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    Tuning A1SRi-2758F or A1SRi-xxxxx Hardware for pfsense?

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    • K
      kapara
      last edited by

      I have read through several posts where it seems special modifications  are required in order to get pfSense running on this hardware or to ensure settings are still in place after an upgrade.

      If someone could point me to a guide for this or provide details that would be great as I am getting ready to start building my own machines again.

      https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=93999.msg521640#msg521640

      Thank you in advance!

      Some locations will need up to gigbit WAN capabilities.  Very little use of packages.

      Skype ID:  Marinhd

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      • ?
        Guest
        last edited by

        In normal there are not special customizations to get pfSense working flawless on this machine.
        Tweaks or pimps are only to do or should be done for a more smooth and liquid running system
        and being able to unleash the real power of this board that is given.

        Some locations will need up to gigbit WAN capabilities.  Very little use of packages.

        It would be nice or better to get a static public IP address, but with many business Internet accounts
        this might be not so hard to get. Because then you might be able to insert this IP address inside of the
        WAN set up and their is not need of PPPoE that is only using one CPU core only on the WAN interface.
        So with an static public IP address all CPU cores will be used at the WAN interface what might be giving
        you more speed and the maximum of the available throughput.

        Enable PowerD (hi adaptive) might be serving you the right performance if needed from the lowest bottom
        to the highest top of the CPU frequency. So if more power is needed it scales higher and if it is idling it will
        be go with a lower CPU frequency.

        Activating TRIM support if a mSATA or SSD is used is more or less a common think as todays
        operating systems are mostly all offering this feature.

        High up the mbuf size to 1.000.000 might be not really urgent but could solve any problems with the
        LAN Ports, but mostly more RAM should be installed to realize it. 8 GB is powerful and really nice to realize
        this tweak.

        All in all no one of us could imagine what you are all using and needing and so this questions about
        tuning and pimping a hardware is not really common or should be done even. If you have no SSD in
        usage the TRIM must not be activated and if their is not much RAM installed you couldn´t high up the
        mbuf size because you will be ending in a booting loop. So how many RAm you own is not able to imagine
        from us before. For sure the PowerD (hi adaptive) option should be activated to use the whole range of CPU
        frequency that is offered by the C2758 SoC.

        https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=93999.msg521640#msg521640

        Not all of us want or need to get the NTP time over the serial port! Some urgent needed tools
        that should be in place or are really must be´s are more importand to me, if something goes
        wrong with the installation.

        • Serial null modem cable or
        • Serial to USB adapter or cable
        • Windows PC or Laptop with Putty SSH client
        • Set up all three locations to baud rate of 115200 1/8/N
          (pfSense console option, board BIOS, Putty settings)
        • USB stick or pen drive to install pfSense from the USB port
        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • K
          kapara
          last edited by

          Ran install from memstick and when I inititated install and accepted defaults I got the following problem.

          IMG_0686.JPG
          IMG_0686.JPG_thumb

          Skype ID:  Marinhd

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          • Q
            q54e3w
            last edited by

            From memory 1+ year ago - I think thats related to AHCI - try turning it off in the bios.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • B
              Blade Runner
              last edited by

              Similar issue.

              https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=88612.0

              Bug has been fixed.

              https://bugs.freebsd.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=195349#c34

              Either old SSD or bad cabling could generate error message.

              I have ACHI enabled and did not get error message.

              Do not be afraid to fail.

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

                I am using a Samsung 850 Pro.  Yes I had to disable AHCI and use IDE instead.  Also had to use a USB 2.0 port rather than a USB 3.0 port for the memstick.

                The motherboard is brand-new so I may possibly have to upgrade the bios?

                With AHCI disabled it is working but not sure if that can potential he have a negative affect down the road.

                Skype ID:  Marinhd

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • Q
                  q54e3w
                  last edited by

                  I just checked on a new A1SRM Im building with a SATA-DOM and had to disable AHCI too still.

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

                    High up the mbuf size to 1.000.000 might be not really urgent but could solve any problems with the
                    LAN Ports, but mostly more RAM should be installed to realize it. 8 GB is powerful and really nice to realize
                    this tweak.

                    And how is this done?

                    Skype ID:  Marinhd

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                    • K
                      kapara
                      last edited by

                      Like this?

                      mbuf.PNG
                      mbuf.PNG_thumb

                      Skype ID:  Marinhd

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • B
                        Blade Runner
                        last edited by

                        Delay command seems unnecessary.

                        https://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/Tuning_and_Troubleshooting_Network_Cards

                        Do not be afraid to fail.

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                        • K
                          kapara
                          last edited by

                          Odd as that was already in the file when I loaded it.  Must be a default.

                          Skype ID:  Marinhd

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                          • ?
                            Guest
                            last edited by

                            Like this?

                            Yes, exactly, all custom tunings should be entered by you inside of this file, to survive the next
                            update or upgrade because then all files will be new written or over written.

                            Delay command seems unnecessary.

                            Cold be insertedby default or pending on other hardware, that must be recognized by the OS
                            at boot time, so if you have some USB gear connected to the entire pfSense box and it will be
                            not really recognized and enabled, this could be a really gain to give pfSense enough time to
                            locate and found them to load the right driver for it.

                            Odd as that was already in the file when I loaded it.  Must be a default.

                            Yes again.

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