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    Proper way to restore configuration on new vm

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
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    • johnpozJ
      johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator @dzonic90
      last edited by

      @dzonic90 said in Proper way to restore configuration on new vm:

      I'm trying to add new interfaces

      Yeah vms like to reorder the interfaces when you add a new one. Check the mac address of your current interfaces, and then make sure they are assigned correctly after you add a new one.

      An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
      If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
      Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
      SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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        dzonic90 @johnpoz
        last edited by

        @johnpoz So, we should call this "expected" behavior then?
        It's not that pfSense is misbehaving?

        johnpozJ Bob.DigB 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • johnpozJ
          johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator @dzonic90
          last edited by

          @dzonic90 if you search here on the forums you will find lots of threads about it - yeah its a vm thing..

          An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
          If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
          Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
          SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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            dzonic90 @johnpoz
            last edited by

            @johnpoz Thanks man!

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • Bob.DigB
              Bob.Dig LAYER 8 @dzonic90
              last edited by Bob.Dig

              @dzonic90 said in Proper way to restore configuration on new vm:

              @johnpoz So, we should call this "expected" behavior then?
              It's not that pfSense is misbehaving?

              It is both in my opinion. You have to understand that the names (e.g. opt10, hn2) for every interface have to stay the same. The only way to accomplish that is to edit the config in an editor.

              To do that, you have to know the new hardware-names of the interfaces (e.g. opt10, vmx2). Good luck.

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                dzonic90 @Bob.Dig
                last edited by

                @Bob-Dig Which means in practice, I need to firstly edit interface names on new VM to reflect interface names of old instance, and then only after doing that, I can restore desired backup from the old VM, right?

                johnpozJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • johnpozJ
                  johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator @dzonic90
                  last edited by johnpoz

                  @dzonic90 its not difficult - check the mac addresses of the interfaces before you add a new one and what they are assigned too. then via console just hit 1 to assign interfaces and make sure they are all assigned correctly..

                  If it take you more than like 1 minutes I would be surprised.

                  Its best if you know your going to need more than 4 to add them from the git go, or you could just use vlans on the virtual interface you assign so that your not actually adding more virtual nics to the pfsense vm.

                  An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                  If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                  Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                  SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.8, 24.11

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                    dzonic90 @johnpoz
                    last edited by

                    @johnpoz Thing is, when I do new interface, or do any change which causes to change interface assignments, I get my connection lost, so no console, no anything. It's a remote system on which I'm connected over VPN :)

                    Bob.DigB H 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • jimpJ jimp moved this topic from Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software on
                    • Bob.DigB
                      Bob.Dig LAYER 8 @dzonic90
                      last edited by Bob.Dig

                      @dzonic90 said in Proper way to restore configuration on new vm:

                      so no console, no anything. It's a remote system on which I'm connected over VPN :)

                      That is bad. Is the vm from the same hypervisor or is it different. How do you do this anyway, if you loose the connection?

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                      • H
                        heper @dzonic90
                        last edited by

                        @dzonic90 said in Proper way to restore configuration on new vm:

                        @johnpoz Thing is, when I do new interface, or do any change which causes to change interface assignments, I get my connection lost, so no console, no anything. It's a remote system on which I'm connected over VPN :)

                        advice: don't add interfaces to a pfsense-VM remotely

                        if you have to do it:
                        1)get someone on-site ready with a cellular hotspot that has direct connection to the hypervisor management interface
                        2)add the VM interfaces over this cellular link
                        3)open the VM console of your pfsense and reassign the interfaces

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                          dzonic90 @Bob.Dig
                          last edited by

                          @Bob-Dig It is the VM from the same hypervisor - also on the same hypervisor, VMWare ESXi.
                          I usually hoped for the best when doing such changes 😓
                          Same with upgrades.

                          Bob.DigB 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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                            dzonic90 @heper
                            last edited by

                            @heper Yeap, this seems like the only way to do it.
                            Thanks!

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                            • Bob.DigB
                              Bob.Dig LAYER 8 @dzonic90
                              last edited by Bob.Dig

                              @dzonic90 said in Proper way to restore configuration on new vm:

                              It is the VM from the same hypervisor - also on the same hypervisor, VMWare ESXi.

                              Then you only have to create the exact same interfaces beforehand, should be doable.

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                              • stephenw10S
                                stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                last edited by

                                How many interfaces do you have already? How many are you adding?

                                ESXi will reorder the NICs when you add more than 4.

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                                  dzonic90 @Bob.Dig
                                  last edited by

                                  @Bob-Dig I'm currently doing it in test env. Will see, I hope for the best.

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                                    dzonic90 @stephenw10
                                    last edited by

                                    @stephenw10 It has more, 8 or 9, something like that.

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                                    • stephenw10S
                                      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                      last edited by

                                      Hmm, I forget if it reorders again at higher numbers. But not the usual limit people hit though.

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                                        dzonic90 @stephenw10
                                        last edited by

                                        @stephenw10 Uhhh, wait, you mentioned NICs, I thought on interfaces. sorry. It has VLANs and other interfaces, altogether it makes 8-9, but NICs, it has 2 I think.
                                        My bad.

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                                        • stephenw10S
                                          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                          last edited by

                                          Ah, well still not hitting that then. 😉

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                                            dzonic90 @stephenw10
                                            last edited by

                                            @stephenw10 Possible

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