Watchguard Help

JonSLC

Hello everyone! Thank you for all of the hard work and documentation you have provide here on the forums!!

I have a WatchGuard SSL100. This unit only had the IDE 40gb drive, no CF. The drive died and I thought what the hell let’s give pfsense a go.
I have an old cisco 32MB CF I was able to load freedos on and flash the bios. Now I can get to the bios change the boot devices etc. with the console cable using 115200. The problem I am having now is that once it gets to PCI device listing… I can no longer connect to the console (or I am not getting any output). The front LCD Read “Booting OS…” I have tried 9600, 8 N 1, hardware on hardware off etc. 4 Different cables 3 different machines, nothing works. No matter how long I leave it sitting it just sits at “Booting OS”.
What gives?
I have a new IDE drive with pfsense already loaded on it and I also have a 32GB transend CF that I have flashed. I can’t even tell if it’s trying to boot or not.
Please advise, thank you!

chpalmer

The version of pfSense your using is the full install.. Right?

Its redirecting the video away from the console port and to a video card (which probably does not exist.) Reinstall to the drive and choose "embedded install" and see if that don't fix it.

I believe there is another way but Im unaware. You might wait for some other input from anyone else that might know.

yodaphone

@JonSLC:

Hello everyone! Thank you for all of the hard work and documentation you have provide here on the forums!!

I have a WatchGuard SSL100. This unit only had the IDE 40gb drive, no CF. The drive died and I thought what the hell let’s give pfsense a go.
I have an old cisco 32MB CF I was able to load freedos on and flash the bios. Now I can get to the bios change the boot devices etc. with the console cable using 115200. The problem I am having now is that once it gets to PCI device listing… I can no longer connect to the console (or I am not getting any output). The front LCD Read “Booting OS…” I have tried 9600, 8 N 1, hardware on hardware off etc. 4 Different cables 3 different machines, nothing works. No matter how long I leave it sitting it just sits at “Booting OS”.
What gives?
I have a new IDE drive with pfsense already loaded on it and I also have a 32GB transend CF that I have flashed. I can’t even tell if it’s trying to boot or not.
Please advise, thank you!

Please follow this Guide. https://www.hexhound.com/how-to-flash-pfsense-2-1-to-a-watchguard-firebox-x750e-x550e-ssl-500/

If you use memstick version then it wont work for you with these boxes. you need to use embedded versions.

Make sure you enable ACPI in BIOS. Instructions in the earlier link.
Also please follow this link to ensure that you disable DMA. pfsense no longer disables this for you https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=20095.msg480824#msg480824

JonSLC

Thanks for the tips but still no luck. :'(

Here is the odd part - Since flashing the bios, I can no longer boot from my 32mb CF drive with FreeDOS. I get the same problem, no console output.

I have tried swapping back and forth from 9600, 115200. I have tried 5 cables, 3 pcs now, 2 CF cards, and a 40gb ide 5400rpm hdd. Nothing just " pfSemse B7, Loading OS …

Did flashing the bios brick it? I dont think so as i can get to the bios all day long and change settings etc. I just can no longer connect once it starts to boot.

chpalmer

Still sounds like video re-direct to me.

This particular unit doesn't have a second com port does it?

JonSLC

No, just the one in the front, standard serial. Man if they would have just put a VGA and USB under the lid….

yodaphone

@JonSLC:

Thanks for the tips but still no luck. :'(

Here is the odd part - Since flashing the bios, I can no longer boot from my 32mb CF drive with FreeDOS. I get the same problem, no console output.

I have tried swapping back and forth from 9600, 115200. I have tried 5 cables, 3 pcs now, 2 CF cards, and a 40gb ide 5400rpm hdd. Nothing just " pfSemse B7, Loading OS …

Did flashing the bios brick it? I dont think so as i can get to the bios all day long and change settings etc. I just can no longer connect once it starts to boot.

do you still have your original wathguard boot CF? if not just follow the link to get the backup & see if it can boot from that.

i doubt it could've bricked the bios

chpalmer

I read this assuming your system had past BIOS and was starting to load.. Dont pay any attention to the LCD.. It will say the same thing even once pfSense is fully booted.

Get into BIOS and see if you can set your system video emulation to VT100.

JonSLC

@yodaphone

No, this unit did not come with a CF, it came with a 40gb IDE 5400rpm 2.5hdd. Sorry I dont see your link.

