Successful Install on HP t5730 Thin Client
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Tested pfSense 2.3 - runs perfectly on this hardware. NanoBSD is only available in 2GB size and above from pfSense 2.3, but you can install manually on the built-in 1GB DOM disk.
HowTo: install full pfSense from ISO or memstick pfSense as usual an 1GB disk, but please select advanced install during setup, and partition disk manually. At partition size enter * (asterisk) so that the partition fills up the whole 1GB disk space. Also when it asks for swap space, delete the swap entry from the list.
After installation finishes, you'll have a full install ocupying only 61% of 946MiB (that's in my case using 1GB built-in DOM disks in thin clients).
(there's some weirdness in the simple setup logic, that only creates a 700MB partition and leaves 300MB unpartitioned - that's why you should go advanced)To assure NanoBSD-like operation, go to System > Advanced > Miscellaneous and check "Use RAM Disks (x) Use memory file system for /tmp and /var". This will keep installed system away from flash writes.
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HP t5730 Thin Clients can't boot the new memstick installer which appeared with pfSense 2.4. Even with the latest BIOS, tricks described in the wiki don't work either.
But, as jimp suggested in this sticky topic, it is possible to install pfSense 2.3.4 first (as described above, but make sure you choose the 64-bit version!) and upgrade in-place to 2.4 series (option 13 from console). It still fits well on the built-in 1GB DOM disk.
To remove redundant package files and recover some disk space contents of /root/var/cache/pkg can be deleted after upgrade. I also delete /boot/kernel.old directory with all its contents and thus the whole system will be at around 70% disk usage out of the internal flash.You can then create an image-backup of the DOM - this allows for re-installation later or for deployment on multiple devices, much faster than reinstalling from scratch (select reset to factory defaults from menu, and when it reboots, boot from the thinstate disk instead and make the backup - this way each restoration from image will create a factory fresh copy, with unique keys etc.).
These thin clients are rock solid reliable. Their one thing is the BIOS battery, when it dies, they won't boot. Replace battery and you're up again for years.
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These thin clients are rock solid reliable. Their one thing is the BIOS battery, when it dies, they won't boot. Replace battery and you're up again for years.
That seems to be a somewhat common annoyance with AMD systems form that era. I have a bunch of Acer Thin/sub-SFF systems that have the same problem. Maybe it's in the chipset or something close. It makes it so the system main power comes on, but the CPU never comes out of reset.
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As I said - just replace battery every 4 years. Zero cost compared to the service they offer.
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In-place upgrade to 2.4.1 worked perfectly. Flash DOM disk usage (after cleanup) 70%. 8)
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Same with 2.4.2. 8)
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In-place upgrade to 2.4.3 works perfectly. Internal flash disk usage about the same.
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Great post and thank you for keeping it updated.
I think that this would be ideal for my first foray into pfSense - a quick look on ebay and a t5740 is around £30, which seemingly has moderately higher specs than the t5730.
Given your success with this model, would you see any likley issue with using the t5740 and following your same steps?
Appreciate your time. ;)
Richy.
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I don't think so. But, keep in mind, both models have one single ethernet port, so to be able to use pfSense as a router/firewall with distinct WAN and LAN ports, you'd need also a VLAN-capable switch. ;)
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Hi @robi,
I appreciate your work on this as I own an HP t5730 on which I would like to install pfsense. Since your last post, the older versions prior to 2.4 have been removed from the pfsense download site.
So, I am unclear whether there is a way to directly install the current nanoBSD version on the HP t5730 or if there is a workaround (finding an old version of pfsense elsewhere and then upgrading in accord with the instructions you have provided, installing a current version to a computer, modifying it to fit on the HP 1 GB flash and "dding" it to a USB drive and then installing that, or...).
Thanks in advance for advice.
stevesr0
