Cannot seem to install pfSense whatever I try
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Hello community. This is my first time installing pfSense, so go easy on me (and help me lots, thank you : P)
Whatever I try I just cannot seem to get pfSense up and running.
My boss bought a Zotac ZBox Nano (CI323) after reading about people using it to run their pfSense instances.
It has 40GB internal flash memory and 2GB DDR3 RAM running a Celeron 3150.I've tried to install the image via USB thumbdrive each time.
Tried 64bit version, tried 32bit version
current release as well as the latest snapshot.
Everything with the same results. You start to install and at random points during the installation it just dies and reboots.I've read kernel panic somewhere, but I'll try to get a screenshot of the crash.
Fun fact: I've managed to complete the installation once, only once. Only to have pfSense crash on me 2 minutes later (after configuring NICs).
Any help is appreciated.
edit01:
Starting device manager (devd)…kldload: can't load ng_ubt: No such file or directory
kldload: can't load ng_ubt: No such file or directory.A bunch of timeouts during init:
sdhci_pci0-slot0: Controller timeout.../kernel text=0x1292c18 data=0x8a1bb0+0x23ec20 syms=[0x8+0x17…..]
edit02:
Just tried installing pfSense locally on a VM, no issues, a lot faster. Up and running in under 3 minutes.
But that result was kind of obvious as I essentially switched out the entire hardware. Only the USB remained the same. -
" I essentially switched out the entire hardware. Only the USB remained the same."
Sure points to having a lemon for hardware, or its just compatible with freebsd/pfsense - is that hardware on the HCL?
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Can't say I see it on there.
Since it's a MiniPC it's kind of hard to pinpoint the exact parts if the OS doesn't boot.
Almost seems like a faulty device to me…My knowledge level is based on "Google zotac zbox 323 pfsense"
Seems to work for some people. -
2GB DDR3 RAM running
Replace this unknown RAM with something more reliable and compatible and try again or try http://www.memtest86.com/
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Not exactly unknown RAM. I just didn't open the MiniPC specifically to look at the RAM. It's a Crucial 2GB stick. CT25664BF160B.C8FPR2
It's not a no-name if you thought that.
Seems like we really received a defective unit. Windows 10 Home (was on there at the point of shipping) worked just fine though.
Maybe it's an issue with the legacy boot. Though I have updated the BIOS to the latest one. -
Try a 2.4 snapshot, it has a newer base OS and drivers, it might help. Though I wouldn't hold my breath…
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Not exactly unknown RAM. I just didn't open the MiniPC specifically to look at the RAM. It's a Crucial 2GB stick. CT25664BF160B.C8FPR2
It's not a no-name if you thought that.
Seems like we really received a defective unit. Windows 10 Home (was on there at the point of shipping) worked just fine though.
Maybe it's an issue with the legacy boot. Though I have updated the BIOS to the latest one.No, I did not mean no-name, you just did not provided any info about it. I have a good expirience with Crucial, but it does not mean it always good. Do some stress tests. Windows sometimes works with broken RAM, but not very stable.
Look at https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=103841.0 also. Have fun with Realtek! :)
And for SD-card reader error look at https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=123045.0 -
Try going into the BIOS in the Zotac and disabling everything that can be disabled. Particularly Bluetooth, wifi and firewire devices.
None of the errors you given so far are necessarily fatal. I would expect it to kernel panic if it hits some hardware it can't deal with. If you can capture anything from that it might be useful though it can be difficult with a live boot such as the install media.
Steve
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Turns out it was the computer.
I've ordered the same MiniPC again. This time it installed and ran without a fuss.
Thanks for trying to help me though. -
Told you that back on March 22 ;) first post - hehehe
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Won't it be great when we can run everything virtual without any underlying hardware at all.
"I hate hardware - it fails"
"Correctly written software works forever" -
Emphasis on "correctly" is a requirement there for sure..
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"Won't it be great when we can run everything virtual without any underlying hardware at all."
::) ::) ::)
What is your hypervisor running on then? Cosmic energy? ;D
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@kpa:
"Won't it be great when we can run everything virtual without any underlying hardware at all."
::) ::) ::)
What is your hypervisor running on then? Cosmic energy? ;D
That's what I am hoping for one day, but without quantum fluctuations that will introduce random bit errors.
