the home site for me: also iteration 3 or 4 of my site
dunkirk.sh
1+++
2title = "Install TrueNAS Core on Proxmox"
3date = 2023-07-10
4slug = "install-truenas-core-proxmox"
5description = "How to install TrueNas Core on proxmox with drive passthrough"
6
7[taxonomies]
8tags = ["tutorial", "archival"]
9
10[extra]
11has_toc = true
12+++
13
14I have been using Proxmox for a while now but I've also wanted to make use of some large HDDs that have been lying around. I really didn't want to get another machine just for TrueNAS so I decided to install it on Proxmox. This is how I did it.
15
16<!-- more -->
17
18{{ img(id="https://cloud-f19fn8u8j-hack-club-bot.vercel.app/0image.png" alt="screenshot of the vault vm in proxmox" caption="my active vault storing 1.8TB of old projects") }}
19
20## Introduction
21
22> Note: I have since found out that running TrueNAS in a VM passing through the drives may not be a very good solution as it essentially just creates a large virtual disk that is the size of the drive you are passing through. Because of this I will not be using this setup in my homelab and will instead create a large ZFS pool on Proxmox. However if you are fine with those downsides, then have fun and enjoy the tutorial.
23
24To install [TrueNAS Core](https://www.truenas.com/download-truenas-core/#) on [Proxmox](https://www.proxmox.com/en/proxmox-ve) you need three things:
25
261. A copy of [Proxmox](https://www.proxmox.com/en/proxmox-ve) — A complete, open-source server management platform for enterprise virtualization.
272. A [TrueNAS CORE](https://www.truenas.com/download-truenas-core/#) ISO — World’s #1 NAS Operating System
283. HDDs — You can use whatever you want, but I will be using three Barracuda ES 750GB drives
29
30## Install TrueNAS Core
31
32Sign-in to Proxmox and upload your ISO to the local storage or, download the file directly from the link using the built-in ISO fetcher.
33
34{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/Ww212rUDQ_Ms9P2WhJMwz.png" alt="download iso tool in proxmox") }}
35
36Next to create the VM, the only thing that needs to be changed from the defaults is the memory, which I set to `8192 MB` (8 GB).
37
38{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/bDT9VdIMMG1LWvv1RwNKl.png" alt="create a vm modal in proxmox") }}
39
40Now finish creating the VM and click on the VM after it is created. Go to options and enable start at boot.
41
42{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/ImxOHWJNuRL3yiF12cQfe.png" alt="start at boot checkbox") }}
43
44Next, we need to pass through the physical drives to the VM. Open a terminal on the Proxmox server (use the built-in terminal or ssh in) and run the following command. Only run the part after the #.
45
46> root@thespia:~# lsblk -o +MODEL,SERIAL
47```bash
48NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT MODEL SERIAL
49sda 8:0 0 698.6G 0 disk ST3750330NS 9QK2GT8R
