[strikermed]

Hello,

 

I've reached out to many forums, and no one can really give me solid info on how to get ESXi or FreeNAS to install on my Asus Z10PE D16 WS motherboard.  When I try to install Freenas I get to a certain point and it reboots my system.

 

I've tried everything I could imagine in the CSM BIOS menu, I've tried disabling LAN, Disabling SATA, pulled all PCI express cards, etc.

 

I've been troubleshooting this for weeks now.  I can confirm that I can install FreeNAS on a VM via UNRAID, so I've been able to determine that it's most likely a BIOS/hardware feature on the motherboard.  

 

 

Here is a video to help with diagnosing the issue: https://youtu.be/tbilIKWc_yY

 

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

 

 

System:

Asus Z10PE D16 WS

64GB Kingston ECC RAM (approved for board and memtest x86 passed)

LSI 9300 HBA

3 kingston SSD attached via sata (tried disconnecting them all at one point)

intel X540 T2 10GbE network card

 

 

 

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Gday strikermed .

What version of FreeNAS are you installing, best to give a link.

What drive are you installing too, and what MB  port is being used?

Is this a stand alone box, no other OS being used?

[iammykyl]

Gday strikermed .

What version of FreeNAS are you installing, best to give a link.

What drive are you installing too, and what MB  port is being used?

Is this a stand alone box, no other OS being used?

[strikermed]

I've tried FreeNAS corral and 9.1.
http://www.freenas.o...reenas-release/

I'm using a bootable USB to install, and I wish it were relevant which drive I'm installing to, but I haven't even gotten to that stage yet. I want to install to a 16GB flash drive.

I've tried both USB 2.0 and 3.0 on every port on the back and front of my computer.

I'm attempting to make this a bare hardware install, and that's the problem... I've only had luck using UNRAID to create a VM to install FreeNAS successfully on this system.

Through my searches it seems like the two latest builds won't let you install on this motherboard, but previous versions have.

[strikermed]

A quick update... I'm still unable to get FreeNAS to install... As of late, I've tried changing all devices to UEFI under the CSM menu, and I've tried changing the USB device to a CD ROM, HARD Drive, and set to Auto to boot from. (I had success installing ESXi using CD-ROM).  I didn't have any luck with this, infact the kernal didn't even boot.

[iammykyl]

Same sort of results for me.

Tried for about six hours, using Unebootin, Rufus and Windows Media Creator, all fail. 

I will have another go later today.   I must be missing something. 

[strikermed]

Same sort of results for me.

Tried for about six hours, using Unebootin, Rufus and Windows Media Creator, all fail. 

I will have another go later today.   I must be missing something. 

Please let me know if you figure something out... I'm still trying as well.

[iammykyl]

Some success.

Rufus was ver, 2.11, gave errors that the latest FreeNAS ver, had an incompatible GRUB (Beta).   It did however work using FreeNAS ver, 9.10.1-U4. http://download.freenas.org/9.10/STABLE/9.10.1-U4/x64/FreeNAS-9.10.1-U4.iso 

 

I have download Rufus ver. 2.13, when finished, right clicked and pined to taskbar. https://rufus.akeo.ie/

Downloaded FreeNAS  ver.9.10.2-U2. https://download.fre....10/latest/x64/

I used this tutorial to clean, create a primary partition and format, > https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj200124(v=ws.11).aspx 

Please read/reread the tutorial before starting, look at the troubleshooting. > https://doc.freenas....9.10/intro.html

Use a small USB stick to create the installer as you will need the bigger one for installing the OS.

Set up Rufus as in the screnshot. 

I will let you know how it goes later. 

 

The original attempt writing FreeNAS to the USB, took over an hour and a half, hung for about ten minutes, then, it inspected ever slot and port on my computer for access.   Eventually it decided that the USB stick was the only available device for installation. it then gave a selection screen. 

I would just test to see if it boots.

Note, for me, if I just restarted, went to a blank screen.   I shut down, restated and used the F key for the boot manager and selected Generic USB stick.   As soon as it booted to the installer, shut down, removed the USB stick, restarted, went to windows. 

Attached Thumbnails

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Edited by iammykyl, 09 April 2017 - 04:13 AM.
further suggestions

[iammykyl]

How did things go?   Sorry for this being a bit long.

It did work, with a couple of hiccups, but I think that is just my computer configuration.

I inserted the USB and booted to it.

It found the hardware, then started searching slots and ports, eventually popped up a user screen to install.

At the second screen highlight the USB, press the space bar to select it.

 

At the Password screen, Make sure you write it down , without it, later, you will not be able to enter the OS and have to start from scratch.

At the next screen I choose to use the UEFI install.

It configured Network, USB, Optical drive, RAM and CPU.  I think a load of drivers as well.

It again searched for usable  drives for OS, then ZFS pool, installed RAID drives, searched some more, failed to boot to GUI, ended up at a DOS type console with 14 choices.   Having not a clue of what to do. copied down the URL displayed, then on another computer, typed the URL into the browser address bar, pressed enter.

In the Log on box that displays, leave the first field as "root" type in the FreeNAS password, (you did write down?)

I was connected to a dimmed out FreeNAS  GUI with a little window, "loading wizard"

After ten minutes nothing happened, so I clicked the browser back button and the FreeNAS GUI was displayed. 

