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    APU set up with Wi-Fi

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software
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    • E
      eSpezi
      last edited by

      Hi Eiger,

      may I suggest some steps to you, that I've found out to working (at least for me) installing pfSense to the apu (did it on 4 apus now):

      1. Do not use nano, but use pfSense-memstick-serial-2.1.3-RELEASE-amd64.img.gz instead
      Unpack it and burn the .img to a usb-stick like you did with the nano .img to the sd-card
      2. Plug-in sd-card, usb-stick, boot from usb and do a new install to the sd-card (select the option serial console!)
      3. when finsished installing and having access to the webinterface go to System: Advanced: Admin Access -> Serial Communications -> Serial Speed and set it to 115200
      4. Set your putty to 115200 8/N/1 (no flow control) and reboot
      Now you can see all of the boot process BIOS and pfSense in putty and don't have to switch between baud rates.
      The full installation seems to be the best bet at the moment according to the posts here. I also had no issues with any of my apus till now, runnung since several weeks.

      Good luck!
      Harry

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      • stephenw10S
        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
        last edited by

        If you're running from flash media, like an SD card, you should be running Nano to prevent excessive writes.

        Steve

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • E
          eiger3970
          last edited by

          So, final step I think?
          Wi-Fi chip arrived with pigtails and antenna.
          I can't find a slot for the Wi-Fi chip to insert into the APU MOBO?
          Any suggestions?

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • stephenw10S
            stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
            last edited by

            What wifi card do you have?
            The APU has only PCIe slots or USB for expansion options.

            Steve

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            • E
              eiger3970
              last edited by

              This is my APU.
              This is my Wi-Fi card.

              From what I read, the APU has 2 x miniPC express slots, but I can't find them to connect the Wi-Fi card into?

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • GruensFroeschliG
                GruensFroeschli
                last edited by

                That is a half-sized card.
                The slots on the board are designed for full-sized cards.
                You need a full-sized card like this one: http://pcengines.ch/wle200nx.htm

                We do what we must, because we can.

                Asking questions the smart way: http://www.catb.org/esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

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                • E
                  eiger3970
                  last edited by

                  Ok, thanks.
                  I still don't see where the card will plug into the APU board though?

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • GruensFroeschliG
                    GruensFroeschli
                    last edited by

                    here:

                    edit: better example:
                    https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=59555.msg405522#msg405522
                    Linked an image of my board with
                    left to right:
                    WLAN card
                    Dual Gbit card
                    The last card with the same formfactor is the SSD.
                    Physically and electrically the same connector, but a different protocol (SATA instead of PCIe).

                    We do what we must, because we can.

                    Asking questions the smart way: http://www.catb.org/esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • stephenw10S
                      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                      last edited by

                      You can get an adapter to fit a half size card:
                      http://www.mini-box.com/Mini-PCI-E-Half-to-Full-Size-Extension-Card-Wireless-WIFI-PCI-Adapter-Bracket?sc=8&category=1363

                      However more importantly I'm not sure that card will work with pfSense. It might be supported by the iwn driver in 2.2 (it's not mentioned explicitly in the driver).

                      Steve

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                      • E
                        eiger3970
                        last edited by

                        Thank you.
                        The Wi-Fi card fits in the APU slots. (I connected to the left slot).
                        I then went to pfSense GUI > Interfaces > (assign) > Wireless > Add > Parent interface: no option to choose > Mode: Access Point > Description: Wi-Fi > Save > error: The following input errors were detected: The field 'Parent interface' is required.

                        I'm guessing the Wi-Fi card is compatible with pfSense.
                        Not sure why pfSense hasn't found the card yet?

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • stephenw10S
                          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                          last edited by

                          I assume you're running 2.1.3? Probably there's no driver for it.

                          Try running 'pciconf -lv' at the command line and see if it appears there.

                          Steve

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • E
                            eiger3970
                            last edited by

                            Yes, the version is 2.1.3-RELEASE (amd64)
                            built on Thu May 01 15:52:13 EDT 2014
                            FreeBSD 8.3-RELEASE-p16
                            You are on the latest version.

                            I don't see the Wi-Fi card, but I might have missed it as I'm not quite sure what to look for.
                            I see the re0, re1 and re2 Ethernet ports, but they don't seem to show a cable connection on re0 and re1, but perhaps the command only shows the interfaces, not more details about connections.

