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    Fresh/New installation using old config.xml backup from 2.3.4 ? How to?

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software
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    • P
      pfsense_user12123
      last edited by

      would be great!.

      then we would have a fully documented installation guide
      about using an old config.xml backup!

      one more question!

      Where do i have to put the config.xml file? On the usb stick of which I install the system?

      thx

      MB: Supermicro X11SBA-LN4F/F
      RAM: 8GB
      HD: 120 GB SSD
      Switch: Cisco SG 200-08
      AP: TP-Link AP500

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      • john_galtJ
        john_galt
        last edited by

        ;)

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

        Doug

        Doug

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        • P
          pfsense_user12123
          last edited by

          so i do need 2 usb sticks for installation process ?

          one for the system itself and one for the config.xml?

          What is the name of the menu point I have to select during the installation so the Pre-Flight Install starts ?

          MB: Supermicro X11SBA-LN4F/F
          RAM: 8GB
          HD: 120 GB SSD
          Switch: Cisco SG 200-08
          AP: TP-Link AP500

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          • john_galtJ
            john_galt
            last edited by

            The instructions say yes, 2 sticks.

            I would believe the installer may be programmed to use config.xml if it exists.
            I'll let you know tomorrow as I need to do this also.

            Doug

            Doug

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            • JailerJ
              Jailer
              last edited by

              @john_galt:

              ;)

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

              Doug

              I've found this method to be extremely unreliable. Your safest best is to save a copy of your config and then do a fresh install. Once you are able to make it to the dashboard restore your saved config file.

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              • GrimsonG
                Grimson Banned
                last edited by

                It's pretty simple with 2.4:

                Start the installation.
                Choose the option to recover an existing config.
                Select the partition of your old pfSense installation.
                It will then mount it and read the config.
                After that continue installing the normal way and you'll be done.

                If that fails, setup your LAN interface in the console and restore a backup of your config via the WebUI.

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                • P
                  pfsense_user12123
                  last edited by

                  @Jailer:

                  @john_galt:

                  ;)

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

                  Doug

                  I've found this method to be extremely unreliable. Your safest best is to save a copy of your config and then do a fresh install. Once you are able to make it to the dashboard restore your saved config file.

                  Do i have to clear the config.cache after restoring the config.xml ?

                  MB: Supermicro X11SBA-LN4F/F
                  RAM: 8GB
                  HD: 120 GB SSD
                  Switch: Cisco SG 200-08
                  AP: TP-Link AP500

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • P
                    pfsense_user12123
                    last edited by

                    Ok. i did it. No problems at all! :-)

                    i did a fresh install over IPMI. After installation process was finished i restored the config.xml and did a restart.
                    no problems at all.

                    thx4all

                    MB: Supermicro X11SBA-LN4F/F
                    RAM: 8GB
                    HD: 120 GB SSD
                    Switch: Cisco SG 200-08
                    AP: TP-Link AP500

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                    • K
                      kevindd992002
                      last edited by

                      So is it really better to recover the file during the installation or just restore it in the dashboard when pfsense is already reinstalled?

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                      • I
                        iso70x
                        last edited by

                        I have just had to restore a 2.3.4 config onto a fresh 2.4 system (upgrade to 2.4 via GUI failed, long story, file system got corrupted somehow).

                        Doing a fresh install of 2.4, then restoring the 2.3.4 config backup worked perfectly. All packages were installed automatically and everything seems fine. Entire system back up and running very quickly.

                        Restore was done via gui diagnostics menu after the system was up and running with default config btw.

                        For ref, this was done on a PCEngine APU1D4 via a serial cable.

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                        • K
                          kevindd992002
                          last edited by

                          @iso70x:

                          I have just had to restore a 2.3.4 config onto a fresh 2.4 system (upgrade to 2.4 via GUI failed, long story, file system got corrupted somehow).

                          Doing a fresh install of 2.4, then restoring the 2.3.4 config backup worked perfectly. All packages were installed automatically and everything seems fine. Entire system back up and running very quickly.

                          Restore was done via gui diagnostics menu after the system was up and running with default config btw.

                          For ref, this was done on a PCEngine APU1D4 via a serial cable.

                          I see. Did you reinstall it in UEFI mode?

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                          • I
                            iso70x
                            last edited by

                            @kevindd992002:

                            @iso70x:

                            I have just had to restore a 2.3.4 config onto a fresh 2.4 system (upgrade to 2.4 via GUI failed, long story, file system got corrupted somehow).

                            Doing a fresh install of 2.4, then restoring the 2.3.4 config backup worked perfectly. All packages were installed automatically and everything seems fine. Entire system back up and running very quickly.

                            Restore was done via gui diagnostics menu after the system was up and running with default config btw.

                            For ref, this was done on a PCEngine APU1D4 via a serial cable.

                            I see. Did you reinstall it in UEFI mode?

                            No, standard bios I’m afraid. The APU uses the open source coreboot firmware which I believe is comparable to legacy bios.

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                            • K
                              kevindd992002
                              last edited by

                              @iso70x:

                              @kevindd992002:

                              @iso70x:

                              I have just had to restore a 2.3.4 config onto a fresh 2.4 system (upgrade to 2.4 via GUI failed, long story, file system got corrupted somehow).

                              Doing a fresh install of 2.4, then restoring the 2.3.4 config backup worked perfectly. All packages were installed automatically and everything seems fine. Entire system back up and running very quickly.

                              Restore was done via gui diagnostics menu after the system was up and running with default config btw.

                              For ref, this was done on a PCEngine APU1D4 via a serial cable.

                              I see. Did you reinstall it in UEFI mode?

                              No, standard bios I’m afraid. The APU uses the open source coreboot firmware which I believe is comparable to legacy bios.

                              I see. So we're not UEFI-compatible, bummer :(

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