Alix APU baud rates?
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Hi Everyone,
I just got an Alix APU.1C boad to try with mSATA SSD. I don't have an adapter for it so I put the image on USB stick but the board is not booting from USB. My serial cable doesn't work either or I am probably setting the wrong baud rates. Can someone please clarify what baud rates are used for Alix APU board with and without pfsense? Also, how can I get the pfsense image onto mSATA SSD?
Thanks,
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Set the Baud Rate to 9600 (pfSense Standard)
The actual start bootup of the APU is different, so you'll see some garbled messages, but you're not going to miss anything really.
If you want to see these messages, the baud rate for the APU is 115200 I think.
Can't answer the other questions, because I'm running an APU from an SD Card.
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Do you use embedded image for SD card?
Thanks,
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to install on mSata in a nutshell:
Download memstick-serial (http://pfsense.mirrors.ovh.net/pfsense.org/downloads/pfSense-memstick-serial-2.1.4-RELEASE-i386.img.gz)
Flash it on usb stick (depends on OS you're using, I used physdiskwrite)
Boot APU (connect with 115200)
F12 to display boot options, select 4 for setup
Set boot order usb 1st, mSata 2nd, save & exit
Change baudrate to 9600
Follow instructions to install (quick setup, choose custom kernel (without vga))
Remove the usb when instructedAll the above is for the full install. If you want nanobsd on the mSata, that's also possible but requires other work-flow ;)
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to install on mSata in a nutshell:
Download memstick-serial (http://pfsense.mirrors.ovh.net/pfsense.org/downloads/pfSense-memstick-serial-2.1.4-RELEASE-i386.img.gz)
Flash it on usb stick (depends on OS you're using, I used physdiskwrite)
Boot APU (connect with 115200)
F12 to display boot options, select 4 for setup
Set boot order usb 1st, mSata 2nd, save & exit
Change baudrate to 9600
Follow instructions to install (quick setup, choose custom kernel (without vga))
Remove the usb when instructedAll the above is for the full install. If you want nanobsd on the mSata, that's also possible but requires other work-flow ;)
I have a 16GB mSATA so space is not an issue for me. I am wondering if there is any advantage in full version over embedded other than usage of space? speed, performance, features, etc?
Thanks,
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I'm not sure for you. Depends on your msata…
How is it installed now? In a sata port or something attached by usb? Also, is it MLC, TLC or SLC? Finally, does it support TRIM?
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I am wondering if there is any advantage in full version over embedded other than usage of space? speed, performance, features, etc?
In experience from using a couple of years: I had less issues with the full version when upgrading. Then again, with the nano you have a nice fallback mechanism in case of issues when upgrading (2nd slice)
Speed, performance, and most of the features (standard usage) you won't see much difference (imho, when using fast storage as your mSata), if any. -
I'll only say it once because people here are always dismissing it…
If you install a TLC or MLC drive with a full install and you don't configure or misconfigure your TRIM, your drive will die in short order. No matter what you heard from some guy who may have gone on and on about the improvements in MLC and TLC controlers and wear leveling, if you don't do it right, you will destroy your drive.
That said, I prefer a full install - much more flexible and with a good SSD and proper settings, should last a really long time.
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if you don't do it right, you will destroy your drive.
That's interesting info. Do you have number (failure rate) or more info (to read) on that? Given time, any ssd will die. It's only the question when, and after what wear level (nr of writes)? I'm searching for a way to predict mine… ;D
The mSata I got (pcengines) doesn't have TRIM. Didn't seemed a good idea to use it, so I replaced it with a Kingston who does have TRIM, and I properly configured it. But then I got lots of bad feedback on the brand Kingston ::)
Time will tell I suppose... -
Well - I have an array of 10 kingstons in RAID and they have been ok for a year so far, but this was done as more of a bet with a friend.
They are still working and they get constant writes, with TRIM on. Its only been a year though.
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If you install a TLC or MLC drive with a full install and you don't configure or misconfigure your TRIM, your drive will die in short order.
Count me in as a dismisser! ;)
Whilst it's a good idea to enable trim on SSDs it shouldn't effect drive life. The trim function maintains the drives read/write performance when small file segments would otherwise be detrimental.
Edit: Not enabling trim may cause the firmware level garbage collection mechanism to write to the drive more. So I guess you're right there. :)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Write_amplification#TRIMAlso..
@kejianshi:the improvements in MLC and TLC controlers and wear leveling
..that! :P
Steve
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The kingstons in the raid have been great so far - They have to go 5 years before I call them officially great.
Right now, they are only at year one. But TRIM is set up correctly - I think that is key.
