where to put hw.uart.console setting so it sticks after reboot

gfeiner · Jan 2, 2024, 7:38 PM

I have successfully installed pfSense CE 2.7.2 on a Deciso (OPNSense) DEC850 appliance. This device has no video; only serial console. In order to have a working serial console after the kernel loads on this device during install or any reboot thereafter, I found that I must interrupt the boot process by pressing ESC at the pfSense boot options screen and then enter the following at the OK prompt

set hw.uart.console="mm:0xfedc9000,rs:2"
boot

I want to have this stick so I don't have to do that on every reboot. I have tried adding hw.uart.console="mm:0xfedc9000,rs:2" to /boot/loader.conf but that didn't work (no console after kernel load). I noticed that /boot/defaults/loader.conf references /boot/loader.conf.local but no such file exists on my fresh install of 2.7.2. I copied /boot/loader.conf to /boot/loader.conf.local but that too didn't work. I also tried putting w.uart.console="mm:0xfedc9000,rs:2" in /boot/device.hints but that just resulted in the boot process saying the hint was invalid. I also tried using the web interface to set it as a tunable but the tunables web interface complained the value contains invalid characters. So, where can I add hw.uart.console="mm:0xfedc9000,rs:2" so it sticks permanently?

jimp · Jan 2, 2024, 7:39 PM

You would put that in /boot/loader.conf.local

See: https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/config/advanced-tunables.html#config-tunables-loader

gfeiner · Jan 2, 2024, 8:53 PM

@jimp said in where to put hw.uart.console setting so it sticks after reboot:

You would put that in /boot/loader.conf.local

See: https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/config/advanced-tunables.html#config-tunables-loader

Hmm. Still not working after creating a /boot/loader.conf.local file with a single entry of: hw.uart.console="mm:0xfedc9000,rs:2"

Console output ends at this point:

|          __
    _ __  / _|___  ___ _ __  ___  ___
   | '_ \| |_/ __|/ _ \ '_ \/ __|/ _ \
   | |_) |  _\__ \  __/ | | \__ \  __/
   | .__/|_| |___/\___|_| |_|___/\___|
   |_|


 /---------- Welcome to pfSense -----------\      __________________________
 |                                         |     /                       ___\
 |  1. Boot Multi user [Enter]             |    |                      /`
 |  2. Boot Single user                    |    |                     /    :-|
 |  3. Escape to loader prompt             |    |      _________  ___/    /_ |
 |  4. Reboot                              |    |    /` ____   / /__    ___/ |
 |  5. Cons: Dual (Serial primary)         |    |   /  /   /  /    /   /     |
 |                                         |    |  /  /___/  /    /   /      |
 |  Options:                               |    | /   ______/    /   /       |
 |  6. Kernel: default/kernel (1 of 1)     |    |/   /          /   /        |
 |  7. Boot Options                        |        /          /___/         |
 |                                         |       /                         |
 |                                         |      /_________________________/
 \-----------------------------------------/                                  |
   Autoboot in 0 seconds. [Space] to pause

Loading kernel...
/boot/kernel/kernel text=0x19ba18 text=0xfdab90 text=0x17dcbf0 data=0x180 data=0x222690+0x3dc970 0x8+0x1c7460+0x8+0x1d5994-
Loading configured modules...

If I interrupt the boot processes and enter it manually, console continues to function:

          __
    _ __  / _|___  ___ _ __  ___  ___
   | '_ \| |_/ __|/ _ \ '_ \/ __|/ _ \
   | |_) |  _\__ \  __/ | | \__ \  __/
   | .__/|_| |___/\___|_| |_|___/\___|
   |_|


 /---------- Welcome to pfSense -----------\      __________________________
 |                                         |     /                       ___\
 |  1. Boot Multi user [Enter]             |    |                      /`
 |  2. Boot Single user                    |    |                     /    :-|
 |  3. Escape to loader prompt             |    |      _________  ___/    /_ |
 |  4. Reboot                              |    |    /` ____   / /__    ___/ |
 |  5. Cons: Dual (Serial primary)         |    |   /  /   /  /    /   /     |
 |                                         |    |  /  /___/  /    /   /      |
 |  Options:                               |    | /   ______/    /   /       |
 |  6. Kernel: default/kernel (1 of 1)     |    |/   /          /   /        |
 |  7. Boot Options                        |        /          /___/         |
 |                                         |       /                         |
 |                                         |      /_________________________/
 \-----------------------------------------/                                  |


Exiting menu!


