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    "Unable to check for updates" in GUI, update in CLI working fine

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software
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    • stephenw10S
      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
      last edited by

      Hmm, very odd. Well you could try one of the more drastic options further down on that trouble shooting doc.

      As a last resort you can always reinstall 22.05 clean and restore your config into it. Doing that is relatively quick if you already have console access. Open a ticket with us to get the image:
      https://www.netgate.com/tac-support-request

      Steve

      S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • S
        SprockTech @stephenw10
        last edited by

        @stephenw10 Thanks. I can go through with the re-image. But before I do that I'd like to look at debug logs. Where should I look for logged information related to the update check?

        K 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • stephenw10S
          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
          last edited by

          The only thing that is stored regularly are two files in /conf. Those detail the last successful upgrade and the output of the last check. But I'd expect that to show as successful since it does at the CLI.

          Otherwise errors would be in the main system log or potentially in the DNS logs if it was failing to resolve something.

          Steve

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • K
            kepak @SprockTech
            last edited by

            @sprocktech @stephenw10 I don't reply cause I was waiting to have a opportunity for make fresh install and restore a backup. I have done this right now, and I didn't help. I have idea, if this could be DNS issue, maybe it's because I'm using Named package with custom config?

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • D
              Diver 0
              last edited by

              Hello,

              Novice user here.

              Orange square flashing.
              Netgate 6100
              Current Ver 22.05
              Internet is up.
              Previous updates leading up to 22.05 were successful.
              I did not diddle with anything afterwards.

              GUI:
              Rebooting System didn't help.

              Status ---> Dashboard --->
              Netgate Services and Support --->
              "Retrieving Support Information" is orange
              text, and is not retrieving.

              System ---> Update ---> Retrieving
              "Unable to check for updates"

              A website says I am supposed to use Package Manager.
              Accordingly,
              System ---> Package Manager ---> Available Packages
              it says,
              " * Unable to retrieve package information"

              Search engine search results tell me to
              "Update URL" at "System:Firmware:Settings"
              Unable to locate this menu option, or I
              need new eyeglasses.

              Upon console in

              Option 13 returned error
              "ERROR: It was not possible to identify which pfSense kernel is installed"

              I have no idea how to fix the above error.

              Tried, Option 8, then typed pkg -d update
              Error was returned
              "pkg: invalid url: /pfsense_plus-v22_05_amd64-core
              pkg: Cannot parse configuration file!"

              I did not try "pkg-static upgrade -f"
              and I did not try "pkg-static -d update"
              'cause I don't know if doing that will break things.

              Advice will be most highly appreciated.
              Thanks very much
              Jack

              bingo600B 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • stephenw10S
                stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                last edited by

                Running pkg-static -d update will not break anything. The system runs that every time you connect to the dashboard. It will show you any errors that may be preventing it update.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • bingo600B
                  bingo600 @Diver 0
                  last edited by

                  @diver-0

                  Seems like you have been hit by the "Bad repos update"

                  See here:

                  https://forum.netgate.com/topic/174768/unable-to-check-for-updates/12

                  This is Netgates Official fix (guide)
                  https://forum.netgate.com/post/1062052

                  Or this one, if a CLI doesn't scare you
                  https://forum.netgate.com/post/1062026

                  /Bingo

                  If you find my answer useful - Please give the post a šŸ‘ - "thumbs up"

                  pfSense+ 23.05.1 (ZFS)

                  QOTOM-Q355G4 Quad Lan.
                  CPUĀ  : Core i5 5250U, Ram : 8GB Kingston DDR3LV 1600
                  LANĀ  : 4 x Intel 211, DiskĀ  : 240G SAMSUNG MZ7L3240HCHQ SSD

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • stephenw10S
                    stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                    last edited by

                    The pkg is fixed now so there's no need to manually enter anything.

                    If you're still seeing it, because the firewall pulled in the bad pkg, then switching the update branch to development and then back to latest stable will pull in the fixed pkg.

                    Doing that you will see logged:

                    Sep 17 15:36:45 	pkg-static 	13430 	pfSense-repo upgraded: 22.05_5 -> 22.09.a.20220802.0600
                    Sep 17 15:37:19 	pkg-static 	22387 	pfSense-repo downgraded: 22.09.a.20220802.0600 -> 22.05_9 
                    

                    Steve

                    M 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                    • D
                      Diver 0
                      last edited by

                      Thank you, Bingo600,
                      The diagnostics --> Edit File with new URL line worked.
                      Looks to me like the old URL,
                      "/pfSense_plus-v22_05_amd64-core"
                      got replaced.

                      Perhaps I should be ready to change that edit again in the future.

                      After all was done, Update returned a Status up to date, and 22.05 is still current. The square orange lamp is no longer flashing.

                      Dumb question: What does the acronym "repos" mean?

                      Thanks again,
                      Jack

                      bingo600B 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • M
                        MoonKnight @stephenw10
                        last edited by

                        @stephenw10 said in "Unable to check for updates" in GUI, update in CLI working fine:

                        The pkg is fixed now so there's no need to manually enter anything.

                        If you're still seeing it, because the firewall pulled in the bad pkg, then switching the update branch to development and then back to latest stable will pull in the fixed pkg.

                        Doing that you will see logged:

                        Sep 17 15:36:45 	pkg-static 	13430 	pfSense-repo upgraded: 22.05_5 -> 22.09.a.20220802.0600
                        Sep 17 15:37:19 	pkg-static 	22387 	pfSense-repo downgraded: 22.09.a.20220802.0600 -> 22.05_9 
                        

                        Steve

                        That did the trick :)

                        Sep 17 18:24:15	pkg-static	29389	pfSense-repo downgraded: 22.09.a.20220802.0600 -> 22.05_9
                        Sep 17 18:24:05	check_reload_status	448	Syncing firewall
                        Sep 17 18:24:05	php-fpm	22895	/pkg_mgr_install.php: Configuration Change: XXXX@XXXXXXXXX (Local Database): Saved firmware branch setting.
                        Sep 17 18:24:01	pkg-static	71353	pfSense-repo upgraded: 22.05_5 -> 22.09.a.20220802.0600
                        Sep 17 18:23:45	pkg-static	19568	pkg upgraded: 1.17.5_2 -> 1.18.3
                        

                        --- 24.11 ---
                        Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU D-1518 @ 2.20GHz
                        Kingston DDR4 2666MHz 16GB ECC
                        2 x HyperX Fury SSD 120GB (ZFS-mirror)
                        2 x Intel i210 (ports)
                        4 x Intel i350 (ports)

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                        • bingo600B
                          bingo600 @Diver 0
                          last edited by

                          @diver-0 said in "Unable to check for updates" in GUI, update in CLI working fine:

                          Thank you, Bingo600,
                          The diagnostics --> Edit File with new URL line worked.

                          Dumb question: What does the acronym "repos" mean?

                          Thanks again,
                          Jack

                          Repos ... Shorthand for Repository , as in pfSense package repository

                          /Bingo

                          If you find my answer useful - Please give the post a šŸ‘ - "thumbs up"

                          pfSense+ 23.05.1 (ZFS)

                          QOTOM-Q355G4 Quad Lan.
                          CPUĀ  : Core i5 5250U, Ram : 8GB Kingston DDR3LV 1600
                          LANĀ  : 4 x Intel 211, DiskĀ  : 240G SAMSUNG MZ7L3240HCHQ SSD

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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