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Lab 05: Installing and Configuring FreeNAS (TrueNAS CORE) in VirtualBox

Introduction

In this lab, you will learn how to set up FreeNAS (now called TrueNAS CORE) inside a virtual machine using VirtualBox. TrueNAS is an open-source storage operating system widely used to build NAS (Network Attached Storage) and SAN (Storage Area Network) systems.

By the end of this lab, you will: - Install FreeNAS/TrueNAS CORE in VirtualBox. - Add virtual disks to simulate enterprise storage. - Create and configure a ZFS storage pool. - Create a basic dataset to be later used by your Lab 03 Linux VM (Lubuntu).

This lab introduces you to the role of a Storage Administrator in a company like TechOps Inc., where servers rely on centralized storage.

Step 1: Downloading FreeNAS (TrueNAS CORE)

  1. Open a browser on your Windows Host Machine.
  2. Go to the official TrueNAS download page:
    👉 https://www.truenas.com/download-truenas-core/
  3. Download the latest stable ISO (as of September 2025: TrueNAS CORE 13.x).
  4. Save the ISO file to your computer.

Step 2: Creating a New Virtual Machine for FreeNAS

  1. Open VirtualBox on your Windows 11 host.

  2. Click New → Fill in details:

    • Name: FreeNAS-Server
    • Type: BSD
    • Version: FreeBSD (64-bit)

  3. Assign resources:

    • RAM: 4096 MB (4 GB)
    • CPU: 2 processors (minimum)

  4. Do not create a hard disk yet (we will add disks manually).

Step 3: Adding Virtual Disks

FreeNAS requires storage disks to create pools.

  1. Select your FreeNAS-Server VM → Settings → Storage.
  2. Add a Controller: SATA if not already present.

  3. Add multiple virtual hard disks:

    • Disk 1: 20 GB (System Disk, where FreeNAS OS will install).
    • Disk 2: 10 GB (Data Disk 1).
    • Disk 3: 10 GB (Data Disk 2).
    • Disk 4: 10 GB (Data Disk 3).

    👉 The extra disks (2–4) will simulate a storage array for ZFS.

  4. Attach the downloaded TrueNAS ISO as a virtual optical disk.

GUI method (VirtualBox Manager) for Step 4

  1. Open Oracle VirtualBox on your host machine.
  2. Select the VM you created (e.g. FreeNAS-Server) in the left VM list — do not start it yet.
  3. Click the Settings (⚙️) button in the toolbar (or right-click the VM → Settings).
  4. In the Settings window choose Storage from the left menu.
  5. Look at the Storage Tree panel in the middle:
    • You will see one or more controllers (e.g., Controller: SATA, Controller: IDE) and attached devices underneath.
    • If there is an entry labeled Controller: IDE with an item Empty that has a little CD icon, select that Empty entry.
    • If you don’t see an IDE controller or an Empty optical drive, select a controller (IDE or SATA) and use the small CD icon with a + (or the little disk icon on the right) to Add Optical Drive.
  6. With the optical drive (the Empty item) selected, look at the right-hand Attributes area. Click the small CD icon next to Optical Drive and choose Choose a disk file...
  7. In the file chooser dialog, navigate to the folder where you saved the TrueNAS ISO (e.g., C:\Users\YourName\Downloads\TrueNAS-CORE-13.x.iso on Windows or /home/you/Downloads/TrueNAS-CORE-13.x.iso on Linux), select the ISO and click Open.
  8. You should now see the ISO filename displayed under the controller in the Storage Tree (instead of Empty).
  9. (Important) Optional: verify boot order — go to System → Motherboard and ensure Optical is checked and listed above Hard Disk in the Boot Order so the VM boots from the ISO first.
  10. Click OK to save and close Settings.

Step 4: Installing FreeNAS/TrueNAS CORE

  1. Start the VM → The TrueNAS installer should boot.
  2. Select Install/Upgrade.
  3. Choose the 20 GB system disk as the installation target.
  4. Set a root password (remember this carefully).
  5. Choose Boot via BIOS (default) or UEFI if prompted.
  6. Complete installation and reboot. Remove the ISO after reboot.

When the VM restarts, you will see a console setup screen with network details (IP address).

Step 5: Accessing the TrueNAS Web Interface

  1. From the console screen, note the IP address assigned to the FreeNAS VM. Example: http://192.168.1.120

  2. On your Windows Host machine, open a web browser and type the IP address.

  3. Log in with:

    • Username: root OR truenas_admin (depending upon what you see during installation)
    • Password: (the one you set during installation)

You are now inside the TrueNAS Web Interface.

Step 6: Creating a ZFS Storage Pool

  1. Go to Storage → Pools in the web interface.
  2. Click Add → Create new pool.
  3. Name the pool: TechOpsPool
  4. Layout: RAID-Z1
  5. Width: 3
  6. Number of VDEVs: 1
  7. Click on Next, untill you are at last step (leave all other fields as default)
  8. Click on Create Pool
  9. Confirm and create the pool.

✅ You now have a ZFS storage pool.

Step 7: Creating a Dataset

Datasets are like folders within a ZFS pool, optimized for different use cases.

  1. In the TrueNAS web interface → Storage → Pools → TechOpsPool.
  2. Click the 3-dot menu → Add Dataset. OR directly click on Add Dateset
  3. Name it: ProjectData
  4. Accept defaults (compression on, share type: generic).

✅ You now have a dataset inside your ZFS pool.

Step 8: Preparing for Client Access

In later labs, we will:

  • Connect the Lab 03 Lubuntu VM to this dataset using NFS/iSCSI.
  • Configure multipath I/O for HA.
  • Add file and object storage layers (SMB, MinIO).

For now, ensure your FreeNAS VM is running and your pool + dataset exist.

Troubleshooting Tips

  • No network/IP shown: Change VM network to Bridged Adapter in VirtualBox settings.
  • VM too slow: Increase RAM to 6 GB if your host allows.
  • Can’t access web interface: Check firewall on host, or try a different browser.

✅ Congratulations! You have successfully installed TrueNAS CORE in VirtualBox, created a ZFS storage pool, and added a dataset. This forms the foundation of your SAN environment.