SG4100 VLAN1 Port

Gil

@gil No response from the console via putty

stephenw10

If the 3 LEDs are flashing blue that means it is booting. Those are only set like that by pfSense when it mounts the filesystem, which is quite a way through the boot process.
So double check your terminal config.

Steve

Gil

@stephenw10 Checked it several times, repowered the PC and SG4100, swapped the cable, tried another USB port. Blue LEDs never stop flashing. Is there a manual reset procedure?

stephenw10

Yes, you can reset the config using this:

The reset is a two step process:
Power on the device. After a few seconds, when the green circle LED changes from orange to blue, hold the reset button for 5 seconds. This 'short-press' initiates the reset.

Then, after the drive has mounted, the system recognises the reset has been initiated and asks you to confirm the reset. In 22.01 or later this is indicated by all three LEDs turning red. Hold the reset button until all three LEDs start flashing, ~13s.

The system then resets the config and reboots.

Let me know if that works.

Gil

@stephenw10 I've followed that procedure (several times), and it results in the diamond LED (only) flashing blue. I never manage to get any data from the console port. I have checked the cable and putty setup against an SG-1100 which functions correctly.
This new unit also appears to be dead.

rcoleman-netgate

@gil Have you opened a ticket with TAC?

Gil

@gil Yes, thanks.
I'll be sending this one back also.

stephenw10

Do you see the LEDs flashing red as part of the reset procedure as expected?

The single blue flashing diamond LED indicates that pfSense finished booting. I assume you still cannot connect to the webgui on the LAN though?

Steve

Gil

@stephenw10 Yep, pfsense has booted and is accessible via the LAN after the manual reset process.
I definitely have a faulty console port though. It mounts as a USB to UART bridge but has no data flow.

stephenw10

Hmm, never seen a failure of that type on a 4100/6100 before but I guess there's always a first time.
Does the RJ-45 console port work? Are you able to test that?
Note that the RJ-45 console takes precedence over the USB console. If you have an active connection to it there will be no output on the USB console.

Steve

Gil

@stephenw10 I haven't tried that port.
How does it function? Do you require a special cable?

rcoleman-netgate

@gil A standard "cisco" 8-pin cable will work there.

You will need a few things to get to that type of cable, either you can buy a USB->Cisco serial cable online or you will need a USB->RS232(DB9) and then DB9-RJ45 cable or a DB9->RJ45 female adapter and then you could use an ethernet cable

But do not plug your network switches or your computer's ethernet port into that port directly as you may cause damage to both units.

Gil

@rcoleman-netgate That works, even if the usb console doesn't.
I'll run with that instead of returning the unit, as the config is working and this still gives me a serial option if required.
Thanks for all the info.