Todd Miller Posted May 10 Posted May 10 Hmm. How many folks here have ever been through a large scale beta test before? This seems normal or perhaps even a little fast if you read the errors in the forums. Over the last three days have had to completely rebuild my HexOS server when it stopped connecting or allowing other things to connect. Was it a HexOS issue? I don't know as I was looking through pictures in the Immich web UI when I lost all connections. Did I need to rebuild the whole server? Well, I did because I don't know the first thing about TrueNas and some of the longest running forum threads are connections issues. This isn't a phone game that we will play for a few months then move on to the new hotness. I'm approaching 60 years old and I hope this product is built to outlast me! I won't begrudge anyone a frustration rant but to me that's all they are because I think FangerZero hit the nail square on the head with their last line above. And multi million dollar projects become zero dollar projects when you don't have a rock solid base. Now all that being said, would you folks hurry up! The natives are getting restless. 4
freddan Posted May 10 Posted May 10 Hello all, How to disable the HexOS service?I want to disable the service until something happenings, or anything useful is released regarding the HexOS project, I want to be up-to-date with the TrueNAS-releases. If/when something to happens with HexOS, I’ll turn it back on again. Zero benefits using HexOS currently.
Sonic Posted May 10 Posted May 10 Via deck.hexos.com you can go to settings and then go to reset. There is an option to disconnect the server. But at the moment there is no option in HexOs to reconnect your server. I am not sure, but I think that importing an existing pool in HexOs is on the roadmap. So the disclaimer is: you can disconnect but not reconnect your HexOs server. Probably there will be an option to reconnect a Truenas server to HexOs, but it's not sure this feature will be delivered soon. 38 minutes ago, freddan said: Hello all, How to disable the HexOS service?I want to disable the service until something happenings, or anything useful is released regarding the HexOS project, I want to be up-to-date with the TrueNAS-releases. If/when something to happens with HexOS, I’ll turn it back on again. Zero benefits using HexOS currently.
dsmonteiro Posted May 12 Posted May 12 (edited) I bought into the hype, not because Linus said HexOS said it was good, but because I wanted an OS that gave me a hands-off approach. I knew I was getting access to a paid beta, not a final product. But 6 months in and one of the biggest sells — easy to install apps — still has no developments. What's worse, this is likely the thing that would most benefit from a beta test. Instead, we've only seen tiny updates that don't really give much confidence that this project will ever see a 1.0 release. The MIA for months approach doesn't help either. In these 6 months, instead of settling in with HexOS and moving away from the "complicated" Unraid, I've moved on towards even more advanced setups, deploying 3 servers (and soon a fourth) that are fully headless, and remote. I went further deep into the rabbit hole, learning more about networking, remote management, and CLI. As I gain more skills, HexOS continues to lose its appeal and, at this point, I feel like I will end up with a HexOS license that I'll have no use for, but that I can't share with anyone. If you sell the idea of a "community" and "early access" and ask people to take a leap of faith before a product is even out there, the least you can do is communicate properly. I'm sure your team is stretched thin and no one is asking you to waste developers' time answering queries. But COMMUNICATION IS A MUST. One thing is certain. If I wasn't sure if getting a 99€ license was the right call, getting a second license at the full price is definitely out of the question and I don't really see myself advocating for anyone to do it. That means that buddy backup — the second feature I was really looking forward to — no longer has any value. GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER. Edited May 12 by dsmonteiro 1 1
ehrie Posted May 12 Posted May 12 To me what's become apparent is the offer six months ago was less buy into a beta(I really don't think anybody with a straight face can call no released builds in six months an actual beta) and more a Kickstarter. Given what HexOS as a company has done in the last six months I think bears that out. 1
TwoStroke Posted May 12 Posted May 12 5 hours ago, dsmonteiro said: I knew I was getting access to a paid beta, not a final product. But 6 months in and one of the biggest sells — easy to install apps — still has no developments. What's worse, this is likely the thing that would most benefit from a beta test. This is my biggest concern, especially given that they're intending to allow community app curation. The apps need to be working and working seamlessly before they release "1.0", and given that the curation templates are slated for Q3 this year and launch is also "This year", I am very concerned at their timeline. To me, this is the biggest feature that HexOS has, easy installation of apps & VMs (coming soon tm). Now that Fangtooth has been out a few months, I assume they're probably targeting a 25.10 version as the upgrade path for HexOS, instead of 25.04. To me, even if they miss the 1.0 release this year, that's OK. Don't officially launch it too early, because that's how people become disappointed in the product. All of us are here because we understood that this was a Beta. Community engagement and updates on progress is all that we require. 2