                            
$ pciconf -lv
hostb0@pci0:0:0:0:	class=0x060000 card=0x15101022 chip=0x15101022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
pcib1@pci0:0:4:0:	class=0x060400 card=0x12341022 chip=0x15121022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x01
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-PCI
pcib2@pci0:0:5:0:	class=0x060400 card=0x12341022 chip=0x15131022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x01
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-PCI
pcib3@pci0:0:6:0:	class=0x060400 card=0x12341022 chip=0x15141022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x01
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-PCI
atapci0@pci0:0:17:0:	class=0x010601 card=0x43911002 chip=0x43911002 rev=0x40 hdr=0x00
    class      = mass storage
    subclass   = SATA
ohci0@pci0:0:18:0:	class=0x0c0310 card=0x43971002 chip=0x43971002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
ehci0@pci0:0:18:2:	class=0x0c0320 card=0x43961002 chip=0x43961002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
ohci1@pci0:0:19:0:	class=0x0c0310 card=0x43971002 chip=0x43971002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
ehci1@pci0:0:19:2:	class=0x0c0320 card=0x43961002 chip=0x43961002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
none0@pci0:0:20:0:	class=0x0c0500 card=0x15101022 chip=0x43851002 rev=0x42 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = SMBus
atapci1@pci0:0:20:1:	class=0x01018a card=0x439c1002 chip=0x439c1002 rev=0x40 hdr=0x00
    class      = mass storage
    subclass   = ATA
isab0@pci0:0:20:3:	class=0x060100 card=0x439d1002 chip=0x439d1002 rev=0x40 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-ISA
pcib4@pci0:0:20:4:	class=0x060401 card=0x00000000 chip=0x43841002 rev=0x40 hdr=0x01
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-PCI
ohci2@pci0:0:20:5:	class=0x0c0310 card=0x43991002 chip=0x43991002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
pcib5@pci0:0:21:0:	class=0x060400 card=0x00001002 chip=0x43a01002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x01
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-PCI
ohci3@pci0:0:22:0:	class=0x0c0310 card=0x43971002 chip=0x43971002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
ehci2@pci0:0:22:2:	class=0x0c0320 card=0x43961002 chip=0x43961002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
hostb1@pci0:0:24:0:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17001022 rev=0x43 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb2@pci0:0:24:1:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17011022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb3@pci0:0:24:2:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17021022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb4@pci0:0:24:3:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17031022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb5@pci0:0:24:4:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17041022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb6@pci0:0:24:5:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17181022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb7@pci0:0:24:6:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17161022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb8@pci0:0:24:7:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17191022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
re0@pci0:1:0:0:	class=0x020000 card=0x012310ec chip=0x816810ec rev=0x06 hdr=0x00
    class      = network
    subclass   = ethernet
re1@pci0:2:0:0:	class=0x020000 card=0x012310ec chip=0x816810ec rev=0x06 hdr=0x00
    class      = network
    subclass   = ethernet
re2@pci0:3:0:0:	class=0x020000 card=0x012310ec chip=0x816810ec rev=0x06 hdr=0x00
    class      = network
    subclass   = ethernet
                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • stephenw10S
                              stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                              last edited by

                              Hmm, not there at all.
                              Is it in the slot correctly? Do you have the half to full adapter to make it sit level?
                              One of those slots is actually an mSATA slot not PCIe, are you maybe using that by mistake? Try a different slot.

                              Steve

                              Edit:Typo

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • E
                                eiger3970
                                last edited by

                                So, I plugged my  Wi-Fi card into the middle APU slot which is PCIe 2.
                                Seems to have the same results.

