Embedded alix fails on 1.2.1-RC2

[UnderCover]

When I upgrade from 1.2 final to 1.2.1-RC2 it upgrades and then when the firewall reboots i get

invalid kernel

[dotdash]

Don't upgrade. Pull the card and re-image it. The embedded upgrades are there for testing and probably won't work.

[sullrich]

@dotdash:

Don't upgrade. Pull the card and re-image it. The embedded upgrades are there for testing and probably won't work.

Yep, we do not recommend embedded upgrades even though they exist because some folks might end up with a dead unit on the top of mountain top.

[sigi]

I was warned..

But i tried a embedded upgrade from RC1 to RC2:

Enter the URL to the .tgz update file:
> http://snapshots.pfsense.org/FreeBSD7/RELENG_1_2/pfSense-Embedded-Update-1.2.1                    -RC2-20081114-1544.tgz

Fetching file size...

File size: 24089689

Fetching file...
looking up snapshots.pfsense.org
connecting to snapshots.pfsense.org:80
requesting http://snapshots.pfsense.org/FreeBSD7/RELENG_1_2/pfSense-Embedded-Upd                    ate-1.2.1-RC2-20081114-1544.tgz
remote size / mtime: 24089689 / 1226682893
/root/firmware.tgz                            100% of   22 MB   83 kBps 00m00s

Fetching MD5...
looking up snapshots.pfsense.org
connecting to snapshots.pfsense.org:80
requesting http://snapshots.pfsense.org/FreeBSD7/RELENG_1_2/pfSense-Embedded-Upd                    ate-1.2.1-RC2-20081114-1544.tgz.md5
remote size / mtime: 115 / 1226682907
/root/firmware.tgz.md5                        100% of  115  B   52 kBps
URL MD5: 1018bf87aa14b5a4a809b21d508959bf

Downloaded file MD5: 1018bf87aa14b5a4a809b21d508959bf

MD5 checksum matches.

One moment please... Invoking firmware upgrade...
pid 313 (sshlockout_pf), uid 0: exited on signal 11
pid 1483 (ntpd), uid 0: exited on signal 11
pid 1482 (ntpd), uid 123: exited on signal 11
PC Engines WRAP.1C/1D/1E v1.11
640 KB Base Memory
130048 KB Extended Memory

01F0 Master 044A CF 1GB
Phys C/H/S 1966/16/63 Log C/H/S 983/32/63
//bboooott..ccoonnffiigg::  --DDConsoles: internal video/keyboard  serial port
BIOS drive C: is disk0
BIOS 640kB/130048kB available memory

FreeBSD/i386 bootstrap loader, Revision 1.1
(sullrich@freebsd7-releng_1_2.pfsense.org, Fri Nov 14 14:54:51 EST 2008)
Loading /boot/defaults/loader.conf
Unable to load a kernel!
-
can't load 'kernel'

I know embedded is not the main target. But I hate to reflash. Every reflash RRD is lost.
One possibility is to make a backup of the RRD's.

I think WRAPS, Soekris and whatever platforms are not that minority?

[GruensFroeschli]

Well you could always put a microdrive or SSD in CF format into such a device and have a lowpower "fullinstall".

[sigi]

Maybe there is time to give a new try to this. Have some 2.2Gig Microdrives here.
Gave up the "FullInstallOnWRAP" long time ago. But now I read, that i can do full install with embedded kernel.

For now i have my "Flash" procedures:

-Get new image, resize it to 512MB
-write flash
-rsync running pfSense Box to my server.
-mount flash, copy saved rrd's and config.xml from rsync backup to flash.

change flash and boot…
And I always forget to copy the ssh-keys. Therefore they are created new.

[ccplcguy]

I installed it on my Alix 2C2 and it booted just fine.  I am planning on putting it in service tomorrow to test.

[dstroot]

I like ALIX and it works really well for home or a small office.  I really wish you guys would support it a little bit better.  ;D  Reflashing every time is painful.