FreeNAS includes ZFS, which supports high storage capacities and integrates file systems and volume management into a single piece of software.

Feature Chart

FreeNAS 8 has FreeNAS has a really large feature set. This list has most of the user-facing ones, along with a brief description.

Thin Provisioning

Thin Provisioning is another excellent addition to the FreeNAS™ features list. Thin Provisioning allows the administrator to allocate users more space than physically exists in the system. When paired with ZFS, it becomes easy to manage your total data pool size, and quickly and effectively grow to meet your users needs as they use more of their allotted space.

Backup and Restore

Remote Replication allows you to copy a snapshot to an offsite server, for maximum data security.

Command Line Interface

FreeNAS is based on FreeBSD 8.x, and will update and keep current with the FreeBSD project. So if you're a savvy user, and prefer to use the command line, no problem! ssh in, and control your FreeNAS™ device from the FreeNAS custom CLI.

Driver Support

FreeNAS is based on FreeBSD 8.2 and features much of the same driver support. This gives anyone building their own FreeNAS device or re-purposing old hardware a wide selection of hardware choices.

Snapshots

If your data is somehow lost, FreeNAS™ makes it easy to restore from a previously generated snapshot. With the periodic snapshots feature, you can worry less about data loss, and use your system stress free.

Zettabyte File System

One of FreeNAS 8's most important features is full support for the ZFS filesystem. ZFS includes data integrity protection, practically unlimited size caps, cloneable snapshots, automatic repair, RAID-Z, and more. ZFS is fully open-source, and is a great way to store and manage your important files.

Web User Interface

FreeNAS features a ground up redesign of the web user interface. No mess, no fuss - your server is easily controlled from any web-enabled device. Configuration is straightforward and simple, and you can make your changes on the fly.

File Sharing

FreeNAS supports many popular networking protocols, and is easy to set up in most home and enterprise environments. You'll be up and running in no time, and your users can connect with the protocol of your choice, no matter what operating system they run.

What's New:

  • Fix bug where use of NONE cipher in replication erroneously reported an error on a successful replication.
  • Don't enable lz4 compression on replication by default if upgrading from a pre-9.2.1.7 release.
  • Multiple kernel iSCSI / CTL improvements. This includes VMWare VAAI and Microsoft ODX acceleration support, improved performance and fixes for number of bugs. Kernel iSCSI can be activated by checking the experimental target checkbox under services -> iSCSI.
  • Improve performance of viewing snapshots when replication tasks are set up.
  • Allow binding CIFS to specific IPs.
  • Fix LDAP bind URL when using TLS.
  • Validate AD advanced settings. If the GC or DC are manually specified make sure they are reachable.
  • Set UNIX permissions when the Mac permissions radio button is selected. Netatalk does not play nicely with ACLs.
  • Fix a bug in the mail sending routines used by FreeNAS. With some mailserver configurations the To: address could've been set to root instead of the address specified in the root user.
  • Fix a bug that prevented the system from showing the replicated status of a snapshot if the remote path differed from the local path.
  • "Shellshock" security vulnerability in bash (which is not the system shell FreeNAS or FreeBSD) proactively closed.