APU1C4 Boot issues

cisto

Hallo,
maybe someone can give me advice…
I bought a APU1C4 - pfsense boots from usb... no problem. But when i want to install it on the msata (kingston 30GB) after install-process an removing the usb-device the booting process will freeze.
Do i have to update the bios? If yes - how do i update BIOS on the APU1C4?
I have tried Pfsense 2.4.1 - i downloaded the version for USB... do i have to choose the embedded version if i use a ssd?

I am happy for any advice :-)

spid

Hi,

I have the same board, and also a Kingston 30gb SSD currently running 2.1.3 (Kingston SSDNow mS200 SMS200S3 30GB)
Holding off on 2.1.4 until someone confirms 2.1.4 still works with serial console as some have reported problems with the update.

To update the firmware, follow the instructions on the pcengines site, they have a tinycore installer that runs of usb stick:
http://www.pcengines.ch/apu1c4.htm

I updated bios the first thing i did so not sure if there is a problem with the one that's shipping with the unit.

The version i'm using is pfSense-memstick-serial-2.1.3-RELEASE-amd64.img.gz (choose the Embedded kernel when installing)

the new 2.2 version has alot fixes for the new APU boards like temp sensors but alot of things is not ready for everyday use.. (however, if you buy a "pfsense" preinstalled version i belive they already have the patches for 2.1.3….)

What i also did was enable TRIM on the SSD, there is a few posts about this but here is my notes from when i did it:

1. start serial console or via ssh
2. Run /usr/local/sbin/ufslabels.sh (this will change the UUID in fstab or else it will not boot anymore when doing the next step)
3. Add ahci_load="YES" to /boot/loader.conf.local
4. Reboot
5. Start pfSense in single user mode and press return when asked for it
6. Run /sbin/tunefs -t /
7. /sbin/reboot
8. Check if TRIM is enabled with tunefs -p /

the hard part was getting to the single user mode when booting, if i remember it correctly you have to press F1 when it says start pfsense, and then chose single user mode.. but don't quote me on that.. (really wish i wrote it down exactly now ;D )

Hopefully they will fix the installer on 2.2 when it becomes final to enable TRIM for SSD automaticly or by a meny entry.

Hope this helps!

pvoigt

@spid:

Hi,

I have the same board, and also a Kingston 30gb SSD currently running 2.1.3 (Kingston SSDNow mS200 SMS200S3 30GB)
Holding off on 2.1.4 until someone confirms 2.1.4 still works with serial console as some have reported problems with the update.

I can confirm the serial console is still working with pfSense 2.1.4. I have tested this with an ALIX.2D13. You can find some more details here: https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=78713.msg429345#msg429345.

Regards,
Peter

spid

@pvoigt:

@spid:

Hi,

I have the same board, and also a Kingston 30gb SSD currently running 2.1.3 (Kingston SSDNow mS200 SMS200S3 30GB)
Holding off on 2.1.4 until someone confirms 2.1.4 still works with serial console as some have reported problems with the update.

I can confirm the serial console is still working with pfSense 2.1.4. I have tested this with an ALIX.2D13. You can find some more details here: https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=78713.msg429345#msg429345.

Regards,
Peter

Thank you for your feedback, but i'm not running the nanobsd image but the full 64bit memstick installer with serial and after upgrading just now from the auto upgrade web page it all seems fine 8)