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Set Up TrueNAS SCALE on a Server – Build Your Personal NAS System
Learn how to install TrueNAS SCALE on your dedicated server for network storage and file sharing → Find out more
10 November 20268 min read4 Views0 helpful
Introduction
TrueNAS SCALE is an open-source storage platform that lets you build a network-attached storage (NAS) system on a server. In this guide, you'll install TrueNAS SCALE on a dedicated server and configure the initial setup, including storage pools, user accounts, and SMB file sharing.
Warning
VPS Not Suitable
Our VPS products are not suitable because they include only one virtual disk. You can install TrueNAS SCALE on a VPS, but you can't create storage pools because the entire disk is used for the operating system.
To set up TrueNAS SCALE, you'll need a dedicated server configuration with at least two disks.
Preparation
Before starting the installation, make sure you meet the following minimum requirements:
Hardware
Minimum
ZAP-Hosting recommendation
CPU
2 CPU cores
8 vCPU cores
RAM
8 GB
16 GB
Disk space
16 GB for OS
Depends on use case
Visit the official TrueNAS website and download the latest stable version. You can either upload the ISO to a publicly accessible location (your own web server or cloud storage) or keep it on your computer to mount it directly.
Tip
ISO Hosting
If you plan to mount the ISO by URL in the remote console, make sure the ISO file URL ends in .iso and is publicly accessible without authentication.
Mount the ISO
Log in to your ZAP-Hosting dashboard and navigate to your dedicated server in the service list. Open the server management page and click Enable iLO to access the server management interface.
In the iLO interface, find the Integrated Remote Console option. Choose your preferred console type and launch it. A new window will open with direct access to your server's display.
In the remote console, click the CD icon at the top and select CD/DVD. Choose Scripted Media URL if you uploaded the ISO online, and enter the direct URL. Alternatively, select Local .iso file to browse your computer. This mounts the ISO to the virtual CD/DVD drive.
Tip
Alternative Methods
For other ISO mounting methods, including through the Virtual Media interface, see the Own ISO guide.
With the ISO mounted, use the Power menu in the console to restart. Select Reset, and the server will boot from the TrueNAS SCALE ISO.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
You can technically install TrueNAS SCALE on a VPS, but you can't create storage pools because the entire disk is used for the operating system. To use all its features, you'll need a dedicated server configuration with at least two disks.
TrueNAS SCALE is an open-source storage platform that lets you build a network-attached storage (NAS) system on a server.
The minimum requirements are 2 CPU cores, 8 GB of RAM, and 16 GB of disk space for the operating system. ZAP-Hosting recommends 8 vCPU cores and 16 GB of RAM. The required disk space depends on your use case.
Visit the official TrueNAS website and download the latest stable version. You can upload the ISO to a publicly accessible location or keep it locally to mount it directly.
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Navigation
Software
Conclusion
Congratulations! You've successfully installed and configured TrueNAS SCALE on your server. If you have any questions or need support, our support team is available every day—we're happy to help! 🙂
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Watch the console as the server boots. The TrueNAS SCALE setup screen will appear, and the installer will load automatically. It takes a few minutes for the installation environment to load.
The installer displays Choose destination media with your available disks. Use the arrow keys to navigate and select the disk for the operating system. Choose the smallest disk for the OS installation (it will be used entirely by TrueNAS SCALE). Press Space to select it, then press Enter.
A warning will appear stating that the installation will erase everything on the selected disk. Use the arrow keys to navigate to Yes and confirm with Enter.
Next, the installer will ask you to choose an authentication method. Option 1 sets the password now, while Option 2 lets you configure it later through the web interface. We'll choose Option 2: Configure using Web UI for more flexibility. Select it and press Enter.
The installer will ask "Allow EFI boot?" Select Yes (recommended) and confirm with Enter.
The installation will begin and usually takes 15–20 minutes. Follow the progress on the screen as files are copied and the system is configured.
When the installation is complete, the message "The TrueNAS installation is successful" will appear. Press Enter.
Before restarting, eject the ISO, or the server will boot into the installer again. Click the DVD icon, select CD/DVD, and click Eject media. Restart the server from the Power menu or let it restart automatically.
Configuration
After installation, you need to specify which disk the server should boot from. TrueNAS SCALE is installed, but you must configure the server through the RAID controller ROM so it starts from the correct drive.
Info
Critical Step
After installation, configure the boot volume in the RAID controller ROM so the server boots from the correct drive.
Set the boot disk in the ROM
Watch the console as the server boots. As soon as "Press F8 for ROM Configuration for Arrays Utility" appears, press F8.
The ROM configuration tool will open. Use the arrow keys to navigate to Select Boot Volume and confirm with Enter.
Your available disks will be displayed here. Select the disk where TrueNAS SCALE is installed and press Enter.
With the disk selected, press F8 to save. Confirm if prompted, then exit the tool. Your server will now boot into TrueNAS SCALE.
