Global Configuration

Network → Global Configuration, shown in Figure 5.1a, allows you to set non-interface specific network settings.

Figure 5.1a: Global Configuration Screen

Table 5.1a summarizes the settings that can be configured using the Global Configuration tab. The hostname and domain will be pre-filled for you, as seen in Figure 5.1a, but can be changed to meet the local network's requirements.

If you will be installing the Plugins Jail, input the default gateway for the network containing the IP address to be used by the Plugins Jail.

If you will be using Active Directory, set the IP address of the DNS server used in the realm.

If your network does not have a DNS server or NFS, SSH, or FTP users are receiving "reverse DNS" or timeout errors, add an entry for the IP address of the FreeNAS® system in the "Host name database" field.

NOTE: if you add a gateway to the Internet, make sure that the FreeNAS® system is protected by a properly configured firewall.

Table 5.1a: Global Configuration Settings

Setting	Value	Description
Hostname	string	system host name
Domain	string	system domain name
IPv4 Default Gateway	IP address	typically not set (see NOTE below)
IPv6 Default Gateway	IP address	typically not set (see NOTE below)
Nameserver 1	IP adress	primary DNS server
Nameserver 2	IP address	secondary DNS server
Nameserver 3	IP address	tertiary DNS server
Host name database	string	used to add one entry per line which will be appended to /etc/hosts; use the format IP_address space hostname where multiple hostnames can be used if separated by a space

NOTE: In many cases, a FreeNAS® configuration will deliberately exclude default gateway information as a way to make it more difficult for a remote attacker to communicate with the server. While this is a reasonable precaution, such a configuration does not restrict inbound traffic from sources within the local network. However, omitting a default gateway will prevent the FreeNAS® system from communicating with DNS servers, time servers, and mail servers that are located outside of the local network. In this case, it is recommended that Static Routes be added in order to reach external DNS, NTP, and mail servers which are configured with static IP addresses.