Want to access FreeNAS hard disk ZFS in windows

[Waahid]

Hello, please I need your help guys.
I have installed FreeNAS on a cpu with no back up. Due to a technical issue i cannot have access to my FreeNAS data.
Is it possible to remove the hard disk of the FreeNAS and access it in my windows pc so as to access the data in the hard disk. I know FreeNAS hard disk format is in zfs and windows doesn't read this format. Is there a solution please.

Waahid

 

[wblock]

It is technically challenging and will require a fair amount of resources on the Windows system. Install a VM system on the Windows computer, allocate 8G to a 64-bit VM, set up the VM to access a physical drive rather than an emulated drive, then install FreeNAS in the VM, connect the drive, and import the pool.

 

[DrKK]

It is technically challenging and will require a fair amount of resources on the Windows system. Install a VM system on the Windows computer, allocate 8G to a 64-bit VM, set up the VM to access a physical drive rather than an emulated drive, then install FreeNAS in the VM, connect the drive, and import the pool.

By definition, any user that doesn't know that solution, would have a great deal of trouble to implement that solution, so I am not sure how much help that is going to be wblock.

As the user appears to be in Mauritius, he is going to have some difficulty getting someone to drop by and help him out with this.

Tough problem Waahid. You can:

1) Set up a new computer with FreeNAS on it, then put this drive on that new computer, and FreeNAS will be able to import it.
or
2) Attempt to do this virtualized on another box as wblock says, but that is likely to be challenging for you.

 

[averyfreeman]

Run OpenZFS-aware distro on VM in ESXi or KVM, take regular snapshots before borking with stuff, and transfer drive(s) to another VM if you actually do end up borking something good?

 

[Stux]

Alternatively, install FreeNAS to a new USB key.

Boot windows pc with that.

 

[DrKK]

Alternatively, install FreeNAS to a new USB key.

Boot windows pc with that.

No I dont think that's what he means sir. The user specifically appears to desire to read the ZFS harddisks while he is on his Windows PC running Windows.

 

[Stux]

No I don't think that's what he means sir. The user specifically appears to desire to read the ZFS harddisks while he is on his Windows PC running Windows.

That’s not going to happen ;)

 

[Ericloewe]

That’s not going to happen ;)

Not immediately, at least.

 

[Arwen]

Not immediately, at least.

Yes, the MS-Windows port looks interesting. It's probably 2 years out, at least, if it get's reasonable support from developers, (who need MS-Windows development experiance). A lot longer, if not. And C: on ZFS is probably not likely for a long time, if ever.

 

[Ericloewe]

And C: on ZFS is probably not likely for a long time, if ever.

I don't believe it will happen unless Microsoft sees the light and formally adopts the project.