Type '?' for a list of commands, 'help' for more detailed help.
OK set hw.uart.console="mm:0xfedc9000,rs:2"
OK boot
Loading kernel...
/boot/kernel/kernel text=0x19ba18 text=0xfdab90 text=0x17dcbf0 data=0x180 data=0x222690+0x3dc970 0x8+0x1c7460+0x8+0x1d5994-
Loading configured modules...
/boot/kernel/cryptodev.ko size 0x76f8 at 0x359d000
/boot/kernel/opensolaris.ko size 0x1e2b0 at 0x35a5000
can't find '/etc/hostid'
/boot/entropy size=0x1000
/boot/kernel/zfs.ko


GDB: no debug ports present
KDB: debugger backends: ddb
KDB: current backend: ddb
---<<BOOT>>---
Copyright (c) 1992-2023 The FreeBSD Project.
Copyright (c) 1979, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994
        The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
FreeBSD is a registered trademark of The FreeBSD Foundation.
FreeBSD 14.0-CURRENT amd64 1400094 #1 RELENG_2_7_2-n255948-8d2b56da39c: Wed Dec  6 20:45:47 UTC 2023
    root@freebsd:/var/jenkins/workspace/pfSense-CE-snapshots-2_7_2-main/obj/amd64/StdASW5b/var/jenkins/workspace/pfSense-CE-snapshots-2_7_2-main/sources/FreeBSD-src-RELENG_2_7_2/amd64.amd64/sys/pfSense amd64
FreeBSD clang version 16.0.6 (https://github.com/llvm/llvm-project.git llvmorg-16.0.6-0-g7cbf1a259152)
VT(vga): resolution 640x480
CPU: AMD EPYC 3201 8-Core Processor                  (1497.26-MHz K8-class CPU)
...

Contents of /boot/loader.conf.local:

hw.uart.console="mm:0xfedc9000,rs:2"

Contents of /boot.loader.conf:

kern.cam.boot_delay=10000
kern.geom.label.disk_ident.enable="0"
kern.geom.label.gptid.enable="0"
kern.ipc.nmbclusters="1000000"
kern.ipc.nmbjumbo9="524288"
kern.ipc.nmbjumbop="524288"
opensolaris_load="YES"
zfs_load="YES"
opensolaris_load="YES"
zfs_load="YES"
kern.cam.boot_delay=10000
kern.geom.label.disk_ident.enable="0"
kern.geom.label.gptid.enable="0"
kern.ipc.nmbclusters="1000000"
kern.ipc.nmbjumbo9="524288"
kern.ipc.nmbjumbop="524288"
kern.geom.label.disk_ident.enable="0"
kern.geom.label.gptid.enable="0"
cryptodev_load="YES"
zfs_load="YES"
boot_multicons="YES"
boot_serial="YES"
console="comconsole,efi"
comconsole_speed="115200"
autoboot_delay="3"
hw.hn.vf_transparent="0"
hw.hn.use_if_start="1"
net.link.ifqmaxlen="128"
machdep.hwpstate_pkg_ctrl="1"
net.pf.states_hashsize="1048576"

stephenw10 · Jan 2, 2024, 9:07 PM

Try running show at the loader prompt and see if it's being set correctly.

gfeiner · Jan 2, 2024, 9:21 PM

@stephenw10 said in where to put hw.uart.console setting so it sticks after reboot:

Try running show at the loader prompt and see if it's being set correctly.

