How to install this thing without formatting and erasing data

Alpha Radke

@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

johnpoz

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

jimp

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.

Alpha Radke

@johnpoz bull? disks are on the same HDD

johnpoz

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.

Alpha Radke

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

jimp

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.

johnpoz

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

Alpha Radke

@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 ?

johnpoz

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..

Alpha Radke

@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

Alpha Radke

@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?

johnpoz

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.

Alpha Radke

@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

johnpoz

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?

stephenw10

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

Alpha Radke

@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.

stephenw10

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

Steve

Alpha Radke

@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

stephenw10

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