UnRAID on a UGREEN NAS – INSTALLATION GUIDE

Last updated on 11 Jul 2024 📧 Subscribe
Contents hide
1 A Step-by-Step Guide to Running UnRAID on a Ugreen NAS
2 What You Need:
3 Preparation:
3.1 1. Backup Data:
3.2 2. Prepare the NAS:
3.3 3. Download Necessary Tools:
3.4 4. Create a Bootable USB:
3.5 5. Setup the NAS for Installation:
3.6 6. Boot and Enter BIOS:
3.7 7. Boot UnRAID:
3.8 8. Complete Installation:
3.9 9. Access and Configure UnRAID:
3.10 Additional Resources:
4 Alternative Way to Install a Third-Party OS on a Ugreen NAS
4.1 Initial Setup Using Ugreen NAS GUI:
4.2 Modifying UGOS and BIOS:
4.3 Installing UnRAID:
5 Need Advice on Data Storage from an Expert?

A Step-by-Step Guide to Running UnRAID on a Ugreen NAS

Running UnRAID on a Ugreen NAS provides a flexible, feature-rich solution for managing your storage needs. This guide will walk you through the process of setting up UnRAID on your Ugreen NAS, from initial preparation and data backup to BIOS configuration and final setup. Unlike other operating systems, UnRAID runs directly from a USB drive, eliminating the need for an OS drive. Additionally, we provide an alternative method for installing third-party operating systems using the Ugreen NAS GUI and BIOS modifications.

Important – The UGREEN NAS Software is still in its first year of active development, following several months of Kickstarter crowdfunding. Therefore, the software is still in its early stages of development. It is a decent NAS operating system that the manufacturer assures users will see more and more AAA+ features added to it in a planned roadmap. So, I recommend taking some time with the UGOS NAS software before making a switch to a third-party OS. Additionally, UGREEN has made it clear that choosing to use a third-party NAS OS will not invalidate your hardware warranty, as long as the software does not negatively impact the hardware (e.g., overclocking the CPU to fry it, disabling fans, and harming the internal components through overheating, etc.).

What You Need:

  • Ugreen NAS system
  • USB drive (at least 8GB recommended)
  • HDMI output cable
  • Keyboard (and optionally, a mouse)
  • USB docking station or splitter (recommended)

Preparation:

Ensure you have all the necessary tools and components before starting the installation.

1. Backup Data:

  • Access Ugreen NAS settings:
    • Login to the Ugreen NAS management interface.

  • Backup configuration and data:
    • Backup configuration to a local file or Ugreen cloud.
    • Use the Backup and Sync tool or the Net Tool to back up files to OneDrive, another remote NAS, or another Ugreen NAS system.
  • Ensure all critical data is securely backed up to prevent data loss during the installation process.

2. Prepare the NAS:

  • Decide on OS SSD usage:
  • If you plan to use the existing SSD for other purposes, ensure it is properly backed up.

  • If replacing, open the NAS and remove the SSD if you do not wish to use it for UnRAID storage.

  • Refer to specific guides for your model (2-bay, 4-bay, etc.) to dismantle the NAS and access the SSD if needed. Ugreen models typically use a 2280 SSD, while smaller models may use a 2242 SSD.

3. Download Necessary Tools:

  • Download UnRAID USB Creator:

4. Create a Bootable USB:

  • Insert the USB drive into your PC.

  • Open UnRAID USB Creator:
    • Launch the UnRAID USB Creator tool.
    • Select the USB drive in the “Device” dropdown.
    • Click “SELECT” and choose the UnRAID version you wish to install.
    • Leave other settings at their default and click “WRITE” to create the bootable USB.
  • Safely remove the USB drive after the process completes.

5. Setup the NAS for Installation:

  • Insert the bootable USB into the Ugreen NAS.
  • Connect the NAS to a monitor using an HDMI cable.
  • Connect a keyboard (and mouse if available).
  • Connect the NAS to a network via an Ethernet cable. <— IMPORTANT! Otherwise the software will not create a dynamic IP for your first time access (can change later)

6. Boot and Enter BIOS:

  • Power on the NAS and repeatedly press the F12 and Delete keys to enter BIOS.

  • Disable the Watchdog timer:

  • Navigate to the “Advanced” tab.
  • Locate the “Watchdog Timer” option and disable it to prevent the system from shutting down during installation.
  • Note – if you are running the i5 UGREEN NAS systems, the Watchdog option might be in the ‘FAST’ tab – see below:

  • Change the boot order:
    • Navigate to the “Boot” tab.
    • Set the USB drive as the first boot option.

