Successful Install on Watchguard Firebox X700!

jdetmold · Jan 18, 2011, 6:36 PM

ok just to test i tried upgrading from 1.2.3 to todays 2.0 build to see if it was the act of upgrading vs fresh that caused it to work and i can confirm it's not still getting "Bootup Complete" and read-only error

ng12345 · Jan 19, 2011, 1:37 AM

@Brak:

@ng12345:

So re seating the CPU got the firebox working!

Unfortunately, now when I try to run the laptop drive, it says boot error on the console. I tried connecting the laptop drive in both directions to the PATA cable. One way it says boot error, the other way i just get a blank screen on the lcd but nothing shows up in the terminal.

I am using a serial to USB adapter to try and connect to it on my laptop – do I need the special firebox console cable?

Thanks for your help.

No, it's a standard console cable.

The exact type is a DB9 Null Modem F/F Console Cable I believe.

Appreciate the info; turns out the serial to USB sold by radioshack is not a null modem cable; so i ended up having to buy the serial to usb cable, a gender converter, and a null modem adapter (i.e. about $70 in cables or the same price i paid for the firebox!) all from radioshack – the problem with impatience!

I did get it working; now time to upgrade the box with some new fans and get openvpn working with the crypto card!

I searched the thread for quiet fans, and the one link posted for overclockers UK does not work; does anyone have any model numbers for quiet fans? I'd rather not make holes in the box, so would prefer fans that fit the current formation

Thanks for all the help!

iFloris · Jan 19, 2011, 12:00 PM

@ng12345:

I searched the thread for quiet fans, and the one link posted for overclockers UK does not work; does anyone have any model numbers for quiet fans? I'd rather not make holes in the box, so would prefer fans that fit the current formation

For my each of my fireboxes I used three Scythe 40 mm Fan Mini Kaze fans (SY124010L) as replacements for the three fans in the back and a larger Papst 60 mm Fan (612FL) as the cpu cooler.
The Scythes have a different connector, so I had to reuse the original firebox cables.
The Papst really isn't meant to be used the way I'm using them, but I cut out a part in the side of the fan, in effect creating the same airflow as the original firebox cpu fan.
Also, the circumference of the Papst is 5 mm larger than the original fan, which actually helps circulation.

Both my fireboxes have been functioning for about six months while being cooled in this fashion with no problems even under somewhat heavy load.
dB pressure per firebox has gone from ±71.3 to ±44.2 after replacing the fans.

jdetmold · Jan 24, 2011, 8:05 PM

@iFloris:

For my each of my fireboxes I used three Scythe 40 mm Fan Mini Kaze fans (SY124010L) as replacements for the three fans in the back and a larger Papst 60 mm Fan (612FL) as the cpu cooler.

got any pictures of the new fans?

iFloris · Jan 24, 2011, 9:44 PM

@jdetmold:

got any pictures of the new fans?

As it so happens, I took pictures when I was installing the new fans in Firebox 01.

jdetmold · Jan 24, 2011, 11:03 PM

@iFloris:

@jdetmold:

got any pictures of the new fans?

As it so happens, I took pictures when I was installing the new fans in Firebox 01.

looks good!
i can pick up the same 40mm local for 4.95 so i think i will do this and find a nice 60 for the cpu.

also what app is that on ur iphone?

jdetmold · Jan 25, 2011, 5:09 AM

new fans installed! soooo much better!

Temp.= 46.0, 127.0, 80.0; Rot.= 0, 4623, 0
Vcore = 1.47, 3.34; Volt. = 3.28, 4.92, 11.61, -3.17, -6.12

Brak · Jan 25, 2011, 5:32 AM

@jdetmold:

new fans installed! soooo much better!

Temp.= 46.0, 127.0, 80.0; Rot.= 0, 4623, 0
Vcore = 1.47, 3.34; Volt. = 3.28, 4.92, 11.61, -3.17, -6.12

What command do you run to get that info?

jdetmold · Jan 25, 2011, 6:08 AM

@Brak:

What command do you run to get that info?

first install mbm
if your running embedded u need to make it rw first


/etc/rc.conf_mount_rw
pkg_add -r mbmon
/etc/rc.conf_mount_ro

then run this to display stats


/usr/local/bin/mbmon -I

it will just loop and keep displaying until you hit

iFloris · Jan 25, 2011, 8:08 AM

@jdetmold:

looks good!
i can pick up the same 40mm local for 4.95 so i think i will do this and find a nice 60 for the cpu.

also what app is that on ur iphone?