FangerZero Posted May 12 Posted May 12 1 hour ago, TwoStroke said: This is my biggest concern, especially given that they're intending to allow community app curation. The apps need to be working and working seamlessly before they release "1.0", and given that the curation templates are slated for Q3 this year and launch is also "This year", I am very concerned at their timeline. To me, this is the biggest feature that HexOS has, easy installation of apps & VMs (coming soon tm). Now that Fangtooth has been out a few months, I assume they're probably targeting a 25.10 version as the upgrade path for HexOS, instead of 25.04. To me, even if they miss the 1.0 release this year, that's OK. Don't officially launch it too early, because that's how people become disappointed in the product. All of us are here because we understood that this was a Beta. Community engagement and updates on progress is all that we require. You make a very good point. If I were them I DEFINITELY wouldn't be releasing until AFTER more apps are available. That tbh is what I've been waiting for the most. All these other little features I don't care so much about. Even buddy backup. I can't really suggest HexOS until it has more value to offer in terms of installable apps. I for one didn't need a NAS I just wanted it for the apps that I have no idea how to get running on TrueNAS like JellyFin and ROMM. There were a few bonus apps that were easy enough to setup in TrueNAS though some of it isn't fully there since I don't understand and the guides are not noob friendly.
jonp Posted May 13 Author Posted May 13 Hey guys. Apologies for the lack of comms on our side. We've been very heads down and focused on the Q2 update and planning for our first team offsite meeting in June. I'm working on a blog post for this week with more information and planning a regular schedule to provide updates more consistently. Regarding the pace of progress, something to keep in mind. We built Eshtek on a bootstrapped budget to avoid the temptation of taking big VC money and forced to race for an exit. That's how products become enshittified as we've seen with so many over the years. We were very deliberate and intentional in our partnerships and investors. We're in this for the long haul. But doing this still comes at a cost. Yes our Black Friday launch was wildly more successful than we could have hoped, but an influx of cash has a delayed effect to benefitting productivity within a business. Once you get it, you have to make sure it stays (refunds) and you have to be smart about how you spend it (services, tools, people, etc.). Then it takes time to make all of those things work well for you. If we would have taken a couple million back in 2022 when we incorporated, we'd already be at 1.0, but we'd also not have as much control over the business and our vision. I don't blame anyone for their comments. HexOS is very light right now. Apps are badly needed to improve. Fully agreed. We released it when we did to prove the concept and that we have the chops to build this thing. It gave us more than enough capital to get there and we immediately reinvested that extra capital to not only expand our team faster than planned, but to expand our roadmap in ways we haven't even publicly disclosed yet. I guess this is a long way of asking you all to have faith and I will do better at providing more frequent updates and not leaving you in the dark for so long. Thank you. 16 10
FangerZero Posted May 14 Posted May 14 (edited) 7 hours ago, jonp said: Hey guys. Apologies for the lack of comms on our side. We've been very heads down and focused on the Q2 update and planning for our first team offsite meeting in June. I'm working on a blog post for this week with more information and planning a regular schedule to provide updates more consistently. Regarding the pace of progress, something to keep in mind. We built Eshtek on a bootstrapped budget to avoid the temptation of taking big VC money and forced to race for an exit. That's how products become enshittified as we've seen with so many over the years. We were very deliberate and intentional in our partnerships and investors. We're in this for the long haul. But doing this still comes at a cost. Yes our Black Friday launch was wildly more successful than we could have hoped, but an influx of cash has a delayed effect to benefitting productivity within a business. Once you get it, you have to make sure it stays (refunds) and you have to be smart about how you spend it (services, tools, people, etc.). Then it takes time to make all of those things work well for you. If we would have taken a couple million back in 2022 when we incorporated, we'd already be at 1.0, but we'd also not have as much control over the business and our vision. I don't blame anyone for their comments. HexOS is very light right now. Apps are badly needed to improve. Fully agreed. We released it when we did to prove the concept and that we have the chops to build this thing. It gave us more than enough capital to get there and we immediately reinvested that extra capital to not only expand our team faster than planned, but to expand our roadmap in ways we haven't even publicly disclosed yet. I guess this is a long way of asking you all to have faith and I will do better at providing more frequent updates and not leaving you in the dark for so long. Thank you. Appreciate the response. I do hope though at some point we get the "green light" of go ahead and use the server like it's production and not test sooner rather than later. Edited May 14 by FangerZero
