the home site for me: also iteration 3 or 4 of my site
feat: add tutorial on installing TrueNAS Core on Proxmox
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content/blog/2023-07-10_install-truenas-core-proxmox.md
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content/blog/2023-07-10_install-truenas-core-proxmox.md
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title = "Install TrueNAS Core on Proxmox"
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date = 2023-07-10
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slug = "install-truenas-core-proxmox"
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description = "How to install TrueNas Core on proxmox with drive passthrough"
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[taxonomies]
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tags = ["tutorial", "archival"]
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[extra]
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has_toc = true
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+++
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{{ img(id="https://cloud-f19fn8u8j-hack-club-bot.vercel.app/0image.png" alt="screenshot of the vault vm in proxmox" caption="my active vault storing 1.8TB of old projects") }}
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## Introduction
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> Note: I have since found out that running TrueNAS in a VM passing through the drives may not be a very good solution as it essentially just creates a large virtual disk that is the size of the drive you are passing through. Because of this I will not be using this setup in my homelab and will instead create a large ZFS pool on Proxmox. However if you are fine with those downsides, then have fun and enjoy the tutorial.
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To install [TrueNAS Core](https://www.truenas.com/download-truenas-core/#) on [Proxmox](https://www.proxmox.com/en/proxmox-ve) you need three things:
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1. A copy of [Proxmox](https://www.proxmox.com/en/proxmox-ve) — A complete, open-source server management platform for enterprise virtualization.
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2. A [TrueNAS CORE](https://www.truenas.com/download-truenas-core/#) ISO — World’s #1 NAS Operating System
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3. HDDs — You can use whatever you want, but I will be using three Barracuda ES 750GB drives
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## Install TrueNAS Core
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Sign-in to Proxmox and upload your ISO to the local storage or, download the file directly from the link using the built-in ISO fetcher.
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{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/Ww212rUDQ_Ms9P2WhJMwz.png" alt="download iso tool in proxmox") }}
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Next to create the VM, the only thing that needs to be changed from the defaults is the memory, which I set to `8192 MB` (8 GB).
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{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/bDT9VdIMMG1LWvv1RwNKl.png" alt="create a vm modal in proxmox") }}
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Now finish creating the VM and click on the VM after it is created. Go to options and enable start at boot.
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{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/ImxOHWJNuRL3yiF12cQfe.png" alt="start at boot checkbox") }}
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Next, we need to pass through the physical drives to the VM. Open a terminal on the Proxmox server (use the built-in terminal or ssh in) and run the following command. Only run the part after the #.
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> root@thespia:~# lsblk -o +MODEL,SERIAL
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```bash
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NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT MODEL SERIAL
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sda 8:0 0 698.6G 0 disk ST3750330NS 9QK2GT8R
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sdb 8:16 0 698.6G 0 disk ST3750640NS 3QD0AYE0
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sdc 8:32 0 698.6G 0 disk ST3750640NS 3QD0BQ5G
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sdd 8:48 1 111.8G 0 disk Hitachi_HTS543212L9SA02 090130FBEB00LGGJ35RF
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├─sdd1 8:49 1 1007K 0 part
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├─sdd2 8:50 1 512M 0 part /boot/efi
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└─sdd3 8:51 1 111.3G 0 part
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├─pve-swap 253:0 0 8G 0 lvm [SWAP]
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├─pve-root 253:1 0 37.8G 0 lvm /
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├─pve-data_tmeta 253:2 0 1G 0 lvm
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│ └─pve-data-tpool 253:4 0 49.6G 0 lvm
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│ ├─pve-data 253:5 0 49.6G 1 lvm
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│ ├─pve-vm--100--cloudinit 253:6 0 4M 0 lvm
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│ └─pve-vm--101--cloudinit 253:7 0 4M 0 lvm
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└─pve-data_tdata 253:3 0 49.6G 0 lvm
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└─pve-data-tpool 253:4 0 49.6G 0 lvm
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├─pve-data 253:5 0 49.6G 1 lvm
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├─pve-vm--100--cloudinit 253:6 0 4M 0 lvm
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└─pve-vm--101--cloudinit 253:7 0 4M 0 lvm
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sde 8:64 0 465.8G 0 disk WDC_WD5000AAKS-65YGA0 WD-WCAS83511331
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├─sde1 8:65 0 465.8G 0 part
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└─sde9 8:73 0 8M 0 part
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zd0 230:0 0 32G 0 disk
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├─zd0p1 230:1 0 100M 0 part
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├─zd0p2 230:2 0 16M 0 part
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├─zd0p3 230:3 0 31.4G 0 part
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└─zd0p4 230:4 0 522M 0 part
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zd16 230:16 0 80G 0 disk
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├─zd16p1 230:17 0 1M 0 part
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└─zd16p2 230:18 0 80G 0 part
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zd32 230:32 0 4M 0 disk
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zd48 230:48 0 80G 0 disk
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├─zd48p1 230:49 0 1M 0 part
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└─zd48p2 230:50 0 80G 0 part
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zd64 230:64 0 1M 0 disk
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zd80 230:80 0 32G 0 disk
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```
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In my server `sda, sdb, and sdc` are my drives. I can tell because they have no partitions and are `698.6G`. Next, based on the serial numbers of the disks, find the `dev/disk/by-id` of the drive.
