This will be a guide on how to create a TrueNAS Core virtual machine using Virtual Machine Manager and QEMU/KVM.

This guide assumes you already have Virt-Manager and QEMU working and will focus on the VM itself.

TrueNAS ISO

First you need to get the iso.

You can download it from this page.

It’s kind of hard to see, but at the bottom of the page it will say No Thank you, I have already signed up. if you want to skip giving up an email.

Then click the big green download button, to get your iso.

For this guide I’m using TrueNAS-13.0-U5.2.iso. It is important to note the version number 13.0, as we will need this later.


Creating the VM

  1. Start by hitting Create a new virtual machine


Step 1 / 5, Connection & Install media

  1. Choose QEMU/KVM for the connection

  2. Choose local install media (ISO image or CDROM)

  3. Hit Forward


Step 2 / 5, Iso selection & VM type

  1. Hit Browse > Browse Local and choose the iso you downloaded

  2. Uncheck Automatically detect...

  3. For the type, you want to choose FreeBSD xx.x where xx.x is the version number in the name of the iso you downloaded. My iso was called TrueNAS-13.0-U5.2.iso so I’m choosing FreeBSD 13.0.

  4. Hit Forward


Step 3 / 5, Ram & CPU

  1. You’re supposed to have at least 8gb of ram. But I’m using 4 becauses I’m a little bit short right now, (you can change this later anyway)

  2. Choose 1 or more cpu, I’m sticking with just 1

  3. Hit Forward


Step 4 / 5, Disk

  1. I like to choose where and what to do for storage, so I’m checking Select or create custom storage

  2. Then hit Manage

  3. Then the plus button next to Volumes: Create new volume

  4. Choose a name for you disk, I’m using TrueNASCore_Boot

  5. Choose qcow2 for the type

  6. You want at least 16gb of disk space

  7. Hit Finish

  8. Choose your new disk and then hit Choose Volume


Step 5 / 5, Finishing up

  1. Set the name, I’m calling mine TrueNASCore

  2. Hit Finish


Installing the VM

Now that you’ve made the VM, we gotta set it up.

Right click the VM and hit Run


Boot menu

You will get a boot menu like so:

TrueNAS Core Boot Menu

Choose option 1, Boot TrueNAS Installer


Install screen

You will be given 4 different options:

TrueNAS Core Install Screen 1, Install/Shell/Reboot/Shutdown prompt

Choose option 1, Install/Upgrade

If you’re using less than 8gb of ram, you will get a warning:

TrueNAS Core Install Screen 1.5, Continue with less than 8gb of ram prompt

Hit Yes and continue despite the warning.


Disk selection screen

Now you can choose the disk you want to install TrueNAS on:

TrueNAS Core Install Screen 2, Choose installation disk prompt

Choose your disk and then hit OK to continue.

You will get a warning about deleting the disks data:

TrueNAS Core Install Screen 3, Confirm overwrite disk prompt

Hit Yes to proceed.


Root password

After choosing a disk it will ask you to choose a root password:

TrueNAS Core Install Screen 4, Choose root password prompt

Enter in a root password and click OK to continue.


Boot mode

Now you need to choose the boot mode:

TrueNAS Core Install Screen 5, Boot mode UEFI or BIOS prompt

Choose Boot via BIOS, I’ve never had UEFI work for this.


Finishing installation

Wait for the install to finish, when it’s done you will get a prompt to remove the media:

TrueNAS Core Install Screen 6, Eject media prompt

Hit OK and it will take you back to the first installation screen.

Choose option 3, Reboot System and wait for it to boot the disk, if all goes well, after booting and choosing option 1, you will land in a tty:

TrueNAS Core tty

You’ve now installed TrueNAS in a VM!


After installation

Once you’ve installed and have the tty, you probably want to actually test it out.

In the tty it will tell you the ip address of the webui, in my case it says 192.168.122.83.

Open the address in your browser to access the webui:

TrueNAS Core Install Screen 4

Login using the root password you set and you’re all done!


Adding disks

The whole purpose of installing TrueNAS in a VM is to mess around without breaking your disks. So lets add some disks!

Note: these steps should work while the VM is running.

  1. If the VM window is not open, right click the VM and hit Open

  2. In the VM window hit Show virtual hardware details in the top left corner

  3. Hit Add Hardware at the bottom

  4. Choose Storage, it should already be selected

  5. Check Select or create custom storage the Manage and just like before, we’re gonna make some disks

  6. Then the plus button next to Volumes: Create new volume

  7. Choose a name and size, then hit Finish

  8. Click your new disk and hit Choose Volume

  9. Drop down advanced and in Serial give it a unique value, doesn’t matter what, you will want this

  10. Hit Finish

  11. Repeat steps 4 - 10 to create as many disks as you want

Once you’ve added more disks, you should see them appear in under Storage > Disks in the webui