Restoring backup from SG5100 to SG8200 lost connectivity

Jossk

My current appliance is an SG-5100. I will be upgrading to an SG-8200. I restored the backup from my 5100 to the 8200 no problem.

My issue is that I got a message saying the hardware assignments was wrong. So I changed them to what I figured they were (the 5100 had the port IDs (igb0, ix2, etc.) labelled right on the front, whereas the 8200 had the generic naming (WAN 1-2, LAN1-4, etc.) labelled on the front.

I set the WAN as igc0, as I figured that was the one labelled as WAN 1. And the LAN and VLANS as ix0 (I assumed that was the one labelled as LAN 1). I also have a "Service" network, for me to plug my laptop in if the trunk port goes belly up, and I can't access from there. I set that to ix3, which I assumed was labelled as LAN 4.

After changing then rebooting as it said to do, I cannot connect when I plug into to any of the ports. So I can't access the web UI. I have tried every single port. Even the SFPs using an adapter.

I then tried accessing via the USB console port. However, the /dev/ttyUSB0 shows up for a second, then disappears.

The only thing I haven't tried yet is trying to connect to the console via my Windows desktop, due to time constraints.

Any ideas or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

SteveITS

@Jossk ~~posts~~ [edit: ports] are listed here https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/solutions/netgate-8200/io-ports.html#networking-ports. There are some notes.

Via console you can review/change assignments . https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/solutions/netgate-8200/connect-to-console.html

Also see https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/troubleshooting/connect-to-gui.html

Jossk

Thank you @SteveITS . Much appreciated. Hopefully I can get around to working on that soon.

Cheers.

Jossk

I just noticed that all 3 lights are blinking. I then cycled the power.
The Circle came on orange. Then went on blue.
After about a minute or so, all 3 started blinking.

There was a forum post about an SG3100, but it uses the same shape indicators as the 8200.
I think I read someone mentioned that meant it was stuck in a boot loop.
New SG3100 Stuck in boot loop

Can anyone confirm?

SteveITS

@Jossk Which color? LED patterns are on that page I linked.
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/solutions/netgate-8200/io-ports.html#led-patterns

Jossk

@SteveITS

Boot Process - rapidly blinking blue.

I was looking for the power button. lol

I will try the factory reset. Then reassign the interfaces one at a time (as I should have done from the beginning).

Thanks

SteveITS

@Jossk The reset only resets the config file. You could also connect to the console to see what it is showing during boot.

Jossk

@SteveITS

Unfortunately, /dev/ttyUSB0 shows up for a second, then disappears. Not nearly long enough to open PuTTY to see what it's doing.

I also saw in the documentation the port IDs and what they are labelled on the unit.

Being that you can reconfigure any port to be WAN or LAN, I don't understand the logic of labelling ports as WAN or LAN on a pfSense appliance.

Then again, I'm questioning their logic when they decided to rack-mount a desktop unit, for a number of reasons. Now that I have my hands on it.
But that's neither here nor there.

It seems like the only option would be the nuclear route and re-image it. Do you think I have more luck connecting from a Windows machine?

SteveITS

@Jossk It kinda sounds like it is just continually rebooting. You could try to reinstall. Or post in the Netgate hardware forum. Or since it's new open a ticket with TAC at go.netgate.com.

You did mention the console above, I forgot that already. :)

I think the labels are just to get people started, on a default config.

Jossk

@SteveITS

Thanks. All good ideas.

I would argue that having the port IDs more useful, and just having a sticker or card for initial setup would be of more benefit to helping the user learning the basics.

I was just about to open a TAC ticket, and went over to look for the NDI on the unit, and saw the diamond blinking blue. Meaning the system was ready.
I just checked back on the unit. It must have been the config file, as it's now booted fine and I can reach the default IP address.

I can try to restore the config, knowing the factory reset will work. lol

Or I can go the safe rout (the hard way), & replicate the setup manually.

Thanks for all your advice. Much appreciated.

stephenw10

You should be able to restore a 5100 config there and just reassign the interfaces.

If you have a number of sub-interfaces like VLANs or PPP etc you might want to just edit the config directly. There is risk doing that.

If you open a ticket with us we can convert your old config to allow you to import it directly into the 8200.

Steve