freeNAS 9.2 ISO with Xen PVHVM support

Update 2/10/2014:  A new build updating the files to FreeNAS 9.2.1.8 which includes a bunch of samba updates, and importantly, the fixes for the bash shellshock vulnerability. Update 17/5/2014:  I’ve replaced the links on this page to a newer version, FreeNAS 9.2.1.5, and added the Upgrade file.  Note for the upgrade through the FreeNAS UI,…

Encrypted backup to the cloud

My current off-site backup is a couple of hard drives in external (usb2) enclosures, which are rotated to a family member’s house.  I’m now pondering adding a cloud-based backup to my environment. The problem with cloud backups is security – I want to encrypt the data locally, and then be able to rsync it to…

Cheap FLAC capable car stereo

So Kenwood have released some cheap, apparently decent FLAC capable digital media head units (i.e. car stereos).  Digital media means there’s no CD transport – they play back via USB or Aux-in only, and include iPod control. The European version is the KMM-257, and in North America its called the KMM100. The difference is basically…

Review – Vantec EZ Swap F4 drive cage

I specifically chose the case for my new home server for its internal bays (7x 3.5″) and its external dimensions, as it has to fit on the same closet shelf as my old Microserver N36L.  I ended up choosing the Lian-Li PC-V354b Case which is working out great for me. More on that in another…

FreeNAS LSI Host Bus Adapter setup

This post is short and to the point – annoyingly, the LSI drivers for FreeBSD seem to have issues using MSIX interrupts, which causes the adapter to either not work at all, or to stop working.  The fix is simple, once you know how to do it 🙂 Lets start by assuming you’ve got your…

Building FreeNAS with Xen PVHVM support

Ok, this took a long time to build, but it works, and the end result was ISO and img files for both i386 and x64. Update: By popular request, I’ve uploaded the iso for those unable/unwilling to build it.. see this latest post for the link to the iso. For the more intrepid who want…

Xen – which dom0 platform makes sense?

When I first started running Xen at home, it was on Fedora Core 6, and I was using hardware which didn’t include hardware-level virtualization support.  Crazy huh? Since the first iterations of my home server, I’ve been through Centos 5, and my current home server runs Scientific Linux 6 (SL6) for which I had to…

ZFS on Xen – why so hard?

Ok, so no posts for a couple of weeks.  Why?  Well I’ve been banging my head against various ZFS appliances, trying to make them do what I want 🙂 What I want is to migrate my old HP Microserver over to new hardware, and in the process, change out a bunch of the network services…