• Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • Users
  • Search
  • Register
  • Login
Netgate Discussion Forum
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • Users
  • Search
  • Register
  • Login

How to install this thing without formatting and erasing data

Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software
5
52
7.1k
Loading More Posts
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • A
    Alpha Radke @KOM
    last edited by Alpha Radke Apr 30, 2019, 7:10 PM Apr 30, 2019, 7:09 PM

    @KOM No I am just trying to install pfsense but can't continue since there's a message saying it will erase data and I can't lose my files

    So I have created an empty disk to install it on but manual partitioning doesn't work it keeps giving me errors so I have no other options but the auto install which will delete everything

    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
    • J
      johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
      last edited by Apr 30, 2019, 7:23 PM

      just pull the disks other then the one you want to install to.. But yeah pfsense will wipe the disk it installs too.

      An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
      If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
      Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
      SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.7.2, 24.11

      A 1 Reply Last reply Apr 30, 2019, 7:24 PM Reply Quote 1
      • J
        jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
        last edited by Apr 30, 2019, 7:24 PM

        pfSense is a stand-alone operating system that cannot run alongside another operating system. There is no safe way to run it on the same hardware as another OS with existing data.

        Remember: Upvote with the 👍 button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

        Need help fast? Netgate Global Support!

        Do not Chat/PM for help!

        A 1 Reply Last reply Apr 30, 2019, 7:28 PM Reply Quote 3
        • A
          Alpha Radke @johnpoz
          last edited by Apr 30, 2019, 7:24 PM

          @johnpoz bull? disks are on the same HDD

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • J
            johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
            last edited by johnpoz Apr 30, 2019, 7:26 PM Apr 30, 2019, 7:24 PM

            then that is not a disk is it - that is a partition.

            If you want to install pfsense on a box you have some other OS running - then do so via your fav vm software.

            An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
            If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
            Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
            SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.7.2, 24.11

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • A
              Alpha Radke @jimp
              last edited by Apr 30, 2019, 7:28 PM

              @jimp Oh I thought it's just a custom firewall

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • J
                jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
                last edited by Apr 30, 2019, 7:29 PM

                It is a firewall operating system, it is not a software firewall you run on another OS like windows or Linux. It's meant to be a stand-alone firewall appliance.

                Remember: Upvote with the 👍 button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

                Need help fast? Netgate Global Support!

                Do not Chat/PM for help!

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • J
                  johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                  last edited by Apr 30, 2019, 7:29 PM

                  Its not a software firewall.. Its a highly modified version of freebsd to be firewall/router.

                  An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                  If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                  Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                  SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.7.2, 24.11

                  A 1 Reply Last reply Apr 30, 2019, 7:36 PM Reply Quote 1
                  • A
                    Alpha Radke @johnpoz
                    last edited by Alpha Radke Apr 30, 2019, 7:38 PM Apr 30, 2019, 7:36 PM

                    @johnpoz Wait so all my network configurations are not active anymore when I open windows? but since when?? I want to use it to edit my internet connection more freely for my windows activities

                    Or is everything saved on my router ?

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • J
                      johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                      last edited by johnpoz Apr 30, 2019, 7:44 PM Apr 30, 2019, 7:42 PM

                      What?? Dude I don't think you understand what pfsense actually is.. Its a firewall/router distro.. You can run it on any hardware you have or as a VM..

                      It has ZERO to do with anything on your windows machine - ZERO!!!

                      Maybe you should just stick to the box your isp gave you.. Pfsense is meant to replace your isp router, or the router you got from the computer store like linksys or belkin, dlink, netgear, etc..

                      Or go in front of your isp device.. It doesn't replace anything on your windows machine..

