Running pfSense on a meraki MX400

stephenw10

Looking at it that seems to be a badged Lanner appliance so I'd expect to be able to boot pfSense just fine.

First thing I would do is hook up a serial console and see what's shown. Can it boot from USB? Can you access the BIOS setup?

If neither then you may have to move the boot drive into something else to install to it.

Steve

interrupt

@stephenw10 you are absolutely correct. I forgot that it is lanner system and just branded. I completely forgot. It won't be here until probably next week. I just got it from eBay. Thanks for reminding me about the hardware origin. I completely forgot that. I mixed my own self up in my own mind. I forgot I looked at lanner for info. I completely forgot. Thanks.

provels

@interrupt Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I used a second machine with video and a couple of throwaway NICs to install the base system and just get it on the Internet (and enable SSH), then moved the drive to the headless machine, connected to console port via serial, and reconfigured the new NICs when they were recognized at first boot. After that, I'd install packages, write rules, etc., from the web interface Fairly straightforward. Looks like a cool box! A little power hungry, but if the price is right.

Datasheet

stephenw10

Merged the two threads here.

jfaubin

@interrupt

Have you installed psense on the meraki?

Regards!

interrupt

@jfaubin I've been so busy with other responsibilities and will plan on working on this project in April.

There is a CF170 4gig inside and I think that it is used for firmware? I really don't know. I'll ask a cisco friend to give me some info on that chip and what it is used for.

Cisco removed all ports for this device however I doubt they removed the functionality inside on the MB. I'll pick up a video cable and use that to see if I can get any video.

I'll report back.

This was originally a project for my kid and his friends but they blew it off and went back to playing roblox.

I'm an old man i guess but i'm raising a 10 year old and man is it a major trip.

Thanks for the inquiry.

Interrupt

interrupt

@jfaubin

i finally found the time and did successfully install pfsense on cisco/meraki mx400. i could'nt get the video via vga as i am colorblind and can't tell the pinout.

i can't display on the front panel because i don't know the config for this unit. if anyone could help with the led panel config i would love it.

this was originally for the kid and his friends to do but they prefered roblox, hot wheels unleashed, or live home 3d.

thanks for identifying the manufacturer cause i some how found a manual that gave all the engineering for the mx400 (less the cisco butchering).

i love it

interrupt

i have lcdproc configured and its fully functional. i will post a pic later.

interrupt

Re: Running pfSense on a meraki MX400
i have lcdproc configured and its fully functional. i will post a pic later.

NC1

@interrupt said in Running pfSense on a meraki MX400:

i have lcdproc configured and its fully functional. i will post a pic later.

Thank you in advance for that! Looking forward to it. If possible, could you also post a brief hardware overview (I can see from the screenshot that the processor is Xeon E3-1275 v2, but there no information about stock memory and storage) and Lanner motherboard model number?