jonp Posted May 14 Author Posted May 14 10 hours ago, FangerZero said: Appreciate the response. I do hope though at some point we get the "green light" of go ahead and use the server like it's production and not test sooner rather than later. Definitely. Still targeting 1.0 for this year. 1 2
Nukra Posted May 14 Posted May 14 (edited) @jonp i think people just wish for more Communication to see if the Project is still alive. Just share some bits and bobs on what you are currently working on, and how it's going - what are the challenges 🙂 Get the Community involved, lift the curtain a slight bit, so to speak. Edited May 14 by Nukra 6
Dylan Posted May 15 Posted May 15 I suspect that the general technical IQ of our community has been elevated as a direct result of the HexOS development time. We've collectively worked to solve, hack and workaround quite a bit. Just take a look at our DIRECTORY OF GUIDES not to mention the wealth of posts with amazing feedback. All of this will enable future users access to information that will help solve THEIR issues. (always plan to make life better for future you) But I also get it. We've been in this for 6 months, we've paid and we're still in for additional dev time. I wonder if the expectation of NOW is larger than the idea of investment towards a greater good. Perhaps. Your money, time, patience, experience and tolerance is different from mine. No better. No worse. I post this not to advocate for or against any situation you are trying to solve by using HexOS. Only offer my own perspective that I think this will be a fun ride. Like anything else worth learning it will be fraught with frustration, elation and growth. A ride I feel is worth the price of admission. This is the ground floor and I'm enjoying contributing and seeing others contribute towards a novel, innovative solution. One that may take more time than I'd like. But it's not about me. It's about the journey. Respect to all. 2
TwoStroke Posted May 15 Posted May 15 1 hour ago, Dylan said: We've collectively worked to solve, hack and workaround quite a bit. Just take a look at our DIRECTORY OF GUIDES not to mention the wealth of posts with amazing feedback. All of this will enable future users access to information that will help solve THEIR issues. (always plan to make life better for future you) My disappointment is that a lot of the guides we have built should specifically not be required once HexOS is actually in it's fully functional state - Apps should just work, things like implementing TailScale should be as simple as clicking a few buttons, etc. We also haven't *really* been solving, hacking or working around within HexOS, we have just been.. doing things in TrueNAS? Which I understand is the same thing, but also not. We're essentially using this community as a TrueNAS noobs community, which we all are, and learning TrueNAS instead of helping provide feedback on the development of HexOS, which is what I think all of us here actually want to do! I can't wait for the Q3 update and to see what this community comes up with then, because I think that will be a great time to be involved here & all our current knowledge of TrueNAS will be very useful in working out how to get apps running within HexOS.
Duncan Innes Posted May 15 Posted May 15 11 hours ago, jonp said: Definitely. Still targeting 1.0 for this year. PLEASE make more frequent releases. Monthly preferably. And a roadmap which has more detail than "targeting 1.0 for this year" would be invaluable. Immich do a very simple timeline roadmap. I would personally read every technical detail you could care to write about HexOS, but a simple timeline roadmap would probably go a long way to satisfying most people. The illusion of progress is more satisfying than the illusion of no progress. 3
jonp Posted May 15 Author Posted May 15 1 hour ago, TwoStroke said: My disappointment is that a lot of the guides we have built should specifically not be required once HexOS is actually in it's fully functional state I totally hear you, but please don't see any of those guides as wasted efforts! They accelerate our ability to bug fix, troubleshoot, and improve things. Please know that we read a lot more here than we write here because you guys are just generating valuable content at a breathtaking pace and this forum is a great place for us to mine for data on how various apps and services should work based on your direct experiences with TrueNAS. Case in point, I've been linking the TimeMachine guide to our team to review as they prepare for that feature to make its way to HexOS natively. Other guides will be valuable time-savers for the dev team as well. You guys are just ahead of us on where we're working in the project right now. 3 1
jonp Posted May 15 Author Posted May 15 3 minutes ago, Duncan Innes said: I would personally read every technical detail you could care to write about HexOS, but a simple timeline roadmap would probably go a long way to satisfying most people. We did highlight a bit of what's coming in Q3 and we're doing more Q4 planning soon as well. Honestly I desperately need to hire someone to help with marketing/community management this year. I've been avoiding pulling the trigger to keep all capital towards development, but comms are getting away from me and I can feel it in these posts here. We owe it to you guys to be better. Will have to have a conversation with our CFO about this... 4
