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SATA or CF-Flash , for new install + Can't load kernel message w. USB inst

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software
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  • P
    phil.davis
    last edited by Mar 12, 2017, 3:24 AM

    nanoBSD is an image that is built with 2 bootable partitions and system upgrades install to the opposite partition on each upgrade… It was intended for use with CF cards or other "almost embedded" systems. Support for it in pfSense finishes with the 2.3.* release series.

    For an SSD or "normal" disk you want the "normal" full install. And, unless you are going to somehow cache half the known universe, you won't need anywhere near 240GB of space!

    As the Greek philosopher Isosceles used to say, "There are 3 sides to every triangle."
    If I helped you, then help someone else - buy someone a gift from the INF catalog http://secure.inf.org/gifts/usd/

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    • P
      pfBasic Banned
      last edited by Mar 12, 2017, 8:30 AM

      I noticed your board has 4x USB 2.0

      1 GB is a little tight for install. I'm sure it's doable with a little of your own partitioning though.

      240GB SATA drive is overkill / waste of power.

      I would recommend installing 2.4.0 BETA with ZFS to a pair of cheap (2-4GB should be fine if you have them lying around, if not 8GB is about $6/ea) flash drives in a mirror. 2.4 BETA works really well (at least for my needs suricata, pfBlockerNG, OpenVPN server & clients).

      https://smile.amazon.com/SanDisk-Cruzer-Blade-Drive-SDCZ50-008G-B35/dp/B002U28LZC/ref=sr_1_6?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1489307261&sr=1-6&refinements=p_n_feature_keywords_two_browse-bin%3A6931971011%2Cp_89%3ASanDisk%2Cp_n_size_browse-bin%3A1259712011%7C1259713011%7C1259714011&th=1

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        doktornotor Banned
        last edited by Mar 12, 2017, 8:31 AM

        You cannot install 2.4 on i386.

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        • P
          pfBasic Banned
          last edited by Mar 12, 2017, 8:52 AM

          :o My bad, Didn't catch that!

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          • B
            bingo600
            last edited by Mar 12, 2017, 3:06 PM Mar 12, 2017, 2:40 PM

            @phil.davis:

            For an SSD or "normal" disk you want the "normal" full install. And, unless you are going to somehow cache half the known universe, you won't need anywhere near 240GB of space!

            Well i only have 2 x 240 GB SSD  , they were on sale for $70/pcs  - Toshiba A100
            I ended up using an Intenso 256GB SSD    :-[ … Think it's an older technology.

            I just spend [b]7 hours getting the !"!#¤&" system to boot.

            While using the USB image ,  i always ended up in : Can't load kernel  :-
            Within the first few secs after boot.

            I think i must have toggled every setting in the BIOS , while fighting this.
            No use ….

            I tried the 2.3.3 usb image , the 2.3.2 , the 2.3.3 nano(Vga) , always ended up in : Can't load kernel.

            I tried to do a bootable USB stck of the pfSense CD ISO , but it would not boot.
            I tryed to do the same using unetbootin , but it couldn't find the "kernel", (not even boot to the loader).

            I then Burned a CD-Rom image of 2.3.3 , but it failed too.
            It got a lot further , and i even saw the bootselection , and loaded the kernel (txt,data,sym).
            Then it stopped w. something like mountroot error 19, timeout.

            Gave up and installed Debian8 wo probs.  ;)

            And the it hit me … Somewhere there was a hint to a timeout when booting from CD

            Booting from USB
                If the boot stops with a mountroot error while booting off the installation disc, usually with USB CD/DVD drives, escape to the loader prompt and run the following:

            set kern.cam.boot_delay="10000"
            boot

            I decided to try , and i actually think i came through …

            It doesn't stop after the load of the kernel , and i have just selected Easy Install.

            That's a pitty that the USB install is so unstable. Even though it's old hardware (ie Debian just flew through , and Linux Mint booted fine too , until it was angry about me not having PAE , and not specified "force").

