This post from MiniTool introduces details about FreeNAS vs TrueNAS for you. You can know the difference between them and which one to choose. Now, continue to read this post to get more details.

There are many platforms for network-attached storage, and FreeNAS is one of them. It is very versatile and allows you to create media streaming servers, virtualized servers, and multi-site backup systems. However, is it any different from TrueNAS? Should you use FreeNAS or TrueNAS?

FreeNAS vs Synology: What Are the Differences Between Them?
FreeNAS vs Synology: What Are the Differences Between Them?

Both FreeNAS and Synology are NAS solutions that provide servers for file sharing/serving. This post provides information about FreeNAS vs Synology.

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Relationship Between FreeNAS and TrueNAS

FreeNAS is an open-source network attached storage platform originally developed by Olivier Cochard-Labbé in 2005. It is based on FreeBSD and has an OpenZFS filesystem, RAID controller, and volume manager. You can also easily share files between Windows, Linux, and macOS via home and office networks.

TrueNAS is a set of open-source NAS operating systems developed by iXsystems, such as TrueNAS CORE, TrueNAS Enterprise, and TrueNAS SCALE. All platforms are based on FreeBSD, Linux, and OpenZFS filesystems. It features virtualization of various protocols, full disk encryption, and a plug-in architecture.

TrueNAS CORE, formerly FreeNAS, is the most popular storage operating system in the world. Users can securely store, share and manage data across connected SSDs, HDDs, and servers – all for free. It even supports the latest hardware such as high core count AMD processors and NVMe SSDs.

CORE stands for Community Support, Open Source, Rapid Development and Early Availability. These principles guide future updates to key features, including encryption, RAID support, data recovery, data redundancy, and virtualization.

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FreeNAS vs TrueNAS

There are many factors to consider when you start thinking about buying or building a NAS appliance. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the key differences between Synology NAS and TrueNAS so you can decide which path to take when trying to choose between each option. The following is a quick answer.

  1. TrueNAS is a dedicated storage appliance, while FreeNAS is free downloadable software that requires users to understand storage well enough to choose the right hardware for their application.
  2. TrueNAS is commercially supported, while FreeNAS is community-supported.
  3. TrueNAS has performance and availability optimizations for the hardware we use and is therefore not included in FreeNAS.
  4. High availability (failover) is hardware dependent and only available in TrueNAS.

FreeNAS vs TrueNAS: Enterprise Integration

First, let’s see FreeNAS vs TruneNAS in enterprise integration.

FreeNAS is only community supported, so businesses must use TrueNAS for critical enterprise storage. After FreeNAS becomes TrueNAS CORE, users can access enterprise platforms within the same software using a license key.

Enterprise features include Fibre Channel, high availability, KMIP, and chassis management. It also comes with TrueNAS Enterprise quality assurance, testing and support services.

FreeNAS vs TrueNAS: OpenZFS Performance

Then, this section is about TrueNAS vs FreeNAS for OpenZFS performance.

TrueNAS uses the multi-OS version of OpenZFS 2.0, replacing the FreeBSD version. OpenZFS 2.0 specifically provides converged pools and special VDEVs while improving overall performance and virtualization. Larger TrueNAS configurations, such as the TrueNAS M60, can get up to 30% better performance!

FreeNAS vs TrueNAS: Cloud Management

The third aspect of FreeNAS vs TruneNAS is cloud management.

With Cloud Sync Tasks, TrueNAS can send, receive, and sync data with third-party cloud storage providers such as Amazon S3 or Google Cloud. TrueCommand Cloud also makes it easy to back up and manage data across multiple sites.

To see all TrueNAS supported cloud storage providers, navigate to System, select Cloud Credentials, and open the Provider drop-down menu. No matter which provider you choose, TrueCommand 2.0 collects comprehensive statistics to improve cloud management practices.

FreeNAS vs TrueNAS: Safety

This aspect of FreeNAS vs TrueNAS is safety.

Since FreeNAS is no longer supported, it is vulnerable to security vulnerabilities. With the adoption of FreeBSD 12.1 and SAMBA 4.12, TrueNAS patches old vulnerabilities and adds KMIP, ZFS dataset-level encryption, and OpenVPN integration.

FreeNAS vs TrueNAS: Modern Hardware

The modern hardware is also an aspect of FreeNAS vs TruneNAS.

Updates and subsequent fixes to FreeBSD 12.1 improve support for modern hardware, such as AMD’s high core count processors and NVMe SSDs. TrueNAS improves performance and system reliability.

FreeNAS vs TrueNAS: Scale-out Path

The last aspect of FreeNAS vs TrueNAS is the scale-out path.

TrueNAS 12.0 and OpenZFS 2.0 are the foundation of the Linux-based TrueNAS SCALE, which provides open-source hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) and scale-out storage. For those who need these features, there is a path to migrate TrueNAS CORE and Enterprise systems to TrueNAS SCALE. FreeNAS users will first need to migrate to TrueNAS CORE before moving to SCALE.