Thanks,

JonSLC

@chpalmer:

I read this assuming your system had past BIOS and was starting to load.. Dont pay any attention to the LCD.. It will say the same thing even once pfSense is fully booted.

Get into BIOS and see if you can set your system video emulation to VT100.

Thanks for the tip, but i do not see VT100 anywhere in the bios only this:

Here is where it hangs:

Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG, An Energy Star Ally
Copyright (C) 1984-2003, Phoenix Technologies, LTD

**** BIOS Ver.ETAC0017 mod V1.7 comconsole on com1 115200 ****

Main Processor : Genuine Intel(R) processor 1.30GHz(100x13.0)
Memory Testing : 2088960K OK + 8M shared memory

IDE Channel 0 Master : TS32GCF400 20160322
IDE Channel 0 Slave : None
Phoenix Technologies, LTD
System Configurations
+==============================================================================+
| CPU Type : Genuine Intel(R) processor Base Memory : 640K |
| CPU ID/uco: 0695/45 Extended Memory :2087936K |
| CPU Clock : 1.30GHz Cache Memory : 512K |
|–----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Pri. Master Disk : CHS,PIO 4,32021MB Display Type : EGA/VGA |
| Pri. Slave Disk : None Serial Port(s) : 3F8 2F8 |
| Sec. Master Disk : None Parallel Port(s) : None |
| Sec. Slave Disk : None DDR2 at Bank(s) : 0 2 |
+==============================================================================+

PCI device listing ...
Bus No. Device No. Func No. Vendor/Device Class Device Class IRQ

0 2 0 8086 2592 0300 Display Cntrlr 5
0 29 0 8086 2658 0C03 USB 1.0/1.1 UHCI Cntrlr 7
0 29 1 8086 2659 0C03 USB 1.0/1.1 UHCI Cntrlr 11
0 29 2 8086 265A 0C03 USB 1.0/1.1 UHCI Cntrlr 10
0 29 3 8086 265B 0C03 USB 1.0/1.1 UHCI Cntrlr 5
0 29 7 8086 265C 0C03 USB 2.0 EHCI Cntrlr 7
0 31 1 8086 266F 0101 IDE Cntrlr 14
1 4 0 177D 0003 1000 ACPI Controllerntrlr 9

chpalmer

How long have you waited for anything to happen?

JonSLC

Left it "booting os" while we went to lunch today. No change.

I have tried:
Booting from old Cisco CF 32mb with freedos with 115200, 8,N,1 also 9600, 8,N,1
Booting from brand new Transcend CF 32GB flashed with 4GB i386 Embedded Nano, Serial 2.3.2 Release with 115200, 8,N,1 and 9600, 8,N,1
40GB IDE 2.5 HDD (put in laptop, loaded 2.3.2 from CD, enabled serial console during install, then swapped over to the watchguard
I have also tried not connecting the console cable till after the mem check.

All of these produce the exact same result. Posts, checks mem ok, detects drives fine, then hangs after PCI device listing…
This is all i get in the console:

Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG, An Energy Star Ally
Copyright (C) 1984-2003, Phoenix Technologies, LTD

**** BIOS Ver.ETAC0017 mod V1.7 comconsole on com1 115200 ****

Main Processor : Genuine Intel(R) processor 1.30GHz(100x13.0)
Memory Testing : 2088960K OK + 8M shared memory

IDE Channel 0 Master : TOSHIBA THNCF032MBA 2.00
IDE Channel 0 Slave : None
Phoenix Technologies, LTD
System Configurations
+==============================================================================+
| CPU Type : Genuine Intel(R) processor Base Memory : 640K |
| CPU ID/uco: 0695/45 Extended Memory :2087936K |

CPU Clock : 1.30GHz Cache Memory : 512K
Pri. Master Disk : CHS,PIO 2, 32MB Display Type : EGA/VGA
Pri. Slave Disk : None Serial Port(s) : 3F8 2F8
Sec. Master Disk : None Parallel Port(s) : 378
Sec. Slave Disk : None DDR2 at Bank(s) : 0 2
+==============================================================================+

PCI device listing ...
Bus No. Device No. Func No. Vendor/Device Class Device Class IRQ