50sdb 8:16 0 698.6G 0 disk ST3750640NS 3QD0AYE0
51sdc 8:32 0 698.6G 0 disk ST3750640NS 3QD0BQ5G
52sdd 8:48 1 111.8G 0 disk Hitachi_HTS543212L9SA02 090130FBEB00LGGJ35RF
53├─sdd1 8:49 1 1007K 0 part
54├─sdd2 8:50 1 512M 0 part /boot/efi
55└─sdd3 8:51 1 111.3G 0 part
56 ├─pve-swap 253:0 0 8G 0 lvm [SWAP]
57 ├─pve-root 253:1 0 37.8G 0 lvm /
58 ├─pve-data_tmeta 253:2 0 1G 0 lvm
59 │ └─pve-data-tpool 253:4 0 49.6G 0 lvm
60 │ ├─pve-data 253:5 0 49.6G 1 lvm
61 │ ├─pve-vm--100--cloudinit 253:6 0 4M 0 lvm
62 │ └─pve-vm--101--cloudinit 253:7 0 4M 0 lvm
63 └─pve-data_tdata 253:3 0 49.6G 0 lvm
64 └─pve-data-tpool 253:4 0 49.6G 0 lvm
65 ├─pve-data 253:5 0 49.6G 1 lvm
66 ├─pve-vm--100--cloudinit 253:6 0 4M 0 lvm
67 └─pve-vm--101--cloudinit 253:7 0 4M 0 lvm
68sde 8:64 0 465.8G 0 disk WDC_WD5000AAKS-65YGA0 WD-WCAS83511331
69├─sde1 8:65 0 465.8G 0 part
70└─sde9 8:73 0 8M 0 part
71zd0 230:0 0 32G 0 disk
72├─zd0p1 230:1 0 100M 0 part
73├─zd0p2 230:2 0 16M 0 part
74├─zd0p3 230:3 0 31.4G 0 part
75└─zd0p4 230:4 0 522M 0 part
76zd16 230:16 0 80G 0 disk
77├─zd16p1 230:17 0 1M 0 part
78└─zd16p2 230:18 0 80G 0 part
79zd32 230:32 0 4M 0 disk
80zd48 230:48 0 80G 0 disk
81├─zd48p1 230:49 0 1M 0 part
82└─zd48p2 230:50 0 80G 0 part
83zd64 230:64 0 1M 0 disk
84zd80 230:80 0 32G 0 disk
85```
86
87In my server `sda, sdb, and sdc` are my drives. I can tell because they have no partitions and are `698.6G`. Next, based on the serial numbers of the disks, find the `dev/disk/by-id` of the drive.
88
89> root@thespia:~# ls /dev/disk/by-id/
90```bash
91ata-Hitachi_HTS543212L9SA02_090130FBEB00LGGJ35RF
92ata-Hitachi_HTS543212L9SA02_090130FBEB00LGGJ35RF-part1
93ata-Hitachi_HTS543212L9SA02_090130FBEB00LGGJ35RF-part2
94ata-Hitachi_HTS543212L9SA02_090130FBEB00LGGJ35RF-part3
95ata-ST3750330NS_9QK2GT8R
96ata-ST3750640NS_3QD0AYE0
97ata-ST3750640NS_3QD0BQ5G
98ata-WDC_WD5000AAKS-65YGA0_WD-WCAS83511331
99ata-WDC_WD5000AAKS-65YGA0_WD-WCAS83511331-part1
100ata-WDC_WD5000AAKS-65YGA0_WD-WCAS83511331-part9
101dm-name-pve-root
102dm-name-pve-swap
103dm-name-pve-vm--100--cloudinit
104dm-name-pve-vm--101--cloudinit
105dm-uuid-LVM-i2jw2DEc8aJxdhf3mg7sAcAbc57lfeNL967xBhsO2KsTDqSJ5KB9pGqef5HjQJHk
106dm-uuid-LVM-i2jw2DEc8aJxdhf3mg7sAcAbc57lfeNLQ6hkWGll1H38yFz0ty3RmmJPSRSbj1sa
107dm-uuid-LVM-i2jw2DEc8aJxdhf3mg7sAcAbc57lfeNLrSofGgZtL41un6baoCpRHunOrbJeMTeO
108dm-uuid-LVM-i2jw2DEc8aJxdhf3mg7sAcAbc57lfeNLWPjyk8d4ik2D6KIcp2zaugdFsHB4TNOM
109lvm-pv-uuid-pRECVX-zqKA-evrD-PNof-sTYg-zNrD-WUelFe
110usb-Generic-_Multi-Card_20120926571200000-0:0
111wwn-0x5000c50015a53388
112wwn-0x5000cca562c751e4
113wwn-0x5000cca562c751e4-part1
114wwn-0x5000cca562c751e4-part2
115wwn-0x5000cca562c751e4-part3
116wwn-0x50014ee2ab77b23f
117wwn-0x50014ee2ab77b23f-part1
118wwn-0x50014ee2ab77b23f-part9
119```
120
121In my case, the ID of the drives I want are `ata-ST3750330NS_9QK2GT8`, `ata-ST3750640NS_3QD0AYE0`, and `ata-ST3750640NS_3QD0BQ5G`.