                      An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                      If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                      Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                      SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.7.2, 24.11

                      A 1 Reply Last reply Apr 30, 2019, 7:56 PM Reply Quote 0
                      • A
                        Alpha Radke
                        last edited by Apr 30, 2019, 7:49 PM

                        @johnpoz said in How to install this thing without formatting and erasing data:

                        Pfsense is meant to replace your isp router

                        That's why i want to install it on my machine to edit my network while using windows on same machine

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • A
                          Alpha Radke @johnpoz
                          last edited by Apr 30, 2019, 7:56 PM

                          @johnpoz Ok let's say im installing pfsense on a different hard drive to config my network. Will my configuration be still active on the network used by windows on my other hard drive?

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • J
                            johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                            last edited by Apr 30, 2019, 7:58 PM

                            its has NOTHING to do with your network on windows..

                            It would be your GATEWAY... Ie if you look on your windows machine and you see the gateway IP... That would be pfsense! It would be running on some box... Or as a VM... It has ZERO to do with anything on your windows machine - other than being the gateway your windows machine would point to.

                            An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                            If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                            Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                            SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.7.2, 24.11

                            A 1 Reply Last reply Apr 30, 2019, 8:05 PM Reply Quote 1
                            • A
                              Alpha Radke @johnpoz
                              last edited by Apr 30, 2019, 8:05 PM

                              @johnpoz yes that's what im trying to know: windows network now will be under a firewall called pfsense lol which means configurations are done on my router (pfsense) and will be used by windows through the gateway

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • J
                                johnpoz LAYER 8 Global Moderator
                                last edited by Apr 30, 2019, 8:10 PM

                                Dude I really think you are wanting to jump into the deep end of the pool.. But you don't even know how to dog paddle... And don't even know what the word swim means..

                                What router do you have now? What is the make and model of it?

                                An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools
                                If you get confused: Listen to the Music Play
                                Please don't Chat/PM me for help, unless mod related
                                SG-4860 24.11 | Lab VMs 2.7.2, 24.11

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                • S
                                  stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                  last edited by stephenw10 May 1, 2019, 11:45 AM Apr 30, 2019, 8:27 PM

                                  If you somehow managed to get pfSense installed to your machine without accidentally wiping Windows when you boot pfSense that machine will just be pfSense. Windows will not be running anywhere.

                                  If you need to do this on the same hardware you should install pfSense in a VM under HyperV or Virtual Box. Doing that is a lot more complex that using separate hardware but it will allow you to experiment with it.
                                  https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/virtualization/virtualizing-pfsense-with-hyper-v.html

                                  Steve

                                  A 1 Reply Last reply Apr 30, 2019, 10:49 PM Reply Quote 1
                                  • A
                                    Alpha Radke @stephenw10
                                    last edited by Apr 30, 2019, 10:49 PM

                                    @stephenw10 @johnpoz

                                    I have a https://www.tp-link.com/no/service-provider/dsl-router/td-w8951nd/

                                    I installed pfsense on usb drive and my first boot isn't nice

                                    Now Im stuck on a interfaces configuration loop.
                                    It says done on each interface and then goes back to asking for choosing interfaces, auto detection, and vlan installation

                                    Also it only uses wan to install, shows that it is up but can't detect or install lan and says it's down.

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • S
                                      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                      last edited by Apr 30, 2019, 10:59 PM

                                      What NICs does it give as choices? Some don't work well with the autodetect, try just assigning it manually.

                                      Steve

                                      A 1 Reply Last reply Apr 30, 2019, 11:03 PM Reply Quote 0
                                      • A
                                        Alpha Radke @stephenw10
                                        last edited by Apr 30, 2019, 11:03 PM

                                        @stephenw10 Yes I assigned it manually the only one available is re0 for WAN interface then after saying no to vlan and continuing installation it goes back to the start

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • S
                                          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                          last edited by Apr 30, 2019, 11:13 PM

                                          Would you like to assign VLANs should be the first question. Then enter re0 for the WAN. Then just hit enter to finish.

                                          You will only have a single interface but you can investigate why it didn't detect the other NIC once it's booted.

                                          Steve

                                          A 1 Reply Last reply Apr 30, 2019, 11:19 PM Reply Quote 0
                                          15 out of 52
                                          • First post
                                            15/52
                                            Last post
                                          Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.