Hot / Standby Pfsense PC
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Hi,
I am currently running Pfsense on a Dell PC with 1 WAN connection and all is fine with a UPS attached. However, ideally I would like to either add a 2nd identical PC running the same config which I could use as a standby should the main PC go down due to hardware failure (disk etc). Is this possible, easy. I know I could simply replace the PC with a spare and reload the config but I might not be around and the rest of the family would not know how to do this!
Alternatively, I could add a 2nd ssd and run raid or equivalent to cater for disk failure but is it easy to add a second disk for pfsense without completely rebuilding it?
Steve
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@stevencavanagh A better strategy would be using two drives (SSD/nvme) in raid stripe...then, always have the current pfSense version on bootable flash drive handy, followed by a backup of your current workable configuration. Plan on purchasing a UPS as soon as you can. This defeats the need of have a PC as spare. Remember to use the space bar to select drives when installing.
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@stevencavanagh I have a spare mini PC as that covers also covers
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hardware failure other than disk problems (power supply, memory, NIC, processor, debugging while isolating fault).
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Software upgrade failure
The intention is to use the spare miniPC as a HTPC when not needed as a DIY router (pfsense, 3cx, Unifi controller, Proxmox)
If you actually want high availability have a look at https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/recipes/high-availability.html
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@NollipfSense said in Hot / Standby Pfsense PC:
@stevencavanagh A better strategy would be using two drives (SSD/nvme) in raid stripe...then, always have the current pfSense version on bootable flash drive handy, followed by a backup of your current workable configuration. Plan on purchasing a UPS as soon as you can. This defeats the need of have a PC as spare. Remember to use the space bar to select drives when installing.
I currently have an APC SMART UPS, which is supplying the whole rack but the ethernet connection is connected currently tot the NAS to trigger it to shutdown so I need to move that to pfsense PC and then allow pfsense to shutdown the NAS via apcupsd.
Agreed that a second disk would be wise, how straightforward is it to add one now?
Got the flash drive bit covered though!
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@Patch said in Hot / Standby Pfsense PC:
@stevencavanagh I have a spare mini PC as that covers also covers
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hardware failure other than disk problems (power supply, memory, NIC, processor, debugging while isolating fault).
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Software upgrade failure
The intention is to use the spare miniPC as a HTPC when not needed as a DIY router (pfsense, 3cx, Unifi controller, Proxmox)
If you actually want high availability have a look at https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/recipes/high-availability.html
Cheers for the link, had a quick look last night but I will need to sit down and digest it all, preferably not at 3am in the morning.
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@stevencavanagh said in Hot / Standby Pfsense PC:
how straightforward is it to add one now?
Pretty much straightforward plug n' play taking in mind that you will need to re-install pfSense and remember to press the space bar to select both drives.
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@NollipfSense Assuming I back it all up then it doesn’t seem too bad!
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@stevencavanagh said in Hot / Standby Pfsense PC:
Assuming I back it all up
You're just backing up your workable configuration...nothing more.
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@NollipfSense said in Hot / Standby Pfsense PC:
@stevencavanagh said in Hot / Standby Pfsense PC:
Assuming I back it all up
You're just backing up your workable configuration...nothing more.
Yep, all backed up so just need to order another disk
