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    pfsense installation with hardware RAID

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    • O
      ozlecz
      last edited by

      Device: iei puzzle IN004 with Xeon 2146NT proc
      Version: pfsense ver2.7.2
      SATA Mode: RAID (in the bios SATA configuration we can choose between AHCI and RAID.. RAID was chosen)
      SSD: 2 x Intel 240GB

      With this sata mode =RAID, how is the process of installation of pfsense?

      Thank you in advance.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • jimpJ jimp moved this topic from General pfSense Questions on
      • jimpJ
        jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
        last edited by

        Since you chose RAID in the BIOS, then the BIOS would expose some sort of logical disk to the OS. It's probably software RAID which may not be supported by FreeBSD. If you don't see a disk offered during installation, then it's probably not going to work that way.

        You are more likely to have success setting the BIOS to AHCI mode and then creating a ZFS mirror during the installation instead.

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        O 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
        • AndyRHA
          AndyRH
          last edited by

          Having used both types of RAID (Not with pfSense) I would create a ZFS mirror. Well supported by pfSense and likely to give you superior recovery options at the probable cost of some CPU cycles depending on the HW RAID that you might use.

          o||||o
          7100-1u

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • Cool_CoronaC
            Cool_Corona
            last edited by

            Choose RAID 1 hot plug and run it virtualized.

            No downtime at all.

            O 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • O
              ozlecz @jimp
              last edited by

              @jimp yes, i still only see the 2 drives offered during the installation...no logical raid drive seen

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • O
                ozlecz @Cool_Corona
                last edited by

                @Cool_Corona system jave max 2 sata drives... option in bios is just RAID.. no mention of variants

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                • stephenw10S
                  stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                  last edited by

                  I would also recommend just using AHCI mode and a ZFS mirror.

                  M O 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 2
                  • M
                    mcury @stephenw10
                    last edited by mcury

                    If I may, I would suggest for the OP to watch Level1Techs video:
                    Youtube Video

                    In summary, this video will explain why use AHCI and create the ZFS mirror is the way to go, as already said by other members above.

                    dead on arrival, nowhere to be found.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • O
                      ozlecz @stephenw10
                      last edited by

                      @stephenw10 we tried this and it works with 2.6.0 but not in 2.7.2...installation was success but removing either of the disk and booting with either just one of them failed.
                      SSD was intel SSD D3-S4510 series 240GB

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • stephenw10S
                        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                        last edited by

                        Is it booting uefi? You could be hitting this: https://redmine.pfsense.org/issues/15083

                        Though I'd expect it to still boot wit the just the first disk present if so.

                        O 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                        • O
                          ozlecz @stephenw10
                          last edited by

                          @stephenw10 few captures below.

                          5cdf3235-52e1-4332-b7c2-a92f6125d50f-image.png

                          12c141f0-4792-4587-8191-869153255caf-image.png

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                          • stephenw10S
                            stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                            last edited by

                            Hmm, the 2nd shot there is with the primary drive I assume?

                            O 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                            • O
                              ozlecz @stephenw10
                              last edited by

                              @stephenw10 actually its mixed up...maybe 1 of those were taken when the bios is set to RAID sir

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                              • stephenw10S
                                stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                last edited by

                                Ah probably need to see exactly how it's failing in each situation then. But since you are booting EFI t probably will need the manual workaround listed in that bug.

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                                • O
                                  ozlecz @stephenw10
                                  last edited by

                                  @stephenw10 i was able to duplicate the bug

                                  261c7c6c-422b-4140-a79e-828d6c4a52da-image.png

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                                  • stephenw10S
                                    stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                    last edited by

                                    Yup so it can't mount the efi partition on the secondary. Try running the workaround shown on the bug report to populate it.

                                    O 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                    • O
                                      ozlecz @stephenw10
                                      last edited by

                                      @stephenw10 does this mean disabling the EFI boot in bios should sove this issue as well?

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                                      • stephenw10S
                                        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                        last edited by

                                        Yes if you boot legacy that does not hit that bug.

                                        O 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                        • O
                                          ozlecz @stephenw10
                                          last edited by

                                          @stephenw10 thank you very much on this...issue solved.

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
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