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    2.4.0 does not boot without Monitor

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    Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software
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    • S
      spillemw
      last edited by

      I am running pfSense on a mini-ITX with a mitac motherboard. I was running pfSense 2.3.x without monitor all fine. However, recently experienced a HDD crash and had to reinstall pfSense. Went for the latest version 2.4.x.
      System refused to boot without monitor attached.
      This thread suggested to disable the serial ports, but that did not help.
      Another response suggested to change in CSM the UEFI to legacy. I changed UEFI of the monitor to legacy first and that did the trick.
      The pfSense folks on this board are adamant it is not a pfSense bug, but with the same motherboard it worked with 2.3.x but not with 2.4.x makes me think there is something in the code that trips this issue.

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      • PippinP
        Pippin
        last edited by

        Since I'm already testing some different things I also tested this.
        Without monitor attached it does not boot, just gets stuck.
        BIOS/UEFI no difference also serial enabled/disabled.
        Update BIOS from F4 to F5a, no change.
        Have not tested the logo display yet.

        This was no problem on pfS 2.3.

        I gloomily came to the ironic conclusion that if you take a highly intelligent person and give them the best possible, elite education, then you will most likely wind up with an academic who is completely impervious to reality.
        Halton Arp

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        • S
          spillemw @Pippin
          last edited by

          @pippin what worked for me was to enable csm and in the csm options switch only the monitor item to legacy. I did not change the entire bios to legacy. I also kept the serial ports disabled although not sure that was necessary. You tried the same? The bios is already 4 years old so that was not the issue.

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          • PippinP
            Pippin
            last edited by

            CSM is enabled but have to look the options, when I'm back home.

            Thanks.

            I gloomily came to the ironic conclusion that if you take a highly intelligent person and give them the best possible, elite education, then you will most likely wind up with an academic who is completely impervious to reality.
            Halton Arp

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            • PippinP
              Pippin
              last edited by

              Thanks @spillemw
              After changing CSM --> Video to Legacy, it boots through.
              AMI BIOS does complain with five short beeps but everything works as far as i can tell.

              Thanks.

              I gloomily came to the ironic conclusion that if you take a highly intelligent person and give them the best possible, elite education, then you will most likely wind up with an academic who is completely impervious to reality.
              Halton Arp

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              • B
                brenuvida
                last edited by brenuvida

                I have just faced the very same issue and RESOLVED as follows:

                The machine is running pfSense 2.4.4-RELEASE-p1

                To fix the issue I went to System -> Advanced -> Serial Communications -> Checked "Enables the first serial port with 115200/8/N/1 by default, ". Make sure the Primary Console is set to "Serial Console".

                As said by user "derelict" above, if the system is set to Primary Console VGA, it could cause pfsense to wait for a monitor during the boot process. I noticed the Primary Console was not explicitly set to VGA, but once the Serial was not enabled, I guess VGA was the only available option, causing the boot process to wait for a monitor.

                Good luck!
                Eduardo

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                • T
                  twixelpixel
                  last edited by

                  Just in case someone finds this in 2021; I am running PfSense on an Intel NUC DC3217IEY (updated with the last bios released like 6 yrs ago) and I didn't have any issues until the 2.5.1 release. I'm using a usb to ethernet for my LAN connection and the connecting the WAN to the built in port. I also had issues with the NUC not booting unless an HDMI monitor was connected, and was able to solve by turning on all optimizations in the bios for video, usb, and peripherals. There is no serial port on this nuc so I'm not sure what was hanging it up, but allowing fast boot seemed to fix the issue on this particular box. If anyone needs more info feel free to shoot me a DM.

                  Cheers.

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                  • astroslugA
                    astroslug
                    last edited by

                    I encountered this same problem in 2.5.2 running on a Celeron J1900 4-port fanless mini PC (purchased back in 2017 from AliExpress -- link). It has an American Megatrends BIOS dated 2015. After looking at the various responses in this thread, I tried toying with the UEFI settings.

                    The available UEFI configuration options in my BIOS were:

                    • Win8 UEFI
                    • Win7 UEFI
                    • Win8 Legacy
                    • Win7 Legacy

                    The problematic configuration was the currently-selected Win8 UEFI setting. The Legacy options didn't work for me, as no boot device was found (I would have needed to reinstall pfSense, which I didn't want to do).

                    Thankfully, selecting Win7 UEFI resolved the issue for me, and pfSense will now boot headless.

                    I know the thread is very old, but I'm adding to it because this was the most relevant search result when I went looking for information on my problem. I hope this helps someone in future. Happy 2022, folks!

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                    • S
                      SeaMonkey @astroslug
                      last edited by

                      @astroslug Thank you!

                      Through several releases I've just been hoping that no power outage lasted long enough to drain my UPS, as even with VGA console selected as the default, pfSense would try to use Serial by default and then would hang. Selecting Windows 8 in the UEFI boot settings fixed it.

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                      • B
                        brenuvida
                        last edited by

                        After 2 years I had the same issue again, this time with release 2.5.2

                        The issue was solved by going into the BIOS and disabling all Serial ports.

                        Now Pfsense boots without a monitor connected to the CPU

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                        • stephenw10S
                          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                          last edited by

                          2.7.2?

                          B 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • B
                            brenuvida @stephenw10
                            last edited by

                            @stephenw10 No, 2.5.2. I am afraid I am a little behind... not proud of it though...

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