How to Upgrade FreeNAS to TrueNAS

With FreeNAS receiving the final release of 11.3-U5, the development of all new features takes place on TrueNAS. In addition to this, TrueNAS has added a number of technical enhancements to improve the user experience now and in the future. Thus, it’s recommended to upgrade FreeNAS to TrueNAS. Here is how to do that:

  1. Download the latest update file to the computer, not a virtual machine. The filename should end with manual-update.tar.
  2. Use a web browser and connect to FreeNAS.
  3. Navigate to System > Update and click Install Manual Update File. Save a copy of the current configuration for backup if the update fails.
  4. Select Browse and choose the downloaded update file.
  5. Set Reboot After Update and click Apply Update. After the computer restarts, FreeNAS will update to TrueNAS!

How to Download & Install TrueNAS

<<Download FreeNAS

Install TrueNAS on Windows 10

To install TrueNAS in Windows 10, follow these easy instructions:

  1. Write the installer the .iso file to a USB flash drive using Rufus and select dd mode.
  2. Insert the CD or flash drive and reboot the system.
  3. Access the motherboard UEFI/BIOS and set the first boot option to USB boot. This way, the system will boot into the USB installer first.
  4. Select Install/Upgrade in the setup screen.
  5. Navigate to the desired boot drive and press the Space key, or press the Space key on every drive for multiple boot drives.
  6. Select Yes to proceed with the installation.
  7. Enter a password for the root account to later login into the web interface.
  8. Once installed, reboot the system and remove the CD or flash drive.

Install TrueNAS on Linux

To install TrueNAS in Linux, follow these easy instructions:

  1. Write the installer the .iso file to a USB flash drive using Rufus. To write the installer to a flash drive, plug in the USB drive and open the terminal console. Next, enter sudo dd if=filename.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=1m in the terminal, replacing filename.iso with the correct update filename and X with the letter of the USB device. Entering the incorrect disk name will result in data loss, so burn with a CD if you are unsure.
  2. Insert the CD or flash drive and reboot the system.
  3. Access the motherboard UEFI/BIOS, and set the first boot option to USB boot. This way, the system will boot into the USB installer first.
  4. Select Install/Upgrade in the setup screen.
  5. Navigate to the desired boot drive and press the Space key. If you want more than one boot drive, select them all by pressing the Space key on each drive.
  6. Select Yes to proceed with the installation.
  7. Enter a password for the root account to log in to the web interface.
  8. Once installed, reboot the system and remove the installed media.

How to Back up Your Data to NAS

Whether you choose FreeNAS or TrueNAS, your purpose is to back up files to it. To back up files to your NAS, the professional backup software – MiniTool ShadowMaker is a great choice. It is a great backup program that can be used to back up operating systems, disks, partitions, files, and folders. Besides, it is a user-friendly program to protect your computer and data.

MiniTool ShadowMaker supports almost all storage devices that can be recognized by Windows, such as HDD, SSD, USB external disks, Hardware RAID, NAS, Home file server, workstation, and so on.

Now, let’s see how to back up files to NAS:

Step 1: Download and Install MiniTool ShadowMaker

MiniTool ShadowMaker TrialClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

  1. Download and install MiniTool ShadowMaker.
  2. Launch MiniTool ShadowMaker and click Keep Trial to continue.

Step 2: Select Backup Source

  1. Go to the Backup page after you enter its main interface.
  2. Then click the Source module to choose the backup source.
  3. Choose Folders and Files and choose the files you want to back up and click OK to save your selection.

choose Folders and Files

Step 3: Select the Backup Destination

  1. Click the Destination module to continue.
  2. MiniTool ShadowMaker provides four destination paths for you to choose. You can choose anyone based on your own needs like your NAS device. Here, you need to click the Shared tab. Click the Add new button, and type the path, user name, and password to connect your NAS device. Then, click OK to save your selection

back up to NAS

Step 4: Start to Back up

After selecting the backup source and destination, you can click Back up Now to perform the backup task immediately. Or you can click Back up Later to delay the process.

After all of the steps are finished, you have successfully backed up your files to the NAS device. With MiniTool ShadowMaker, you can provide better protection for your computer and keep it safe.

QNAP VS Synology: What Are the Differences & Which One Is Better
QNAP VS Synology: What Are the Differences & Which One Is Better

QNAP vs Synology: which is a better choice for you? This post will show you a comparison of them and help you to find the answer.

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Bottom Line

To sum up, this post has introduced information about FreeNAS vs TrueNAS. If you do not know the differences between them and do not know which one is better, the above content may help you.

In addition, if you have any different ideas of FreeNAS vs TrueNAS, you can share them in the comment zone, or please feel free to contact us via email [email protected] and we will reply to you as soon as possible.

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About The Author

Daisy
Daisy

Position: Columnist

Having been an editor at MiniTool since graduating college as an English major, Daisy specializes in writing about data backups, disk cloning, and file syncing as well as general computer knowledge and issues. In her free time, Daisy enjoys running and going with friends to the amusement park.