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Amazing news. I just hope adding HexOS Local will be seamless and won't require a fresh install/rebuild!

This I don’t get. Let’s say I have immich up and running on my HexOS server which is BuddyBackup’ed at my buddy. Now my house burns down. Can I not just build a new server, put HexOS on it and restore from the BuddyBackup including applications and the data? Aren’t the images in immich not just “App data”? Same thing with paperless etc. Thanks for answering questions of us not tech savvy people!

Just here to say - you guys are awesome and thanks for keeping your promises! I'm perfectly fine with deck and enjoy being able to pull up the stats quickly anywhere I am, but local hosting is so important to this community, so thank you.

Hello, I have had a HexOS license since the linus video and tested around with it in a VM, but as it was then it was missing features I needed. One of them being Local UI. The thing is, I run my systems firewalled off from the internet, I expected when local UI would release to come pre-installed on the ISO and to remove the need for online connectivity completely, however from the blog post I don't really see that being the case. I may be an extreme case, but I would prefer not having that kind of requirement. I understand this is for license activation reasons, so I would like to ask if there is any option planned for offline activation and by extension offline provisioning. If not, I would at least like to see being able to just connect to the internet briefly to claim and install the local UI, then going offline and setting up initial configuration through a secure channel (Call me paranoid, a cable from laptop to server is a cable from laptop to server. The only server I trust is one I can access with an IP starting with 172.16, so at the very worst, I would expect to be able to activate and then firewall off to do the setup).

This would require the app data folders themselves to be encrypted. Not impossible to do, but may not be with the first iteration of buddy backup. Definitely something we could consider!

With Back Up Buddy, will I be able to backup applications and vm's so I can restore them anywhere? I'm very hesitant to start hosting applications until there's a way that I can ensure the app data is safely backed up and restoreable. The hope for this feature is essentially what brought me to HexOS.

I think the way this would work is by having two virtual networks (bridges) on the NAS. A network switch but virtual. One sends all outbound traffic through a VPN and the other through your regular network. So apps like a torrent You might plug into the VPN switch and the others you'd plug into the regular switch. So all apps would be supported. Only question would be what VPNs are supported. But then again, some support open standards like OpenVPN or Wireguard so you'd be able to connect a few different options by just implementing them.

So the difference really comes down to the account you use to login and manage each system . if you want to give someone else access to manage one of the systems. If the license is on your account, you have to give them your login. Otherwise, buying on a seperate account you have to give them the seperate login. The latter not being as cheap as the former.

How did this get fixed? I'm looking for an option to change my email for the reason.

OMG, I totally see the confusion now. I have edited that post and reworded it to be more clear. TrueNAS has no built-in means to do backups as part of their OS unless you consider rsync cron jobs/replication tasks as "backup". They don't facilitate the connection between servers or even setup the SSH permissions for you (you have to do all of that yourself). This is where our solution takes things a step further. We intend to make the experience much simpler. First you "friend" someone else that is a HexOS user (if you're doing the "buddy" approach). Then you will grant that user "permission" to backup to your system (and set a quota). Then they accept the request and authorize the backup in return (if you're doing that). Then we do the rest (establishing a secure VPN tunnel between systems, creating appropriate SSH users and handling the key exchange, etc.). You'll definitely be able to leverage the buddy backup system between two systems licensed under the same account. That would be silly of us to prohibit or unnecessarily complicate. I get the confusion. Buddy backup is just the marquee feature name for our backup solution between two servers. Every server needs a license. So if you and a buddy want to backup, you both have to have your own licenses under your own accounts. If you have two licenses for two systems under 1 account, you can use the same "buddy backup" system to handle that job as well. Apologies for muddying the water on my initial response. I can see how that had some folks confused, but I hope this clarifies.

NordVPN ExpressVPN Surfshark ProtonVPN Private Internet Access (PIA) CyberGhost Mullvad VyprVPN TunnelBear WireGuard OpenVPN

HexOS would greatly improve by offering VPN services as curated one‑click apps, similar to Jellyfin or Nextcloud. Support for all major commercial VPNs with GUI and their signature features: NordVPN (Meshnet & dedicated IP), ExpressVPN, Surfshark, ProtonVPN, Private Internet Access (PIA), CyberGhost, Mullvad, VyprVPN, TunnelBear, and others. Support for open‑source solutions: WireGuard and OpenVPN. One‑click installation and configuration without complex manual steps. Option to route traffic from specific containers or apps through the chosen VPN, or all server traffic via VPN or a dedicated IP (useful for game servers). Include key features offered by these VPNs, such as a killswitch to block traffic if the VPN connection drops (preventing leaks), split tunneling, multi‑hop, obfuscation, and other advanced options. Ideally, make all NordVPN features available, since NordVPN is widely used and unique features like Meshnet are especially valuable for secure access outside the home network. This would enhance usability, privacy, and flexibility. If these features are implemented, I am ready to migrate my TrueNAS pools to HexOS.

1 system/installation requires 1 license. And Buddy Backup is between 2 systems requiring a license each. The owner doesn't matter all you need to have is 2 Hexos installations/servers therefor 2 licence in total and you are good to go for buddy backup.

