NanoBSD Version won't boot on HP Thin Client
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Have you tried to install pfSense directly onto the flash module from the CD ?
Not yet. I don't have a USB CD/DVD drive around and I haven't found a method, yet, that enables me to load an ISO image on a USB key, and boot from it. If you have any suggestions, I'd be willing to try.
The HP I have is 512M Flash/512M memory. I have found replacement Flash modules for 1G, 4G, and 8G if required.
I hope to have a null modem cable in a couple of days, so will try that, but I'm not convinced, yet, it will show anything different.
Cheers.
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[…]I haven't found a method, yet, that enables me to load an ISO image on a USB key, and boot from it. If you have any suggestions, I'd be willing to try.
Try this:
https://fedorahosted.org/liveusb-creator/ -
Try this:
https://fedorahosted.org/liveusb-creator/Nope, that failed during the create. Googling the error, it is because there isn't a directory called isolinux on the ISO image I'm trying to use. It looks like this program is similar to the other half-a-dozen I've looked at, or tried. They don't actually boot the ISO image, they extract it to a FAT(32) formatted USB, and then install something, usually syslinux, to initate the boot process, using the files extracted from the ISO.
But, in the meantime, I used another machine, with the Live CD, and directed the install to a USB stick. I then booted that USB stick, on the HP, and it seems to work fine. So, I do know the box will boot, at least from the USB, pfSense, and run it.
I'd just like to be able to install the nano version.
Update
I managed to "hack" a grub based package, to boot the pfSense ISO, which initially seemed to work, but then stopped with: "Trying to mount root from cd9660:/dev/iso9660/pfSense". So, I guess from this, that it isn't possible to boot from anything, other that a true CD/DVD, because that's the only way that mount would ever work.
BTW. I also tried writing the ISO image directly to the USB, using physdiskwrite, but doing that, the USB isn't recognised as being bootable.
Ah well, back to the drawing board. Either that, or wait form my null modem cable, and/or beg, steal, or borrow, a USB CD/DVD drive.
End Update
Cheers.
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I use unetbootin to "burn" ISOs to USB sticks …
http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/
I have used this app to facilitate Debian install from USB on my diskless Dell Mini 9
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Already tried that one: "Invalid or corrupt kernel image". Because all of these loaders are expecting "standard" Linux images, or at least that's my guess, not FreeBSD.
Cheers.
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What about creating a bootable FreeBSD USB stick via unetbootin and then extract the contents of the ISO into it, overwriting as necessary ?
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What about creating a bootable FreeBSD USB stick via unetbootin and then extract the contents of the ISO into it, overwriting as necessary ?
Creating the FreeBSD via unetbootin doesn't have any files from a "regular" FreeBSD. It downloads a single file image, so it's very different from an ISO image. Replacing that file, with the pfSense ISO starts to boot, but fails.
OK, let's get back on track now.
I hope to have a null modem cable in a couple of days, so will try that, but I'm not convinced, yet, it will show anything different.
OK, where's the very red faced smiley, 'cause I need it.
Connecting up the null modem cable has let me get this working.
The first issue, to do with the time taken for the "BTX loader …" line to appear is conditional on if a serial cable being connected. With a cable hooked up, it appears almost immediately after the 5 second delay, to choose which slice to boot. Without the cable, it takes over a minute before that message appears.
Now, as to why I couldn't get in via the web interface previously. I had seen the comments, about the nano version being pre-configured to use vr0 and vr1, and thought, as my NIC is identified as using the vr driver, then I'd be OK. What I forgot, was that the second NIC doesn't use vr, so the system was waiting for me to define the interface usage. Ooooops. :o
So, I'm now at the point where I can use the web interface to configure the box, and start testing it. I'll post the inevitable follow-on questions in the relevant forums. ;D
Cheers.
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Just out of curiosity, are you using the PCI expansion for additional NICs? Where do you get your flash modules? I have some 5710s that might make good embedded pfsense units if I can get a bigger flash and a second NIC.
And how is your flash speed? The 5710's storage is painfully slow, although this might be a non-issue for a pfsense install, assuming a person doesn't reboot much.
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Just out of curiosity, are you using the PCI expansion for additional NICs?
Yeah, I grabbed the T5720 off eBay, and it came with the expansion module already installed, and a wireless card fitted. I just pulled that out, and replaced it with a wired NIC.
Where do you get your flash modules? I have some 5710s that might make good embedded pfsense units if I can get a bigger flash and a second NIC.
In a different forum, it was noted that these work with the T5720:
http://www.memory.com/item.asp?item=TS1GDOM44H-S#
http://www.memory.com/item.asp?item=TS4GDOM44H-S#
http://www.memory.com/item.asp?item=TS8GDOM44H-S#I haven't upgraded mine, yet. It's still running 512M Flash and 512M memory.
And how is your flash speed? The 5710's storage is painfully slow, although this might be a non-issue for a pfsense install, assuming a person doesn't reboot much.
I'm not sure how I'd measure it, but I hadn't noticed that it's that slow. It's about 85 seconds, to go from power-on, to the pfSense menu. You can subtract a few, because I didn't have a cable plugged in the WAN port, so it stalled there for about 10 seconds. But, without a serial cable attached, you have to add another minute, or so. So, in practice, you're looking at about a 2 minute start up.
As you say, once the system is booted, and running, the speed of the flash is pretty irrelevant.
Cheers.
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I was hoping to catch a lead on cheaper PCI expansion. $80 on ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/CPQ-T5000-PCI-EXPAN-KIT-DE961A_W0QQitemZ330313612185QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4ce839bb99), which doesn't really seem worth it.
The 5710 has only 256MB of flash, so not big enough for the nano embedded without an upgrade. Thanks for the links.
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I was hoping to catch a lead on cheaper PCI expansion. $80 on ebay
Sorry, can't help there. Although, when I was looking, by trying different search terms, I did find others selling the expansion, and I seem to remember one Canadian, I think, seller had a bunch, at around $25 each, although right now I can't find it again. Here's a cheaper one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/PCI-Expansion-Module-Hp-Compaq-t5720-Thin-Client_W0QQitemZ330390809465QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item4cecd3ab79
That's exactly why I waited for a box that came with one already installed. I paid less than $80 for the complete setup.
Cheers.
