FreeNAS on Gen7 N54l HP Microserver - Plex

[Jord9857]

Hi,

I'm looking to set up USB mirroring with my 2 memory sticks on my NAS with FreeNAS on, 1 is got the OS on, the other one is empty ready for the mirroring. Incase of 1 failing, the other can pick up in the same place as it had been mirroring.

I can access the Web interface, although I'm on the latest version of FreeNAS so no guides yet on how to do this.

Any other suggestions to set up on my NAS for FreeNAS are welcomed.

I'm looking to make this a Plex Server eventually, so I'll need to set up a Pool for my hard drives, however in pools that they are also mirroring incase of hard drive failures.


Help is much appreciated.

Kind Regards
Jord

 

[Basil Hendroff]

I'm a big fan of the HP microservers. Have a look in my signature block for the h/w configuration of my N54ls. It may give you some ideas.

 

[Jord9857]

@Basil Hendroff Can you talk me through how to do this please?

2 x 16GB SanDisk Cruzer Facet USB 2.0 flash drives in mirror

 

[Basil Hendroff]

The FreeNAS User Guide is an excellent resource. I would recommend browsing through it and getting familiar with its layout and contents. Have a look in the section 7.3.1. Operating System Device Mirroring

 

[Basil Hendroff]

Btw, if you only have one server, I would recommend the largest possible disks you can afford and a RAIDZ2 topology. You will use half of your drive bays as a result, but RAIDZ2 better safeguards your data. I'm still using RAIDZ1, but I've mitigated the risk somewhat by replicating my data to other FreeNAS servers. If you're buying disks, you may want to review the following resources:

1. List of known SMR drives
2. Hard Drive Burn-in Testing

 

[Jord9857]

Hi,

Is there like a step by step guide on how to set up a 2 USB drive OS mirroring, i saw that guide but doesn't really tell you how to do it...


Cheers

 

[Basil Hendroff]

You're in an ideal position as you haven't got any data yet, so why not just experiment and explore what the User Guide has to offer.

 

[Jord9857]

You're in an ideal position as you haven't got any data yet, so why not just experiment and explore what the User Guide has to offer.

I've looked on the user guide which you linked, as I've already explained above, it's not help my situation....

I'm looking for a guide to set up mirroring USB drives for the latest version of FreeNAS on my NAS.

 

[Jord9857]

also, how would i go around setting up a hard drive pool & mirroring?

Thanks!

 

[Redcoat]

I've looked on the user guide which you linked, as I've already explained above, it's not help my situation....

This section https://www.ixsystems.com/documentation/freenas/11.3-U2/system.html#os-device-mirroring explains exactly how to mirror the boot drive.

 

[Redcoat]

also, how would i go around setting up a hard drive pool & mirroring?

Best you start by reading this section https://www.ixsystems.com/documentation/freenas/11.3-U2/storage.html#pools - don't bother with Encryption first time through - and come back here and ask questions about what you don't understand.

 

[Jord9857]

ok, I went to the boot status and attached the other USB memory stick so now it says mirror. I'll need to get another hard drive to set up a mirror as you need at least 2 hard drives.

What does it mean by Data VDevs? Like I'm trying to set up a Pool to add Plex as a plugin. I only got 1 hard drive in there at the moment, but seems like i have to add it to this Data VDecs otherwise i cannot create a Pool, will i still be able to set up a mirror with it if its in there?

Also how would i go around setting up email alerts? I use yahoo mail with 2 step authentication.

Thanks!

 

[Jord9857]

What's the best practice in terms of the Movies, Tv Shows and Music folders separately, how do i create them or if they already exist - where? And making the folders available to my laptop, therefore I'll be able to move the items into these folders remotely.

Thanks!

 

[Redcoat]

Like I'm trying to set up a Pool to add Plex as a plugin. I only got 1 hard drive in there at the moment, but seems like i have to add it to this Data VDecs otherwise i cannot create a Pool, will i still be able to set up a mirror with it if its in there?

Yes,. the single drive has to be added to a vdev and yes, once that's done you can later add another same size or larger disk as a mirror.

Also how would i go around setting up email alerts? I use yahoo mail with 2 step authentication.

I'm unsure on two-step - go ahead and try it, it's a no-risk proposition and you'll learn something from doing it.

how do i create them or if they already exist - where?

When you install Plex (use @danb35's script, not the plug-in) you point the jail's internal data locations to the locations of the media files - keeping those directories OUTSIDE the jail (on your pool) where jail updates, etc., won't touch them and you can access them at will as SMB shares.

 

[Jord9857]

Yes,. the single drive has to be added to a vdev and yes, once that's done you can later add another same size or larger disk as a mirror.

Thank you for the reassurance.

I'm unsure on two-step - go ahead and try it, it's a no-risk proposition and you'll learn something from doing it.

I think I might just try and set up a gmail one then, as seem some guides online.

When you install Plex (use @danb35's script, not the plug-in) you point the jail's internal data locations to the locations of the media files - keeping those directories OUTSIDE the jail (on your pool) where jail updates, etc., won't touch them and you can access them at will as SMB shares.

Uhh, I've already installed the Plex plugin, can I still do this script? If so, how? Is there a guide? As I'll be using my laptop to access these folders to put the items in.

 

[Redcoat]

I think I might just try and set up a gmail one then, as seem some guides online.

Yes, gmail should be a no-brainer, even from the official docs.

Uhh, I've already installed the Plex plugin, can I still do this script?

I would delete the jail with the plug in and install @danb35's script-based jail. Go to https://forum.freenas-community.org/t/scripted-installation-of-plex-media-server/47 for the guide and follow it... "Why bother" should clue you in.

 

[Jord9857]

hi,

so I've ran the 'git clone https://github.com/danb35/freenas-iocage-plex '

But now I'm on this bit -
JAIL_IP="192.168.1.75"
DEFAULT_GW_IP="192.168.1.1"
POOL_PATH="/mnt/tank"

These values must be set. They correspond to:

• JAIL_IP and DEFAULT_GW_IP are the IP addresses of the jail and your router, respectively.
• POOL_PATH is the path for your main data pool's root directory.

Where do i find the 'main data pool's root directory'? This is my drive below.

 

[Basil Hendroff]

Best that you post this in the discussion area for the resource so that other forum members with similar script issues can benefit from the discussion. You may want to look in the discussion area as there may be some clues that will help you resolve your issue. I would also suggest that you have a look at the forum rules to understand forum etiquette.

 

[Jord9857]

@Basil Hendroff do you know where i find the 'main data pool's root directory'?