Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    Netgate 5100 unbootable

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Official Netgate® Hardware
    7 Posts 3 Posters 974 Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • Y
      yea
      last edited by yea

      Hi

      I have had a netgate 5100 running pfsense plus for some time. It's been great.

      A few weeks ago, I nuked it when trying to fix a surricata issue :-/ From memory I ran rm -fr /var/logs/surricata/* from the UI. It's currently unbootable, but I obviously run it headless so have no way to see where it is failing.

      Can I restore the appliance to factory setup - meaning beyond trying to reuse the original factory settings, as a reset to factory settings doesn't seem to work.

      If I can restore it, will I require a USB>Serial cable? If so, can someone recommend one? Additionally, are there any steps I need to perform to completely get the appliance back to its original state? I can then restore from a backup. I'm thinking download pfsense plus and install like I would have done in the past on old hardware. But no idea.

      Many thanks

      S 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • S
        SteveITS Galactic Empire @yea
        last edited by

        @yea see https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/solutions/sg-5100/reinstall-pfsense.html

        Pre-2.7.2/23.09: Only install packages for your version, or risk breaking it. Select your branch in System/Update/Update Settings.
        When upgrading, allow 10-15 minutes to restart, or more depending on packages and device speed.
        Upvote 👍 helpful posts!

        Y 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • Y
          yea @SteveITS
          last edited by yea

          @steveits Thank you. I live in the UK, but do you have a recommendation for a console cable? I have a Windows laptop with USB-B, and a Mac laptop with USB-C

          S R 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • S
            SteveITS Galactic Empire @yea
            last edited by

            @yea I don't have a 5100 but if you don't have the one that comes with it (I assume) then they say:

            https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/solutions/sg-5100/connect-to-console.html#connect-a-usb-cable
            "...cable that has a USB Mini-B (5-pin) connector on one end and a regular USB Type A plug on the other end. These cables are commonly used with smaller USB peripherals such as GPS units, cameras, and so on."

            I would assume the computer end of the cable can be whatever you have. So mini-B to USB B or C? B would be awfully rare on a computer, it's supposed to be on the device/printer/scanner/etc. end.

            Pre-2.7.2/23.09: Only install packages for your version, or risk breaking it. Select your branch in System/Update/Update Settings.
            When upgrading, allow 10-15 minutes to restart, or more depending on packages and device speed.
            Upvote 👍 helpful posts!

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • R
              rcoleman-netgate Netgate @yea
              last edited by rcoleman-netgate

              @yea Any mini-USB data cable will work.

              Ryan
              Repeat, after me: MESH IS THE DEVIL! MESH IS THE DEVIL!
              Requesting firmware for your Netgate device? https://go.netgate.com
              Switching: Mikrotik, Netgear, Extreme
              Wireless: Aruba, Ubiquiti

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • Y
                yea
                last edited by

                Thank you all for your help.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • Y
                  yea
                  last edited by

                  Amazing support. Requested the img and got a link within 2mins.

                  Thank you!

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                  • First post
                    Last post
                  Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.