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    pfSense Newbie Needing Solarflare Card Help

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    • stephenw10S
      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
      last edited by

      Urgh, I'm sorry. Did it throw some error when it tried to boot?

      You can override the loader.conf variables at the loader prompt if something is causing a problem. So you might do:

      set sfxge_load=NO
      boot
      

      That should then boot as before allow you to change the loader file.

      The loader.conf.local file is not stored in the config so you should be able to go ahead and complete the install and restore your config.

      Steve

      M 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • M
        MacWarrior @stephenw10
        last edited by

        @stephenw10

        Hi Steve,
        I was able to get the fresh install of 2.6 running early this AM but when I went in to try to write to boot/loader it says I have permissions off. I spent 2-3 hours looking and trying different solutions for permissions in the Shell but nothing worked. I checked tons of websites and YouTube but nothing fit what I was trying to do. (I wanted to try to figure this part out on my own but I failed. Still trying to learn the in's and out's of Terminal and different Shells) It is showing commands after "chmod" ([-fhv] [-R [-H etc...]] mode file ...) that I understand what they do but can't get to work.

        I do have Good News though! My DNS and DDNS issues are fixed and the update is showing up working on the Dashboard. WooHoo!! Anyway, I just need some help now with the SFP+ NIC issue and turning permissions on for Shell. Thank you!

        MacWarrior

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        • stephenw10S
          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
          last edited by

          Hmm, if you're logged in as admin or root you should not see any permissions errors.

          Create the file: /boot/loader.conf.local
          Add lines to it.

          I usually do that from the gui unless I already have a CLI open.

          If it fails to boot again you can override those values at the loader prompt. You will also see errors just after that when it tries to load the modules at the console.
          For example I tried to load a bad igb module a short time ago:

          Loading configured modules...                                                   
          don't know how to load module '/boot/modules/if_igb.ko'
          /boot/kernel/sg5100.ko size 0x1d00 at 0x40a0000
          loading required module 'superio'                                               
          /boot/kernel/superio.ko size 0x5d98 at 0x3cfe000 
          /boot/kernel/zfs.ko size 0x39ae70 at 0x3d05000
          

          Steve

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          • M
            MacWarrior @stephenw10
            last edited by

            @stephenw10

            Hi Steve,
            I assume you're talking about the "Command Prompt"? If so, [I think I know the steps, but to make sure I am doing it right] can you give me the steps to do it? I Greatly Appreciate it!

            MacWarrior

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            • stephenw10S
              stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
              last edited by

              The console, where you will see the module loading, is what you see when you physically attach to the firewall. So either VGA and keyboard or a serial terminal.
              https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/hardware/connect-to-console.html

              The loader prompt is what you reach if you interrupt boot at the console when the boot loader menu appears. It allows you enter options before the kernel is loaded.

              For example:
              https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/troubleshooting/boot-issues.html#booting-with-an-alternate-console

              Steve

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              • M
                MacWarrior @stephenw10
                last edited by

                @stephenw10
                Hi Steve,

                I just wanted to clarify that I meant "Command Prompt" from the GUI as you suggested. (My bad). I thought you were reading my mind when I typed back to you (LOL).

                MW

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                • M
                  MacWarrior @stephenw10
                  last edited by

                  @stephenw10
                  The other thing is when I interrupt the boot like you referred to is where I get the “write permission is off” issue. That’s why I tried to use the Command Prompt from the GUI but I don’t quit understand it to build the boot/loader file.

                  MW

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                  • stephenw10S
                    stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                    last edited by

                    To create the loader.conf.local file you can just use Diag > Edit File

                    Or you can do it from the command line using something like:

                    echo 'sfxge_load=YES' >> /boot/loader.conf.local
                    

                    I'm not really sure why you would see that permissions error unless maybe you were doing it from the installer?
                    However it shouldn't matter, you don't need to write anything there. Settings you make at the loader prompt apply for that boot only. You have to make a more permanent change once it boots.

                    Steve

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                    • M
                      MacWarrior @stephenw10
                      last edited by

                      @stephenw10
                      Hi Steve,

                      Here is where I stand. I removed the SFP card from my newly built machine and put it into a much older computer. The /boot/loader is working and it loads the driver every time. I connected the SFP from Solarflare to my D-Link SP-1012-10P SFP port but, I can't get it to connect. Should I try to drop the speed of the Solarflare and if so, how do I do that? Or, should I just switch to Chelsio SFP NIC cards to make it easier and more compatible? Would like your thoughts.

                      I also have 2 x D-Link SP-1012-28P which I want to separate all 3 switches on their own networks [using the Quad Solarflare NIC], but the same subnet so I can still connect to them with the same computers to make any changes or updates. I want to make separate networks with the Quad SFP NIC card, Port 1 - WAN, Port - 2 for the main computers and other devices, Port - 3 for the VoIP network, port 4 - for the Security Camera Network. Currently, I have my network set to 10.12.25.1/12. When I assign IPs to the SFP ports, it says that I am overlapping them.

                      Could use come config help.

                      Thank you,

                      MW

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                      • stephenw10S
                        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                        last edited by

                        If you are connecting to 1G devices you may well have to set the link speed manually. That is done in the interface config in pfSense. It's common to need to do that on any 10G NIC.

                        You can't have more than one interface in the same subnet, it would break routing between them.
                        If you really need them in the same subnet you would need to bridge them:
                        https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/bridges/index.html

                        Steve

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