OPTIONAL –  IF you want to keep the internal UGREEN NAS OS on the internal SSD, but do not want to risk ‘overwriting it’ or booting from it in error, you can DISABLE the SSD bay in the BIOS

7. Boot UnRAID:

  • Save BIOS settings and reboot.

  • The system should boot from the USB and start the UnRAID initialization process.

  • Follow the on-screen instructions to set up UnRAID, including network configuration and storage setup.

8. Complete Installation:

  • Reboot the system after the initial setup.
  • Ensure the NAS is connected to the network for easier access.

9. Access and Configure UnRAID:

  • Once rebooted, UnRAID should be accessible on the network.
  • Use a web browser on a PC connected to the same network to find the NAS IP address.
    • Example: Open a browser and enter http://<NAS_IP_ADDRESS>.

  • Complete the UnRAID setup:
    • Create storage pools.
    • Configure shares and other settings as needed.

Additional Resources:

  • Detailed instructions and troubleshooting:
    • Refer to guides provided in the video description above
    • Check specific Ugreen NAS model guides for dismantling and SSD replacement.

By following these steps, you should be able to run UnRAID on your Ugreen NAS efficiently.

Alternative Way to Install a Third-Party OS on a Ugreen NAS

If you want the system to boot into BIOS without having to spam the Ctl+F12 keys, you can arrange this via the UGREEN UGOS NAS software GUI. Below outlines an alternative method to install a third-party OS (e.g., UnRAID or TrueNAS) on a Ugreen NAS using both the Ugreen NAS GUI and BIOS modifications. You will still need a Keyboard/Video output, however, later on:

Initial Setup Using Ugreen NAS GUI:

  • Power on and connect the NAS:
    • Connect your NAS to a monitor via HDMI.
    • Connect a keyboard and mouse to the NAS.
    • Connect the NAS to your network via an Ethernet cable.
  • Download the Ugreen app:
    • Install the Ugreen app on your mobile device (available on iOS and Android).
  • Initialize the NAS:
    • Open the Ugreen app and follow the prompts to initialize your NAS.
    • Set an admin account and configure basic settings.
    • Skip setting up a Ugreen Cloud account if not needed.
  • Enable SSH Access:
    • In the Ugreen NAS GUI, go to Control Panel.
    • Navigate to Terminal and enable SSH access.

Modifying UGOS and BIOS:

  • Access the NAS via SSH:
    • On your PC, open Command Prompt.
    • Type ssh [username]@[NAS IP] and press Enter.
    • Type yes if prompted to continue connecting.
    • Enter the NAS user password when prompted.
  • Identify the Boot Partition:
    • In the SSH session, type lsblk to list block devices.
    • Identify the nvme drive with the boot partition (usually labeled as nvme0n1p1).
  • Gain Superuser Access:
    • Type sudo su and press Enter.
    • Enter your password when prompted.
  • Mount the Boot Partition:
    • Type mkdir /mnt/nvme_efi and press Enter to create a mount directory.
    • Type mount /dev/nvme0n1p1 /mnt/nvme_efi and press Enter (replace nvme0n1p1 with your actual partition name).
  • Rename EFI Directory:
    • Type cd /mnt/nvme_efi and press Enter.
    • Type ls to list the directory contents.
    • Type mv EFI EFI_RENAME and press Enter to rename the EFI directory.
    • Type ls again to confirm the directory has been renamed.
  • Reboot to BIOS:
    • Type reboot and press Enter.
    • The NAS should reboot and enter the UEFI setup screen.
  • Disable Watchdog Control in BIOS:
    • Navigate to the Advanced tab.
    • Select Watchdog Settings.
    • Disable Watchdog Control to prevent the system from rebooting every 3 minutes if UGOS is not detected.

Installing UnRAID:

  • Prepare UnRAID Bootable USB:
    • For UnRAID: Create a bootable UnRAID USB drive using the UnRAID USB Creator tool on your PC.
    • UnRAID USB will load the NAS software into the system cache/memory.
  • Insert Bootable USB:
    • Plug the UnRAID USB drive into the NAS.
  • Save BIOS Changes and Reboot:
    • Save the BIOS changes and reboot the NAS.
    • The NAS should now boot from the USB drive and start the UnRAID initialization process.

By following these steps, you should be able to run UnRAID on your Ugreen NAS efficiently.