It doesn't list it. Show output:

          __
    _ __  / _|___  ___ _ __  ___  ___
   | '_ \| |_/ __|/ _ \ '_ \/ __|/ _ \
   | |_) |  _\__ \  __/ | | \__ \  __/
   | .__/|_| |___/\___|_| |_|___/\___|
   |_|


 /---------- Welcome to pfSense -----------\      __________________________
 |                                         |     /                       ___\
 |  1. Boot Multi user [Enter]             |    |                      /`
 |  2. Boot Single user                    |    |                     /    :-|
 |  3. Escape to loader prompt             |    |      _________  ___/    /_ |
 |  4. Reboot                              |    |    /` ____   / /__    ___/ |
 |  5. Cons: Dual (Serial primary)         |    |   /  /   /  /    /   /     |
 |                                         |    |  /  /___/  /    /   /      |
 |  Options:                               |    | /   ______/    /   /       |
 |  6. Kernel: default/kernel (1 of 1)     |    |/   /          /   /        |
 |  7. Boot Options                        |        /          /___/         |
 |                                         |       /                         |
 |                                         |      /_________________________/
 \-----------------------------------------/                                  |


Exiting menu!


Type '?' for a list of commands, 'help' for more detailed help.
OK show
COLUMNS=128
LINES=40
acpi_dsdt_load=NO
acpi_dsdt_name=/boot/acpi_dsdt.aml
acpi_dsdt_type=acpi_dsdt
acpi_video_load=NO
audit_event_load=NO
audit_event_name=/etc/security/audit_event
audit_event_type=etc_security_audit_event
autoboot_delay=NO
bitmap_load=NO
bitmap_name=splash.bmp
bitmap_type=splash_image_data
boot_multicons=YES
boot_serial=YES
bootenv_autolist=YES
bootenvs[0]=zfs:pfSense/ROOT/default
bootenvs_count=1
bootfile=kernel
comconsole_pcidev=
comconsole_port=1016
comconsole_speed=115200
console=comconsole,efi
cpu_microcode_load=NO
cpu_microcode_name=/boot/firmware/ucode.bin
cpu_microcode_type=cpu_microcode
cryptodev_load=YES
currdev=zfs:pfSense/ROOT/default:
efi-version=2.50
efi_com_speed=115200
efi_max_resolution=1x1
entropy_cache_load=YES
entropy_cache_name=/boot/entropy
entropy_cache_type=boot_entropy_cache
entropy_efi_seed=YES
hint.acpi_throttle.0.disabled=1
hint.atkbd.0.at=atkbdc
hint.atkbd.0.irq=1
hint.atkbdc.0.at=isa
hint.atkbdc.0.port=0x060                               
hint.atrtc.0.at=isa                                    
hint.atrtc.0.irq=8
hint.atrtc.0.port=0x70
hint.attimer.0.at=isa
hint.attimer.0.irq=0
hint.attimer.0.port=0x40
hint.fd.0.at=fdc0
