First of all, TrueNAS SCALE is an open-source network-attached storage (NAS) solution developed by iXsystems. Based on Debian Linux, it is designed to offer advanced storage management features while supporting containerized applications and cloud environments.
Prerequisites for Installing TrueNAS SCALE:
For a test installation of TrueNAS SCALE, you need at least a dual-core processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a 16 GB SSD for the system. Additionally, you need two disks of the same size to create a pool (you can force the creation on a single disk).
For my production setup, I use a Proxmox VM with four cores, 16 GB of RAM, and a passthrough on my SATA controllers. The ZFS file system is quite memory-intensive (1 GB per TB of disk). Using ECC RAM is recommended for data integrity. See the SCALE Hardware Guide page.
Next, you need to prepare an installation medium (USB key) and flash the TrueNAS SCALE image here. I use balenaEtcher.
Installation and Configuration of TrueNAS SCALE:
1. Installation:
To start the installation of TrueNAS SCALE, on the first screen, you need to select “Install/Upgrade”.
On the next screen, you need to choose the system installation hard drive. If you have multiple disks, you can create a ZFS raid.
Next, you need to choose your authentication method and create your password. I log in as “root” knowing that my TrueNAS SCALE is not exposed. Define your usage accordingly.
To finish the installation of TrueNAS SCALE, you need to choose whether to boot in “EFI” or “BIOS. This depends on your hardware and system.
Finally, after rebooting, you will find your IP address on your screen. Go to the address “http://your-server-ip“, for me “http://192.168.1.109“.
2. Configuration:
To start, go to “System Settings,” then “General,” and finally “Localization” to set the language and date and time settings. Validate and wait for the page to reload.
Next, I force the redirection to https. Go to “System Settings,” “General,” then “UI,” and check the “Web Interface HTTP -> HTTPS Redirect” box.
For our TrueNAS SCALE installation to work correctly, it needs a DNS server. Go to “Network,” then “Global Configuration.”
There is one last step to finish configuring TrueNAS SCALE. You need to create a volume, go to “Storage,” then click on “Create a Volume.” You need to name it, select the disks, and validate.
The basic installation and configuration of TrueNAS SCALE is complete. You can refine your configuration by giving it a fixed IP address, creating Windows or Linux shares, and even creating virtual machines…
