Microdrive as a replacement for CF?

valnar · Nov 26, 2005, 1:21 AM

I'm coming from the m0n0wall mailing list looking for more functionality out of my WRAP board, so forgive this first post if its been discussed before.

I know that compact flash cards have limited write capabilities, and I read the pfSense website that says embedded platforms (like my WRAP) won't get the full functionality because of it. But what about Hitachi/IBM Microdrives? I haven't bought one yet, or used one at all, but does anyone know if they work in a WRAP board? If so, would that allow the full functionality of pfSense on a WRAP platform?

Robert

sullrich · Nov 26, 2005, 2:08 AM

If you boot the LiveCD and install to the microdrive then you will have all functionality of pfSense.

czappi · Nov 26, 2005, 9:36 PM

is it possible to install full functional pfsense on 1 GB CF card over LiveCD for Wrap

sullrich · Nov 26, 2005, 10:59 PM

@czappi:

is it possible to install full functional pfsense on 1 GB CF card over LiveCD for Wrap

Yep, but the kernel may not boot if video and such are enabled.

czappi · Nov 26, 2005, 11:28 PM

how can i change the parameter?

sullrich · Nov 26, 2005, 11:29 PM

@czappi:

how can i change the parameter?

Its not that easy. You would have to copy a kernel from the embedded version.

czappi · Nov 26, 2005, 11:33 PM

OK

I have on my wrap the version 0.94.12 install can i download the kernel over wrap or must i use a cf reader with pc and linux to copy kernel

sullrich · Nov 26, 2005, 11:37 PM

@czappi:

OK

I have on my wrap the version 0.94.12 install can i download the kernel over wrap or must i use a cf reader with pc and linux to copy kernel

Copy the kernel from /boot/kernel/kernel to somewhere
Install pfSense but before letting it reboot hit ctrl-c to cancel the reboot
Copy the kernel to /boot/kernel/kernel

Oh, did I mention this isn't supported? Good luck.

czappi · Nov 26, 2005, 11:39 PM

Thanks

I testet it ;D

roberttran · Dec 5, 2005, 9:39 PM

@sullrich:

@czappi:

OK

I have on my wrap the version 0.94.12 install can i download the kernel over wrap or must i use a cf reader with pc and linux to copy kernel

Copy the kernel from /boot/kernel/kernel to somewhere

Install pfSense but before letting it reboot hit ctrl-c to cancel the reboot

Copy the kernel to /boot/kernel/kernel

Oh, did I mention this isn't supported? Good luck.

So I first copy the embedded kernal to somewhere on my PC
Boot up the full live CD and install on my CF
Stop the reboot
Copy the the embedded kernal over to my CF (overwriting the full kernal)

Is that it?

Other then that, the install process is the standard WRAP process found on the tutorial?

valnar · Jan 30, 2006, 3:17 PM

Continuing my thread…..

I'm not a developer, so forgive an obviously dumb question:

Would it be possible to create an embedded image that has the full fuctionality of pfSense, but one that uses a RAM drive to store all the major logging and read-write changes that would kill a normal CF card? Certainly Linux distros like DSL or Puppy, I think, do something similar as to limit the number of read-writes needed except for configuration changes.

Has an approach like this been thought of for pfSense? Is it possible? ???

Robert

sullrich · Jan 30, 2006, 5:08 PM

We have 2 methods of developing you're own image. The VMWare developers edition and the pfSense developers edition.

We do not plan on adding more work to a already complicated/time cosnuming release process.