Alix2D3 / Alix2D13 Reset Button No Longer Works

[blewis]

Earlier today, I wrote a new pfSense-CE-2.3.1-RELEASE-4g-i386-nanobsd.img image onto a CF card and was setting it up and made a mistake, no longer can access the WebGUI, so I did what I use to do, by holding the reset button down while powering up the Alix2D3.  It no longer seems to work as in previous versions.  pfSense was still inaccessible.

Anyhow, I had to re-write the CF card with the New Install image again. Made some changes, and tried the reset button again, to see if factory defaults works.  And no changes occurred.

Can someone check if the reset button on the Alix is no longer supported in pfSense version 2.3.1, or perhaps, I've got a "flaky" button?

thanks..

[cmb]

It definitely works in the factory version. I haven't tested it with CE in a while but in theory that ought to be the same in that regard.

[blewis]

@cmb:

It definitely works in the factory version. I haven't tested it with CE in a while but in theory that ought to be the same in that regard.

Hi,

It appears the instructions at: https://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/Factory_Defaults for the Alix2D3 / Alix2D13 reset button no longer appears working right.  The instructions just needs updating.

On ALIX embedded units, the reset button may be depressed with a paperclip or other small object during the boot sequence. The unit will then reset the configuration to factory defaults and reboot again with that default configuration.

I was able to reset by waiting about a minute until the 3 lights starts blinking across, then the reset button is depressed until the lights stops blinking.  That's how I finally got it to work, otherwise the system never boots up when depressing while powering up. Just hangs there, stops booting it seems. Tried it several times.

Anyhow, I don't have a serial console cable, so I don't really know for sure when to DEPRESS the reset button and when to RELEASE.  Any more specific instructions?

Hope my instructions will be helpful for others who are in a similar predicament, needing to reset.

[phil.davis]

I did some tests of reset to factory defaults using the reset button on an Alix 2D13:
(a) Power on, wait 5 seconds, press reset button for 10 seconds, release
(b) Power on, wait until console is showing the FreeBSD booting stuff, press reset button for 10 seconds, release
Power on, wait until console is showing the pfSense booting stuff, press reset button for 10 seconds, release before/immediately you see "Launching the init system"
(d) Power on, wait until console is showing "Launching the init system", press reset button until "Reset button pressed" message is displayed, release
(e) Power on, wait a bit (5 to 60 seconds - no panic), while the left green LED is steady press the reset button, hold it until the 3 LEDs have been cycling a couple of seconds, release

(a) (b) and (c) do NOT result in a reset to factory defaults.
(d) and (e) DO result in a reset to factory defaults.

If you can see the console output, then (d) is a useful guide.
If you cannot see the console output (most likely scenario if you are needing to use the reset button), then (e) will guide you successfully.
Note that it is 90 to 120 seconds from power on until the 3 LEDs start cycling, so there is no rush to get the reset button held in immediately you apply power.