[Easiest] Best Way to Auto Perform TrueNAS Windows Backup

User case

As an increasing number of computer users become more aware of data security, they realize the importance of backing up their data frequently. Regularly backing up computer files, data, photos, or operating systems to avoid unpredictable failures that could result in data loss. Users usually backup to USB flash drives, external hard drives, cloud drives, etc. In addition, backup to NAS has become a popular backup destination.

In need of backing up your whole PC, users like you may wonder what is the best option to back your PC to TrueNAS. Here I will introduce you to the best free backup software for TrueNAS and show you the full guide on how to use it. But before that, let’s take a look at TrueNAS. Here we go!

Quick Navigation:

👉 What is the best freeware to back up a PC to TrueNAS?
👉 Auto perform TrueNAS Windows backup with AOMEI Backupper🔥
👉 Bonus About TrueNAS
👉 How to make the best TrueNAS rapid setup
👉 FAQs about TrueNAS Windows Backup

What is the best freeware to back up a PC to TrueNAS Scale?

We know that there is plenty of backup software out there, but their effectiveness varies:

BackupPC: The project is no longer maintained.

Kopia: Needs an app on the client and doesn’t allow selecting multiple folders.

Robocopy/smb: A good concept, but restoring backups can be complex.

Duplicati: has issues with backup reliability.

Borg: Only available through the command line interface (CLI).

As one of them, the AOMEI Backupper Standard can definitely be deemed as the preeminent presence to safeguard operating systems, data, and applications.

Whether you need backing up your system, disk, files/folders, or partition, it can offer you powerful functions with an easy-to-use interface and a few clicks. To have a better understanding of this software, some of its features are listed below for you.

❣ It has good compatibility with operating systems Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, 11, XP, Vista, etc. If you are a server user, then you can try Windows Server backup software – AOMEI Backupper Server.
❣ It supports schedule backup, and you can choose to back up at a daily, weekly, or monthly frequency.
❣ Bootable rescue media: With bootable rescue media, you can use it to restore to a previous date when your system fails to boot.
❣ It provides three backup methods, namely incremental backup, differential backup, and full backup. Incremental backup can help you save target disk space while keeping your backups up-to-date.

After having an initial glimpse of AOMEI Backupper Standard, we will then explore how to use it to do TrueNAS or FreeNAS Windows backup.

Auto perform TrueNAS Windows backup with AOMEI Backupper

In this section, I will show you how to automatically back up a PC to TrueNAS with AOMEI Backupper Standard.

Step 1. Free download this TrueNAS backup software, install and open it. Click System Backup under the Backup option in the left panel. The software will automatically select the system-related partitions as the source data for you.

Step 2. Click the inverted triangle and select Add Share or NAS Devices.

Step 3. On this screen, type the network path or name of your TrueNAS and click the blue button at the right. Input username and password if it is required, then click OK.

Step 4. Now you need to choose one folder on the TrueNAS as a destination path to store the system backup image. Then click OK.

Step 5. To enable auto backup, click Schedule Backup, then turn on Enable Schedule Backup to choose a backup frequency as Daily/Weekly/ Monthly/Event triggers/USB plug-in. Confirm your settings and tap OK.

Step 6. Then, the software will back up your operating system to TrueNAS after clicking Start Backup. After this instruction, the TrueNAS backup PC is successfully completed.

Notes:
✍ Options: you can write a comment, set the compression level, or enable email notification.
✍ Backup Scheme: To better manage the backup files, AOMEI Backupper Professional offers an option that can help remove old backup images automatically to free up storage space.

Bonus: About TrueNAS

What is TrueNAS? TrueNAS is the ranked No. 1 worldwide storage operating system for sharing data over the network. It is the easiest way to create a centralized and easily accessible location for your data. You can also use TrueNAS to make backups for Microsoft 365.

TrueNAS, formerly known as FreeNAS, is a free NAS server that turns an ordinary PC server into a network storage server. The software is based on FreeBSD, Samba, and PHP and supports CIFS (samba), FTP, NFS protocols, Software RAID (0,1,5), and web interface setup tools. Users can access the storage server via Windows, Macs, FTP, SSH, and Network File System (NFS).

Why Use TrueNAS for Windows Backup?

• Scalability: TrueNAS can easily adapt to growing storage needs, making it suitable for both small and large setups.
• Data Integrity: Advanced data protection mechanisms ensure your backups are reliable and secure.
• Cost-Effective: As an open-source solution, TrueNAS minimizes costs while maximizing features.
• Versatility: TrueNAS supports multiple protocols, including SMB, NFS, and AFP, ensuring integration with various operating systems.
• Two-way Sync: Both make local and NAS file synchronization.

How to make the best TrueNAS rapid setup

1. Get Your Drives Ready: Decide how many drives you need (e.g., 2 for RAID 1, 3 for RAID 5) and put the drives into your TrueNAS server.

2. Open TrueNAS: Use a web browser to go to your TrueNAS IP address and log in.

3. Create a Storage Pool: Click on Storage > Pools and hit Add to create a new pool.

4. Choose RAID Type: Select the drives you want and pick the RAID type (e.g., RAID 1 for backup, RAID 5 for speed and safety). Click Create to finish setting it up.

5. Add Datasets: Click on your new pool and select Add Dataset to organize your data. If you want to share files, go to Sharing and choose SMB or NFS to set it up.

FAQs About TrueNAS Windows Backup

Q1: Can I access TrueNAS backups remotely?

A1:Yes, TrueNAS supports remote access through various protocols, allowing you to manage and retrieve backups from anywhere with an internet connection.

Q2: Can you use TrueNAS without RAID?

A2: TrueNAS operates solely on the ZFS file system, which means you can't simply use your disks without first transferring your data. You would need to format the disks to ZFS and then reimport your data. While you can create storage pools using single disks, I recommend setting up a RAIDZ1 pool with separate datasets for data from different drives.

Q: Does TrueNAS require a lot of RAM?

A3: For typical file-sharing tasks, 32 GB of RAM should be enough. However, if you're planning to run multiple applications, jails, or virtual machines, you may need more memory.

Closing thoughts

Now you know how to automatically perform TrueNAS Windows backup with the best freeware – AOMEI Backupper Standard. It can help you backup the system as well as disk, partition, or selected files to NAS like Synology and TrueNAS.

In addition, AOMEI Backupper is more than a backup software, it is a professional and comprehensive sync, clone, and restore tool. You can use the Clone feature to migrate your Windows 11 to a hard drive, or it can assist you in wiping an external hard drive. It is worth trying you can’t miss it!