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Export photos safely

The photo library lives on the TrueNAS pool and is served at photos.saxobroko.com (likely Immich — confirm in TrueNAS → Apps). This guide covers copying photos out without damaging the live library.

See also Photos reference.

Before you export

  1. Confirm the pool is ONLINE — not DEGRADED (When the pool is degraded).
  2. Check free space if exporting to the NAS (Check disk space).
  3. Use a copy, not a move, unless you are certain you no longer need the originals on the server.

Photos are irreplaceable

Unlike movies, these files often cannot be re-downloaded. Always keep a second copy somewhere safe (external USB, second cloud account, another family member's drive) before deleting anything on the NAS.

Best for albums, date ranges, or sharing with family who should not touch TrueNAS.

  1. Open photos.saxobroko.com.
  2. Log in with photo app credentials (Vaultwarden).
  3. Select photos or an album (Immich: multi-select or Albums view).
  4. Use the app Download or Export action (Immich: Download from selection menu).
  5. Save to your PC — e.g. Downloads\photo-export-YYYY-MM-DD\.
  6. Verify a few random files open correctly before deleting anything on the server.

For very large libraries (tens of thousands of files), web export may timeout — use Method B or export in batches by year/album.

Method B — Copy from TrueNAS dataset (advanced)

Use when you need the full library on disk and you are comfortable with datasets and SMB.

  1. Log in to dsm.saxobroko.com.
  2. Storage → find the photos dataset (dedicated dataset on the pool — exact name is in TrueNAS; check Apps → photos app → volume mounts for the path).
  3. Do not delete or rename the dataset — only read/copy files.

Copy over the network (Windows)

  1. If a SMB share exists for photos, map it or browse \\192.168.2.203\<share-name> from the PC on the home network.
  2. Select folders → Copy (not Cut).
  3. Paste to an external USB drive or local folder on the PC.
  4. Wait for copy to finish — compare file counts or spot-check folders.

If there is no dedicated share, create a read-only SMB share in TrueNAS pointing at the photos dataset only — or ask someone technical before changing share permissions.

Copy via TrueNAS shell (last resort)

Only if SMB is unavailable and you know shell basics:

  1. TrueNAS → System Settings → Shell (or SSH to 192.168.2.203 from LAN).
  2. Identify mount path — e.g. under /mnt/<pool>/<dataset>/.
  3. Use rsync to an external USB disk mounted on the NAS, or to a PC destination over the network.

Do not run rm, zfs destroy, or dataset delete

Shell access makes destructive commands easy. Copy only. If unsure, use Method A or get help.

Method C — Mobile app backup (ongoing)

For a family member's new photos going forward:

  1. Install the Immich (or matching) app on their phone.
  2. Server URL: https://photos.saxobroko.com
  3. Enable backup on Wi‑Fi.

That uploads to the server — reverse of export, but useful so one phone is not the only copy.

Verify the export

  1. Open random JPEG/HEIC files on the destination.
  2. Check total size is plausible (photo libraries are often hundreds of GB).
  3. Keep the export until you confirm the NAS copy is intact after any maintenance.

What not to do

Do not Why
Delete NAS photos to "make space" before a verified backup Permanent loss
Wipe the photos app volume in TrueNAS Apps Destroys library metadata and paths
Export only thumbnails Full resolution lives in original files — use app export or full dataset copy