I think we are mostly on the same page with your response so let me throw out some scenarios to make sure we are all clear. 1) I was not a lifetime owner. I bought the $199 because I want to own a NAS and am joining the Beta though pretty late. I am now the proud owner of a HexOS NAS. and have built a machine and loaded the product. 1 license on 1 account and 1 server. 2) I see the two server option $298 option. That is equal to the original $99 deal plus the $199 current and long standing post black friday 2024 advertised price. I have 2 licenses on 1 account and up to 2 servers either physical or virtual including a mix of the two. If I don't know about the original black friday sale I simply see a (currently) full price license and a packaged reduced option for a second. 3) I bought in at the original black friday price and want a second license for another server. I am also 2 licenses on 1 account because there was no way to buy a second $99 black friday license on any account but the original. 4) People with vision (not me) who bought multiple licenses. Not sure I will get this right so please strike out what is incorrect. Those folks would have 2 licenses on 1 account. 5) Same as four except they bought multiple licenses on multiple accounts. For simplicity let's call it 2 licenses on 2 account. Assuming all these are valid (and someone exercised the options) it appears the buddy backup definition is really the hangup. I only see one reference to the buddy backup on the HexOS.com website (and no folks, I did not do an exhaustive search looking for more information). The site says "Buddy backups and replication Easily transfer data between two HexOS systems. Backup your data to a friend’s remote server using a secure connection". Since it only says systems and not licenses or accounts, I think that is a little confusing when held up against your above statement "The additional licenses is for users that want to setup multiple systems of their own, not for buddy backups.". I am guessing the confusion may simply be how will the buddy backup be executed. I believe TrueNAS already has ways to do backups. As well there are lots of apps that will do it if I say I don't like the way TrueNAS does it. So going out on a limb here I hope this backup is seup in the dashboard by identifying the second system. I hope it is along the line of I list the second license I want to backup to and when built (of course) I do the same in reverse order listing license 1 to connect to. I am setting aside encryption and size allocation because that is secondary to me but it must be managed somewhere. If it's account and license in that crosslinking process that will complicate or possibly eliminate the backup buddy option. I believe that is what we loyal but extremely ambitious are trying to understand. Is backup buddy system to system, license to license or account to account. Oh and for clarity I am thinking my userid or email represents my account and something else is my license. The statements that the second $99 license is not for backup buddy but you can be your own backup buddy (as sad as that sounds) might just need clarification in the future like before the sale ends for those just seeing this conversation and thinking I didn't think about being my own backup buddy. Way more than enough said and I will bow out now.

Forgive me, but I'm really confused by what you're saying, which means there is clearly a disconnect in our marketing language and understanding with customers as well and I want to get to the bottom of that. Let's try some clarification here: Buddy backup is a feature that will allow two HexOS users (customers) to backup to each other's server in an encrypted fashion. There is no reason you cannot be your own buddy with a second license (e.g. you buy a second server license and put a server at a secondary location). If someone bought two licenses during black friday under two separate accounts, each account can backup to each other just the same (and if they want to merge those two accounts, we can handle that for the user). With this sale, however, we are not allowing someone to buy a second license to transfer to another user (as it would open the door to reselling licenses which we don't support). I get that the term "buddy backup" may not clearly identify that you can be your own buddy, but we thought it would be fairly obvious that if you could backup to someone else on a separate account, you could also backup to yourself on the same account. I think we could loosen the "encryption" requirement in the case of backups between two servers owned by the same account, but that's more of a technical detail than marketing. Let me know what's still unclear or how we can do better on the language here. Sometimes we can be a little too close to the trees to see the forest, so if you can help give us a better perspective, we'll work to improve our messaging in the marketing. Thanks!

No, you're good! That's a very common use case!

Let's let Eshtek sort that out before we make to many assumptions. I think lots of people had that thought but may not have jumped on it. I had the same thought but was to cheap. Have you activated both licenses?

So If I am understanding this, if the second server is in a relatives house it is not their independent account but rather is is another server under the same login. So I don't think we can use the term "buddy backup" unless you are saying each server can allocate an encrypted space on the other that can't be accessed. I think that will be the terminology sticking point. I must say when I first saw the option to buy a second $99 NAS server I myself thought I could setup up a buddy backup as well at a relatives home but wasn't sure it could be used as a full independent server by that relative because they are not going to want to go down the NAS path. I am guessing a lot of people will have that same thought and if i am still being honest I think Eshtek realized that would be the reason many folks would go for that option. So, let's be clear and careful about the use of the term "buddy backup". Can it be a remote backup? Yes. You have already told me above that it can. But can it be a buddy backup? It sounds like no, not really as defined in the sales materials. Now, as for that person who bought two accounts during the original black friday sale. I can see them having a legit issue because I believe I have seen them say that is why they got the two accounts in other forum posts a while back. If this is true it should have been stated then that multiple servers on one account can't be true buddy backups. I don't really have a horse in this race because I want another server that will be my 'media available outside my home' through Plex or Jellyfin and Immich.

Buddy backup will definitely work with two licenses under the same account. You will be your own buddy 😉

I am an idiot😅 Way back, I bought two licenses because I thought I could then build a second server, install it at my parents' house that my dad could use for picture storage, and have a buddy back up to and from that second server.

So, Buddy Backup only works for different users? I bought 2 licenses a year ago to be able to do buddy backup with myself, so that's not possible? I would need to fall back to Replication Task over SSH ?

@oliver12 taking a guess, i think it would probably "work", except it would only have one account on both. So at that point it's just your backup on offsite machine, rather than a backup to a buddies machine who also happens to be offsite. If you wanted to gift this machine so that your parents could have their own, you'd need to give them your account at which point they could also access the machine you have.

Wait, so if I have two licenses under my account I can't put my second server at eg my parents home for a offsite backup and sync via BuddyBackup?