Can run Live, but not installed pfSense
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I have been running 1.0.1 on a WRAP since it was released (and the betas before that). There are some packages I wanted to use so I tested the LiveCD build of 1.0.1 on a friends P25G Celeron box:
(http://www.pcchips.com.tw/PCCWeb/Products/ProductsDetail.aspx?DetailID=371&MenuID=22&LanID=0)
It ran well so I purchased a board, CPU (Celeron 2Ghz), memory, etc. and a very compact fanless case.
The LiveCD runs perfectly using the OB NIC and a 3Com CorKscrew. However when I install pfSense to the HD I get a (very quickly repeating) reg dump immediately after getting the boot option BSD screen. I thought that there might be a problem with the box but after 48hrs of burn-in testing I installed Edgy Eft and ran that for a while. No problems. I then installed IPCop and it has been running fine for days. I tried to install pfSense to a different HD and still I get the same results. I do like pfSense over IPCop, but does anyone know why the pfSense kernel is having such a problem with this setup when installed from the HD but not when booted live?
Thanks
Jon -
Did you already try suggestions from
http://wiki.pfsense.com/wikka.php?wakka=BootOptions
http://wiki.pfsense.com/wikka.php?wakka=BootTroubleShooting
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Yep, ran through everything suggested - except for the fact that I can't actually manipulate the kernel load menu. I get the F1 boot menu and then it goes to the kernel options menu. I see that menu for a fraction of a second (the menu that allows you to boot with/without ACPI, etc) but then before I can actually hit space to pause or a numeric option I get a repeated register dump screen that scrolls at lightning speed. I tried to find any comments on the web about OpenBSD and the hardware on the MoBo but so far I have not found any other reports of issues.
Thanks for the reply.
Jon
Did you already try suggestions from
http://wiki.pfsense.com/wikka.php?wakka=BootOptions
http://wiki.pfsense.com/wikka.php?wakka=BootTroubleShooting
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pfSense is FreeBSD not OpenBSD.
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My bad, since I was hunting I looked for Free and Open BSD - specifically 6.1. I guess I'll just have to build myself a different box for pfSense. The more time I spend with IPCop the less I like it.
Has anyone used/tested the Jetway HYBRID-C7-1.5G (VIA C7 based http://www.mini-box.com/Hybrid-C7-1-5G?sc=8&category=99) with pfSense?
Mini-box has a 40gb 256MB system with 3 GB LAN ports in a nice small package for $360US.
Jon
pfSense is FreeBSD not OpenBSD.
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The jetway should be okay. Have you tested a recent snapshot on your current hardware? It is based on 6.2.
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Nope, but it sounds like a good idea. I'll let you know what happens.
Jon
The jetway should be okay. Have you tested a recent snapshot on your current hardware? It is based on 6.2.
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Tried the latest snapshot that I could find (3/27/07), still dies. I did manage to get a glimpse of the error by putting the machine into suspend (the halt repeats a few hundred times per second scrolling the info so fast it is just a blur). It is a "BTX Faulted" message with register dump.
I'm willing to change motherboards if someone knows for sure that a particular socket 478 uATX board works with pfSense.
Thanks
JonNope, but it sounds like a good idea. I'll let you know what happens.
Jon
The jetway should be okay. Have you tested a recent snapshot on your current hardware? It is based on 6.2.
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FWIW, I've run with no problems on Tyan 2098 and 3098 flex ATX (smaller than micro atx, same mounting) 478 boards. 3098's have dual Intel GB nics, 2098's had dual 10/100 intel nics. I think they are discontinued, but newegg still has some open box available (Item#:N82E16813151160R) From what I've seen, nobody is making decent 478 boards anymore.
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Thanks for the suggestion. I don't usually mind open box but so much open box stuff from NewEgg comes stripped of parts. If I don't get the backplate for the MB then it won't work since it is different on the board than most of the others.
I did some more work to track down the problem. It seems to be a known issue with the BIOS and the IDE controller in the chipset when used with the FreeBSD bootloader. There is no update for this particular MB.
I did find out that the SATA interface doesn't have the same problem, so I just picked up a small SATA drive. It does boot but since the SATA interface comes up as ad4 it won't auto mount root when it boots. I have to give it "ufs:ad4s1a" to complete bootup.
This is a problem if the firewall bounces because of course I can't be in front of it every time. FreeBSD isn't my usual working O/S - can't anyone tell me how I might be able to get it to mount ad4 by itself?
Thanks
JonFWIW, I've run with no problems on Tyan 2098 and 3098 flex ATX (smaller than micro atx, same mounting) 478 boards. 3098's have dual Intel GB nics, 2098's had dual 10/100 intel nics. I think they are discontinued, but newegg still has some open box available (Item#:N82E16813151160R) From what I've seen, nobody is making decent 478 boards anymore.