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      99 thoughts on “UnRAID on a UGREEN NAS – INSTALLATION GUIDE”

      2. Amazing video. Thanks so much for this. I have the same nvme nas from Ugreen. I found their docker & virtualization software very lacking. And I wanted to run unraid on it instead since it’s so much better and has mountains of community support. Your video gave me the assurance and instruction to do it!
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      5. For anyone wondering (DXP4800 Plus):

        Yes, you have to tear the warranty sticker when changing the OS SSD.
        Why the outer case won’t come off when changing the OS SSD – it’s because of the damn spring in the RAM section.

        (there are a total of 16 screws that need removing)
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      7. Why not just boot a live Linux system and create an image copy with dd from the internal SSD before overwriting it? This way you should be easily able to roll back whenever you like, right? You could even start that vanilla uGreen OS from an external USB drive whenever you want.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      13. You know, I just can’t help getting the feeling that doing a preinstall of truenas would have just been a better option. I get why they did it from a market/business perspective, but it feels like until the segment was more built and mature for them, sticking truenas or unraid (though, unraid has its own cons related to annual/lifetime license charges) as the os would have been a wiser move initially. They could have then taken the first several models as they grew to understand what is wanted and better tailor an os to the market instead of charging off first run like this.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      15. Now I want to go back to UGOS, but I’m not sure how to undo step “4.2 Modifying UGOS and BIOS”. Does anyone have any idea or experience with the file system? What are the steps to undo /mnt/nvme_efi etc.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      23. These other companies are holding us up with a tier system. Ugreen has seen a massive hole in these companies holding us to ransom and not giving the consumer what they want at a reasonable price . Too many variants without top end performance . Things have changed now spinning hard-drive are becoming more affordable. All I want is the highest spec CPU for 4k plex, with high end expendability for memory, cache ,and ethernet . It doesnt need to be high end memory etc at time of purchase because we can always upgrade. It is that simple. High end chip with expandability at consumers expense .
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      24. Hi there @nascompares. Love your videos… They’re super informative and unbiased. I see that Ugreen NAS are hitting the market (can be purchased in Germany now). Are you planning an updated review with the production version of UGOS? Have you heard of any planned updates or features now that sales have started? Thanks a lot!
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      25. Ugreen have put the NAS’ up for sale on at least their german shop, with a 10% discount. Meaning the DXP4800 is 540€ after discount and the DXP4800 Plus is 720€ , which makes them collide with Terramaster F4-424 and F4-424 Pro. Comparing the Ugreen plus to the F4 pro , i would prefer the more mature Terramaster software , and probably the N305 , over the 4800 Plus ????
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      26. Hi!, is there any way i can encrypt the data in the hard drives. in case the hard disk is removed all data is readable. that’s the only reason i am trying to switch to different Nas OS.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      27. Anyone else worried about the “custom” Ugreen Linux kernel? This discovery is what made me cancel my order. As someone who works in cyber security, this is very concerning coming from a Chinese company. Please don’t take this the wrong way, there are cyber attacks every day coming from China, and pretty much none coming from Taiwan, where most other NAS companies are based.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      29. Excellent Video! You are my go-to guy when it comes to everything NAS. Could you please make a dedicated video on best security settings to follow in trunas scale? Basically how to lock it down or prevent it being hacked or preventing unwanted access? It would really help a lot of us using this os.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      31. I can’t find a way to sync folders from my ugreen to external usb. Looking I only see rsync nas to nas. Has anyone found a way to back up your folder shares to USB drive?
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      34. Strange request for a Ugreen NAS video. Showcase how to run Plex using content on an external hard drive. I current am out of space and am using this as a temporary stopgap until I size up.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      38. I actually think a video covering how to backup the UGreen UGOS Pro OS would helpful to a lot of UGreen NAS owners looking to migrate away from UGOS but still retain the ability to go back. Also a UGOS image could be useful for running it in a VM.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      39. The writing is on the wall for Synology and QNAP. The pace of improvement of UGREEN is very promising. Finally a competitor that’s not trying to sell 5-10 year old hardware like the newest and greatest.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      42. It’s not available yet anywhere. Maybe give it 3 months more???? The hardware is otherwise pretty decent. Can they actually do anything if people just installs TrueNas or Unraid on it instead of the lackluster software it comes with ?
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      44. great video, I have install unraid to my DXP480T Plus and the Unraid is not able to recognize and display my thunderbolt 3 ssd case. is is any method to solve this problem? thank you.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      49. The UGos got today a really big update, with a lot of improvements in all the Apps and a new online document app. might be worth it soon to check it out 🙂
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      52. https://nas.ugreen.com/pages/downloads
        Check under your model and Firmware tab – Seems like the UGOS is maybe there.
        Not .iso but it’s a .img and seems to refer to latest version.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      55. ok why buy one of those COTS NAS device and then put a different OS on it, the main part of the cost on those is the software. A DIY NAS would be cheaper and have higher performance.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      56. Soon … switching my previous setup (jonsbo n3 with unraid) for this all-flash baby! Just thinking about installing Nas OS on top of proxmox 🙂
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      65. Bought the 8 bay in KS, booted their OS once just to check around, then immediately installed TrueNAS Scale because they don’t have the features I need yet, iSCSI and a few others. Very happy with the system though, 8 16TB HDDs with NVME cache.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      66. Bought the 8 bay in KS, booted their OS once just to check around, then immediately installed TrueNAS Scale because they don’t have the features I need yet, iSCSI and a few others. Very happy with the system though, 8 16TB HDDs with NVME cache.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      67. I bought the 6 Bay / DXP6800, haven’t even opened it yet. Will wait a couple more months before I do to save myself from the first round of bugs / limited OS challenges. I am brand new to NAS and don’t have the comfort level to run / install TrueNAS, UNRAID, etc.. Thanks for the update video!
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      68. I bought the 6 Bay / DXP6800, haven’t even opened it yet. Will wait a couple more months before I do to save myself from the first round of bugs / limited OS challenges. I am brand new to NAS and don’t have the comfort level to run / install TrueNAS, UNRAID, etc.. Thanks for the update video!
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      69. Still not available to buy, and some complaints from people who haven’t yet received their Nas – I can’t see whether that is 1% or 10%, and I think they made it too complicated with that whole discount the $5 reservation fee thingy, and having to fill out forms with address, etc. I’m looking forward to seeing where they expand availability – hint: pick me, pick me, pick the UK. I need iSCSI but I don’t suppose that is in yet. It’s early so we have no idea if the h/w is reliable, but all their other h/w seems very reliable.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      74. So far almost unusable. New errors are added every day. There are a lot of complaints in the Facebook group and on the Discord. Often the whole raid breaks down and cannot be restored. The support ignores requests. I am currently very unhappy with this.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      75. Great summary of the OS so far, I decided to keep using the UGOS instead of using an 3rd party. However, you’ve missed that the connection to active directory doesn’t work and that fine for home users but for homelabs and businesses it’s major oversight.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      77. I would never use it since I don`t have a use case for a prebuild NAS like this, but if i had one I would be very please with this. Looking at it being their first try on NAS Systems from a company that was not in that business before is quite good and sure, a lot of things aren’t there yet, but as long as the support and development continues, that’s mostly fine with me. I will follow their development and maybe in the future I`ll even recommend them to my friends
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      80. It looks like it works well if used as a basic file sharing storage locally