Probable  most of my glitches are because my hardware can't be automatically configured.

 

I think you are pretty well versed with computers, so no offence if my suggests seem simplistically written but, hopefully anyone should be able to follow along. 

Turn off the PSU, > hold the power button in for ten seconds, > clear the CMOS.

Install and connect all your internal hardware.

If available, use a PS/2 mouse and keyboard.

Use the rear USB ports, as the front case ones may not be available until the OS is loaded.

Use a Ethernet cable for Internet access.

Connect a screen.

Insert the USB stick to a back port.

 

Boot and enter the UEFI. . set time/date/language, region, if available, > go to exit, > select,  load Default settings, > Save and Exit.

Reboot, enter the UEFI, > set USB as first Boot, > go to exit, > Save settings and exit.

If you don't boot to the USB to perform the install, try rebooting and press the appropriate F key to bring up the Boot Manager. 

 

Good luck. 

 

[strikermed]

Intersting, so you were able to load 9.1, but not corral?

Was the only difference using a different version of Rufus?

[iammykyl]

so you were able to load 9.1, but not corral?

Did not try Corral a second time, just 9.10. was OK.

Was the only difference using a different version of Rufus?

Latest ver. of Rufus did not give a incapability warning.

 

FreeNAS naming is not made clear enough, Corral, to me, is a different OS.

 

.

[strikermed]

Interesting... See I haven't been able to get 9.1 or Corral to install, but I can give 9.1 a try with a different version of Rufus, or use the Windows ISO writer to see if that works.

 

I have been able to install FreeNAS on a VM, so I know Corral will install in some way... it's get hung up on something during the kernal loader before I get to the actual install screen...  When i get some time I can attempt other version of RUFUS and the windows tutorial state above, and I"ll fill you guys in on any success or failure I have.

[iammykyl]

I have now registered on the FreeNAS site and from reading there,

Creating the installer can take hours, just the way it works.   Advice is just to let it run and it will eventually complete.   Same goes for the OS install to USB, it will get to the cli (DOS) screen, then us the URL to get to the GUI.

This is the latest STABLE Corral download, > http://download.free...ral/10.0.3/x64/

Towards the end of this link is how to set up the server, > https://blog.brianmo....html?r=related

And this one is the Beginners Guide, part of which is validating your hardware, > https://wiki.freenas..._Fester's_Guide

 

Other hints,

Cheap USB sticks may not last very long if you reboot the NAS often.

USB 2.0 flash is more reliable the USB 3.0 as it runs very hot and can break down quicker.

If you have a spare SATA ports not required for the HDD array, use a small cheap SSD, or two mirrored, Possible > https://www.amazon.c...i-20&pldnSite=1

[strikermed]

So, and update on my end... I've tried 5 different version of Rufus to ensure that it's not the software, although, I did get a warning in each version about Grub.  Also, I noticed when using version 2.14, the FreeNAS kernal went to a different point and rebooted.  Mind you I tried all the previously mentioned BIOS settings vis CSM (UEFI and LEGACY) settings and adjusting the USB settings making the stick act like a disk drive and CDROM in addition to AUTO.

 

Still no luck .  I have 11 days left on UNRAID which I have been using for the Virtual Machine, so I'll probably purchase a license.  In the meantime I need to learn how to use ESXi since It wasn't really intuitive when I got in there.  Something to do with my drives showing up, but not letting me do much with them.  A new piece of software I need to learn I suppose.

[iammykyl]

I tried about 10 different ways to install Corral, most fail creating the installer, 10.02 failed to boot from the USB.

Check sum was OK, but thought I would download again, just in case, suddenly ther is this , "Not for Production".  . http://www.freenas.o...reenas-release/ Read some blogs, appears there are so many bugs, consensus is it should not have been released for another couple of months.

 

10.04 should be available tonight and I will give that a go.

 

It might be advisable to go with ver.9.10.2-U2. https://download.fre....10/latest/x64/ which I was successful with again.   Upgrade to Corral in a couple of months.   Register o Freenas so you cne get info as it comes to hand.

[strikermed]

I tried about 10 different ways to install Corral, most fail creating the installer, 10.02 failed to boot from the USB.

Check sum was OK, but thought I would download again, just in case, suddenly ther is this , "Not for Production".  . http://www.freenas.o...reenas-release/ Read some blogs, appears there are so many bugs, consensus is it should not have been released for another couple of months.

 

10.04 should be available tonight and I will give that a go.

 

It might be advisable to go with ver.9.10.2-U2. https://download.fre....10/latest/x64/ which I was successful with again.   Upgrade to Corral in a couple of months.   Register o Freenas so you cne get info as it comes to hand.

 

Have you tried 10.04 yet?  I'm curious if it worked... I haven't tried 9.10.2-U2 yet, but I'm going to try it when I have some time to do so... Been a busy week and Easter travels are just around the corner.

 

Do you know if 9.1.2-U2 has SMB3 share support?  To my knowledge, that's important for getting full 10gigabit speeds with Windows Clients.

 

Thanks!

 

P.S.

Have you been able to install 9.1.2 on the Asus Z10PE D16 WS motherboard?  I've tried it a few weeks ago and it failed to install as well... I suppose I could troubleshoot via all the previous mentioned motherboard settings and give it a try....  Just wondering if you had any luck.

Edited by strikermed, 13 April 2017 - 01:55 PM.