                                
$ pciconf -lv
hostb0@pci0:0:0:0:	class=0x060000 card=0x15101022 chip=0x15101022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
pcib1@pci0:0:4:0:	class=0x060400 card=0x12341022 chip=0x15121022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x01
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-PCI
pcib2@pci0:0:5:0:	class=0x060400 card=0x12341022 chip=0x15131022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x01
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-PCI
pcib3@pci0:0:6:0:	class=0x060400 card=0x12341022 chip=0x15141022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x01
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-PCI
atapci0@pci0:0:17:0:	class=0x010601 card=0x43911002 chip=0x43911002 rev=0x40 hdr=0x00
    class      = mass storage
    subclass   = SATA
ohci0@pci0:0:18:0:	class=0x0c0310 card=0x43971002 chip=0x43971002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
ehci0@pci0:0:18:2:	class=0x0c0320 card=0x43961002 chip=0x43961002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
ohci1@pci0:0:19:0:	class=0x0c0310 card=0x43971002 chip=0x43971002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
ehci1@pci0:0:19:2:	class=0x0c0320 card=0x43961002 chip=0x43961002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
none0@pci0:0:20:0:	class=0x0c0500 card=0x15101022 chip=0x43851002 rev=0x42 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = SMBus
atapci1@pci0:0:20:1:	class=0x01018a card=0x439c1002 chip=0x439c1002 rev=0x40 hdr=0x00
    class      = mass storage
    subclass   = ATA
isab0@pci0:0:20:3:	class=0x060100 card=0x439d1002 chip=0x439d1002 rev=0x40 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-ISA
pcib4@pci0:0:20:4:	class=0x060401 card=0x00000000 chip=0x43841002 rev=0x40 hdr=0x01
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-PCI
ohci2@pci0:0:20:5:	class=0x0c0310 card=0x43991002 chip=0x43991002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
pcib5@pci0:0:21:0:	class=0x060400 card=0x00001002 chip=0x43a01002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x01
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = PCI-PCI
ohci3@pci0:0:22:0:	class=0x0c0310 card=0x43971002 chip=0x43971002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
ehci2@pci0:0:22:2:	class=0x0c0320 card=0x43961002 chip=0x43961002 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = serial bus
    subclass   = USB
hostb1@pci0:0:24:0:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17001022 rev=0x43 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb2@pci0:0:24:1:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17011022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb3@pci0:0:24:2:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17021022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb4@pci0:0:24:3:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17031022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb5@pci0:0:24:4:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17041022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb6@pci0:0:24:5:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17181022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb7@pci0:0:24:6:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17161022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
hostb8@pci0:0:24:7:	class=0x060000 card=0x00000000 chip=0x17191022 rev=0x00 hdr=0x00
    class      = bridge
    subclass   = HOST-PCI
re0@pci0:1:0:0:	class=0x020000 card=0x012310ec chip=0x816810ec rev=0x06 hdr=0x00
    class      = network
    subclass   = ethernet
re1@pci0:2:0:0:	class=0x020000 card=0x012310ec chip=0x816810ec rev=0x06 hdr=0x00
    class      = network
    subclass   = ethernet
re2@pci0:3:0:0:	class=0x020000 card=0x012310ec chip=0x816810ec rev=0x06 hdr=0x00
    class      = network
    subclass   = ethernet
none1@pci0:4:0:0:	class=0x028000 card=0x40608086 chip=0x088e8086 rev=0x24 hdr=0x00
    class      = network

                                Also, the card doesn't sit flat. The card sits on an angle sticking up about 15 degrees.

                                I think the Wi-Fi card is the correct model as I bought the same model as per what's being sold here.

                                I'm not sure if the half size card will help? From what I understand, the half size card lets me screw down the Wi-Fi card to the APU. However the APU has no screw holes with the half size card or with the Wi-Fi card.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • stephenw10S
                                  stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                  last edited by

                                  PCIe cards need to be screwed down to make proper contact with the slot. Because the APU doesn't have mountings for half cards you need the extension to make it fit the full size mountings.
                                  However your card is now connected, you can see it listed as none1 in your pciconf output. It shows as none because there is no driver attached to it. There's not going to be a driver until 2.2 at the earliest and probably not then either (to make this work currently in FreeBSD you'd need to patch the driver yourself). You would be much better off with a different card.

                                  Steve

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • E
                                    eiger3970
                                    last edited by

                                    Oh, okay.
                                    Would you or anyone know of a Wi-Fi card then that would work now?

                                    The other interesting thing is that the Wi-Fi pigtails I bought fits in one of the pfSense port holes, but not in the 2nd one.

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • stephenw10S
                                      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                      last edited by

                                      The Atheros AR9280 based Ubiquiti AR71-e is known to work. So I would expect this to work:
                                      http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Atheros-AR5009-AR9280-AR5BH92-pci-E-card-300Mb-Dual-Band-2-4-5-0GHz-A03-/291006772296?pt=AU_Components&hash=item43c15af448
                                      No promises though.  ;)
                                      I believe there were some other cards mentioned specifically in the APU thread.
                                      Edit: Here for example:
                                      https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=59555.msg402212#msg402212

                                      Steve

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • E
                                        eiger3970
                                        last edited by

                                        Thanks for the suggestion.

                                        I ordered that link.
                                        Still not sure how the screw holes will hold down the Wi-Fi card, as the APU has no screw holes for the mini or this link to the full size card.
                                        The mini ones right now sit at a 15 degree angle, so as long as the full size Wi-Fi card works without the screws, should be ok.

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • stephenw10S
                                          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                          last edited by

                                          Ah, Ok now I look at a larger photo I see it has a pair of plastic pegs with metal clips instead of screws. Better in many ways.

                                          Steve

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • E
                                            eiger3970
                                            last edited by

                                            Wow, you have good eyes :-)

                                            Yes, not that you suggested that, I can see the plastic pegs/clips on my APU and know what they're for.

                                            Ok, I'll wait for the new Wi-Fi card to arrive.
                                            Can't wait to ditch my old cheap Wi-Fi router.

                                            Then just a nice big switch board to handle the network as I will lose the 4 ports on the old Wi-Fi router.
                                            My current little 8 port switch can be removed too for one nice big switch.
                                            Any good switches friendly to pfSense?

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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