        But those promised/soon/will be there/in progress functions seem still not there “yet” ????

        There is even no timetable for those things

        If just need a basic storage device there are many options in the market
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      81. Great update video, do wish ugreen had more useful apps. Is it possible u can do a video on how to install tailsacle thru docker on the ugreen NAS?
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      85. I picked up the 4 bay “pro” model. I have only used it to host some SMB shares and for those its run flawlessly. I am very happy with it, but my usage is pretty limited.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      88. Haven’t seen it done yet, but will this run Xpenology? The hardware seems to be a great value, but hearing about shared keys and lack of proper security features worries me. This could be the perfect host for gray-market Synology DSM! And I do realize that’s very much a gray area since DSM isn’t properly open-sourced – though it possibly should be.
        But licensing aside, will it run?
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      89. One of the huge drawbacks is that they override permissions on the homedir every reboot. This makes SSH unusable with keys, only password! I asked the support and got a response that nothing they can do about permission change on the .ssh directory, that’s by design.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      92. I hate seagulls! But I will admit the YouTube algorithm loves them.
        I am waiting to purchase enough drives to fill my 6 bay up, but hopefully soon I can replace two of my Synology NAS with this running TrueNAS. I appreciate your updates on the Ugreen software.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      93. I don’t trust them. They added and removed links to NAS from their homepage with no indication of a wider release to the public. I’ll wait for the next Asustor and Qnap offerings
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      97. iSCSI LUN support wouldn’t go amiss either. Support for accessing external (USB and Thunderbolt) storage with MacOS Finder and Windows Explorer (not just through UGOS) is a sorely missed feature.
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE

      99. Happy owner of a UGREEN NAS, great hardware????!
        The software is nice but lacks essential features like encryption and snapshots.

        I recommend installing TrueNAS Scale, you don’t need to open the device, and I’ve backed up the original OS on a USB stick.
        Zero risk, TrueNAS is 100x better for advances users ????
        REPLY ON YOUTUBE