Learn how to – Install and Configure XigmaNAS NAS (Network-Attached Storage) Solution

Learn how to – Install and Configure XigmaNAS NAS (Network-Attached Storage) Solution.

XigmaNAS is an Open Source Network-Attached Storage distribution based on FreeBSD. To be clear, XigmaNAS is ready-made in FreeBSD so its installation will be like installing an Operating System which makes it quite easy and convenient for all users.

Note: From Wikipedia; Network-attached storage (NAS) is a file-level computer data storage server connected to a computer network providing data access to a heterogeneous group of clients.

XigmaNAS supports sharing files across multiple operating systems, including Windows, Apple, and UNIX-like systems. XigmaNAS is easy to set up in most home and enterprise environments and will allow you to manage and share large amounts of data easily across your network. XigmaNAS also incorporates many different streaming features for sharing your multimedia with other devices on your network.

Features of XigmaNAS NAS (Network-Attached Storage)

XigmaNAS includes the following:

• ZFS v5000 (Feature Flags) (RAID-Z, RAIDZ-2 & RAIDZ-3) Software RAID (0,1,5)
• JBOD
• Disk Encryption
• S.M.A.R.T./Email Reports
• Has a great web user interface
• Can be installed on an extremely wide range of hardware
• Multiple Protocols shared below

Network Protocols supported

The following are the protocols you can use with XigmaNAS

• SMB/CIFS (Samba)
• Samba AD
• AFP (Netatalk)
• NFS
• FTP (ProFTPD)
• TFTP (tftp-hpa)
• RSYNC (Client/Server)
• Unison
• SCP (SSH)
• iSCSI target

Disk drive and volume management

If you are curious how you will be able to manage your volumes, the following are fully supported:

• OpenZFS
• Software RAID 0,1,5 and mix (1+0,1+1, etc.) (Soft-Raid 5 EOL and removed in 13.0.0.5 series)
• UFS, Ext2/3, FAT, NTFS
• exFAT *Mount read only
• Partition: MBR and GPT, ZFS
• CAM Target Layer
• iSCSI initiator

How To Install XigmaNAS Network-Attached Storage

Like we had mentioned in the first paragraph, XigmaNAS is a ready-made NAS based on FreeBSD. So its installation will be like installing an Operating System on hardware which makes it quite easy and convenient for all users. You can view the range of hardware it can support on this link.

Note: In case you would like to install in a Virtual Machine for testing, ensure that you have a hypervisor.

Step 1: Download XigmaNAS Installation ISO

Go to Downloads Page then hit the conspicuous green download button. You will be re-directed to sourceforge where you can fetch your file. Once again click and download the Latest Version of its ISO file. At the time of writing, the latest release was “XigmaNAS-x64-LiveCD-12.2.0.4.8458.iso“. Give it time to download then proceed to the next step.

# Using wget
wget https://sourceforge.net/projects/xigmanas/files/XigmaNAS-12.2.0.4/12.2.0.4.8458/XigmaNAS-x64-LiveCD-12.2.0.4.8458.iso

# Using curl
curl -O https://sourceforge.net/projects/xigmanas/files/XigmaNAS-12.2.0.4/12.2.0.4.8458/XigmaNAS-x64-LiveCD-12.2.0.4.8458.iso

Step 2: Prepare your XigmaNAS ISO File

In this step we are going to use a Flash Drive to prepare XigmaNAS to a bootable format so that you can install it on your hardware.

If doing the installation over a KVM switch or direct server console, you can create a bootable USB key with the commands below:

sudo dd if=XigmaNAS-x64-LiveCD-12.2.0.4.8458.iso of=/dev/sdX bs=8M oflag=direct

On Windows, you can use Rufus to create the bootable USB stick.

Step 3: Install XigmaNAS Network Attached Storage Solution

Once you have your Flash Drive plugged in and selected as boot device from BIOS or EFI, reboot your server and start the installation. You will see the first Screen as shown below. Hit “Enter” to start installation.

After a while, you will be presented with the following prompt, enter number 9 and hit enter.

A new screen will appear like below. Simply hit enter twice

Step 4: Create Partitions for XigmaNAS installation

After the previous Step, you will be prompted to accept partitioning to be done on a screen similar to the one shared below. Hit “OK“

Step 5: Choose installation source

After the previous step, you will be required to choose installation source. Accept the default one by hitting “OK“

Step 6: Choose Disk to install XigmaNAS

In case you have multiple disks as we assume, choose the disk you would like XigmaNAS to be installed then hit “OK“

Step 7: Enter Size of OS, SWAP and DATA partion

A new prompt will be brought after choosing your installation disk. Accept the default size partition or you can add depending on your requirements then hit “OK“.

Accept the default SWAP size or you can increase depending on your needs then hit “OK“.

After that, you have the freedom to choose the size your use-case requires for Data Storage. This is a flexible option. I chose ALL for this example to choose all available space.

After that, everything will be ready. The last prompt has been shared below. Installation should be done.

Step 8: Reboot Server and Login to XigmaNAS

Once installation is done, remove bootable media and reboot your server. Let it do an autoboot and after a few seconds, you should be ready to login. Once you get the login prompt similar to the one shown below, use the following default credentials to login:

Username: admin
Password: xigmanas

Step 9: Configure Network Interface IP

In this step, we are going to configure the address that XigmaNAS is going to be listening for requests as well as serving the Web Interface. In the prompt, choose number 2 as shown below then hit enter.

A new prompt will show up asking you whether you would wish to get the address via DHCP or you can input it statically. For this example, we are going to choose static by choosing “No” option. In case you have a DHCP server in your environment and you would wish to use it, simply choose “Yes” instead.

Since we chose static option, a new screen as shared below will show up where you can input the IP Address of your choice. Enter the IP and hit “OK“.

Enter the Subnet Mast in the next screen as well.

Enter DNS server settings in the next screen. If you have a DNS server in your environment, just place its IP there.

Then say no for IPv6 settings. Once everything is okay, hit yes if you are sure the configuration you have made is okay.

The server will configure the settings that you keyed in and prompt you to press “Enter” which you should gracefully do.

Step 10: Configure hosts to access your New NAS

On the Console Menu, choose number 10 and hit enter so that we can add hosts that will be able to access XigmaNAS Web Interface.

You will be asked if you would wish to disable hosts allow. Say “Yes“.

Another thing to do is to restart WebGUI and force http on port 80. That is number 12.

After that, reboot the XigmaNAS Server by choosing number 7.

After the reboot, open you favorite browser and point it to http://your-XigmaNAS-IP and you should get a login page as shown below:

Enter the same credentials like in CLI, that is

Username: admin
Password: xigmanas

You should be ushered into the main page as illustrated below.

Concluding Remarks

Well, we have come to the end of the guide today. We have successfully installed XigmaNAS NAS distribution and we have been able to log in successfully. You can check out the main documentation so that you can be able to start off using it as quickly as you can. We hope the guide was helpful and we continue to appreciate your awesome support. Other guides on storage can be found below.

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