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    Nexcom 1041/console redirection & boot

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    • C
      carl 0
      last edited by

      what I've got:

      1. nexcom 1041.
      2. 2GB CF Card.
      3. Keyboards (either or both) on USB and PS2 (using provided K&M PS2 to board cable).
      4. Everything setup correctly in the bios for the CF, etc.
      5. Serial (using I/O port & cable) with minicom or hyperterm.

      The good stuff:

      I can boot with m0n0 1.235 on CF, the installation process without bios console redirect set and with PS2 keyboard works.

      I can boot with m0n0 1.235 on CF, the installation process with bios console redirect, neither ps2 nor usb keyboard works but serial keyboard works (as expected).

      The bad stuff:

      I can boot with pfsense 1.2.2 or 2.0Alpha.200090201 on CF, bios console redirection settings don't seem to matter…
      I can see the bios boot and the initial bsd loader and after that it forces redirection to console.
      I can then watch pfsense go through it's usual bootup sequence and everything seems fine until I get to the "use VLANs" yes/no where I find NO keyboard input works (serial, ps2 or usb).

      What I'm thinking:

      I'm using generic-pc-1.235.img for m0n0 and pfSense-*-Embeded.img for pfsense....
        so does the embeded have forced console redirection? If so can it be disabled before or during boot?

      I do know a few people seem to be using the nexcom boxes with pf, but most references seem to be to HDD installs using the full ISO/cd.
        Is it possible to-do a straight CF install with the 1041?

      I've lost the copy/paste of the serial pf boot sequence, I'll go grab this if needed.

      Any input is appreciated as I don't really want to use m0n0 or different hardware.

      EDIT: I just saw http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,13811.0.html which seems plausible if I can get a USB or IDE CD drive hooked up, do a full install then switch to embeded. I will be trying this but I'm still interested as to root issue of console redirection.

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      • C
        carl 0
        last edited by

        minicom boot log: http://paste2.org/p/144527

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        • GruensFroeschliG
          GruensFroeschli
          last edited by

          Te embedded version always outputs only on the console.
          If you want VGA output you need the fullversion.
          Search the forum on how to change a fullinstall to embedded.
          This might help: http://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/Full_Install_on_WRAP_Embedded_Router

          We do what we must, because we can.

          Asking questions the smart way: http://www.catb.org/esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

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          • C
            carl 0
            last edited by

            Thanks for the reply, that clarified what I thought to be the case (but couldn't find anywhere)! Strange that the keyboard wouldn't work in minicom though…

            I managed to use a USB CD and a HDD to get the unit into testing, it's using an extra 0.05A with the HDD but it's only using 0.17A anyway (240V).

            I'll have another go when I get more time (and maybe look into getting a cheap-ish/32GB SSD to replace the HDD.

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