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    Firebox PFSense IDE HDD

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software
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    • V
      voultar
      last edited by

      Hey guys,

      I have my X700 running great with PFSense. These are the upgrades I have made:

      P3 1.4GHZ
      512MB Ram
      4GB CF Card

      • I'm wanting to install an IDE Hard-Drive in this baby, while retaining the CF 4GB for the OS install.

      The drive will be used primarily for caching which some services require (Squid, HAVP)

      I apologize in advance if this question has been answered thousands of times, I'm not able to find any definitive paper or document concerning this question.

      Thanks! And thank you for the outstanding software!!!!

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      • stephenw10S
        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
        last edited by

        It can be done, others have done it.
        What is your question here?

        Steve

        Edit: This guide should serve, though you would be using an IDE connected drive not USB.
        http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,34100.0.html
        and this
        http://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/Local_Disk_Storage_on_Embedded_%28soekris%29

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        • V
          voultar
          last edited by

          I appreciate the write-ups, thank you!

          I guess my question is: "What is the best approach for utilizing cache dependent services (squid) on an embedded installation?

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          • stephenw10S
            stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
            last edited by

            I think general advise would be: don't.  ;)

            If you are going to fit a hard drive to your X700 just do a standard installation straight to the drive and boot from that.
            The CF card may be more reliable than a spinning disk but you have to consider the age of an X700. The PSU or CPU fans are likely to die first.

            I did it a long while back now on my X-peak box. The procedure was similar to the posts above, something like:
            Fit drive and configure (master/slave etc) so it's recognised.
            Format the drive with some filesystem FreeBSD can use.
            Mount the drive manually and test it.
            Configure pfSense to mount the drive automatically at boot. I simply edited the fstab to do that.
            Configure Squid to use the drive for it's cache and logs.

            The problem here is that some of this will not survive a firmware update, the edit to the fstab being notable.
            Mounting it each time using a command and the Shellcmd package would survive but is a bit ugly.

            Steve

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            • V
              voultar
              last edited by

              So, technically, I can prep the hard-disk entirely on a workstation, pop it into my 700, and be good to go.

              Thank you, I certainly do appreciate your insight and help.

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              • stephenw10S
                stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                last edited by

                Yes, though I'm not quite sure what you mean. Prep it for using as a Squid cache or prep it for installing pfSense?

                Steve

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                • V
                  voultar
                  last edited by

                  Prep it for an installation. Wouldn't that be the best alternative?

                  I'm completely knew to this OS, and Pfsense, so please forgive my lack of understanding.

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                  • stephenw10S
                    stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                    last edited by

                    That would be my recommendation. The first install detailed in the X700 thread was done on a HD so you should be able to get what you need from there: http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,7458.0.html

                    That first post is now quite old and some things in pfSense have moved on. The only thing I would do differently is to choose the standard kernel when you install. You will then have to boot up the drive in the workstation (which might be a problem with NICs and such, or may not!) connect to the webgui and choose serial console in Advanced: Admin Access: Then when you boot the drive in the firebox you will have console access via the front serial port.

                    It would be great to get this process detailed and tested with a recent version of pfSense for the firebox wiki page.  :)

                    Steve

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                    • V
                      voultar
                      last edited by

                      Thanks Steve for all of your help.

                      I have a 2.5'' IDE drive I'm going to pull from a laptop. I need to secure a NULL serial cable (I believe I have one in my shop.) I'll begin this project over the weekend.

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