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    PCEngines alix2c3 (Substitute for WRAP) boot failes

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    • E
      eweri
      last edited by

      @razor2000:

      Hi Roger,

      Weird that you're still having an issue.  In case you want the 0.92 bios, you can still downloaded it.  It is located here:

      http://www.pcengines.ch/file/alixb092.zip

      Enjoy :)

      Hi!

      1. Confirm that the update image above works - really great job - now i am running 0.98g on alix2.c1
      2. Confirm that pfsense still got hung while rebooting with the image from
      http://snapshots.pfsense.com/FreeBSD6/RELENG_1_2/embedded/1024/pfSense-1024MB.img.gz

      Rebooting…
      Keyboard reset did not work, attempting CPU shutdown

      Fatal double fault:
      eip = 0xc083f643
      esp = 0xc7d44c94
      ebp = 0xc7d44c94
      panic: double fault
      Uptime: 20m8s
      Cannot dump. No dump device defined.
      Automatic reboot in 15 seconds - press a key on the console to abort
      Rebooting...
      Keyboard reset did not work, attempting CPU shutdown

      ... and hangs forever. :-(

      3. Confirm that pfsense boots (does not stop at DHCP message) and reboots with this image
      http://pfsense.basis06.com/download//downloads/pfSense-1.2-RC3-Embedded.img.gz
      but also gets in trouble during reboot:

      ukphy0: detached
      miibus0: detached
      ukphy1: detached
      miibus1: detached
      ukphy2: detached
      miibus2: detached
      Rebooting...
      Keyboard reset did not work, attempting CPU shutdown
      kernel trap 12 with interrupts disabled

      Fatal trap 12: page fault while in kernel mode
      fault virtual address  = 0xc3fb0000
      fault code              = supervisor read, page not present
      instruction pointer    = 0x20:0xc05ef0aa
      stack pointer          = 0x28:0xc7d44c04
      frame pointer          = 0x28:0xc7d44c0c
      code segment            = base 0x0, limit 0xfffff, type 0x1b
                              = DPL 0, pres 1, def32 1, gran 1
      processor eflags        = resume, IOPL = 0
      current process        = 1 (init)
      trap number            = 12
      panic: page fault
      kernel trap 12 with interrupts disabled

      Fatal trap 12: page fault while in kernel mode
      fault virtual address  = 0xc196ece8
      fault code              = supervisor read, page not present
      instruction pointer    = 0x20:0xc061ab4a
      stack pointer          = 0x28:0xc7d44b1c
      frame pointer          = 0x28:0xc7d44b4c
      code segment            = base 0x0, limit 0xfffff, type 0x1b
                              = DPL 0, pres 1, def32 1, gran 1
      processor eflags        = resume, IOPL = 0
      current process        = 1 (init)
      trap number            = 12
      panic: page fault
      kernel trap 12 with interrupts disabled

      Fatal trap 12: page fault while in kernel mode
      fault virtual address  = 0xc196ece8
      fault code              = supervisor read, page not present
      instruction pointer    = 0x20:0xc061ab4a
      stack pointer          = 0x28:0xc7d44a34
      frame pointer          = 0x28:0xc7d44a64
      code segment            = base 0x0, limit 0xfffff, type 0x1b
                              = DPL 0, pres 1, def32 1, gran 1
      processor eflags        = resume, IOPL = 0
      current process        = 1 kkkk
      Fatal double fault:
      eip = 0xc0634fb1
      esp = 0xc7d44008
      ebp = 0xc7d4401c
      panic: double fault
      Uptime: 9m19s
      Cannot dump. No dump device defined.
      Automatic reboot in 15 seconds - press a key on the console to abort
      PC Engines ALIX.2 v0.98g
      640 KB Base Memory
      130048 KB Extended Memory

      Looks to me that the kernel or the bios still has a serious bug. Maybe I try tinyBIOS 0.92

      Bye,
      eweri

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • C
        covex
        last edited by

        Weird that you're still having an issue.

        it is weird. mine works with 0.98g and latest 1.2rc3 release from Dec 02
        i had kernel panic right after upgrade but it works now.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • M
          mlanner
          last edited by

          sbyoon,

          You da man! Others have said it before, but you are a true hero. Thanks!!!

