Watchguard Firebox M400/M500
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What is the best CPU to use for the M500 model? Thanks..
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@pglover19
I have installed an Intel Xeon E3-1285L v3 3.1GHz in my M400... -
@zanthos said in Watchguard Firebox M400:
@pglover19
I have installed an Intel Xeon E3-1285L v3 3.1GHz in my M400...The prices on Ebay is still high for the Xeon E3-1285L v3 CPU. Any other alternatives?
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@stephenw10 said in Watchguard Firebox M400:
Use WGXepc64. Source. 64bit binary.
Read about its development here if you're interested:
https://forum.netgate.com/topic/29470/as-good-as-solved-watchguard-firebox-arm-disarm-ledSteve
I tried using the program on my Firebox M500 and it is not working. See attachment.
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Yeah, it doesn't do the fan control but does it set the led as expected?
What's the supplied CPU in the M500?
Steve
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@pglover19 said in Watchguard Firebox M400:
The prices on Ebay is still high for the Xeon E3-1285L v3 CPU. Any other alternatives?
Check this list:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Xeon_microprocessors#Haswell-based_Xeons
Choose any of the LGA 1150 based CPU's. They should work all... (But I can't guarantee that…)
At least you can inject the latest Intel CPU microcodes to the BIOS to support those CPU's.
My Intel Xeon E3-1285L v3 3.1GHz did work indeed without any modification. -
Or indeed almost any Haswell LGA 1150 CPU is likely to work. So a load of i3/i5s you could choose.
What are you planning to use it for? What do you need a replacement CPU to do?Steve
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@stephenw10 said in Watchguard Firebox M400:
Or indeed almost any Haswell LGA 1150 CPU is likely to work. So a load of i3/i5s you could choose.
What are you planning to use it for? What do you need a replacement CPU to do?Steve
I am looking for a AES-NI CPU. This unit will only be used in my home lab. I am running pfSense on 2 DELL R320 servers in HA mode in my production environment.
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The CPU in the M500 is G3420.
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Then any relatively cheap i3 like the 4130 will work. That will give you a faster CPU with hyperthreading and AES-NI.
I think someone fitted one earlier in this thread. (edit: several people in fact)
Steve
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For reference here is the console log of the BIOS update commands I used.
[2.4.4-RELEASE][root@5100.stevew.lan]/root: cu -l /dev/cuaU1 -s 9600 Connected Freedos on COM1: Freedos Current date is Sun 03-03-2019 Current time is 9:30:01.88 pm C:\>dir Volume in drive C is FREEDOS1.0 Volume Serial Number is 4A84-36BD Directory of C:\ KERNEL SYS 44,889 08-20-06 7:08a COMMAND COM 66,945 08-29-06 2:40a BIOS <DIR> 03-03-19 8:37p AUTOEXEC BAT 277 03-03-19 9:28p MODE COM 16,254 05-12-05 12:05p 4 file(s) 128,365 bytes 1 dir(s) 23,560,192 bytes free C:\>cd bios C:\BIOS>afudos +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | AMI Firmware Update Utility v3.07.00 | | Copyright (C)2014 American Megatrends Inc. All Rights Reserved. | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Usage: AFUDOS.EXE <ROM File Name> [Option 1] [Option 2]... | | or | | AFUDOS.EXE <Input or Output File Name> <Command> | | or | | AFUDOS.EXE <Command> | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Commands: | | /O - Save current ROM image to file | | /U - Display ROM File's ROMID | | /S - Refer to Options: /S | | /D - Verification test of given ROM File without flashing BIOS. | | /A - Refer to Options: /A | | /OAD - Refer to Options: /OAD | | /CLNEVNLOG - Refer to Options: /CLNEVNLOG | | Options: | | /MEUL: - Program ME Entire Firmware Block, which supports | | Production.BIN and PreProduction.BIN files. | | /Q - Silent execution | | /X - Don't Check ROM ID | | /CAF - Compare ROM file's data with Systems is different or | | not, if not then cancel related update. | | /S - Display current system's ROMID | | /JBC - Don't Check AC adapter and battery | | /HOLEOUT: - Save specific ROM Hole according to RomHole GUID. | | NewRomHole1.BIN /HOLEOUT:GUID | | /SP - Preserve Setup setting. | | /R - Preserve ALL SMBIOS structure during programming | | /Rn - Preserve SMBIOS type N during programming(n=0-255) | | /B - Program Boot Block | | /P - Program Main BIOS | | /N - Program NVRAM | | /K - Program all non-critical blocks. | | /Kn - Program n'th non-critical