What img file to download

Cry Havok

If you take the time to read the Download page it directs you to a page that explains the versions.

ilium007

Nowhere on that page does it lay out the naming format of the files on the mirrors that all we are saying. I brief section explaining naming format as mentioned in this thread would be helpful for newcomers.

dotdash

@Cry:

If you take the time to read the Download page it directs you to a page that explains the versions.

If you take the time to read the original question, you might see the OP's point.

jimp

I added a bit more info here to the "versions" page linked from the download page.

http://www.pfsense.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=43&Itemid=44

Cry Havok

Given how verbose that is, how about a TL/DR version, possibly in table format?

jimp

It would have to be some kind of odd n-way matrix rather than a simple table… not sure it would be any less confusing.

Cry Havok

I'm just aware that there's a lot of reading, and given how few people bother with the FAQs I doubt many more will bother plowing through that page. Just something like:

With the usage bit linked to the relevant section of the page.

jimp

yeah, should probably also list the upgrade filenames and such, and the vga variants, etc, but it's close.

rekd0514

I agree that we need some descriptions for each type and what it is used for including the vga, md5, and sha256 versions.

myaffee

I also found it very confusing, even after searching the net for an hour and reading the most current Version page. The main problem I'm still having is all the docs refer to a couple of files that I don't see on any of the mirrors:

"pfSense-2.0-RELEASE-amd64.iso.gz"
and
"pfSense-memstick-2.0-RELEASE-arch.img.gz"

I see a "pfSense-Full-Update-2.0-RELEASE-amd64.tgz" which is the closest thing to "pfSense-2.0-RELEASE-amd64.iso.gz" that i can see but there are two things confusing about this. One, it's not an ISO or an IMG so it's unclear how to write this to a CD in a bootable way. Two, it says "Update" in the filename whereas the file that the docs refer to does not have "Update" in the filename which leads me to think this is an updater file not a base install. Nowhere on any of the mirrors do I see a version for download with "memstick" in it. I'm pretty sure that I need one of these two versions as I'm trying to install to a 40GB SSD which from what I can tell should be treated like a hard drive install.

I've read so much great stuff about pfSense, i really want to try it but I'm finding it super frustrating just trying to download the right version and get it installed.

Can anyone help?

thanks!

jimp

If you don't see those files, you went to the updates directory, not the directory for new installs.

New installs: http://www.pfsense.org/mirror.php?section=downloads
Updates: http://www.pfsense.org/mirror.php?section=updates

myaffee

@jimp:

If you don't see those files, you went to the updates directory, not the directory for new installs.

New installs: http://www.pfsense.org/mirror.php?section=downloads
Updates: http://www.pfsense.org/mirror.php?section=updates

ahhh. That was the problem. Thanks!

cheeseburger

my first post..

Success! 8) ..with download, install and bootup. Here is what I did:

1. At a pfSense mirror website http://pfsense.phoenixkv.net/downloads/ I selected the image file:
pfSense-memstick-2.0-RELEASE-i386.img.gz and downloaded that image file to the HDD on my F-13 workstation..

3. unzip the image file on the HDD using cmdline: gunzip pfSense-memstick-2.0-RELEASE-i386.img.gz

4. plug in a Transcend 4GB USB memstick (/dev/sde). Copy the image from the HDD to
the USB memstick using cmdline: dd if=./pfSense-memstick-2.0-RELEASE-i386.img of=/dev/sde bs=1k

5. Move the USB memstick over to a Gateway netbook and set its BIOS to use USB as the boot device.
I booted without setting any delay params. It booted up after asking a few questions, and displayed
an options choice menu.

OK, so it will boot and run from a USB disk. GREAT! Further testing can now be performed using
a proper desktop with two wired network adapters. I am sure that I'll be back soon to learn more
when I have the necessary hardware.

thanks for the good information in this Forum.

cb

jimp

OK, Versions page updated again…

rekd0514

@jimp:

OK, Versions page updated again…

Looks great now! The only thing I would add is a short description for Serial and VGA consoles.

jimp

I made a page on the doc wiki explaining the difference between the consoles, and then linked it from the table/text on the versions page.

rekd0514

Perfect! I think this will help a lot of people wanting to try pfsense without doing a lot of searching. It sure helps me. Thank you. ;D

mlabenda

Question about the memstick images
Do they have VGA enabled ?

jimp

Memstick images are USB versions of the Live CD, they have VGA only.

(Though I do have a serial memstick image I made by hand, I haven't had any feedback on whether it works or not)

mlabenda

Ok thanks

another question

on the memstick images, where are the config get stored ?

If i reboot a memstick image everything is back to default
the nanobsd won't boot from USB on my Bock (HP N36L)