          My disappointment of not being able to put my newly acquired ALIX board in service is gone. Works like a charm now. :)

          It would be good to write this up and put it on the Wiki. I'll try to do that in the next day or two so future users won't have to hunt and peck as much.

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • B
            bjorktorp
            last edited by

            razor2000:
            Thanks for the URL!

            eweri:
            I haven't compared every bit and piece of your post with my experiences, but it seems that we have identical problems. I doubt that I will have time to continue with this today, but later on this week I will try bios 0.92.

            I will let you know…

            /Roger

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • L
              luma
              last edited by

              I can confirm no difficulties with :

              • pfSense 1.2 RC3 built on Mon Nov 26 11:20:37 EST 2007

              • Alix latest bios available (0.98g)

              I'm using full version (with Microdrive) not the embedded image.

              Regards

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • E
                eweri
                last edited by

                @luma:

                I can confirm no difficulties with :

                • pfSense 1.2 RC3 built on Mon Nov 26 11:20:37 EST 2007

                • Alix latest bios available (0.98g)

                I'm using full version (with Microdrive) not the embedded image.

                Regards

                Hello luma!

                You don't have any trouble with reboot?
                How can I put a full version onto an 1GB CF with output to a seriell console port?

                Maybe I install pfsense into a VM on my MacBook Pro and after that copy it to the CF? Will this work?

                Bye,
                eweri

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • B
                  bjorktorp
                  last edited by

                  Success with bios 0.92 and 1.2-RC3 embedded!  :)

                  But, what I saw in the 0.92 ZIP made me suspicious:

                  There are several bin-files in there: alix0*.bin for alix1 boards, alix1*.bin for alix2 boards and alix2*.bin for alix3.

                  In the 0.98g ZIP there are only two bin-files: alix1.bin and alix2.bin, without any specific documentation. As I have alix2 boards I naturally asumed that I should use alix2.bin from the 0.98g ZIP. But following the logic from the 0.92 docs maybe I should have used alix1.bin???

                  Or have I misunderstood the whole thing? Perhaps I should have put all the bin files on the freeDOS CF and let SB.COM autodetect which one to use?

                  /Roger

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • L
                    luma
                    last edited by

                    @eweri:

                    Hello luma!

                    You don't have any trouble with reboot?
                    How can I put a full version onto an 1GB CF with output to a seriell console port?

                    Maybe I install pfsense into a VM on my MacBook Pro and after that copy it to the CF? Will this work?

                    Bye,
                    eweri

                    Hello Eweri,

                    I have to investigate for reboot. It seems working, I can't serial connect at the moment.

                    Here is the solution for full install (I wrote the last part, Using VirtualBox) :
                    http://devwiki.pfsense.org/FullInstallOnWRAP

                    But it's not a good idea on CF! CF don't support too much write cycle! You are warn!

                    Bye

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • E
                      eweri
                      last edited by

                      @bjorktorp:

                      Or have I misunderstood the whole thing? Perhaps I should have put all the bin files on the freeDOS CF and let SB.COM autodetect which one to use?

                      /Roger

                      well I just typed "sb" and return and it started updating. I did not select any file.

                      Bye,
                      eweri

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • G
                        gmckinney
                        last edited by

                        @bjorktorp:

                        Success with bios 0.92 and 1.2-RC3 embedded!  :)

                        In the 0.98g ZIP there are only two bin-files: alix1.bin and alix2.bin, without any specific documentation. As I have alix2 boards I naturally asumed that I should use alix2.bin from the 0.98g ZIP. But following the logic from the 0.92 docs maybe I should have used alix1.bin???

                        Or have I misunderstood the whole thing? Perhaps I should have put all the bin files on the freeDOS CF and let SB.COM autodetect which one to use?

                        I did run into that exact issue - I had put the alix2.bin on syboon's image thinking that was the "correct" bios bin image for the Alix2 boards but IT IS NOT - the alix2.bin is for the Alix-3 board!!!  What happens is the alix2.bin bios image is looking for the third ethernet controller on the alix 3 board and since it does not find it things go south.

                        Use the alix1.bin image as that one is the correct one for the alix2 boards.  The CF image syboon has created contains the correct bin image for the alix2 boards.

