IBASE FWA7204-1G (Pfsense Installation)

dreamslacker

Thanks for your help guys,

this is what i've done so far….

Changed the BIOS to boot from USB-CDROM. Connected a USB CDDROM to the FWA7204 USB port, and burnt this iso on CD pfSense-1.2.3-RELEASE-LiveCD-Installer.iso.

I can see the POST of the FWA7204 - however the installation does not occur. Is this a problem since im connected with serial?

Yes, it is a problem because the full installation (LiveCD) requires VGA output for the installation process.

You'll need to use the embedded variant OR install the full version on the HDD in another computer, set the console to redirect to serial in the webgui then plug it into the FWA.

ollie01

Thanks dreamslacker,

embedded variant = pfSense-2.0-RC1-2g-i386-20110226-1633-nanobsd.img?

Regards

o

dreamslacker

@ollie01:

Thanks dreamslacker,

embedded variant = pfSense-2.0-RC1-2g-i386-20110226-1633-nanobsd.img?

Regards

o

Yes. 2g implies that it is a 2GB image. Depending on your CF card, you might need to go 1 size down.

ollie01

I've got a 40GB HDD attached to the FWA… can i still proceed with the install?

or the HDD installation from another PC would be better?

dreamslacker

@ollie01:

I've got a 40GB HDD attached to the FWA… can i still proceed with the install?

or the HDD installation from another PC would be better?

You can perform a full install on another PC and enable the serial console before powering off and transferring the HDD over to the FWA.
Note that you will need to access the FWA by serial and re-configure the interfaces after that.

ollie01

Thanks dreamslacker,

your advice has been really helpful to get me on the right track.

Is there a guide i should follow, to install pfsense on a HDD from another pc?

ollie01

Just to confirm i will be doing this the rigth way:

#1 - Connect FWA HDD to my PC
#2 - Boot with the ISO downloaded from Pfsense on my PC
#3 - Initiate the installation
#4 - Enable the Serial Console

#5 - Connect the HDD back to the FWA
#6 - Boot up and configure the interfaces

As in FULL installation i would presume this will do: pfSense-2.0-RC1-i386-20110226-1530.iso.gz

Is the above correct?

dreamslacker

Effectively, yes.

ollie01

OK,

I'm at point #4 - dumb question - how do you enable the serial console?

Regards
o

wallabybob

@ollie01:

I'm at point #4 - dumb question - how do you enable the serial console?

System -> Advanced, click on Admin Access, scroll down to Serial Communications

ollie01

Ok guys, Pfsense installed and connected to FWA - Once setting up Putty to connect - can see pfsense booting up and got this:

ad0: 152627MB <samsung hm160hc="" lq100-10="">at ata0-master UDMA100
GEOM: ad0s1: geometry does not match label (255h,63s != 16h,63s).
Trying to mount root from ufs:/dev/da0s1a
ROOT MOUNT ERROR:
If you have invalid mount options, reboot, and first try the following from
the loader prompt:

and then remove invalid mount options from /etc/fstab.

Loader variables:
vfs.root.mountfrom=ufs:/dev/da0s1a
vfs.root.mountfrom.options=rw

Manual root filesystem specification:
<fstype>: <device>Mount <device>using filesystem <fstype>eg. ufs:/dev/da0s1a
eg. cd9660:/dev/acd0
This is equivalent to: mount -t cd9660 /dev/acd0 /

? List valid disk boot devices
<empty line="">Abort manual input

Any ideas?

NB: I've tried this option but problem persists (set vfs.root.mountfrom.options=rw
)</empty></fstype></device></device></fstype></samsung>

ollie01

ufs:/dev/ad0s1a

That solved my problem… incase anyone meets the same issue on IBASE.

ollie01

Thanks guys, pFsense installed and working perfectly¬!

dreamslacker

Congrats.
Looks like I forgot to warn you about leaving only and only the installation HDD hooked up to the surrogate computer. Otherwise, the boot time options will try and find the previous mounting point (non-ad0) when you transfer it.