FreeNAS™ is an Open Source Storage Platform based on FreeBSD and supports sharing across Windows, Apple, and UNIX-like systems. FreeNAS™ 8 includes ZFS, which supports high storage capacities and integrates file systems and volume management into a single piece of software. What is Network-Attached Storage? Network-Attached Storage (NAS) is a computer attached to a network that is dedicated solely to providing data storage for other devices on the network. This is often done either to save space, increase storage space cheaply, or provide convenient file-sharing. What is FreeBSD? FreeBSD is a free, open source Unix-like operating system. It is noted for being one of the most reliable unix-like systems. So what is FreeNAS? FreeNAS uses a custom version of FreeBSD and a web-based interface to provide a fully-featured NAS environment. FreeNAS offers software-based storage and backup solutions for a variety of applications, from home to enterprise. Features:
Web User Interface FreeNAS 8 features a ground up redesign of the web user interface. No mess, no fuss – your server is easily controlled from any web-enabled device. Configuration is straightforward and simple, and you can make your changes on the fly.
ZFS - Zettabyte File System One of FreeNAS 8's most important features is full support for the ZFS filesystem. ZFS includes data integrity protection, practically unlimited size caps, cloneable snapshots, automatic repair, RAID-Z, and more. ZFS is fully open-source, and is a great way to store and manage your important files.
Command Line Interface FreeNAS 8 is based on FreeBSD 8.x, and will update and keep current with the FreeBSD project. So if you're a savvy user, and prefer to use the command line, no problem! ssh in, and control your FreeNAS device from the same FreeBSD CLI you know and love.
Snapshots Snapshots protect your system from life's little accidents. If your data is somehow lost, FreeNAS can automatically restore from a snapshot. With the periodic snapshots feature, you can worry less about data loss, and use your system stress free. It takes far less time than a full backup, but a continuous set of snapshots will provide the same level of protection. Snapshots are part of the Storage sidebar menu.
10GigE Drivers 10Gig Ethernet drivers are included in FreeNAS 8. If you've got onboard 10GigE, or better yet, a 10GigE card, FreeNAS 8 becomes screamingly fast when transferring files. This is especially noticeable for video streaming, and multiple simultaneous connections.
Backup and Restore Remote Replication allows you to copy a snapshot to an offsite server, for maximum data security. This provides an excellent disaster recovery service, so even in the worst situations, you're covered.
Thin Provisioning Thin Provisioning is another excellent addition to the FreeNAS features list. Thin Provisioning allows the administrator to allocate users more space than physically exists in the system. When paired with ZFS, it becomes easy to manage your total data pool size, and quickly and effectively grow to meet your users needs as they use more of their alloted space.
Cross-Platform File Sharing FreeNAS supports many popular networking protocols, and is easy to set up in most home and enterprise environments. You'll be up and running in no time, and your users can connect with the protocol of your choice, no matter what operating system they run.
Comparison Chart between FreeNAS 7 and FreeNAS 8 here:
Code:
[url]http://freenas.org/category/version-comparison[/url]
ChangeLog here: Code:
[url]http://linux.softpedia.com/progChangelog/FreeNAS-Changelog-6958.html[/url]
Quick Start Guide for FreeNAS 8.0 here:
http://doc.freenas.org/index.php/Main_Page
FreeNAS Comunity here:
http://freenas.org/community
Check Gary Sims' Learn FreeNAS Website here:
http://www.learnfreenas.com/
Download FreeNAS (x86) ISO file from here:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/freenas/files/FreeNAS-8.0.2/FreeNAS-8.0.2-RELEASE-i386.iso/download
or
http://switch.dl.sourceforge.net/project/freenas/FreeNAS-8.0.2/FreeNAS-8.0.2-RELEASE-i386.iso
Download FreeNAS (x86) image file for embedded system from here:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/freenas/files/FreeNAS-8.0.2/FreeNAS-8.0.2-RELEASE-i386-Full_Install.xz/download
or
http://switch.dl.sourceforge.net/project/freenas/FreeNAS-8.0.2/FreeNAS-8.0.2-RELEASE-i386-Full_Install.xz
Download FreeNAS (x86) Update image file for embedded system from here:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/freenas/files/FreeNAS-8.0.2/FreeNAS-8.0.2-RELEASE-i386-GUI_Upgrade.xz/download
or
http://switch.dl.sourceforge.net/project/freenas/FreeNAS-8.0.2/FreeNAS-8.0.2-RELEASE-i386-GUI_Upgrade.xz
Download FreeNAS (amd64) ISO file from here:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/freenas/files/FreeNAS-8.0.2/FreeNAS-8.0.2-RELEASE-amd64.iso/download
or
http://switch.dl.sourceforge.net/project/freenas/FreeNAS-8.0.2/FreeNAS-8.0.2-RELEASE-amd64.iso
Download FreeNAS (amd64) image file for embedded system from here:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/freenas/files/FreeNAS-8.0.2/FreeNAS-8.0.2-RELEASE-amd64-Full_Install.xz/download
or
http://switch.dl.sourceforge.net/project/freenas/FreeNAS-8.0.2/FreeNAS-8.0.2-RELEASE-amd64-Full_Install.xz
Download FreeNAS (amd64) Upgrade image file for embedded system from here:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/freenas/files/FreeNAS-8.0.2/FreeNAS-8.0.2-RELEASE-amd64-GUI_Upgrade.xz/download
or
http://switch.dl.sourceforge.net/project/freenas/FreeNAS-8.0.2/FreeNAS-8.0.2-RELEASE-amd64-GUI_Upgrade.xz
Download Full Release Notes from here:
http://sourceforge.net/projects/freenas/files/FreeNAS-8.0.2/ReleaseNotes-8.0.2.RELEASE.txt/download
or
http://kent.dl.sourceforge.net/project/freenas/FreeNAS-8.0.2/ReleaseNotes-8.0.2.RELEASE.txt