                        gm…

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • N
                          naughtyusmaximus
                          last edited by

                          does anyone know what I need to do to get past this point?  I have a 4GB FAT16 formatted CF drive, I've used the 'file copy' method of installing freedos onto it.  The ALIX board will boot  and display the following:

                          InitDiskBad or missing Command Interpreter: command.com /P /E:256
                          Enter the full shell command line:

                          i've tried various combinations of typing 'command.com', c:\command.com, etc. etc.  But have yet to get past this stage.

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • S
                            sullrich
                            last edited by

                            Contact PCEngines and get the newest BIOS.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • N
                              naughtyusmaximus
                              last edited by

                              What do you mean?  The only reason I am trying to boot to CF is so that I can flash the newest BIOS…

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • S
                                sullrich
                                last edited by

                                Huh?  You can flash the bios from within the bios itself…

                                I suggest contacting PCEngines for more info.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • N
                                  naughtyusmaximus
                                  last edited by

                                  I've sent off an email to pc engines, but seeing as it sounds like you know how to do this, can you help out at all?

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • S
                                    sullrich
                                    last edited by

                                    I do not have a WRAP board and do not remember the key combination that brings up the BIOS screen.  Sorry.

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • G
                                      gmckinney
                                      last edited by

                                      @naughtyusmaximus:

                                      does anyone know what I need to do to get past this point?  I have a 4GB FAT16 formatted CF drive, I've used the 'file copy' method of installing freedos onto it.  The ALIX board will boot  and display the following:

                                      InitDiskBad or missing Command Interpreter: command.com /P /E:256
                                      Enter the full shell command line:

                                      i've tried various combinations of typing 'command.com', c:\command.com, etc. etc.  But have yet to get past this stage.

                                      Hmmm - I was under the impression that DOS had a 2-Gig filesystem size limitation… that is not the case??

                                      gm...

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • N
                                        naughtyusmaximus
                                        last edited by

                                        @sullrich:

                                        I do not have a WRAP board and do not remember the key combination that brings up the BIOS screen.  Sorry.

                                        I can get to the BIOS screen itself by pressing 's' as the system boots.  There is an option there for xmodem transfer there, but of course I don't know what format the bios firmware needs to be in.

                                        –regarding the CF card, windows will let me format it as FAT16, so I assume that means there isn't a problem

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • G
                                          gmckinney
                                          last edited by

                                          @naughtyusmaximus:

                                          –regarding the CF card, windows will let me format it as FAT16, so I assume that means there isn't a problem

                                          Well - maybe and maybe not.

                                          I am not very familiar with the DOS version used but if it is formatted with 512-byte hard-disk sector record size then the 8-bit sector to cluster size would be 32-kbyte which yields a total of 2-Gbyte using a 32-bit cluster counter (most DOS versions used this standard).  There is an "extended" FAT-16 version which is used by later versions of Windows that yields the 4-Gbyte per drive storage value - I suspect you are using either Windows XP or Vista to format the CF device??

                                          I am thinking the DOS version used follows the older 512-byte/sector format and would only be able to address 2-Gbyte total but that is just me :)

                                          I have used several CF devices (64-meg, 128-meg, 512-meg and 1-gig) to test the bios loader and they all worked - I tried using a 4-gig CF card but the physwritedisk program I used responded back that it could only write to a maximum of 2-gig and I had requested it write to a 4-gig device.

                                          gm…

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                                          • B
                                            bjorktorp
                                            last edited by

                                            I'm sorry that I made a fool of myself and perhaps also confused some of you with my latest post. My failure with bios 0.98g was only because I had chosen the wrong bios file. As usual it was only a matter of not reading properly. It was all there in the sbyoon's post.

                                            @sbyoon:

                                            You can download and write it to any cf card with 'physdiskwrite'. This image includs the 0.98g bios update files for Alix2. If you have Alix2, just execute 'sb.com' after freedos boot up.

                                            So, the success story for me was:

                                            1. Download sbyoon's image
                                            2. Use physdiskwrite and write the image to an old 64MB CF
                                            3. Boot it on my Alix2 card
                                            4. Press 's' during bootup sequence and choose 'L' for LBA mode
                                            5. Quit, save and continue booting
                                            6. At the FreeDOS-prompt: Type SB.COM (This time with the original Alix1.bin on the FreeDOS disk!)
                                            7. Power off and change CF
                                            8. Successfully boot psSense 1.2-RC3 Embedded
                                            9. Yeehaaa!

                                            /Roger

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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