IanWorthington
Contributor
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2013
- Messages
- 144
Is there a recommended way to back up the FreeNas usb stick?
i
i
The only thing you really need to backup is the FreeNAS database file, which is located at: /data/freenas-v1.db
If you search, there are a few threads on backing up the file nightly or whenever it changes.
Thanks for that. What I was wanting to do though was to duplicate the usb stick prior to upgrading do I've something to fall back to if it all goes pear-shaped. Is there a recommendation for that?
i
The easiest solution is to install the desired version to a clean drive. All versions can be found at download.freenas.org .
If you're upgrading, it's easier to install the new version on the clean drive and upload your configuration to it, keeping the old one in case something goes wrong.
...and to directly answer your question: no, there isn't a way to directly back up the USB stick. Using dd to make an image of its contents should work in theory, but in practice it seems not to.
FYI. You can use clonezilla to clone your flash drive to another one. Not really a backup of your configuration but it is good to know. I am happy I have clone it to another flash drive since I always mess with my configurations too much to the point I break something and I have to completely reinstall freenas. I don't waste time doign a reinstall when I got a clone.
Can someone explain to me how this works?
If I backup my FreeNAS config (system, settings, general, save config) it prompts me to save the .DB file.
Since my jails are on my actual disk array, if I were to backup that .db file. Throw away my USB key, re-create a 9.2.1.6 key, then I can import (upload) the config and then re-find my array, right? Losing virtually nothing?
Ok I took a gamble and just straight swapped existing USB stick into new PC - only diff is new motherboard (same model, faster CPU) - obviously a new MAC address but I made sure disks were definitely plugged into the same SATA ports - worked fine.
Not a "proper" restore but it was worth a shot and worked.