Latest update failed - caught in login loop

[rcoleman-netgate]

Follow these instructions: https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/troubleshooting/filesystem-check.html

We, in TAC, run fsck about a dozen times when we hit the UFS loop.

The back up your config and reinstall with ZFS (if you're not on a Netgate 1000 or 3100 unit).

[Wastapi]

@rcoleman-netgate
Thanks. Still no luck! Ran it 15 times to be sure.

I really don't get it. :/
See attached
login-to-view

[rcoleman-netgate]

@wastapi There are times that the UFS partition is just too far gone to be repaired.

You should be able to mount it in RO mode and get your XML config if you need it still (but note that we do advise users to back up their config before any and all software updates.

[Wastapi]

@rcoleman-netgate
Thanks for your continued support! Weird. Not sure why I can't get in then. And not sure why it crashed in the update.

I have a "viable" on on my mac. Old but a nice startpoint.

Now I downloaded BalenaEtcher
I downloaded an image (not sure if I chose the right options - See below)
And when I try to boot on the USB Stick - It says it is not a bootable device

login-to-view

[rcoleman-netgate]

@wastapi said in Latest update failed - caught in login loop:

I have a "viable" on on my mac. Old but a nice startpoint.
Now I downloaded BalenaEtcher
I downloaded an image (not sure if I chose the right options - See below)
And when I try to boot on the USB Stick - It says it is not a bootable device

You want the VGA version -- your system has a VGA monitor on it, you're not connecting over Serial AFAICT.

[Wastapi]

@rcoleman-netgate

1-I tried that too. Same result: Non-system Disk

2-I opened the drive - Seems not to contain anything. ?!

login-to-view

$ du -hs PFSENSE/
du: PFSENSE//.Trashes: Operation not permitted
78K PFSENSE/

Although The image I downloaded and Flashed with was 438MB
pfSense-CE-memstick-2.6.0-RELEASE-amd64_VGA.img

3- PS: The Drive is formatted FAT32

Thanks again!

[Wastapi]

@rcoleman-netgate
Well... I am stuck. I hope someone can help.

1-I tried fsck
2-I even tried multiple pfsense thumb drive. They are not considered BOOTABLE by my system anymore. Not sure why. Tried other USB ports in case - no luck

3-Here is a video of the boot process and steps I took
Maybe it sheds a light on your end?
VIDEO: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KDxF_oxTbpzd_l7VInM7SWz_AGHJ5fL5/view?usp=sharing

Thanks for any help!

[Dobby_]

@wastapi

• Download the VGA image
• make sure the USB stick is empty and no volume
  or format on that stick is existing (perhaps you wipe
  it under windows or macOS)
• start Balena etcher chose the image and write it
  to that USB stick

Your USB stick should be matching to the USB version in
your computer v. 2.0 stick > v. 2.0 port and in the BIOS should be not set up "USB legacy mode" because that is
often the problem with USB keyboards and USB sticks.

If you have a free SSD/HDD present with nothing more
on it I mean no other partitions or formats it might be
the best option. Try again the installation.

If all will be not really running out of the box you could retry it again by disabling all unneeded things in that computer such ports devices and install over serial
console cable from your mac, if you have one present,
but then you must choose the memstick serial
image, only for being sure that the video card is not
that problem during the install.

[Wastapi]

@dobby_
Thanks for your detailed response!

There is nothing about USB legacy mode or version in my BIOS. Weird. But I DO agree, it is crazy that no USB stick is bootable! At the present time, I just want to boot something from a key and it does not work. :/

This update crash REALLY seem this update screwed up my machine. not sure where to start from at this point.

I am a point where I may start shopping for a miniPC and move on with my life. :/

[Dobby_]

@wastapi

Really sad to hear from you, but anyway, if you are
buying a miniPC you should be perhaps have a look
on if it is supporting pfSense out of the box, not
running again into that case.

[Wastapi]

@dobby_
It worked for 3 years non stop. And before that it was accepting this particular usb stick as it was our backup in case we needed to restore.
I don’t understand what happened during this update to render it so unusable.

[Wastapi]

@Dobby_
So I purchased this. https://a.co/d/8pTeH9O

There are no instructions in the box.

Hoping I can EASILY reinstall pfsense from scratch and use my latest configuration backup for a quick setup.

[rcoleman-netgate]

@Wastapi instructions:
plug in monitor
keyboard
USB drive
power

do things

[Dobby_]

@Wastapi said in Latest update failed - caught in login loop:

So I purchased this. https://a.co/d/8pTeH9O

Cool box, so I am really pretty sure you will be having fun with it together with pfSense.

As I was reading this from many other users, I would get hands on really good thermal paste an put some on the CPU, to getting something around 10 C°
cooler against the factory paste.

[Wastapi]

@Dobby_ mmm I had not read about this. Please share links. I am not sure I want to void my warranty.

[Dobby_]

@Wastapi said in Latest update failed - caught in login loop:

mmm I had not read about this. Please share links. I am not sure I want to void my warranty.

Thermal paste will be something you will be renewing for time to time again and again,
otherwise you will be running in some heating
problems, and this is more or less with any computers except servers that comes sorted
with an thermal pad.

Stay patient I will search the forum for find them back.

[Wastapi]

@Dobby_
Ok. I was able to install it on the network. Breath of fresh air.

Yet do I have to set it up from scratch or I can restore from a backup? Even if it’s completely different machine with different interfaces etc?