block(n=0-15). | | /HOLE: - Update specific ROM Hole according to RomHole GUID. | | NewRomHole1.BIN /HOLE:GUID | | /L - Program all ROM Holes. | | /Ln - Program n'th ROM Hole only(n=0-15). | | /ECUF - Update EC BIOS when newer version is detected. | | /E - Program Embedded Controller Block | | /ME - Program ME Entire Firmware Block. | | /FDR - Flash Flash-Descriptor Region. | | /MER - Flash Entire ME Region. | | /MEUF - Program ME Ignition Firmware Block. | | /A - Oem Activation file | | /OAD - Delete Oem Activation key | | /CLNEVNLOG - Clear Event Log. | | /CAPSULE - Override Secure Flash policy to Capsule | | /RECOVERY - Override Secure Flash policy to Recovery | | /EC - Program Embedded Controller Block. (Flash Type) | | /REBOOT - Reboot after programming. | | /SHUTDOWN - Shutdown after programming. | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ C:\BIOS>dir Volume in drive C is FREEDOS1.0 Volume Serial Number is 4A84-36BD Directory of C:\BIOS . <DIR> 03-03-19 8:37p .. <DIR> 03-03-19 8:37p M400 ROM 8,388,608 01-14-19 10:57a AFUDOS EXE 168,944 11-10-14 3:14p AFUEFI EXE 159,392 04-24-14 3:59p 3 file(s) 8,716,944 bytes 2 dir(s) 23,560,192 bytes free C:\BIOS>afudos backup.rom /O +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | AMI Firmware Update Utility v3.07.00 | | Copyright (C)2014 American Megatrends Inc. All Rights Reserved. | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Saving current BIOS into file: backup.rom Reading flash ............... done C:\BIOS>dir Volume in drive C is FREEDOS1.0 Volume Serial Number is 4A84-36BD Directory of C:\BIOS . <DIR> 03-03-19 8:37p .. <DIR> 03-03-19 8:37p M400 ROM 8,388,608 01-14-19 10:57a AFUDOS EXE 168,944 11-10-14 3:14p AFUEFI EXE 159,392 04-24-14 3:59p BACKUP ROM 4,194,304 03-03-19 9:52p 4 file(s) 12,911,248 bytes 2 dir(s) 19,365,888 bytes free C:\BIOS>afudos m400.rom /B /P /N +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | AMI Firmware Update Utility v3.07.00 | | Copyright (C)2014 American Megatrends Inc. All Rights Reserved. | +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ Reading flash ............... done - ME Data Size checking . ok - FFS checksums ......... ok Erasing Boot Block .......... done Updating Boot Block ......... done Verifying Boot Block ........ done Erasing Main Block .......... done Updating Main Block ......... done Verifying Main Block ........ done Erasing NVRAM Block ......... done Updating NVRAM Block ........ done Verifying NVRAM Block ....... done C:\BIOS>After running that the box reboots twice and beeps a few times. Alarming if you're not ready for it!
I leave creating a FreeDOS bootable USB stick as an exercise for the user.
The BIOS file Zanthos linked here has everything unlocked. I'm sure you could prevent it booting using some of the options there so if you do this choose wisely.
Also BIOS flashing is inherently dangerous etc etc!
Steve
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@stephenw10
Do I understand that correctly: You tried to flash that BIOS file, the box rebooted twice and beeped a few times. But after it worked?Because when I tried the first time, I messed with the afudos parameters and bricked my box. So I had to use a SPI programmer to revive it...
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Yes, sorry, that worked fine after going through it initialization routine because the cmos was cleared.
Steve
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@zanthos
I just upgraded the RAM in my M400 with this one:
Kingston Value RAM KVR16N11K2/16 (2x8GB).
It works! -
Does anyone know what the power draw on these are roughly? I don’t have any way to measure mine but trying to spec a ups as the storm last night knocked power out and corrupted the install. Gonna have to pull the unit and reimage it but would like to prevent this going forward. My fault for not already having a ups but I can prevent it in the future.
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~35W peak at boot then ~26W once booted and idle according to my plugin power meter.
Steve
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@stephenw10
Thank you! -
Can anyone suggest a compatible replacement PSU? Can't find the exact model and similar FSP ones on ebay dont have the 8 pin motherboard connector.
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You can get a 4pin to 8pin P4 adapter. Or you may not even need all 8 pins connected. There is no PCIe card in the M400 by default. I have not tried either personally.
Steve
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@stephenw10 brilliant, never thought of an adapter. Thanks!
