The Exciting Release of TrueNAS 12.0: Say Goodbye to FreeNAS and Welcome the Unified Platform for Free and Enterprise Offerings
As we mark the end of a chapter, TrueNAS 12.0 release brings the much-awaited transformation. With this release, iXsystems has said goodbye to the FreeNAS brand and introduced a unified platform for both its free and enterprise offerings, known as TrueNAS.
Revolutionary Features of TrueNAS 12.0
Although some STH readers may choose to wait some time before upgrading, the process is simple, and can be done through the System -> Update option. You just have to select the TrueNAS-12.0-STABLE release train under the Train dropdown and download updates. The system will then update automatically, requiring a reboot afterward.
On our first test system, the update only took a few minutes and a few clicks to complete. This signifies a major improvement over the previous releases and speaks to the performance enhancements that TrueNAS 12.0 brings, including improved SMB, iSCSI, ZFS, and more.
Other key features of this release include:
– ZFS Native Crypto: This allows for per-dataset encryption and encrypted replication to untrusted targets.
– 2 Factor Authentication: TrueNAS now supports extra security measures through applications such as “Google Authenticator” for UI or SSH access.
– KMIP Support: TrueNAS Enterprise now enables the storage and retrieval of passwords and encryption keys through KMIP servers.
– API Keys: TrueNAS can now be configured using TrueNAS API v2.0 and supports API keys for remote access.
– Fusion Pools: This feature enables the creation of pools with all-flash vdevs for improved performance on metadata operations and cost-effective storage of storage blocks.
– VPN Support: TrueNAS can now act as both an OpenVPN Server and Client for flexibility in VPN needs.
– TrueCommand Cloud Integration: With TrueNAS 12.0, systems can be connected to a TrueCommand Cloud account for efficient monitoring and management.
To learn more about this exciting release, you can read the official release notes.
Saying Farewell to FreeNAS and Looking Ahead
With the transition to TrueNAS Core, we bid farewell to the FreeNAS brand. However, we have been preparing for this change by featuring the Top Hardware Components for TrueNAS Core Servers on STH for some time now. If you are considering building your own TrueNAS Core server, be sure to check it out.
But the bigger development on the horizon is the TrueNAS Scale platform. In case you missed it, iXsystems has decided to de-emphasize FreeBSD for this project, which is seen as the clear future of the company. With the ability to scale from a single node system like TrueNAS Core to a multi-node cluster, like Proxmox VE, TrueNAS Scale, a Linux-based solution, is the platform to watch for the longer term. While it is still in the Alpha stage and not recommended for use yet, it holds a lot of potential.
So, why not celebrate the retirement of FreeNAS by raising a glass as you update your system to TrueNAS 12.0? Make sure to check out our recommended server components and keep an eye on the exciting developments to come with TrueNAS Scale. Cheers!
