[Help] Unable to start TOS 5.1 Desktop

[shenzhixian]

Hi all,

I am not sure if this post is in the correct topic area but here I go. I am unable to start TOS 5.1 Desktop from a Web Browser. I have "TNAS PC for Linux" installed but the "System Resources" right slider tab shows no information about CPU or RAM usage. When I view terminal on my F2-424 via HDMI, I see in (ifconfig) that both eth0 & eth1 are receiving IP addresses and memory is fine when using (free -a). In my previous posts in the "Storage Topic", I was having issues with my 2x Seagate Ironwolf HDDs. Both have been RMA'd and now I have 2x WD Red HDDs plugged in. Does it matter if swap HDDs even though I can't seem reach the TOS 5.1 Desktop? I am kind of stumped as to why TOS 5.1 desktop does connect to my Ubuntu laptop.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Gremlin]

If you are using both nvme as hypercache, then the TOS os is on the HDD. If you swap the HDD without doing anything else you will lose the operating system.

[shenzhixian]

If you are using both nvme as hypercache, then the TOS os is on the HDD. If you swap the HDD without doing anything else you will lose the operating system.

Yes, the nvme is the hypercache and TOS is on the HDD. I understand that I will lose the TOS 5.1 O/S on my 6TB RAID-1 but wanted to try to install a fresh TOS O/S on the new HDDs I just purchased. Is this possible or do I have to retreive the 6TB HDDs from being RMA'd?

I also used the Etcher application to create a bootable USB drive with TOS 6 UEFI 120MB init boot image. My TNAS doesn't see the USB drive when booting up to the GRUB 2.04. I cannot install TOS 6 over TOS 5.1. I followed the instructions on viewtopic.php?t=6433 where all HDDs & nvme's were removed. Still nothing.

[CursaYang]

If you are using both nvme as hypercache, then the TOS os is on the HDD. If you swap the HDD without doing anything else you will lose the operating system.

Yes, the nvme is the hypercache and TOS is on the HDD. I understand that I will lose the TOS 5.1 O/S on my 6TB RAID-1 but wanted to try to install a fresh TOS O/S on the new HDDs I just purchased. Is this possible or do I have to retreive the 6TB HDDs from being RMA'd?

I also used the Etcher application to create a bootable USB drive with TOS 6 UEFI 120MB init boot image. My TNAS doesn't see the USB drive when booting up to the GRUB 2.04. I cannot install TOS 6 over TOS 5.1. I followed the instructions on viewtopic.php?t=6433 where all HDDs & nvme's were removed. Still nothing.

You can reinstall the brand new TOS system on the new hard drive.

If you refer to this post to recreate the boot system, when initializing the NAS, it will enter the TOS 6 installation page. If it is not recognized, there may be an issue with the previous USB drive, and you can replace the USB drive to create a new boot system.

[Gremlin]

Did you replace the old usb INSIDE the nas with the new one you created?

Not that it should matter ..... really ..... if you download the TOS 6 installation (.ins) file from support page and follow the custom install prompts when booting with no HDD/nvme mounted the install should rewrite the internal usb if necessary.

https://support.terra-master.com/downlo ... uct=F2-424 Item 2

[shenzhixian]

If you refer to this post to recreate the boot system, when initializing the NAS, it will enter the TOS 6 installation page. If it is not recognized, there may be an issue with the previous USB drive, and you can replace the USB drive to create a new boot system.

I have used a 2nd USB drive to try to boot into TOS 6 and the results are the same. Both USB drives (1x 64GB Sandisk, 1x 256GB unknown brand) cannot be producing the same results. I am able to reach the "TNAS login screen" and use the "root" credentials. I also see running the (df -h) command that "/dev/sda1" is mounted as "/mnt/bootdev" so the TNAS can see the both USB drives but why the TNAS won't boot the into the USB drive is still unanswered nor is the ability of the TNAS to boot to the TOS 5.1 Desktop.

In conclusion, there be a software issue with the GRUB bootloader because the selection menu doesn't show the TOS 6 image as an option to boot to. This is a brand new F2-424 TNAS to replace a 2-year old Western Digital EX2 Ultra NAS. I am quite frustrated.

[shenzhixian]

Did you replace the old usb INSIDE the nas with the new one you created?

Not that it should matter ..... really ..... if you download the TOS 6 installation (.ins) file from support page and follow the custom install prompts when booting with no HDD/nvme mounted the install should rewrite the internal usb if necessary.

https://support.terra-master.com/downlo ... uct=F2-424 Item 2

I have not replaced the USB inside the TNAS with the one I have created. I have read that article and have seen the photo of the TNAS motherboard.

I assume that plugging into either the USB-A port or USB-C port with the bootable USB drive doesn't matter as both USB ports do the same thing?

[shenzhixian]

The TNAS operates a peculiar version of the Linux kernel 5.15.59. The custom Linux O/S is not a clean robust version such as that in my WD EX2 Ultra.

For example, the "bash_history" does not write previous commands.

[Gremlin]

The TNAS operates a peculiar version of the Linux kernel 5.15.59. The custom Linux O/S is not a clean robust version such as that in my WD EX2 Ultra.

For example, the "bash_history" does not write previous commands.

Agreed. Basically derived from an Ubuntu (at least in TOS6) core but many things are not the same. See my previous comment about root user. 'sudo' is not needed and does not work. Do not imagine that you can treat TOS as linux - that's a road to insanity!

Also note that the internal USB is not used "to boot into TOS". TOS resides on the drives (HDD, SSD, nvme) and boots from the HD/SSD/nvme. The usb only comes into play if the bootable o/s cannot be found at which point it goes into "initialisation mode" hence the term "initboot" you will see sometimes. (In fact, a properly installed TOS system could work without the usb present - the usb serves no practical function post initialisation.) Additionally, in TOS 6 you can choose up to 2 drives on which to install the os (raid1 mirror if using 2). Only in the most recent releases can you later modify that choice if desired. In previous TOS versions the os was installed on all the hard drives regardless.

[shenzhixian]

The TNAS operates a peculiar version of the Linux kernel 5.15.59. The custom Linux O/S is not a clean robust version such as that in my WD EX2 Ultra.

For example, the "bash_history" does not write previous commands.

Agreed. Basically derived from an Ubuntu (at least in TOS6) core but many things are not the same. See my previous comment about root user. 'sudo' is not needed and does not work. Do not imagine that you can treat TOS as linux - that's a road to insanity!

Also note that the internal USB is not used "to boot into TOS". TOS resides on the drives (HDD, SSD, nvme) and boots from the HD/SSD/nvme. The usb only comes into play if the bootable o/s cannot be found at which point it goes into "initialisation mode" hence the term "initboot" you will see sometimes. (In fact, a properly installed TOS system could work without the usb present - the usb serves no practical function post initialisation.) Additionally, in TOS 6 you can choose up to 2 drives on which to install the os (raid1 mirror if using 2). Only in the most recent releases can you later modify that choice if desired. In previous TOS versions the os was installed on all the hard drives regardless.

Yeah, 'sudo' is also not available in the WD EX2 Ultra as well. Just basic kernel commands in "bin" & "sbin" are able to be executed when using ssh on the EX2 Ultra. Majority of NAS devices have a Linux embedded operating system for basic functions.

I appreciate your summary on your past experiences with TNAS devices. I wish that the information you've provided could assist me in my troubleshooting efforts to rectify the TOS 5.1 to TOS 6 issue I am currently experiencing. I am not sure what to do with my TNAS now except use it as a costly paper weight. I have gone back to my WD EX2 Ultra for the time being.

Thanks for the talk & help @Gremlin.