0 2 0 8086 2592 0300 Display Cntrlr 5
0 29 0 8086 2658 0C03 USB 1.0/1.1 UHCI Cntrlr 9
0 29 1 8086 2659 0C03 USB 1.0/1.1 UHCI Cntrlr 11
0 29 2 8086 265A 0C03 USB 1.0/1.1 UHCI Cntrlr 10
0 29 3 8086 265B 0C03 USB 1.0/1.1 UHCI Cntrlr 5
0 29 7 8086 265C 0C03 USB 2.0 EHCI Cntrlr 9
0 31 3 8086 266A 0C05 SMBus Cntrlr 11
1 0 0 11AB 4320 0200 Network Cntrlr 5
1 1 0 11AB 4320 0200 Network Cntrlr 12
1 2 0 11AB 4320 0200 Network Cntrlr 10
1 3 0 11AB 4320 0200 Network Cntrlr 11
1 4 0 177D 0003 1000 En/Decryption Cntrlr 11

stephenw10

You should be using the v8.1 BIOS which I modded from the SSL BIOS. It's newer and can boot any size CF card and most HD without messing about with CHS settings.

See: https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=20095.msg383842#msg383842

You will need to copy that to your CF card and be able to boot it though. I would clear the CMOS if you have not already done so. Then go into the BIOS and have it auto detect your 32MB card. It should boot that.

Steve

JonSLC

Thanks Stephen, I was hoping you would reply.
I have re imaged my 32mb CF with the FreeDOSBios2.img, copied over the XEBIOS_81.bin. Cleared the CMOS. I still have the same result.
I can get to the bios just fine, it detects anything I have put in it (including the IDE drive) just fine, it just wont boot…
I have another CF (4GB ) coming in the mail here today I can try but I really dont think that will change anything here.

Any other ideas you all have would be most welcome.

Thanks!

stephenw10

That's the same CF card and Freedos image that you used to flash the v7 image originally?

And it not getting to the 3 beeps?

To boot that card I would expect to have to have the BIOS values at their defaults, IDE channels set to auto. And it might not boot the first time after a cmos clear. It will boot and complain about a checksum error but should detect the card and boot correctly on the second attempt.

Can you confirm the CF is bootable in anything else? Not many people have CF bootable stuff to hand any longer. ;)

Steve

JonSLC

Correct. Old Cisco 32MB i had laying around. My SSL 100 did not have CF card installed from factory. It had a 40GB IDE 2.5 (that went bad).

No, triple beep, ever. Just the 1 beep when it first powers up.

I used this card with the default setting originally to flash the bios. I have another Transcend 32 GB CF here that gives me the same results. Also in the mail and should be here today a 4GB to try (just in case)
I dont have any other devices that use CF at the moment (other than my card reader).

Thanks for your time!

JonSLC

I just got brand new 4GB SanDisk Ultra in from Amazon. Same deal…
Cant say we didnt try

stephenw10

Hmm, well if that card worked the first time I can't really see any reason it would not work again.

You wrote the image to it a second time? Or just copied the bios image onto the card directly?

I would have to try flashing the card again to be sure. Maybe use a different flashing program or write 0s to it first to sure it's clean.

Steve

yodaphone

@JonSLC:

I just got brand new 4GB SanDisk Ultra in from Amazon. Same deal…
Cant say we didnt try

if you're using windows try this tool. i had better success using this than rufus & win32imager (both are great but it dont work for me this time)

http://m0n0.ch/wall/physdiskwrite.php

JonSLC

I want to thank you all for taking the time to help me and for sharing your knowledge!

I have come to the conclusion that this motherboard is toast. I have taken all 3 of those CF cards and stuck them in the reader and booted my laptop off them just fine. Putting them back into the WG SSL100, fails to boot anything.

I have learned a lot from this and have purchased a XTM5 (on its way here now!!) I am certain I will have much better results. I have my CF ready to go as well as more RAM and dual core proc. Cant wait to share my results next week with you all!

Thanks again!

Watchguard Help

PCI device listing ... Bus No. Device No. Func No. Vendor/Device Class Device Class IRQ

PCI device listing ... Bus No. Device No. Func No. Vendor/Device Class Device Class IRQ

PCI device listing ...
Bus No. Device No. Func No. Vendor/Device Class Device Class IRQ

PCI device listing ...
Bus No. Device No. Func No. Vendor/Device Class Device Class IRQ