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    Netgate 6100 SSDs

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Official Netgate® Hardware
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    • RobbieTTR
      RobbieTT @muenchris
      last edited by

      @muenchris said in Netgate 6100 SSDs:

      @RobbieTT I got a Kingdata 512GB NVMe and it finally worked. My 6100 is back up and running.

      Excellent news! 👍

      ☕️

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      • C
        cedrictang @RobbieTT
        last edited by cedrictang

        Resurrecting this thread.

        My 6100 max died in May and I have subsequently replaced it with a new one. But I still want to see if I can rebuild this.

        https://forum.netgate.com/topic/188293/6100-failing-after-trying-to-upgrade-from-23-09-01-release-to-24-xx/21?_=1722320035183

        This is my original thread.

        So I think the USB is dead. So I cannot appear to boot from the USB. I have removed the NVME drive and am wondering if anyone can point me in the direction of installing pfsense on a new NVME drive not via the 6100 device itself.

        I could find a way to install it onto a minipc's second nvne slot (i understand an M slot can use a b+m drive). Is there a way to use etcher or something to just write a full pfsense image onto a new drive like the WD SN520 mentioned above?

        If say I can install the new nvme drive on a minipc and install pfsense and then transfer the drive back to the 6100. However the hardware would be different though wouldn't it?!

        Thank you.

        IMG_1913.jpeg

        JonathanLeeJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • JonathanLeeJ
          JonathanLee @stephenw10
          last edited by

          @stephenw10 yeah something like security onion, or kibana for log viewing

          Make sure to upvote

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          • JonathanLeeJ
            JonathanLee @cedrictang
            last edited by

            @cedrictang they get hot fyi you might need to think about cooling pads also

            Make sure to upvote

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            • JonathanLeeJ
              JonathanLee @RobbieTT
              last edited by

              @RobbieTT I wondered that also, I even asked some SSD vendors if they have a swap approved high use drive. Of course they state the drives are not recommended for swap use and can void warranty if you use one for swap partitions

              Make sure to upvote

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              • JonathanLeeJ
                JonathanLee @luckman212
                last edited by

                @luckman212 I have a Kingspec in my 2100 I use it with Squid logs also so it gets some use, I have had it running for about one year no problems. I even have an extra one on standby just in case it failed early. They are reliable. I do use a heatsink and thermal pad on them. They will get hot without it

                Make sure to upvote

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                • JonathanLeeJ
                  JonathanLee @RobbieTT
                  last edited by

                  @RobbieTT have you looked for 2 port adapters yet with a switch you can use? I was looking for a while. A hardware based switchable 2 port adapter for SSD like a fail over one of course manual fail over activation.

                  Make sure to upvote

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                  • C
                    cedrictang @JonathanLee
                    last edited by

                    @JonathanLee

                    thanks for the advice. actually this disk should still be working. So I just flash it onto the same drive. (This doesn't have a heatsink when shipped. i took it out of the 6100 max as is.)

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                    • stephenw10S
                      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                      last edited by

                      Yeah we've never found a heatsink was required. It doesn't really get worked hard by pfSense.

                      Yes, the easiest way is probably to fit it in the new 6100 and reinstall pfSense to it in the normal way. Then swap it back

                      Yes, you can fit 2 NVMe drives in the 6100 if needed. They can run as a mirror or you could install to it that way but it would be hard to know which drive you're installing to. I would remove the newer drive to do it.

                      Steve

                      C luckman212L 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • C
                        cedrictang @stephenw10
                        last edited by

                        @stephenw10

                        that would mean downtime for the existing 6100. And I really fear taking a brand new one apart when it is under warranty. Any previous experience on flashing the software onto a blank disk on a PC for example. The device is out of warranty anyway so I am not concerned about the warranty. It can't get any worst since it is totally bricked right now. Cheers!

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                        • stephenw10S
                          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                          last edited by

                          Either of the installers has to boot on the target device so you would need to put the drive in something else, a laptop perhaps. It could be an external USB drive case. Then boot that from the installer and install to it. You could use the CE installer then upgrade to Plus once it's in the 6100.

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                          • luckman212L
                            luckman212 LAYER 8 @stephenw10
                            last edited by

                            @stephenw10 said in Netgate 6100 SSDs:

                            you can fit 2 NVMe drives in the 6100

                            You can? I didn't know this. Is that on only certain hardware revs? It's been a while since I opened mine, but last time I took this picture and there was only a single slot. There's also no mention of this in the manual...

                            51f0e81c-c6e8-4b35-b4e3-f0de65388bb3-image.png

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                            • C
                              cedrictang @luckman212
                              last edited by

                              @luckman212

                              this is what my board looks like - bought this in dec 2021.
                              I can see 2 slots.

                              9AFE180A-37B7-4BD2-880B-4C10B562D7B3_1_201_a.jpeg

                              luckman212L 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                              • luckman212L
                                luckman212 LAYER 8 @cedrictang
                                last edited by

                                @cedrictang Ah ok didn't realize they weren't next to each other. I'll have to crack mine open and take another peek.

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

                                  The 4100 has only one m.2 slot for reference. The 6100 and 8200 have two and both can accept NVMe drives.

                                  JonathanLeeJ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                  • JonathanLeeJ
                                    JonathanLee @stephenw10
                                    last edited by

                                    @stephenw10 I got this usbc NVMe drive it can clock 10gbps that’s a wow factor to me

                                    Make sure to upvote

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