hint.fd.0.drive=0
hint.fd.1.at=fdc0
hint.fd.1.drive=1
hint.fdc.0.at=isa
hint.fdc.0.drq=2
hint.fdc.0.irq=6
hint.fdc.0.port=0x3F0
hint.p4tcc.0.disabled=1
hint.ppc.0.at=isa
hint.ppc.0.irq=7
hint.psm.0.at=atkbdc
hint.psm.0.irq=12
hint.sc.0.at=isa
hint.sc.0.flags=0x100
hint.smbios.0.mem=0x793f6000
hint.uart.0.at=isa
hint.uart.0.flags=0x10
hint.uart.0.irq=4
hint.uart.0.port=0x3F8
hint.uart.1.at=isa
hint.uart.1.irq=3
hint.uart.1.port=0x2F8
hostuuid_load=YES
hostuuid_name=/etc/hostid
hostuuid_type=hostuuid
hw.hn.use_if_start=1
hw.hn.vf_transparent=0
hw.usb.no_pf=1
interpret=OK
kern.cam.boot_delay=10000
kern.geom.label.disk_ident.enable=0
kern.geom.label.gptid.enable=0
kern.ipc.nmbclusters=1000000                           
kern.ipc.nmbjumbo9=524288
kern.ipc.nmbjumbop=524288
kernel=kernel
kernel_options=
kernels_autodetect=YES
loaddev=zfs:pfSense/ROOT/default:
loader.efi=1
loader_brand=pfSense
loader_color=NO
loader_conf_dirs=/boot/loader.conf.d
loader_logo=pfSensebw
loader_menu_title=Welcome to pfSense
machdep.hwpstate_pkg_ctrl=1
module_blacklist=drm drm2 radeonkms i915kms amdgpu
module_path=/boot/modules;/boot/dtb;/boot/dtb/overlays
module_verbose=2
net.isr.maxthreads=-1
net.link.ifqmaxlen=128
net.pf.request_maxcount=400000
net.pf.states_hashsize=1048576
nextboot_conf=/boot/nextboot.conf
opensolaris_load=YES
prompt=${interpret}
ram_blacklist_load=NO
ram_blacklist_name=/boot/blacklist.txt
ram_blacklist_type=ram_blacklist
screensave_load=NO
screensave_name=green_saver
script.lang=lua
smbios.bios.reldate=12/14/2022
smbios.bios.revision=5.22
smbios.bios.vendor=INSYDE Corp.
smbios.bios.version=05.22.01.0011.0010
smbios.chassis.maker=Deciso B.V.
smbios.chassis.serial=Chassis Serial Number
smbios.chassis.tag=Chassis Asset Tag
smbios.chassis.type=Notebook
smbios.chassis.version=Chassis Version
smbios.memory.enabled=16777216                         
smbios.planar.location=Type2 - Board Chassis Location
smbios.planar.maker=Deciso B.V.
smbios.planar.product=NetBoard-A20
smbios.planar.serial=
smbios.planar.tag=Type2 - Board Asset Tag
smbios.planar.version=
smbios.socket.enabled=1
smbios.socket.populated=1
smbios.system.family=NetBoard-A20
smbios.system.maker=Deciso B.V.
smbios.system.product=NetBoard-A20
smbios.system.serial=
smbios.system.sku=
smbios.system.uuid=12345678-1234-5678-90ab-cddeefaabbcc
smbios.system.version=
smbios.version=3.0
splash_bmp_load=NO
splash_pcx_load=NO
splash_txt_load=NO
twiddle_divisor=16
verbose_loading=NO
vesa_load=NO
zfs_be_active=zfs:pfSense/ROOT/default
zfs_be_currpage=1
zfs_be_root=pfSense/ROOT
zfs_load=YES
OK