TwoStroke Posted May 15 Posted May 15 11 minutes ago, jonp said: Please know that we read a lot more here than we write here because you guys are just generating valuable content at a breathtaking pace and this forum is a great place for us to mine for data on how various apps and services should work based on your direct experiences with TrueNAS. This is excellent to know that we are actually helping! Things like Plex HW Transcoding not working on Intel GPUs, there's so much work that was done there by users in this community to create a workaround to get it working on HexOS, that it's good to know that this is being used for bug fixes and further progress down the line, even if the devs / yourself don't have time to specifically tell people "Yep, we hear you, we are working on X". 2
jonp Posted May 15 Author Posted May 15 39 minutes ago, TwoStroke said: This is excellent to know that we are actually helping! Things like Plex HW Transcoding not working on Intel GPUs, there's so much work that was done there by users in this community to create a workaround to get it working on HexOS, that it's good to know that this is being used for bug fixes and further progress down the line, even if the devs / yourself don't have time to specifically tell people "Yep, we hear you, we are working on X". Helping is an understatement. Seriously. You guys are accelerating timetables for us on some of this stuff. Keep it up! 6
dsmonteiro Posted May 16 Posted May 16 On 5/13/2025 at 10:33 PM, jonp said: I guess this is a long way of asking you all to have faith and I will do better at providing more frequent updates and not leaving you in the dark for so long. Thank you. I can't talk for everyone, but this is all I want. Better communication. When things go well, and when things go bad. On 5/15/2025 at 5:42 AM, jonp said: We did highlight a bit of what's coming in Q3 and we're doing more Q4 planning soon as well. Honestly I desperately need to hire someone to help with marketing/community management this year. I've been avoiding pulling the trigger to keep all capital towards development, but comms are getting away from me and I can feel it in these posts here. We owe it to you guys to be better. Will have to have a conversation with our CFO about this... As a Community Manager myself, I honestly see this as money well spent ("if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail" and all that). If I can suggest something, have a look at what Nothing did with the Community Board Observers (here, for reference). It's a good way to boost communication, show transparency, and ensure you have a two-way channel of communication. Aside from that, a good community manager can also help you avoid talking too corporate with your users, they shouldn't be someone who speaks the same language as PR or Marketing. A community manager could also easily run a couple of series of always-on content (like Weekly/Monthly Updates, AMAs, and whatnot) to bridge the communication gap. Again, I'm biased, but hiring from your core users (typically from the moderation team), can also be an easy way to onboard someone who already knows the Community, knows the product, and knows how to interact with the rest of the users (and can possibly be a cheaper option than hiring a seasoned community manager). If you want to discuss some ideas, hit me up. I'll gladly share my user-turned-mod-turned-staff story and a few learnings I got along the way (no, I'm not pitching myself, I don't have the bandwidth even if I wanted to). 2 1
Mobius Posted May 16 Posted May 16 We at the mod team do try to advocate for the rest of the community and often bring up issues that need resolving with the team at Eshtek. It does take some time to get to it but a lot of what the mod team brings up does get addressed. Recently someone from the Eshtek team setup a meeting with some users with an issue the mod team had escalated. The system isn't perfect but we are trying and hopefully improving. 5
Kurma Posted May 19 Posted May 19 On 5/13/2025 at 11:33 PM, jonp said: I'm working on a blog post for this week with more information and planning a regular schedule to provide updates more consistently. I am not a native english speaker, is this just a way of saying something will happen in the near future? To me it reads like there should have been an update with in the last week... am I overlooking/misunderstanding something? 1
Sonic Posted May 19 Posted May 19 29 minutes ago, Kurma said: I am not a native english speaker Me neither, I expected an update last week. But I probably misunderstood. 1
nugglet Posted May 30 Posted May 30 Is there any update so our apps won’t break in 2 days?… https://www.truenas.com/blog/app-migration-deadline/
Mobius Posted May 30 Posted May 30 18 minutes ago, nugglet said: Is there any update so our apps won’t break in 2 days?… https://www.truenas.com/blog/app-migration-deadline/ i believe hexos is built on electric eel and are already using docker so this should not apply to us. 2
jonp Posted May 31 Author Posted May 31 18 hours ago, Mobius said: i believe hexos is built on electric eel and are already using docker so this should not apply to us. This is correct.
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