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    System keeps braking down

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General pfSense Questions
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    • P
      pfsensedummie
      last edited by

      Hello Steve,

      Pfsensebox that is crashing
      Config:
      Soekris 5501
      Bios 1.33c
      Disk: SSD 8GB
      Install Single Processor ACPI enabled
      Version 2.00

      As you can see it is indeed a soekrisbox. Have to say I rebuild a pfsensebox with different install atm to test out. Running on exact the same hardware.

      Still running after resets/powerunplugs etc
      Soekris 5501
      Bios 1.33c
      Disk: SSD 8GB
      Install Embedded / ACPI disabled
      Version 2.00

      Regards,
      pfsensedummie

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      • stephenw10S
        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
        last edited by

        Ok.
        What is the reason for not running embedded on both boxes?

        When the box doesn't boot are you seeing those errors on the console? After the bios?

        Are you saying that this box will boot up correctly the first time and never again?

        How are you installing this, on another machine and then moving then drive?

        Steve

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        • stephenw10S
          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
          last edited by

          It looks likely to be a bootloader problem. See:
          http://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/Boot_Troubleshooting

          You could try changing the bios disk settings, particularly if it's a SATA drive.

          Ultimately you can probably get it to boot using an alternative bootloader. If it is a bootloader problem.  ;)

          Steve

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          • P
            pfsensedummie
            last edited by

            Hello Steve,

            Thank you!

            Sorry for my incomplete info  ;)

            OK.

            I have a SATA disk. This I connect to an old HP desktop pc. From there on I install pfsense with a CD that I downloaded. Afterwards I build the pfsensebox. Then I have to change the FSTAB settings because the PC runs different settings.

            The non embedded install let's me change al the settings (fstab/serialconsole/ssh) from the pc I installed it on, then I switch the disk over to the soekrisbox.

            However I always have to change the fstab settings even so when I choose embedded install.
            Connect serialcable, watch pfsenseconsole, go to shell, change with vi the fstab settings, reboot the firewall and all is fine.

            The problem occurs mostly after a powerfailure. Then the box wouldn't boot anymore. Last time it was a clean shutdown and it just wouldn't start anymore. Connected serialcable and saw, elf32_loadimage: read failed / Unable to load a kernel!

            I'll read through to documentation you put up above here to see if it fixes my problem.

            Btw: the box was tested before it went out. Took the power out of couple of times during startup/shutdown and everytime it booted fine. After few weeks, same problem occurs at the customers office, machine won't boot. Strange….

            When the box doesn't boot are you seeing those errors on the console? After the bios?

            Yes, errors appear after the bios settings and after the F1 boot. Machine boots until it cannot find kernel or bin/sh

            Are you saying that this box will boot up correctly the first time and never again?

            Boots normally during testing period. Simulation of powerfailure etc etc doesn't effect the boots. Problem starts to occur after several weeks in production. (between 7 and 14 days mostly)

            How are you installing this, on another machine and then moving then drive?

            Disk in HP Desktop -> Move Disk to Soekris -> Change FSTAB settings - Boot normally.

            Regards,
            pfsensedummie

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            • stephenw10S
              stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
              last edited by

              Ah, well that's probably not a bootloader issue then, since it boot fine during testing.
              It looks more like an actual data corruption problem. Reading through the reviews of that drive on newegg does not look good:
              http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820139427
              Maybe a drive firmware update could help? There don't appear to be any though.  :(
              Is it possible to recover the drive by re-installing?
              You haven't said why you don't use an embedded install.

              Steve

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              • P
                pfsensedummie
                last edited by

                @stephenw10:

                Is it possible to recover the drive by re-installing?
                You haven't said why you don't use an embedded install.

                Steve

                Goodmorning  ;)

                Yes, when the system is corrupted in reinstalls normally. No issues found.

                About the none embedded install: Because I make the installation on a desktop pc I can test if pfsense runs correctly. That's why I haven't chosen the embedded install. I wanted to check if installation has gone alright and if the pfsense boots. Then I switch the Serialport on within the webgui and I move over de disk to the closed system. This way I know for sure the box is running correcly. That's the reason for the non-embedded install.

                mmm that disk could be a problem though if I read your document….

                regards,
                pfsensedummie

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                • stephenw10S
                  stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                  last edited by

                  If that's the only reason then perhaps it's time to consider switching to an embedded install or a different SSD.

                  Steve

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                  • P
                    pfsensedummie
                    last edited by

                    Thanks for your help Steve :)

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                    • P
                      pfsensedummie
                      last edited by

                      Reinstall:

                      1. Formatted the disk
                      2. ACPI disabled
                      3. Custom install
                      4. Remove SWAP
                      5. Embedded install
                      6. Change FSTAB (ad4 to ad1)
                      7. Systems boots

                      Powerfailure, reboot, reset during startup, reset during shutdown, reset during loading firewall rules -> System came back up nicely everytime. Loaded customers config and repeated failure tests. System kept running without any problems. SMART status shows that everything is in perfect condition.

                      Seems my issue has been totally resolved!

                      Regards,
                      pfsensedummie

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                      • stephenw10S
                        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                        last edited by

                        Excellent!  :)

                        Steve

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