gfeiner · Jan 2, 2024, 9:29 PM

@stephenw10

Could the FreeBSD 14 base used by 2.7.2 have reverted or broken this fix from FreeBSD 13?
https://www.freebsd.org/security/advisories/FreeBSD-EN-23:06.loader.asc

stephenw10 · Jan 2, 2024, 9:34 PM

Possible but unlikely IMO. Can it boot UEFI? If so try that as it's unaffected.

Do you see it loading that file before the loader menu? It should show something like:

Setting currdev to disk0p2:
Loading /boot/defaults/loader.conf
Loading /boot/device.hints
Loading /boot/loader.conf
Loading /boot/loader.conf.lua
Loading /boot/loader.conf.local

gfeiner · Jan 2, 2024, 10:09 PM

@stephenw10 said in where to put hw.uart.console setting so it sticks after reboot:

Possible but unlikely IMO. Can it boot UEFI? If so try that as it's unaffected.

Do you see it loading that file before the loader menu? It should show something like:
Setting currdev to disk0p2:
Loading /boot/defaults/loader.conf
Loading /boot/device.hints
Loading /boot/loader.conf
Loading /boot/loader.conf.lua
Loading /boot/loader.conf.local

It is a UEFI-based BIOS. It has a UEFI shell you can access. I assume it is in UEFI boot mode rather than legacy boot mode. The BIOS setup has no options for boot mode. Here is what happens before the pfSense loader:



CPUID : 800F12
InsydeH2O Version : 05.22.01.0011.0010A
BIOS Build Date : 12/14/2022
Processor Type : AMD EPYC 3201 8-Core Processor                 
System Memory Speed : 2133 MHz

Please set hw.efifb.address and hw.efifb.stride.
Consoles: EFI console
Reading loader env vars from /efi/freebsd/loader.env
Setting currdev to disk0p1:
FreeBSD/amd64 EFI loader, Revision 1.1(Wed Dec  6 20:44:01 UTC 2023 root@freebsd)
Command line arguments: loader.efi
Image base: 0x74118000
EFI version: 2.50
EFI Firmware: INSYDE Corp. (rev 21024.4112)
Console: efi (0x1000)
Load Path: \efi\freebsd\loader.efi
Load Device: PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x8,0x1)/Pci(0x0,0x2)/Sata(0x0,0x0,0x0)/HD(1,GPT,43D8B194-A993-11EE-BB54-F490EA006397,0x28,0x82
BootCurrent: 0003
BootOrder: 0003[*] 0000 2001 0002 2002 2003
BootInfo Path: HD(1,GPT,43D8B194-A993-11EE-BB54-F490EA006397,0x28,0x82000)/\efi\freebsd\loader.efi
Ignoring Boot0003: Only one DP found
Trying ESP: PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x8,0x1)/Pci(0x0,0x2)/Sata(0x0,0x0,0x0)/HD(1,GPT,43D8B194-A993-11EE-BB54-F490EA006397,0x28,0x82000)
Setting currdev to disk0p1
Trying: PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x8,0x1)/Pci(0x0,0x2)/Sata(0x0,0x0,0x0)/HD(2,GPT,43DD88AC-A993-11EE-BB54-F490EA006397,0x82028,0x400)
Setting currdev to disk0p2:\
Trying: PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x8,0x1)/Pci(0x0,0x2)/Sata(0x0,0x0,0x0)/HD(3,GPT,43E4C639-A993-11EE-BB54-F490EA006397,0x82800,0x200000)
Setting currdev to disk0p3:
Trying: PciRoot(0x0)/Pci(0x8,0x1)/Pci(0x0,0x2)/Sata(0x0,0x0,0x0)/HD(4,GPT,43E99877-A993-11EE-BB54-F490EA006397,0x282800,0x1DA708
Setting currdev to zfs:pfSense/ROOT/default

stephenw10 · Jan 2, 2024, 10:36 PM

Hmm, it might have cleared the screen before that then. It must be loading at least loader.conf.

Try also setting: console=efi

gfeiner · Jan 2, 2024, 11:31 PM

@stephenw10 said in where to put hw.uart.console setting so it sticks after reboot:

Hmm, it might have cleared the screen before that then. It must be loading at least loader.conf.

Try also setting: console=efi

show command reveals efi is already in the console option:

console=comconsole,efi

That message about loader.efi reading env vars from /efi/freebsd/loader.env got my attention. I entered the EFI shell and browsed to that location. There was no loader.env, only loader.efi. However I created a loader.env file . Contest shown below:

FS0:\efi\freebsd\> type loader.env
hw.uart.console="mm:0xfedc9000,rs:2"
greg=1

FS0:\efi\freebsd\>

After rebooting, show command output is below. Notice my "greg=1" test var is there but hw.uart.console is not. So that confirms that loader.efi is reading the file but hw.uart.console is being cleared or ignored for some reason. I did try removing the quotes in the line but that did not make a difference. Maybe that fix I mentioned really is missing from 2.7.2

\          __
    _ __  / _|___  ___ _ __  ___  ___
   | '_ \| |_/ __|/ _ \ '_ \/ __|/ _ \
   | |_) |  _\__ \  __/ | | \__ \  __/
   | .__/|_| |___/\___|_| |_|___/\___|
   |_|