Access the web interface
After the first boot, the TrueNAS SCALE console displays the Web UI access URL: http://[your_server_ip]. Make a note of this IP address, as you'll need it to access the web interface.
Tip
Automatic Network Configuration
TrueNAS SCALE normally configures network settings automatically via DHCP. Skip this step if you don't have multiple IP addresses or don't need a static IP.
For manual network configuration, select 1) Configure Network Interfaces from the console menu. Select your primary interface (e.g. enp0s3 or eth0), then choose Configure IPv4 and Static. Enter the IP address, subnet mask, and gateway (you can find these in the ZAP-Hosting dashboard).
Access your share
To access the share from your Windows PC, for example, open File Explorer. Right-click This PC (or Computer) and select Add a network location.
The Add Network Location Wizard will open. Click Next to continue.
When asked for the location, use this format: \\[your_server_ip]\[share_name]. Example: \\192.168.1.100\documents. Replace [your_server_ip] with your TrueNAS server's IP address and [share_name] with the name of your SMB share. Click Next.
Enter the username and password for the TrueNAS user you created earlier. Do not use root or truenas_admin, as these won't work with SMB. Enable Remember my credentials to save them for next time. Click OK.
Your TrueNAS share is now accessible. You can browse files, create folders, and copy data just as you would with any other network drive. You've successfully connected your Windows PC to the TrueNAS share.
Tip
Quick Access
For easier access, use Map network drive instead of Add a network location. The share will then appear as a drive letter (e.g. Z:) in File Explorer.
Info
Access from macOS or Linux
macOS: Press Cmd+K in Finder and enter smb://[your_server_ip]/[share_name]
: Use the “Connect to Server” option in your file manager with , or mount it from the command line with
Open a browser and go to http://[your_server_ip] using the IP address shown in the console.
Since we previously selected Configure using Web UI, you can set the password here. The login page displays truenas_admin as the username. Enter a strong password, confirm it, and click Submit.
Warning
Security Matters
Choose a strong, unique password for your TrueNAS admin account. This account has full system access.
After logging in, the dashboard will display system information, network status, storage pools, services, and alerts. You've successfully configured TrueNAS SCALE and can now set up your storage.
Create storage pools
Click Storage in the sidebar on the left, then click the Create Pool button.
Give your pool a name, such as Disk, tank, or anything else that makes sense to you. Click Next when you're ready.
In the Data section, open the Layout dropdown and choose the configuration that meets your needs:
Stripe: Maximum usable capacity, but no redundancy
Mirror: Stores identical data on two disks for redundancy, but reduces usable capacity
RAIDZ1: Provides redundancy for one disk
RAIDZ2: Provides redundancy for two disks
RAIDZ3: Provides redundancy for three disks
Under Disk Selection, all your storage disks will be displayed. Click the disks you want to include in the pool. They'll appear in the configuration area with the estimated capacity.
Info
Boot Disk Unavailable
The installation disk won't appear here because it's reserved exclusively for the operating system.
Leave the optional settings at their defaults and click Next. The overview page displays your configuration, including the name, layout, disks, and capacity. Review everything and click Create Pool to confirm.
Organize data with datasets
Once your storage pool is created, you can organize your data using datasets. Datasets are logical subdivisions of your pool that help you separate different types of data. Click Datasets in the sidebar. Your new pool will appear there (e.g. "Disk").
Click Add Dataset. The pool is automatically selected as the parent. Enter a name for the dataset, such as documents, media, or backups. Leave the advanced options at their defaults unless you have specific requirements. Click Save.
Create user accounts
Click Credentials in the sidebar, then click Add. Choose a username (e.g. john or fileuser), enter the full name, and set a password. Leave the primary group, home directory, and shell at their defaults. Scroll down and enable the SMB option for Windows access.
Adjust permissions to meet your security requirements. For basic file sharing, the default options with SMB enabled are sufficient. Click Submit to complete this step.
Warning
Important for SMB Access
Do not use root or truenas_admin for file sharing. These system accounts don't work with SMB. Create dedicated users instead.
Set up SMB shares
Click Shares in the sidebar. Three options will appear: Windows (SMB) for Windows/macOS/Linux, Unix (NFS) for Linux/Unix, and Block (iSCSI) for block storage. We'll set up SMB. In the Windows (SMB) Shares section, click Add.
The Add SMB dialog will open. For Path, select your dataset (e.g. /mnt/Disk/documents). For Name, enter a name such as documents (this is the name that will appear on the network). You can usually leave Purpose at its default. Add a description if you like. There are advanced options (ACL settings and more), but leave guest access disabled for security. Click Save.
After creating the share, a popup will appear stating that the SMB service isn't running. Click Start Service. Also enable Start Automatically so the service starts automatically when the server boots. The SMB share is now available on the network.
To create NFS shares for Linux/Unix systems, go to Shares → Unix (NFS) Shares and click Add. Select your dataset, configure the networks and permissions, enable NFS when prompted, and save.
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