Download pfSense+?
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So I registered and obtained a token for pfSense+ but when I want to re-install it I don't have the media. I can download and install 2.6CE and then update to 22.01 but where can the "free" users of pfSense+ on our own hardware obtain the software?
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At the moment, the correct path is to reinstall CE 2.6.0 and then upgrade to Plus 22.01. There isn't a public installer for Plus at this time.
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@jimp so what is the ETA for the media to be available? Right now it isn't too much of a pain but when 22.05 comes out and we have to jump through these hoops for re-installs it isn't ideal since I'd like to have a turn key build with config restore.
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No firm ETA but we're actively working on it already.
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@jimp any update on this? Would be really useful for test setups on real hardware without internet access yet :-)
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Still a work in progress, no ETA but we are working on it. Not likely to make the release we're working on now, but we'll see.
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what if a user will want to do a "clean install" of free 22.05 Plus, assuming that there will not be free 22.05 images and 2.7.0 CE and 22.05 will not be released in the same time? What will be the path?
Fresh install 2.6.0 CE -> 22.05 ? -
@emikaadeo said in Download pfSense+?:
2.7.0 CE and 22.05 will not be released in the same
I thought the plan was to release concurrently - that is how it has been sofar, sure there is not a whole lot of history as of yet.
But I would "guess" that they will release at the same time, at least until such time as there is downloadable version of + for non netgate hardware.
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We don't always release a new CE version when we release a new Plus version. The upcoming release is only going to be Plus, no new release of CE.
We are still working on a method to install Plus directly for those who have upgraded from CE to Plus. In the meantime you'll need to install CE and upgrade to Plus. Whether you install 2.6.0 or a 2.7.0 snapshot is up to you. At the moment the CE to Plus upgrade will take you to 22.01 but once 22.05 is released it will upgrade to 22.05.
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@jimp Thank you. Question; I just upgraded from CE 2.6.0 to Plus 22.1 and I have a backup config for 22.1 now. 2 months down the road, something happens to my hardware and I need to rebuild and Plus is now on 22.05. Would the below path work?
Install CE 2.6.0 (Or Latest) -> Upgrade to Plus 22.05 (Or Latest) -> Restore my Plus 22.1 backup config?
Will the 22.1 backup config restore nicely on 22.05 or newer?
Before going to Plus; Whenever i perform a update, I also keep a copy of the setup file incase i need to restore and that way I would always restore to the version I took my backup from and then upgrade.
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You can always restore an older backup to a newer installation of pfSense Plus or CE.
What doesn't work is restoring a newer backup to an older version.
So the best practice is, as you mentioned, to install CE, Update to Plus, then restore. Use whatever the newest release version is at the time.
We hope to have an installer available soon to help streamline this process for those on non-Netgate hardware. It won't be ready in time for 22.05, but hopefully it will be there for 22.09.
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@jimp Thank you the explanation; much appreciated!
Once 22.05 comes out, I will update to that and then take a backup config once again and then as you mentioned hopefully by 22.09, when I update to that - I will take a new backup and then also would be able to save the installer for my non-Netgate hardware to save some steps for future rebuilds.
One more additional question; Do you foresee Netgate getting rid of CE? Or Netgate start charging for Home/Lab use? I am trying to make the decision if I made the right call to move away from CE to Plus for my Home use router/firewall.