Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    30GB max partition size limit for install

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software
    16 Posts 6 Posters 2.7k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • A
      aGeekhere
      last edited by

      Hi, has anyone worked out how to get pass the 30GB max partition size limit when installing pfsense?

      Meaning that if you create a partition larger than 30GB pfsense will hang after the install.

      Never Fear, A Geek is Here!

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

        That's not expected behaviour. What drive hardware are you using?

        Why do you need such a large partition?

        Steve

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • K
          kejianshi
          last edited by

          Yes - very strange.  My personal one is 50GB.

          My 1st one ever was about 500GB? (Total overkill, but I didn't know at the time)

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • W
            Wolf666
            last edited by

            No problem with mi Intel S3500 SSD 80 GB.

            Modem Draytek Vigor 130
            pfSense 2.4 Supermicro A1SRi-2558 - 8GB ECC RAM - Intel S3500 SSD 80GB - M350 Case
            Switch Cisco SG350-10
            AP Netgear R7000 (Stock FW)
            HTPC Intel NUC5i3RYH
            NAS Synology DS1515+
            NAS Synology DS213+

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

              Are those one single 'partition' though?

              Steve

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • A
                aGeekhere
                last edited by

                Hi I am running it on an old p4 which came with an old IDE 250GB hard drive WD-WMAEP1110635.

                It seems that every time I create a single partition (for the os) larger then 30GB pfsense will fail lunch (get the non moving \ error).

                As far as why do I need such a large  partition , well what else is the drive going to do?

                Never Fear, A Geek is Here!

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • K
                  kejianshi
                  last edited by

                  Well, the good news is that 30 is plenty.

                  Not sure why you are having issues though.

                  Could it be the HDD its self?

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • C
                    cmb
                    last edited by

                    Tends to be some weirdness of the BIOS when that happens. Upgrade the BIOS if possible, that may fix it.

                    Generally having / be a smaller partition (less than 30 GB in this case), and use the rest as /usr or something else, will work around such issues. Generally the boot partition that has to be at the beginning of the drive in that scenario.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • A
                      aGeekhere
                      last edited by

                      Funny thing is that it once worked, and I was able to use the whole drive (it happen after trying another Router OS then coming back to pfsense).

                      Maybe boot loader?

                      Never Fear, A Geek is Here!

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • K
                        kejianshi
                        last edited by

                        I also like that theory…

                        REALLY wipe the drive with gparted.  Try again.

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • A
                          aGeekhere
                          last edited by

                          I used boot and nuke, i think it is the other way around. The other OS install a bootloader that worked?
                          I will try it again to see how i go.

                          Never Fear, A Geek is Here!

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • A
                            aGeekhere
                            last edited by

                            ok here is the error i get if i create a single partition size to the size of the hard drive

                            error 1 lba 380868527
                            error 1 lba 380868527
                            no /boot/loader

                            FreeBSD/86 boot
                            Default: 0:as(0,a)/boot/kernel/kernel
                            boot:
                            error 1 lba 380868527
                            no /boot/kernel/kernel

                            FreeBSD/86 boot
                            Default: 0:as(0,a)/boot/kernel/kernel
                            boot:

                            If I create 2 partitions , 1 50GB the other 200GB and install on the 200GB i get
                            \

                            If I create 2 partitions , 1 30GB the other * and install on the 30GB. Works.

                            Never Fear, A Geek is Here!

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • jimpJ
                              jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
                              last edited by

                              As CMB said that's almost always a BIOS interaction issue. It could be the BIOS + FreeBSD's boot loader, but the BIOS is almost always to blame.

                              Using a custom install and making a 30GB / and using the rest for /usr is the best way around it.

                              Or you could fuss with something like grub to see if that might help.

                              Or toss the old junker and replace it with something better. :-)

                              Remember: Upvote with the 👍 button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

                              Need help fast? Netgate Global Support!

                              Do not Chat/PM for help!

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

                                @jimp:

                                Or toss the old junker and replace it with something better. :-)

                                Bah! That's taking the easy way out and this guy's middle name is geek.  ;D

                                Steve

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • K
                                  kejianshi
                                  last edited by

                                  Definitely no need to toss it.  30GB is plenty…

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • A
                                    aGeekhere
                                    last edited by

                                    30GB will do the job, thanks all :)

                                    Never Fear, A Geek is Here!

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • First post
                                      Last post
                                    Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.