            Would it be possible to give a hint in the install section , that on older hw. it might be a good idea to try out a real CD.

            I was like 90% ready to give up (good thing i'm persistent).

            If the current install fails , i'l have to leave pfSense for a while ... But my fingers are crossed.

            /Bingo

            If you find my answer useful - Please give the post a 👍 - "thumbs up"

            pfSense+ 23.05.1 (ZFS)

            QOTOM-Q355G4 Quad Lan.
            CPU  : Core i5 5250U, Ram : 8GB Kingston DDR3LV 1600
            LAN  : 4 x Intel 211, Disk  : 240G SAMSUNG MZ7L3240HCHQ SSD

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            • P
              pfBasic Banned
              last edited by Mar 12, 2017, 4:45 PM

              USB install HSS always worked flawlessly for me.

              It sounds like the installer told you exactly what the problem was and you just glossed over it a few times until you caught it?

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              • B
                bingo600
                last edited by Mar 12, 2017, 5:11 PM

                @pfBasic:

                USB install HSS always worked flawlessly for me.

                It sounds like the installer told you exactly what the problem was and you just glossed over it a few times until you caught it?

                Well it i have had Zero luck w. the USB image (Usb Stick) , and the installer said nothing  :-
                Just can't load kernel.

                First after spending 6h , figthing USB stick install.
                I finally made a CD , and installed via USB-CD , that worked , after setting the kernel delay stuff.

                I just got it installed , and after 1h of headscratching , i found out that i had swapped the interfaces  :-[ :-[

                It seems to work now.

                Did a few vlan's , quite nice user interface (GUI)

                /Bingo

                If you find my answer useful - Please give the post a 👍 - "thumbs up"

                pfSense+ 23.05.1 (ZFS)

                QOTOM-Q355G4 Quad Lan.
                CPU  : Core i5 5250U, Ram : 8GB Kingston DDR3LV 1600
                LAN  : 4 x Intel 211, Disk  : 240G SAMSUNG MZ7L3240HCHQ SSD

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                • B
                  bingo600
                  last edited by Mar 12, 2017, 5:50 PM

                  Any hints on enabling trim on the pfSense 2.3.3 i386 install

                  Just remembered i use a SSD

                  /Bingo

                  If you find my answer useful - Please give the post a 👍 - "thumbs up"

                  pfSense+ 23.05.1 (ZFS)

                  QOTOM-Q355G4 Quad Lan.
                  CPU  : Core i5 5250U, Ram : 8GB Kingston DDR3LV 1600
                  LAN  : 4 x Intel 211, Disk  : 240G SAMSUNG MZ7L3240HCHQ SSD

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                  • P
                    pfBasic Banned
                    last edited by Mar 12, 2017, 5:54 PM

                    Try this:

                    https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=117469.0

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                    • B
                      bingo600
                      last edited by Mar 13, 2017, 7:06 AM Mar 12, 2017, 6:29 PM

                      @pfBasic:

                      Try this:

                      https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=117469.0

                      Ahh Thanx

                      I just did this (booting from the ssd)

                      
                      Check if enabled (ssh to pfSense, and select the shell)
                      /sbin/tunefs -p /
                      
                      To enable
                      
                      1: Boot in singleuser mode (use console)
                      
                      2: do a df , to get the disk uuid
                      
                      3: Enter (adapt to your uuid) - /sbin/tunefs -t enable /dev/ufsid/ <uuid from="" df="">4: reboot
                      
                      Check if enabled
                      /sbin/tunefs -p /</uuid> 
                      

                      /Bingo

                      If you find my answer useful - Please give the post a 👍 - "thumbs up"

                      pfSense+ 23.05.1 (ZFS)

                      QOTOM-Q355G4 Quad Lan.
                      CPU  : Core i5 5250U, Ram : 8GB Kingston DDR3LV 1600
                      LAN  : 4 x Intel 211, Disk  : 240G SAMSUNG MZ7L3240HCHQ SSD

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