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Updating CORE ENTERPRISE

  5 minute read.

Last Modified 2022-10-10 10:34 -0400

Updating a TrueNAS Enterprise system configured for High Availability (HA) has a slightly different flow from non-HA systems or TrueNAS Core. The system downloads the update to both controllers, updates and reboots the standby TrueNAS controller, and finally fails over from and updates the active TrueNAS controller.

Prepare the System

An update usually takes between thirty minutes and an hour. The system must reboot after the update, so it is recommended to schedule updates during a maintenance window, allowing two to three hours to update, test, and possibly roll back if issues appear. On large systems, we recommend a proportionally longer maintenance window.

For individual support during an upgrade, please contact iXsystems Support to schedule your upgrade.

Customers who purchase iXystems hardware or that want additional support must have a support contract to use iXystems Support Services. The TrueNAS Community forums provides free support for users without an iXsystems Support contract.

Contact Method Contact Options
Web https://support.ixsystems.com
Email support@ixsystems.com
Telephone Monday - Friday, 6:00AM to 6:00PM Pacific Standard Time:

US-only toll-free: 1-855-473-7449 option 2
Local and international: 1-408-943-4100 option 2
Telephone After Hours (24x7 Gold Level Support only):

US-only toll-free: 1-855-499-5131
International: 1-408-878-3140 (international calling
rates apply)
Scheduling at least two days ahead of a planned upgrade gives time to ensure a specialist is available for assistance. Updating from earlier than version 9.3 of TrueNAS must be scheduled with iXsystems Support.

The update process will not proceed unless there is enough free space in the boot pool for the new update files. If a space warning displays, go to System > Boot and remove any unneeded boot environments.

Operating system updates only modify the OS devices and do not affect end-user data on storage drives.

An update could involve upgrading the version of ZFS installed on the storage drives. When a ZFS version upgrade is available, an Alert appears in the web interface. We do not recommend upgrading the ZFS version on storage drives until you verify that you do not need to roll back to previous operating system versions or swap the storage drives with another system with an earlier ZFS version. After a ZFS version upgrade, the storage devices are not accessible by earlier TrueNAS versions.

Start the Update

In the web interface Dashboard, find the entry for the active TrueNAS controller and click CHECK FOR UPDATES. This button changes to UPDATES AVAILABLE when there is an available update.

Dashboard Enterprise

Clicking the button goes to System > Update and shows the option to Download Updates or, when the system has detected and staged an update, Apply Pending Update.

When you click Download Updates or Apply Pending Update, TrueNAS gives an opportunity to save the current system configuration. We recommend backing up the system configuration before starting the update. Including the Password Secret Seed in the system configuration removes the encryption from sensitive system data, like stored passwords. When enabling this option, take extra precautions to store the downloaded system configuration file in a secure location.

After downloading the system configuration, you can continue the system update. While updating and rebooting controllers, HA and other system services are briefly unavailable.

Other users logged in to the web interface see a warning dialog. A System Updating icon displays in the top bar of the web interface while the update is in progress.

Update progress displays for both TrueNAS controllers. The standby TrueNAS controller reboots when it finishes updating. This can take several minutes. When the standby controller finishes booting, the system must fail over to update and reboot the active TrueNAS controller.

Failover to Complete the Update

To deactivate the active TrueNAS controller and finish the update, go to the Dashboard, find the entry for the Standby controller, and click INITIATE FAILOVER.

DashboardInitiateFailover

The failover briefly interrupts TrueNAS services and availability. The browser logs out of the web interface while the active TrueNAS controller deactivates and the standby TrueNAS controller is brought online. The web interface login screen reappears when the standby TrueNAS controller finishes activating.

LoginFailoverEnterprise

Log in to the web interface and check the HA status in the top toolbar. This icon shows that HA is unavailable while the previously active TrueNAS controller reboots. When HA is available, a dialog asks to finish the update. Click CONTINUE to finish updating the previously active TrueNAS controller.

Verify that the update is complete by going to the Dashboard and confirming that the Version is the same on both TrueNAS controllers.

If the update did not install on one of the controllers, the web interface generates an alert about a mismatch between controller versions.

HA Controller Versions Error Enterprise

If something else goes wrong with the update, the system generates an alert and writes details to /data/update.failed.

You can return the system to its pre-update state by activating a previous boot environment during system boot. To ensure the versions match, do this procedure for both TrueNAS controllers. This requires physical or IPMI access to the TrueNAS controller console.

Reboot the system and press the space bar when the boot menu appears, pausing the boot process.

BootMenu

Open the Boot Environments menu and cycle the Active boot environment until one dated prior to the update displays.

BootMenuSelectBE

Return to the first screen and press Enter to boot into that version of TrueNAS.

Enterprise customers should contact iX Support for assistance updating their TrueNAS system.

  • Download the manual update file located at the TrueNAS/FreeNAS Download Page.
  • Go to System -> Update.
  • Click the INSTALL MANUAL UPDATE button.
  • Set the Include Password Secret Seed checkbox and click the Save Configuration button.
  • Select the Update File Temporary Storage Location and click Choose File. Select the manual upgrade file you downloaded. Wait for the file to upload, then click APPLY UPDATE.
  • The Manual update uploads the file, installs it to both controllers, then reboots the Standby Controller. To complete the upgrade, click Close in the dialog box. Initiate a failover of the standby controller, as instructed, by clicking INITIATE FAILOVER from the Standby Controller’s Dashboard card.
  • Log into the system.
  • Click Continue in the Pending Upgrade dialog box. The standby controller reboots completing the upgrade.

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