7 hours ago
1. Encrypting your pool or datasets
In TrueNAS Scale:
To encrypt the entire pool (recommended for new builds):
Settings Storage
Click your pool (Main)
Under the three dot menu choose Export/Disconnect
Select Enable encryption and reimport the pool
This applies native ZFS encryption and gives you a recovery key you must store safely.
If you only want to encrypt specific datasets:
Storage
Click a dataset such as Documents
Edit
Change Encryption Options to:
Enable encryption
Select AES 256 GCM
Set a passphrase or let TrueNAS create a key
You’ll see the lock icon appear once encryption is active.
⸻
2. Setting up SMART tests
Go to:
Data Protection SMART Tests Add
Create two tests:
• Short test
Type: Short
Schedule: Daily
• Long test
Type: Long
Schedule: Weekly (pick a time the NAS is idle)
TrueNAS automatically detects all attached HDDs.
⸻
3. Setting up the NVMe SSDs
Since you have two Samsung 990 Pro drives, you can use them in either of these roles:
Option A: Metadata/SLOG (for sync workloads)
Most home users do NOT need this unless using VMs or databases.
Option B: App Pool (recommended)
Apps on TrueNAS Scale run much faster on SSD.
To configure:
Storage
Add ZFS Pool
Create a new pool called “Apps” or “NVMe” and add both NVMe as a mirror
Select this pool under Apps so Docker and Kubernetes use it.
Option C: Special Metadata Device
This improves small file performance for documents and photos.
To add:
Storage
Click your RAIDZ2 pool
Manage Devices
Add Special / Metadata Device
Choose one NVMe (or mirror both).
If you’re storing lots of photos, this is a major speed improvement.
In TrueNAS Scale:
To encrypt the entire pool (recommended for new builds):
Settings Storage
Click your pool (Main)
Under the three dot menu choose Export/Disconnect
Select Enable encryption and reimport the pool
This applies native ZFS encryption and gives you a recovery key you must store safely.
If you only want to encrypt specific datasets:
Storage
Click a dataset such as Documents
Edit
Change Encryption Options to:
Enable encryption
Select AES 256 GCM
Set a passphrase or let TrueNAS create a key
You’ll see the lock icon appear once encryption is active.
⸻
2. Setting up SMART tests
Go to:
Data Protection SMART Tests Add
Create two tests:
• Short test
Type: Short
Schedule: Daily
• Long test
Type: Long
Schedule: Weekly (pick a time the NAS is idle)
TrueNAS automatically detects all attached HDDs.
⸻
3. Setting up the NVMe SSDs
Since you have two Samsung 990 Pro drives, you can use them in either of these roles:
Option A: Metadata/SLOG (for sync workloads)
Most home users do NOT need this unless using VMs or databases.
Option B: App Pool (recommended)
Apps on TrueNAS Scale run much faster on SSD.
To configure:
Storage
Add ZFS Pool
Create a new pool called “Apps” or “NVMe” and add both NVMe as a mirror
Select this pool under Apps so Docker and Kubernetes use it.
Option C: Special Metadata Device
This improves small file performance for documents and photos.
To add:
Storage
Click your RAIDZ2 pool
Manage Devices
Add Special / Metadata Device
Choose one NVMe (or mirror both).
If you’re storing lots of photos, this is a major speed improvement.