Can't install to 8gb flash drive

[xman111]

Hey guys, i know that 8gb flash is the minimum to install to but that is all i have at the moment. I have tried 4 or 5 of them. Each time i install, it errors out and says that drive isn't big enough. Do i have to buy a 16gb one or should i be able to install to an 8gb flash drive?

 

[Chris Moore]

See this:

Hardware Requirements
https://www.freenas.org/hardware-requirements/

There could be something wrong with the process you are using. Exactly how are you going about it and what hardware are you using?

https://www.ixsystems.com/community/threads/forum-guidelines.45124

 

[joeschmuck]

Also, what version of FreeNAS are you installing?

 

[xman111]

hey guys, thanks for the responses. I am installing the latest 11, downloaded from the website last night. I burn the iso to a flash drive and try to install and it always says not enough space on the 5 different 8gb flash drives i have. I think after formatting, there is only 7.4gb left. I wanted to ensure my iso was not corrupt so i just installed onto one of my hard drives in the system and it works fine. I went ahead and bought a 16gb USB 2 flash drive to hopefully resolve my issues, should be delivered today.

 

[joeschmuck]

You are doing the install wrong. Burn the ISO to a CD/DVD, it's just over 600MB. You can use a USB Flash drive if you have a program that will properly burn the ISO image to it. I prefer to keep it simple and use a CD/DVD blank. Use an ISO burner program, Windows has it built in. Then you will boot your FreeNAS system from the CD/DVD or Flash Drive. You will then be able to install FreeNAS. All of this is covered in the User Guide Chapter 2. If you are still having issues, be a bit more detailed in your question and describe as if we are clueless, don't let us assume anything. It works better to get a quick answer.

 

[Chris Moore]

I am installing the latest 11, downloaded from the website last night.

That is a little better, but still quite ambiguous as we have been on some point release in the 11 range since at least September of 2017.
The "latest" would be 11.2-U4.1 (as of May 11, 2019) but it is better if you put a version in your post instead of just saying the latest because someone might come along a year from now and at that time the latest could be something completely different.

I burn the iso to a flash drive and try to install and it always says not enough space on the 5 different 8gb flash drives i have.

Are you trying to install to the same flash drive you are booted from?

 

[xman111]

sorry guys, you're right.. Installing 11.2-U4.1. ISO burned fine onto the 8gb flash drive, i confirmed by installing onto one of my hard drives. It is when i try to install from one USB flash drive to another that is only 8gb. If you need 8gb free to install, mine is only like 7.4 so that is probably the issue. I bought a 16gb flash drive from Amazon to install onto and will try in about an hour or so.

 

[xman111]

just used a 16gb flash drive to install to and it worked great. I guess a formatted 8gb flash drive is just too small.. thanks for the help guys.