FreeNAS 9.3

Just installed FreeNAS 9.3 on VMWare ESXi 5.5.
Software and data must have separate disks. So first create the VM with a disk defined for the FreeNAS software, second add a disk as you wish for the data (both disks can be on different datastore).
I choose to put boths in one datastore separated from all other VMs hosted on my server (two different RAID array), and on separated network card.

Anyway, this one just for me to remember few settings next time I’m setting up a FreeNAS from within VMWare ESXi.

1)
I encountered a bug which prevent the FreeNAS server to restart at all, as described here :
Timecounter "HPET" frequency

Here we go to solve it, extract from that discussion linked above :
"A virtual HPET was introduced with Virtual Hardware version 8 (which first appeared in ESX 5.0, Workstation 8.0 and Fusion 4.0). It runs in apparent time. Currently supported guest operating systems do not require a HPET, but some will use a HPET if one is present (including Windows Vista and later, and many versions of Linux). It can be disabled by setting hpet0.present=FALSE in the VM's configuration."

Step by Step
1) Turn off your FreeNAS virtual machine
2) Edit settings on the FreeNAS virtual machine
3) Click on Options Tab
4) Click on General under Advanced
5) Click the Configuration Parameters Button on the bottom right
6) Change hpet0.present from true to false.
6.5) Click OK, and then OK to save the settings.
7) Start the virtual machine, and it will pick the next fastest timer to hpet (and won't lockup on restart).

And it works.

2)
An other one, constantly having lines on the FreeNAS’ console a message as following : “matchname: host name/name mismatch”. It’s really becoming hundreds lines after a while.
It happens after configured CIFS and accessing the NAS from a Windows client machine.
Seems to be solve by unchecking the Hostnames lookups option from CIFS service (stop/start CIFS service after changing).


All what I can say so far, it seems a little bit complicated to configure and to use, at least more than a ready-to-go NAS like my (old) Qnap TS-409 PRO. In the meantime, perhaps more complete, and more professional (less multimedia oriented).

The list above may change in time.

Nicolas.