How to install this thing without formatting and erasing data
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What is the actual problem that you are really trying to solve? Did you have a disk crash or some other major corruption issue you're trying to fix?
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@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
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just pull the disks other then the one you want to install to.. But yeah pfsense will wipe the disk it installs too.
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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.
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@johnpoz bull? disks are on the same HDD
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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.
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@jimp Oh I thought it's just a custom firewall
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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.
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Its not a software firewall.. Its a highly modified version of freebsd to be firewall/router.
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@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 ?
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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..
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@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
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@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?
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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.
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@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
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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?
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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.htmlSteve
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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 installationAlso it only uses wan to install, shows that it is up but can't detect or install lan and says it's down.
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What NICs does it give as choices? Some don't work well with the autodetect, try just assigning it manually.
Steve
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@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
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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
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@stephenw10 yes I know I just didn't write in order.
I have redone it now after restarting my PC same problem after clicking enter to finish it asks "do you want to proceed [yln]?" and I click enter again and it goes back to "should vlan be set up now [yln]?".... Am I in a critical situation rn XD -
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Hmm, hard to know what might cause that. I can only imagine that happening if the interface it just assigned is lost for some reason or it's unable to save the config created.
I assume you are seeing this after booting from USB and installing successfully?
Steve
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@stephenw10 yes it gives some unusual messages ig:
warning: configuration references interfaces that do not exist: em0 em1
network interface mismatch -- running interface assignment option
Mismatch?
I have rebooted from the pfsense USB installer after installing successfully to the USB pfsense installed on
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Oh my USB is just 8gb is that enough for pfsense ?
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Oh looks like re0 for WAN is (down).....
But it's the only interface under "valide interfaces are"
And it lets me assign it normally for WAN
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The fact it's still referencing em0 and em1 means it's still trying to use the default config.
The installer itself will fit on 1GB. Did you boot from one USB stick and install onto a different USB stick?
It seems like it's possibly still booting at least partially from the installer which might be why it's using the default config.
Steve
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So now your trying to install it on your PC via a usb stick as its drive What do you think that is going to get you?
If you want to play with it - install it on a VM!!!
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@stephenw10 I made sure it's installing from the USB not the USB installer by removing it still showing em0 and em1
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@johnpoz what's the difference if I'm keeping the USB connected or closing the vm after configurating the network? Back to my first question about configuration activity lol
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OMG dude you don't get what psfsense does if you think you can just close it down once you have "configured" something..
See that router you linked too - that is what pfsense does... If you turned off your router could you get to the internet??
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@johnpoz oh so I have to keep VM running... That's not good for my core i5 lol
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What exactly are you wanting to accomplish exactly... Cuz you clearly do not understand what pfsense even is.
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@johnpoz if I don't understand what pfsense is then why would I be trying to install it XD I just didn't understand how it basically works and you made it clear to me
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Please what did you think pfsense was going to do for you "exactly"...
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@johnpoz run through my router. Thats why I thought my configuration would still be active if I closed pfsense drive or VM but it turned out to be my new router
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@Alpha-Radke said in How to install this thing without formatting and erasing data:
run through my router.
What does that even mean? What is it that your router is not doing for you that you feel pfsense could do for you? But not be running? Are you looking for something to administer your router other than its web gui?
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@johnpoz oh about that. It's a long story. ISPs in Egypt don't have tons of network features like ipv6 or port forwarding. We got ISP locked WAN and many disasters. I thought pfsense might help in any way
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If your behind a carrier grade nat, pfsense not going to fix that. You could use a HE tunnel to get IPv6..
But what exactly do you think having IPv6 gets you - name 1 major resource that is ONLY available IPv6... While sure IPv6 is at some point the future.. That future is not today - your not missing out on anything not having it.. My ISP doesn't have it - don't care.. While I work in networking and security and do this also for my hobby, I can just fire up a hurricane electric tunnel for IPv6.. So now I can do whatever I want with IPv6 - but its sure isn't a requirement for anything.
You could do the same thing without pfsense, if you want IPv6 you can just tunnel to your windows or linux OS..
I don't get how someone with zero understanding of networking, even cares..
If you want to replace your current router and play with pfsense - have at it.. Get some old pc with a couple of nics and have it.. Buy a netgear appliance!!! The sg-1100 would be perfect entry into having a real router/firewall - is very reasonable in price.
Or!! strap on your learning hat and learn about how to run VMs on your box and use them as a router.. But you can not turn it off while wanting to use it.. And don't try to dual boot it on your machine using a usb disk..