The default network settings on TrueNAS will have DHCP enabled for your IP address. With DHCP, your IP address is dynamic and can change depending on your switch or router
configuration on the network.
Your IP will be in a range set by an IPv4 subnet mask. Setting up a static IP address can be a huge benefit in TrueNAS. For example, if you don’t always have access to the
system console or a monitor connected directly to your server, it can be difficult to obtain the IP address if it changes due to your network being reset or system being updated.
Another reason is that you may wanna keep your TrueNAS server IP bookmarked so it can always be accessed through the same link, which is ideal for administering on multiple
computers. In addition, a static IP allows True Command to stay connected to your TrueNAS system with less potential for disruption due to IP changes.
Before configuring the network on your TruNas system, you should be familiar with the following network terminology:
-Network Interface – A network interface is a hardware or software component that functions as an interface between protocol layers in a computer network. It allows
for passing messages between connected network devices.
-Network Interface Controller (NIC) – is a hardware device used to connect to a network. Generally, this is where your Ethernet port is. Otherwise, there’s usually one built
into the motherboard.
-IPv4 – Short for Internet protocol version 4. IPv4 is used worldwide and routes most of the Internet traffic and utilizes a 32 bit address space. You
will be configuring this later on on your truenas system.
-IPv6 – Short for Internet protocol version 6, a most recent version of the Internet protocol. It utilizes a 128 bit address space. Ipv6 introduces a new packet format to minimize
packet header processing on routers.
-DHCP – Short for dynamic host configuration protocol. DHCP is a network management protocol which allows your DHCP server, typically on your modem, router, or switch, to
automatically assign a dynamic IP address to devices on your network.
-Net Mask – is a 32 bit mask to divide IP addresses into subnets specifying available hosts on the network.
-Subnet Mask – Submask or simply subnet is the logical subdivision of the IP network.
Now, I’ll show you how to get the static IP configured in both the console menu as well as the graphical user interface. Make sure you have a monitor and keyboard
connected to your TrueNAS system.
1) Once it’s connected, wake up or refresh the screen by pressing the ENTER key to display the setup console and IP address.
2) Type in the number 1 and press enter to configure the network. It will ask you to select the interface.
3) Choose the interface you want to configure by typing the number and pressing enter.
It may initially ask to delete the interface. Be careful not to delete your network interface as it may require additional troubleshooting.
4) Choose NO by typing N and pressing ENTER.
5) Next, it will ask to remove the current settings of this interface. If you choose YES – it will reset the settings and restart your network access on that port.
If you choose no, it will ask to configure the interface for DHCP.
Here’s where we change the IP from dynamic to static.
6) Choose NO by typing in, then pressing ENTER.
7) It will ask to configure IPv4. Choose YES. Now give your interface a unique name. (ex: skynet)
8) The next step will allow you to set the unique IP address. It’s recommended that you stick to the range that’s in your available network or the default IP that was set.
(ex: if your network setup 10.0.0.x – Choose a unique number in that set. Another common range is 192.168.1.x)
9) When you’re done typing in an ipv4address, press ENTER.
10) Next, we’re gonna set up the IPv4 net mask. The default value of 255.255.255.0/24 is recommended. This is the range your IP address can fall under.
11) Next, it will ask to configure IPv6. Choose NO. Most home networks are using IPv4 so you don’t need to worry about that.
12) Next, it will ask to configure the failover settings. If you do not have another system set up as a mirror, you can ignore this. Once you’re done configuring this, the
console should refresh and show the web user interface – followed by the new static IP address.
13) Go to your web browser on a separate computer and navigate to this IP address to confirm that it is working. If your TrueNAS GUI does not load, try rebooting the system from
the console by typing in 10 and pressing ENTER. If you don’t have access to a monitor, you can follow these same steps on the TruNas GUI shell located at the bottom of the left menu.
Next, we’ll show you how to set the static IP address on the GUI’s network settings.
1) Go to network, then click network summary. Here is a list of your active interfaces along with the IP address.
2) Take a screenshot or make a note of this in case you need to refer back to the network information.
3) Now go to network, and then interfaces to see your active interfaces and the current settings. If you see yes under DHCP, that means you have a
dynamic IP address set up currently.
4) Click the arrow on the right side, then click EDIT to configure this interface’s IP address.
5) Uncheck the DHCP box to turn off automatically choosing an IP address. (note that only
one interface can be configured for DHCP at a time)
6) Under IP addresses, go ahead and change your IP address that falls into the range of your network router or switch. The default
netmask of /24 is recommended.
You can add another IP address if you wish to have multiples.
7) Once you’re finished, click APPLY. It’ll ask you to test the changes before making the configuration permanent.
8) In the pop up dialog, go ahead and check CONFIRM, then click test changes.
You now have 60 seconds to see if the IP address and configuration works.
9) Go to a new browser window and test out the new IP address to see if the TrueNAS GUI loads. If you are okay with making this a permanent setting, click save changes.
(note that if you change your IP, you can only save it as a permanent change from the new IP address, as your original IP will be disabled temporarily for 60 seconds.
If you don’t save the settings within 60 seconds, your IP will revert back to the original. Thanks for watching this tutorial video.