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    Trouble installing PFSense on Soekris 6501-70

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software
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    • T
      tom-28
      last edited by

      Trying to get PFSense installed on a Soekris 6501-70.

      I've tried using pfSense-memstick-serial-2.2.2-RELEASE-i386.img and pfSense-memstick-serial-2.1.5-RELEASE-i386.img.

      For 2.2.2, the install goes ok, and I pick the no VGA/keyboard kernel.  Using an Intel 80GB mSATA SSD.  When the system reboots, it loads and I get:

      <trim>10:00:0 8086 10D3 02000000 0107 0010 08 00 00 A3000000 00000000 10
      11:00:0 8086 10D3 02000000 0107 0010 08 00 00 A4000000 00000000 11

      1 Seconds to automatic boot.  Press Ctrl-P for entering Monitor.

      F1  pfSense

      F6 PXE
      Boot:  F1

      And then the system reboots.  It will not boot into the OS.  I've tried using the 2.1.5 image.  The system won't boot at all with that image.

      I've tried a manual install.  Making the partition 4GB.  Same symptoms.  I have two Soekris 6501-70's and they're both having this issue.

      What gives?</trim>

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

        Wrong console speed?
        2.1.5 uses 9600 by default.
        https://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/Soekris_6501_USB_Flash_installation

        Steve

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        • T
          tom-28
          last edited by

          I have set the console speed to 115200.  Using any other speed results in an un-viewable experience.

          The install actually completes just fine*.  After the install completes and the system reboots is when it goes into the reboot loop and will not boot from the installed drive.

          *With v2.2.2.  2.1.5 I see "/" and it halts and won't even boot from the install media (SanDisk Fit 32GB).

          –UPdate - set the conspeed=9600, 2.1.5 installed.  System is currently booting!!

          Something about 2.2.2 does not like the 6501.  I'll try an upgrade and see what happens.

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

            Hmm, well I'm pretty sure 2.1.5 should boot from that hardware with no problem. I've never tried 2.2 directly but I know there are people who have upgraded to it.
            Are you running the latest BIOS?
            Have you tried using a different USB drive? Some hardware is really fussy about USB flash drives.

            Steve

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            • T
              tom-28
              last edited by

              Yeah, 2.1.5 is up and running now.  Trying to get it into a position where I can upgrade it.

              I tried another SanDisk Fit 32GB USB drive.  I don't think that was the issue.  There just seems to be something funkey with trying to do a fresh install of 2.2.2.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • T
                tom-28
                last edited by

                I noticed the 2.1.5 build was built on FreeBSD 8.3.  Let the system upgrade itself to 2.2.2 and that build was being reported as 8.3.  Thought that was weird.  Checked my install on VMWare and it was FreeBSD 10.1.

                So I grabbed the PFSense 2.2.2 upgrade tarball and manually upgraded and the system is now on FreeBSD 10.1.

                Crazy upgrade process but everything is working.  Here's how it went:

                PFSense 2.1.5 on a USB key -> System self upgrades to 2.2.2.  Then manually upgrade with the 2.2.2 tarball and BAM.  2.2.2 on FreeBSD 10.1.

                Off to configure!

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

                  There is an issue currently with some systems not rebooting correctly after an upgrade from 2.1.X to 2.2.X. Likely if you had just rebooted it it would have come back up running the correct kernel.
                  Anyway glad you got to 2.2.2 in the end.  :)

                  Steve

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • T
                    tom-28
                    last edited by

                    My problem wasn't with an upgrade.

                    It was with a fresh, clean install of 2.2.2.  It refused to reboot after the install had finished.

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

                      Oh, OK. Nevermind then.
                      I was just reffering to this:
                      @tom-28:

                      Let the system upgrade itself to 2.2.2 and that build was being reported as 8.3.

                      Failing to reboot is usually the cause when you see that.

                      Steve

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • P
                        piwwo
                        last edited by

                        I have the same problem on Soekris

                         1 Seconds to automatic boot.   Press Ctrl-P for entering Monitor.
                        
                        F1  pfSense
                        
                        F6 PXE
                        Boot:  F1 
                        
                        

                        Then it reboots. Release 2.2.2 too.

                        Additionally at installation I see a crippled boot menu.