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> root@thespia:~# ls /dev/disk/by-id/
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```bash
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ata-Hitachi_HTS543212L9SA02_090130FBEB00LGGJ35RF
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ata-Hitachi_HTS543212L9SA02_090130FBEB00LGGJ35RF-part1
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ata-Hitachi_HTS543212L9SA02_090130FBEB00LGGJ35RF-part2
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ata-Hitachi_HTS543212L9SA02_090130FBEB00LGGJ35RF-part3
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ata-ST3750330NS_9QK2GT8R
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ata-ST3750640NS_3QD0AYE0
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ata-ST3750640NS_3QD0BQ5G
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ata-WDC_WD5000AAKS-65YGA0_WD-WCAS83511331
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ata-WDC_WD5000AAKS-65YGA0_WD-WCAS83511331-part1
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ata-WDC_WD5000AAKS-65YGA0_WD-WCAS83511331-part9
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dm-name-pve-root
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dm-name-pve-swap
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dm-name-pve-vm--100--cloudinit
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dm-name-pve-vm--101--cloudinit
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dm-uuid-LVM-i2jw2DEc8aJxdhf3mg7sAcAbc57lfeNL967xBhsO2KsTDqSJ5KB9pGqef5HjQJHk
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dm-uuid-LVM-i2jw2DEc8aJxdhf3mg7sAcAbc57lfeNLQ6hkWGll1H38yFz0ty3RmmJPSRSbj1sa
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dm-uuid-LVM-i2jw2DEc8aJxdhf3mg7sAcAbc57lfeNLrSofGgZtL41un6baoCpRHunOrbJeMTeO
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dm-uuid-LVM-i2jw2DEc8aJxdhf3mg7sAcAbc57lfeNLWPjyk8d4ik2D6KIcp2zaugdFsHB4TNOM
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lvm-pv-uuid-pRECVX-zqKA-evrD-PNof-sTYg-zNrD-WUelFe
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usb-Generic-_Multi-Card_20120926571200000-0:0
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wwn-0x5000c50015a53388
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wwn-0x5000cca562c751e4
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wwn-0x5000cca562c751e4-part1
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wwn-0x5000cca562c751e4-part2
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wwn-0x5000cca562c751e4-part3
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wwn-0x50014ee2ab77b23f
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wwn-0x50014ee2ab77b23f-part1
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wwn-0x50014ee2ab77b23f-part9
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```
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In my case, the ID of the drives I want are `ata-ST3750330NS_9QK2GT8`, `ata-ST3750640NS_3QD0AYE0`, and `ata-ST3750640NS_3QD0BQ5G`.
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Now find your VM_ID, mine is 102.
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{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/gwjgFbI5IrnJSTLTB0PeX.png" alt="vm list in proxmox") }}
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Run the following command, replacing the VM_ID and DISK_ID with yours.
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> root@thespia:~# qm set VM_ID -scsi1 /dev/disk/by-id/DISK_ID
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```bash
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root@thespia:~# qm set 102 -scsi1 /dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3750330NS_9QK2GT8R
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update VM 102: -scsi1 /dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3750330NS_9QK2GT8R
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root@thespia:~# qm set 102 -scsi2 /dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3750640NS_3QD0AYE0
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update VM 102: -scsi2 /dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3750640NS_3QD0AYE0
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root@thespia:~# qm set 102 -scsi3 /dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3750640NS_3QD0BQ5G
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update VM 102: -scsi3 /dev/disk/by-id/ata-ST3750640NS_3QD0BQ5G
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```
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Here is how it appears in Proxmox:
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{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/QBpmqflEHmPiUHbd8JVk2.png" alt="hardware page of the vm in proxmox") }}
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If everything went well, then you can start your VM now. After it finishes booting up, you will get the screen below. Make sure Install/Upgrade is selected and hit enter.
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{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/UFqhrRdD3GkP1_No5lWaj.png" alt="truenas startup screen") }}
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You will then get this screen, use space to select the first drive and hit enter.
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{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/xD5QxmFtHxw10p624FgwM.png" alt="destination media screen") }}
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Hit enter one last time and enter your password.
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{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/MZy3mN1cXBaicgVolVYs5.png" alt="confirm erase page") }}
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{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/KWq2P7Iok9LThOF5Xoj6l.png" alt="repeat password page") }}
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Select BIOS, as this is the default mode for Proxmox VMs.
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{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/RfXwEGx6oug1vVF3UZuCj.png" alt="boot via bios or via uefi screen") }}
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After about five to ten minutes, the installation process will finish and the VM will ask you to remove installation media and reboot.
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{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/mFEH-FHY10H7NUAvYi0aE.png" alt="installation succeded message") }}
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{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/JPXkEQJgBmeATEE40HHpr.png" alt="hardware screen in proxmox") }}
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Select the installation media and remove it with the top button, go back to the console and hit enter, which will take you back to the main menu. On the main menu, select reboot with the arrow keys and hit enter.
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{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/IfvdMuF6AVU_f0-_rngqq.png" alt="power options screen in truenas") }}
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Once the machine restarts, it will display an IP address in the console.
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{{ img(id="https://cloud-pur64l07h-hack-club-bot.vercel.app/0image.png" alt="ip address displayed in proxmox console") }}
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Upon connecting to the IP address, you will get this screen. Use the root username and the password, previously configured, to login.
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{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/ghvCsvwAJMudUCUGvcnCu.png" alt="truenas web ui signin page") }}
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Once logged in, I updated the system using the button on the home screen.
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{{ img(id="https://assets.vrite.io/64974cb888e8beebeb2c925b/nrBop3a9ilvuc7h-0WPEG.png" alt="check for updates button in the truenas web ui") }}
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I chose not to save the configuration file when prompted, proceeded to install the updates, and rebooted.
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I hope you enjoyed the tutorial! My inspiration to make this came from watching [“How to run TrueNAS on Proxmox?”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3pKprTdNqQ) by [Christian Lempa](https://www.youtube.com/@christianlempa). I encourage you to watch his video if you want a video guide to installing TrueNAS on Proxmox.
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* Written on `2023-07-10` and republished to this blog (with minor edits) on `2024-10-31`