External Configuration Locator (ECL) not working in /config

[micro8765]

I have just recovered pfsense to new hardware using the 'External Configuration Location (ECL)' method, as documented here:

https://www.netgate.com/docs/pfsense/backup/automatically-restore-during-install.html

The documentation claims that the process will work if config.xml is located in either the root folder of the USB (/config.xml) or in a folder named config (/config/config.xml).

In practice, I found it only to work from the root folder. Placing the file in /config/config.xml resulted in the installed config file not being replaced by the USB config file.

If others experience the same, I think the link above should be updated to reflect that config.xml must be placed in the root folder. This is especially vital in an emergency recovery situation when time is short and trial & error not an option.

[jimp]

Looks like it might be a bug

https://github.com/pfsense/pfsense/blob/master/src/etc/ecl.php#L59

It's trying to check /config but the way the path is formed, it should have a trailing slash when it's defined.

[jimp]

https://redmine.pfsense.org/issues/9066

Just pushed a fix. Should be simple to make the same change locally and see if it works for you.