 /---------- Welcome to pfSense -----------\      __________________________
 |                                         |     /                       ___\
 |  1. Boot Multi user [Enter]             |    |                      /`
 |  2. Boot Single user                    |    |                     /    :-|
 |  3. Escape to loader prompt             |    |      _________  ___/    /_ |
 |  4. Reboot                              |    |    /` ____   / /__    ___/ |
 |  5. Cons: Dual (Serial primary)         |    |   /  /   /  /    /   /     |
 |                                         |    |  /  /___/  /    /   /      |
 |  Options:                               |    | /   ______/    /   /       |
 |  6. Kernel: default/kernel (1 of 1)     |    |/   /          /   /        |
 |  7. Boot Options                        |        /          /___/         |
 |                                         |       /                         |
 |                                         |      /_________________________/
 \-----------------------------------------/                                  \


Exiting menu!


Type '?' for a list of commands, 'help' for more detailed help.
OK ??
unknown command
OK show
COLUMNS=128
LINES=40
acpi_dsdt_load=NO
acpi_dsdt_name=/boot/acpi_dsdt.aml
acpi_dsdt_type=acpi_dsdt
acpi_video_load=NO
audit_event_load=NO
audit_event_name=/etc/security/audit_event
audit_event_type=etc_security_audit_event
autoboot_delay=NO
bitmap_load=NO
bitmap_name=splash.bmp
bitmap_type=splash_image_data
boot_multicons=YES
boot_serial=YES
bootenv_autolist=YES
bootenvs[0]=zfs:pfSense/ROOT/default
bootenvs_count=1
bootfile=kernel
comconsole_pcidev=
comconsole_port=1016
comconsole_speed=115200
console=comconsole,efi
cpu_microcode_load=NO
cpu_microcode_name=/boot/firmware/ucode.bin
cpu_microcode_type=cpu_microcode
cryptodev_load=YES
currdev=zfs:pfSense/ROOT/default:
efi-version=2.50
efi_com_speed=115200
efi_max_resolution=1x1
entropy_cache_load=YES
entropy_cache_name=/boot/entropy
entropy_cache_type=boot_entropy_cache
entropy_efi_seed=YES
greg=1
hint.acpi_throttle.0.disabled=1
hint.atkbd.0.at=atkbdc
hint.atkbd.0.irq=1
hint.atkbdc.0.at=isa                                   
hint.atkbdc.0.port=0x060
hint.atrtc.0.at=isa
hint.atrtc.0.irq=8
hint.atrtc.0.port=0x70
hint.attimer.0.at=isa
hint.attimer.0.irq=0
hint.attimer.0.port=0x40
hint.fd.0.at=fdc0
hint.fd.0.drive=0
hint.fd.1.at=fdc0
hint.fd.1.drive=1
hint.fdc.0.at=isa
hint.fdc.0.drq=2
hint.fdc.0.irq=6
hint.fdc.0.port=0x3F0
hint.p4tcc.0.disabled=1
hint.ppc.0.at=isa
hint.ppc.0.irq=7
hint.psm.0.at=atkbdc
hint.psm.0.irq=12
hint.sc.0.at=isa
hint.sc.0.flags=0x100
hint.smbios.0.mem=0x793f6000
hint.uart.0.at=isa
hint.uart.0.flags=0x10
hint.uart.0.irq=4
hint.uart.0.port=0x3F8
hint.uart.1.at=isa
hint.uart.1.irq=3
hint.uart.1.port=0x2F8
hostuuid_load=YES
hostuuid_name=/etc/hostid
hostuuid_type=hostuuid
hw.hn.use_if_start=1
hw.hn.vf_transparent=0
hw.usb.no_pf=1
interpret=OK
kern.cam.boot_delay=10000
kern.geom.label.disk_ident.enable=0                    
kern.geom.label.gptid.enable=0
kern.ipc.nmbclusters=1000000
kern.ipc.nmbjumbo9=524288
kern.ipc.nmbjumbop=524288
kernel=kernel
kernel_options=
kernels_autodetect=YES
loaddev=zfs:pfSense/ROOT/default:
loader.efi=1
loader_brand=pfSense
loader_color=NO
loader_conf_dirs=/boot/loader.conf.d
loader_logo=pfSensebw
loader_menu_title=Welcome to pfSense
machdep.hwpstate_pkg_ctrl=1
module_blacklist=drm drm2 radeonkms i915kms amdgpu
module_path=/boot/modules;/boot/dtb;/boot/dtb/overlays
module_verbose=2
net.isr.maxthreads=-1
net.link.ifqmaxlen=128
net.pf.request_maxcount=400000
net.pf.states_hashsize=1048576
nextboot_conf=/boot/nextboot.conf
opensolaris_load=YES
prompt=${interpret}
ram_blacklist_load=NO
ram_blacklist_name=/boot/blacklist.txt
ram_blacklist_type=ram_blacklist
screensave_load=NO
screensave_name=green_saver
script.lang=lua
smbios.bios.reldate=12/14/2022
smbios.bios.revision=5.22
smbios.bios.vendor=INSYDE Corp.
smbios.bios.version=05.22.01.0011.0010
smbios.chassis.maker=Deciso B.V.
smbios.chassis.serial=Chassis Serial Number
smbios.chassis.tag=Chassis Asset Tag
smbios.chassis.type=Notebook                           
smbios.chassis.version=Chassis Version
smbios.memory.enabled=16777216
smbios.planar.location=Type2 - Board Chassis Location
smbios.planar.maker=Deciso B.V.
smbios.planar.product=NetBoard-A20
smbios.planar.serial=
smbios.planar.tag=Type2 - Board Asset Tag
smbios.planar.version=
smbios.socket.enabled=1
smbios.socket.populated=1
smbios.system.family=NetBoard-A20
smbios.system.maker=Deciso B.V.
smbios.system.product=NetBoard-A20
smbios.system.serial=
smbios.system.sku=
smbios.system.uuid=12345678-1234-5678-90ab-cddeefaabbcc
smbios.system.version=
smbios.version=3.0
splash_bmp_load=NO
splash_pcx_load=NO
splash_txt_load=NO
twiddle_divisor=16
verbose_loading=NO
vesa_load=NO
zfs_be_active=zfs:pfSense/ROOT/default
zfs_be_currpage=1
zfs_be_root=pfSense/ROOT
zfs_load=YES
OK

