only have myself to blame.

*I already have a couple of these lying around.

 

[Paladin]

Yeah, grab a config backup, do a fresh install (make sure your storage drives are disconnected/powered off to be safe) with a mirror of the USB drives and then load your config.

I would use USB drives with metal drive enclosures. I have a couple of those little SanDisk Fit drives and they get pretty hot. I have had them hang and even disconnect/go offline while in use on a USB hub on my desk. Having them inside a server means a warmer environment, I wouldn't trust them.

Of course, if you backup your config and copy it off whenever you make a change you have only a little of your time to lose.

 

[hestermofet]

Thanks for the tip about heat, I forget what I have inside the server, it might be metal cased (probably not, I'm sure I went for whatever was cheapest that day on Amazon, lol).

Not worried about the one sticking out the back of the server, so I'll probably use the Cruzer Fit. My rack's not really a rack, it's a utility shelving unit that I repurposed as a rack, so there's a ton of airflow and no heat issues.

 

[spiralscratch]

Thanks for the tip about heat, I forget what I have inside the server, it might be metal cased (probably not, I'm sure I went for whatever was cheapest that day on Amazon, lol).

Not worried about the one sticking out the back of the server, so I'll probably use the Cruzer Fit. My rack's not really a rack, it's a utility shelving unit that I repurposed as a rack, so there's a ton of airflow and no heat issues.

Don't use the Cruzer Fit.

I had been using them (8/16 GB models) on my FreeNAS box for a couple years, and every 4-6 months or so one would die or corrupt (I had them mirrored thankfully). The drives were installed to the mainboard's back panel (not internally) and not subject to high heat. Last year I switched over to a couple 32 GB Sandisk Ultras I had lying around and have seen no problems since.

I believe the tiny flash chip in the Fit (and probably other like-sized USB flash drives) just isn't resilient enough to handle FreeNAS for whatever reason.

 

[Utwig]

I'm using leet gamer Kingston HyperX USB drives on ESX servers.