Just Starting Build Questions
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Uhhhg! The nuclear option….....
::), it really isn't that dramatic, there is only a back wall in PCIe slots because people don't take the time to know what their hardware actually needs/is capable of (to be clear I agree that it should be there).
All it does is make PCI slots like LEGO's, but it is a limitation. Removing the limitation is not "the nuclear option".
Even hacking off the back of a NIC generally doesn't cripple it in any practical application, all it means is that if you want full throughput on more than 2 gigabit ports simultaneously then you have to use a PCIev2.x+ slot….When you are trying to revive old hardware, it actually makes a whole lot of sense. If you aren't blind, drunk and have a reasonably steady hand then executing the "nuclear option" is a trivial task. It only requires you google your hardware's specs and a PCI pinout.
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I'd be worried about modifying the PCI-e slot. What about getting a video card that would go into the PCI-e x1 slot? http://www.ebay.com/itm/PNY-Quadro-NVS-290-VCQ290NVS-PCIEX1-PB-256MB-DDR2-PCIE-X1-VIDEO-CARD-/282270463258?hash=item41b8a1751a:g:RqAAAOSwB09YOmSP or http://www.ebay.com/itm/ATI-FireMV-2250-PCIe-x1-DMS-59-S-Video-102B1520102-ATI-102-B152-LP-Video-Card-/131558941595?hash=item1ea186239b:g:RvYAAOSw241YbWeS
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I keep a couple old PCI video cards around for just such an occasion.
You should be able to remove it after your initial setup if you set your BIOS to ignore all boot errors.
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Good call, PCI video cards are out there for peanuts though $15 is pretty cheap for a PCI-e 1x card.
I'd probably try the serial option myself since I'm already setup for serial console hardware. You have some options there.
Steve
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Just ordered the PCI e x1 card and IBM Intel 39Y6138 4 port card. Looking forward to learning more about PFSense. Thanks everyone for all the help.
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For future reference you can also use a riser.
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Got the video card and 4 port NIC. Didn't realize but the video card has a DMS-59 connector. I thought it was a standard DVI. Any idea if this would work to get the monitor connected to it?
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA86V3E15881&ignorebbr=1&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC--pla--Accessories+-+Monitors-_-9SIA86V3E15881&gclid=CjwKEAjwoLfHBRD_jLW93remyAQSJABIygGpbV2o6vtcPPzdO-z4eImW0sWPBp33Lytlt2OaASokYBoCLGnw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.dsI was able to boot up the PFSense box without the video card installed just the 4 port NIC. Had to hit F1 on the keyboard get past the bios and was able to login to the web interface. Interfaces now show em0-3. Can change the WAN from the motherboard Realtek NIC to one of the new Intel NIC though the web interface swap out the cable and still get to the web interface? Can I look at the DHCP assignment to find the new IP address?
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Yes, you can re-assign the WAN to one of the em NICs and it shouldn;t make any difference to your access on LAN.
Yes, you can see the DHCP lease it pulls in Statis > Interfaces (or on the dashboard) afterwards.
I can't say for certain about that DMS-59 adapter having never used one though I would expect it to work.
Steve
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Thanks steve. I was playing around with the LAN settings and must done something incorrectly as I can't access the web interface or ssh anymore. My box is attached to my routers LAN not the ISP WAN as I'm just playing with the interface etc. Will have to wait till the adapter comes so I can remove the LAN interface or reboot default settings and restore the last backup.
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Try to PUSH AND HOLD the Power button for 5 seconds , release after - it helps sometimes in such situations
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Holding the power button for 5 seconds just turns the computer off. After reboot no web interface. Will probably be able to fix with I get the video card adapter tomorrow.