122
123Now find your VM_ID, mine is 102.
124
125{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/gwjgFbI5IrnJSTLTB0PeX.png" alt="vm list in proxmox") }}
126
127Run the following command, replacing the VM_ID and DISK_ID with yours.
128
129> root@thespia:~# qm set VM_ID -scsi1 /dev/disk/by-id/DISK_ID
130```bash
131root@thespia:~# qm set 102 -scsi1 /dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3750330NS_9QK2GT8R
132update VM 102: -scsi1 /dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3750330NS_9QK2GT8R
133root@thespia:~# qm set 102 -scsi2 /dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3750640NS_3QD0AYE0
134update VM 102: -scsi2 /dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3750640NS_3QD0AYE0
135root@thespia:~# qm set 102 -scsi3 /dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3750640NS_3QD0BQ5G
136update VM 102: -scsi3 /dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3750640NS_3QD0BQ5G
137```
138
139Here is how it appears in Proxmox:
140
141{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/QBpmqflEHmPiUHbd8JVk2.png" alt="hardware page of the vm in proxmox") }}
142
143If everything went well, then you can start your VM now. After it finishes booting up, you will get the screen below. Make sure Install/Upgrade is selected and hit enter.
144
145{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/UFqhrRdD3GkP1_No5lWaj.png" alt="truenas startup screen") }}
146
147You will then get this screen, use space to select the first drive and hit enter.
148
149{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/xD5QxmFtHxw10p624FgwM.png" alt="destination media screen") }}
150
151Hit enter one last time and enter your password.
152
153{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/MZy3mN1cXBaicgVolVYs5.png" alt="confirm erase page") }}
154{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/KWq2P7Iok9LThOF5Xoj6l.png" alt="repeat password page") }}
155
156Select BIOS, as this is the default mode for Proxmox VMs.
157
158{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/RfXwEGx6oug1vVF3UZuCj.png" alt="boot via bios or via uefi screen") }}
159
160After about five to ten minutes, the installation process will finish and the VM will ask you to remove installation media and reboot.
161
162{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/mFEH-FHY10H7NUAvYi0aE.png" alt="installation succeded message") }}
163{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/JPXkEQJgBmeATEE40HHpr.png" alt="hardware screen in proxmox") }}
164
165Select the installation media and remove it with the top button, go back to the console and hit enter, which will take you back to the main menu. On the main menu, select reboot with the arrow keys and hit enter.
166
167{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/IfvdMuF6AVU_f0-_rngqq.png" alt="power options screen in truenas") }}
168
169Once the machine restarts, it will display an IP address in the console.
170
171{{ img(id="https://cloud-pur64l07h-hack-club-bot.vercel.app/0image.png" alt="ip address displayed in proxmox console") }}
172
173Upon connecting to the IP address, you will get this screen. Use the root username and the password, previously configured, to login.
174
175{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/ghvCsvwAJMudUCUGvcnCu.png" alt="truenas web ui signin page") }}
176
177Once logged in, I updated the system using the button on the home screen.
178
179{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/nrBop3a9ilvuc7h-0WPEG.png" alt="check for updates button in the truenas web ui") }}
180
181I chose not to save the configuration file when prompted, proceeded to install the updates, and rebooted.
182
183I hope you enjoyed the tutorial! My inspiration to make this came from watching [“How to run TrueNAS on Proxmox?”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3pKprTdNqQ) by [Christian Lempa](https://www.youtube.com/@christianlempa). I encourage you to watch his video if you want a video guide to installing TrueNAS on Proxmox.
184
185* Written on `2023-07-10` and republished to this blog (with minor edits) on `2024-10-31`