                        First I see this

                         nsSeconds to automatic boot.   Press Ctrl-P for entering Monitor.
                         onboooott//ccoonnffiigg::  --SS111155220000  --DD
                        
                        

                        Then the cursor jumps around untill it finally draws something like a boot menu but it's unreadable

                           +                             e           +                                                                                                                                                  W
                           |                                         |                                                                                                                                                  |
                           |   .                       ]             |                                                                                                                                                  B
                           |   .                  r                  |                                                                                                                                                  B
                           |   .                         t           |                                                                                                                                                  [
                           |   .      t                              |                                                                                                                                                  R
                           |                                         |                                                                                                                                                  |
                           |         :                               |                                                                                                                                                  O
                           |   .                         )           |                                                                                                                                                  [
                           |   .                           .         |                                                                                                                                                  C
                           |                                         |                                                                                                                                                  |
                           |                                         |                                                                                                                                                  |
                           |                                         |                                                                                                                                                  |
                           +                                         +                                                                                                                                                  +
                        
                          \                      H-
                        \ey24:0 8086 8185 06040000 0107 0010 08 00 01 3FFF2000 A2FFA100 11
                         ke25:0 8086 8180 06040000 0107 0010 08 00 01 5FFF4000 A4FFA300 05
                         /k26:0 8086 8181 06040000 0107 0010 08 00 01 0FFF1000 00FFA000 09
                        [/code]
                        
                        The numbers are remains of the soekris bios output the rest has been drawn by the boot menu
                        
                        I set the soekris console speed to 115200 and after boot from install USB I see normal output, just the menu is totally crippled and I have to use trial and error to select the right option. Once on harddisk however it does not boot anymore, I tried easy and advanced install and standard or modified kernel, nothing works.
                        
                        This is not my first pfsense I installed on soekris but the first one that does not boot after install on harddisk.
                        
                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • A
                          almabes
                          last edited by

                          I'm having the same difficulty on a 6501-30.

                          I installed just fine, but can't boot afterward.

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

                            So, I was able to install 2.1.5, and then upgrade to 2.2.2.
                            That's strange.  Anyone able to venture a guess as to why?

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

                              Hmm, the boot loader in 2.2 somehow incompatible? Seems odd though.

                              Steve

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • P
                                pvoigt
                                last edited by

                                Hope it helps: I am running a net6501-70 with pfSense 2.2.2 i386 nanoBSD on a compact flash card.

                                I marched the whole upgrade path: 2.1.5 -> 2.2 -> 2.2.1 -> 2.2.2, no experience so far with a fresh installation. Luckily I never had a reboot issue.

                                Peter

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                                • jimpJ
                                  jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
                                  last edited by

                                  Adding another data point, I see the same issue only with a fresh 2.2 install on my net6501. I installed 2.1.x and then upgraded and it runs fine that way, probably not worth the effort tracking it down further at the moment. There are some installer changes happening for 2.3 that might make for an interesting test once they materialize in full.

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

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                                  • A
                                    almabes
                                    last edited by

                                    May want to add an installation note somewhere in the official documentation at doc.pfsense.org for the Soekris installs out there.

                                    We know it affects the 6501-30 and 70 whatever jimp has.

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

                                      Has anyone tried a NanoBSD install to see if that works? Or if it's just a full install?

                                      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!

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                                      • dotdashD
                                        dotdash
                                        last edited by

                                        I've got a net6501-50 running 2.2.2-nano-i386 off USB.
                                        As far as I remember, I just wrote nano to the stick and popped it in. The x64 build did not work.

                                        edit-the issue with x64 is the missing mptable support in the kernel (see http://wiki.soekris.info/Net6501_freebsd)
                                        Should work with these additions-
                                        device      atpic          # Optional legacy pic support
                                        device      mptable        # Optional MPSPEC mptable support

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                                        • C
                                          CS
                                          last edited by

                                          I just started having the same issue with a clean install on a Soerkis6501 using pfSense-CE-memstick-serial-2.3.1-RELEASE-i386.img from a USB to install pfSense 2.3.1 on a CF….
                                          Any ideas?  ???

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • dotdashD
                                            dotdash
                                            last edited by

                                            I've loaded 2.3-i386 nano on a usb stick and just popped it in, works fine. Haven't tried 2.3.1, or an msata yet. (Hardware is 6501-50)

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