Thank you, I must say that I'm quite pleased with the way this mod turned out.
The app I'm using to measure sound pressure is called SPL meter
Note that it's likely that a 60 won't fit exactly (as it will be somewhat too large), and that you'll have to use some tricks to seat it properly.

jdetmold · Jan 25, 2011, 2:36 PM

ya i used a 60 as well but a 50 would fit a little better for anyone else looking (if you can find one my shop didn't carry any)

Sleeps · Jan 26, 2011, 3:57 AM

@jdetmold:

ya i used a 60 as well but a 50 would fit a little better for anyone else looking (if you can find one my shop didn't carry any)

I'm getting a Firebox sometime next week and just wondering if the connectors/cable on the 60mm was the same or does it need to be replaced?

Sleeps

jdetmold · Jan 25, 2011, 4:43 PM

@Sleeps:

I'm getting a Firebox sometime next and just wondering if the connectors/cable on the 60mm was the same or does it need to be replaced?

Sleeps

ya it's just a 3 pin standard mb fan connecter so it will just plug in. the rear fans will need some work if you decide to change them, my fans came with adapters so i cut the adapters and the cords from the stock fans to make custom adapters so i can try different fans latter.
the 60mm over hangs a little but will work mine is only being held on by 1 screw but it's quite tight and the internal temp dropped with MUCH less noise

Sleeps · Jan 26, 2011, 4:01 AM

@jdetmold:

@Sleeps:

I'm getting a Firebox sometime next and just wondering if the connectors/cable on the 60mm was the same or does it need to be replaced?

Sleeps

ya it's just a 3 pin standard mb fan connecter so it will just plug in. the rear fans will need some work if you decide to change them, my fans came with adapters so i cut the adapters and the cords from the stock fans to make custom adapters so i can try different fans latter.
the 60mm over hangs a little but will work mine is only being held on by 1 screw but it's quite tight and the internal temp dropped with MUCH less noise

Just purchased Fractal Design 50mm Silent Series Cooling Fan and 3 Scyche Mini Kaze 40mm fans.

jdetmold · Jan 26, 2011, 5:19 AM

@Sleeps:

Just purchased Fractal Design 50mm Silent Series Cooling Fan and 3 Scyche Mini Kaze 40mm fans.

Keep us posted!

jdetmold · Jan 28, 2011, 7:12 AM

just tried todays build and "/etc/rc.conf_mount_rw" still does not seem to change the disk to read/write :-\

Delirius · Feb 7, 2011, 8:53 AM

Just managed to install latest build on Firebox x700.
How ever there's that problem with Bootup complete with embedded kernel.
I could also not reach the firebox by webgui.
What I did later was to reinstall using one cpu kernel on my other PC.
After that I enabled console in webgui and switched disks.
I managed to get past Bootup complete at first try on firebox.
NIC's working good and able to access webgui.
How ever after rebooting the device the problem with lockup at Bootup complete still persist when using serial-cable.
I can how ever use the firebox since my NIC's working good with this kernel.

Sorry for the confusing post, my native language is not english.
I just wanted to post this so more people can work on getting this version working good on firebox.

jdetmold · Feb 7, 2011, 6:51 PM

@Delirius:

Just managed to install latest build on Firebox x700.
How ever there's that problem with Bootup complete with embedded kernel.
I could also not reach the firebox by webgui.
What I did later was to reinstall using one cpu kernel on my other PC.
After that I enabled console in webgui and switched disks.
I managed to get past Bootup complete at first try on firebox.
NIC's working good and able to access webgui.
How ever after rebooting the device the problem with lockup at Bootup complete still persist when using serial-cable.
I can how ever use the firebox since my NIC's working good with this kernel.

Sorry for the confusing post, my native language is not english.
I just wanted to post this so more people can work on getting this version working good on firebox.

I have the same issue with 2.0
it always stops at bootup complete. if you need access to the console you need to use ssh. not sure why it stops there but it does :(
1.2.3 boots correctly
also it seems on any of the newer embedded builds the command to change the filesystem to read/write dosen't work for some reason.

other than that 2.0 is great! cant wait for the 2.0 book to come out… u know after 2.0 comes out ;D

jdetmold · Feb 12, 2011, 6:04 AM

anyone else find that a reboot from the gui does nothing on 2.0?

Unubtanium · Feb 16, 2011, 9:34 AM

I am pleased to see that this thread is still alive.

I can confirm that i get the same problem other people are getting.
It hangs on "boot complete" and no response from lan or console.
Have tried tried using liveinstall on a HDD and using pfSense-2.0-BETA5-4g-i386-20110215-1909-nanobsd.img.gz on a 8 GB CF Card. But still the same..

The only thing i have not tried, and has been mentioned before here, is to do a 1.2.3 nana upgrade to 2.0

Will try when i come home and report back.