Bricked XG-7100 1U - No console, unable to factory reset

hellnation76

Hello!

After an error in configuration, the GUI is now unresponsive, the unit cannot be pinged. The console port doesn't work with a standard usb mini-b cable. (usb 2.0). When connected to the console port, no peripheral is detected on the laptop/workstation. (the UART driver is installed)

The "reset" button that can be depressed doesn't seem to work either. Powering the unit, waiting 10 seconds, pressing the reset button for 30 seconds doesn't result in the rebooting/reseting to factory default.

We could try booting from a USB stick, but with no console port working that doesn't get us anywhere?

Is there something that can be done to restore the config to factory default? Jumpers on the motherboard?

Thanks!

SteveITS

@hellnation76 Did you look at https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/solutions/xg-7100-1u/connect-to-console.html?

If nothing else you can open a (free) ticket from go.netgate.com to get the Plus installer for your model.

hellnation76

@steveits Yes, I followed the instructions to connect to the console, no dice. So there's no way to factory reset without a serial cable?

stephenw10

Not on the XG-7100, no.

I assume you've tried several cables?

Have you tried different client machines to connect from? If you can, try a different OS.

You should see something logged on the client when it's connected even without a driver.

If it's still booting but you're just unable to connect you could try importing a known good config by putting it on a USB stick and inserting it during boot.
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/backup/restore-during-install.html#restore-using-the-external-configuration-locator-ecl

If you try that be aware that you cannot have the USB stick when you boot because the 7100 will try to boot from it and fail. You need to insert the USB drive with the config on it ~15s after power on.

Steve

hellnation76

@stephenw10 yes, tried multiple cables, multiple client, different OS. And we can't get the console to work or be detected.

How can we tell it is able to boot? We tried to put a working config on a usb stick, but it doesn't load it. (inserted after 15s)

We bought the unit a few years ago, not sure if we could log an RMA?

And do you have any other ideas we could try? I think there is a SATA port, maybe use a hard drive?

Any clues we could use to work out if it is booting or just doesn't get there?

Thanks :)

stephenw10

You can tell if it's even POSTing correctly by the fan speed. The fans come on a full speed and remain there if Coreboot is not running to set the controller. If will do that if, for example, the RAM size is changed and it needs to retrain. During that time the fans are loud and there is nothing on the console, it can take ~5min.
Have you ever connected to the serial console in the past on that XG-7100?

You can return it for diagnostics at cost. You should open a ticket with us here:
https://go.netgate.com/

Steve