Buddy Backups and Virtual Machines are both open betas. Everyone has them, with no sign-up and nothing to install.
For the other programs running now, see Beta programs.
Both features work today, on your real data. Beta means we are still finishing them. Screens may change, settings may move, and you may find a rough edge now and then. When something does not go as planned, the activity center tells you what happened and what to do next.
You see a Beta badge on the screens of a feature in beta. Click it for a short note about the beta and a link to share feedback on Discord.
What you tell us shapes what reaches everyone. The beta channel on Discord is read by the people who build the features. Expect follow-up questions.
Buddy Backups keeps a copy of your folders on a buddy's server or on a second server of your own. It is on for every HexOS account. There is nothing to sign up for and nothing to install. Click Backups in the sidebar of the hosted Command Deck to start.
Every backup it makes is a real copy you can restore. It uses the same replication that TrueNAS itself uses.
Warning: While Buddy Backups is in beta, keep any backup you already rely on running alongside it.
What helps us most:
Before you remove anything, read Removing backups. To get started, see Set up a backup and the Buddy Backups overview.
Virtual Machines lets you run Windows, Linux, and small appliance systems such as Home Assistant OS on your HexOS server. It is on for every HexOS account. There is nothing to sign up for and nothing to install. Click VMs in the sidebar to start.
Every VM is a real computer on your server. It runs on the same virtualization that TrueNAS uses, and its disks are stored on your own pools.
VM setup is part of the same beta. For Plex Media Server and Home Assistant OS, HexOS can finish setting the system up after it starts, if you allow it. See VM setup.
Warning: While Virtual Machines is in beta, keep anything you already rely on running alongside these VMs.
Info: Read the known issues before you rely on a VM.
What helps us most:
To get started, see VMs. It also lists the known issues we are working on.
If you have a question, ask in the HexOS Discord Community.