Pfsense 6100 not able to load available packages

[Tact12]

Hello,
When I go to install a package from the package manager I get the following message:
"Unable to retrieve package information". What would be causing pfsense to not be able to get the package information list?
I am able to ping out from the ping tool from the LAN interface.
What can I do to help troubleshoot this?

[rcoleman-netgate]

@tact12 Some users that experience this have had success switching the Update branch from RELEASE to DEV, and then back again after DEV shows a release to download.

[Patian]

@rcoleman-netgate

Can you elaborate more in details how it is done?

thanks

Pat

[gabacho4]

@patian System -> Update -> Update Settings tab -> change to dev branch -> save. Then click the System Update and let your device look for dev update. Once done, go back to Updates Settings tab and select the current stable branch -> save. Then System Update tab -> and check for updates. Once done, check for package updates.

[Patian]

@gabacho4

ohhh... I just noticed the update setting. I thought I had to go into terminal mode to do it. That was why I asked for more details. :P

Anyway, I followed your instruction, after 2 times of refresh, now it is back to normal.

Thank you VERY MUCH.....

Pat

[Tact12]

@gabacho4 After moving to the develop branch I am unable to check for updates now. How should I proceed?

[stephenw10]

At the command line run:

pkg -d update

What error is shown?

Steve

[Tact12]

@stephenw10
This is what I get

[stephenw10]

Ah, OK. Yes there is an issue with the pfSense-repos pkg in the Plus Dev branch currently. It's setting 14 as the ABI for all branches hence it fails in 22.05. That is fixed and a new pkg should be available there shortly. When that is up you should be able to select Dev to pull it in then go back to Stable again.

Steve

[Tact12]

@stephenw10
There is a new update for the devel branch should I try updating to that first then try going back to 22.05?

[stephenw10]

No, you cannot downgrade from a development snapshot once you're running that. You would then need to re-install to get back to 22.05.
You just need to select the Dev branch in the upgarde menu so it pulls in the new pfSense-repos pkg when it is published. To clear the pkg currently available pfSense-repo-23.01.a.20221110.1211.pkg does not have the fix.

Steve

[Tact12]

@stephenw10

Okay so in the example listed above(below for ease):
System -> Update -> Update Settings tab -> change to dev branch -> save. Then click the System Update and let your device look for dev update. Once done, go back to Updates Settings tab and select the current stable branch -> save. Then System Update tab -> and check for updates. Once done, check for package updates.

Should I not have actually applied the update into the devel branch and just let it look for it then go back to 22.05?

[Patch]

@tact12 said in Pfsense 6100 not able to load available packages:

@stephenw10
This is what I get

That looks very similar to https://redmine.pfsense.org/issues/13593#change-63584 as described in this thread https://forum.netgate.com/topic/175432/unable-to-check-for-updates-pkg-static-wrong-architecture

[stephenw10]

Yes, it's exactly that. Except that is for CE and is in fact is now fixed there.
The same fix should be in the Plus repo shortly.

Steve

[stephenw10]

The fixed repo pkg is up now, you should be able to recover it by setting the Dev branch and then Stable.
The logs for that should show:

Nov 11 14:30:37 	php-fpm 	379 	/pkg_mgr_install.php: Configuration Change: admin@172.21.16.8 (Local Database): Saved firmware branch setting.
Nov 11 14:30:37 	check_reload_status 	417 	Syncing firewall
Nov 11 14:30:45 	pkg-static 	65234 	pfSense-repo upgraded: 23.01.a.20221109.0600 -> 23.01.a.20221111.0600
Nov 11 14:45:04 	php-fpm 	379 	/pkg_mgr_install.php: Configuration Change: admin@172.21.16.8 (Local Database): Saved firmware branch setting.
Nov 11 14:45:04 	check_reload_status 	417 	Syncing firewall
Nov 11 14:45:25 	pkg-static 	22101 	pfSense-upgrade upgraded: 1.0_27 -> 1.0_28
Nov 11 14:45:25 	pkg-static 	22101 	pfSense-repo downgraded: 23.01.a.20221111.0600 -> 22.05_13 

Steve

[Tact12]

@stephenw10

So if I factory reset will I still be in devel or will I be placed back in 22.05?

[SteveITS]

@tact12 if you upgraded versions you’ll need to reinstall to go backwards.
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/solutions/netgate-6100/reinstall-pfsense.html

[Tact12]

@steveits Thank you for the clarification. I have a ticket in to get my new firmware. :)