stephenw10 · Jan 2, 2024, 11:42 PM

@gfeiner said in where to put hw.uart.console setting so it sticks after reboot:

show command reveals efi is already in the console option:

console=comconsole,efi

But comconsole is set first and the referenced bug shows that running it unsets the hw.uart value.
So try adding console=efi to loader.conf.local

gfeiner · Jan 3, 2024, 12:53 AM

@stephenw10 said in where to put hw.uart.console setting so it sticks after reboot:

@gfeiner said in where to put hw.uart.console setting so it sticks after reboot:

show command reveals efi is already in the console option:

console=comconsole,efi

But comconsole is set first and the referenced bug shows that running it unsets the hw.uart value.
So try adding console=efi to loader.conf.local

Bingo. That was it. /efi/freebsd/loader.env is not needed. All that is needed is a /boot/loader.conf.local with these two entries:

console="efi"
hw.uart.console="mm:0xfedc9000,rs:2"

In looking at the details and comments of the actual change in FreeBSD 13, it makes sense: https://cgit.freebsd.org/src/commit/?id=525ac1948af8
Their change will specifically unset hw.uart.console if console has comconsole as a value.

For those reading this who may wish to install pfSense on a Deciso appliance like myself, I got the mmio address value for hw.uart.console by inspecting the output of "dmeg | grep uart" while the appliance was running OPNsense.