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    Wiped SD card, how to get it running again?

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software
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    • J
      jayjr1105
      last edited by jayjr1105

      Got a second hand netgate (I think?) small black box, no labels whatsoever, 3 NIC ports, 2 USB and 1 Serial.

      Wanted to wipe the slate clean so I formatted the SD card and used Rufus to install the latest PFS .img file. Popped it back in and now getting a 192.168.6.55 address. No serial output as well using putty COM3 115200. I'm probably doing something really wrong but I don't know PF sense very well outside of installing it on a workstation with video out.

      Did I wipe an important part of the bootloader perhaps?

      Thanks in advance!

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      • DerelictD
        Derelict LAYER 8 Netgate
        last edited by

        What to do depends on the hardware. Not knowing what hardware it is means guessing here. Not going to do that. At least post a picture.

        Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
        A comprehensive network diagram is worth 10,000 words and 15 conference calls.
        DO NOT set a source address/port in a port forward or firewall rule unless you KNOW you need it!
        Do Not Chat For Help! NO_WAN_EGRESS(TM)

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        • J
          jayjr1105
          last edited by

          I may have figured it out. First, I was using a null modem cable (not serial) or vice versa. So I can successfully console in now. Now I think I need to boot to USB installer and install to SD card.

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          • DerelictD
            Derelict LAYER 8 Netgate
            last edited by

            👍

            Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
            A comprehensive network diagram is worth 10,000 words and 15 conference calls.
            DO NOT set a source address/port in a port forward or firewall rule unless you KNOW you need it!
            Do Not Chat For Help! NO_WAN_EGRESS(TM)

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • J
              jayjr1105
              last edited by jayjr1105

              Okay so I'm part of the way there. I eventually get to a command prompt. How does the actual install process go?

              Console type [vt100]: is where I'm at now

              Can't type anything at the console either from remote keyboard or keyboard plugged directly into the firewall.

              Here's the product in question btw http://prntscr.com/jrrd4c

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              • DerelictD
                Derelict LAYER 8 Netgate
                last edited by Derelict

                Sounds like your serial cable still isn't right.

                Still have no idea what hardware you're trying to talk to.

                It is either a serial console or VGA. A directly-attached keyboard isn't going to work with a serial console. 🤦

                Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
                A comprehensive network diagram is worth 10,000 words and 15 conference calls.
                DO NOT set a source address/port in a port forward or firewall rule unless you KNOW you need it!
                Do Not Chat For Help! NO_WAN_EGRESS(TM)

                dotdashD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • dotdashD
                  dotdash @Derelict
                  last edited by

                  @derelict said in Wiped SD card, how to get it running again?:

                  Sounds like your serial cable still isn't right.

                  Still have no idea what hardware you're trying to talk to.

                  It is either a serial console or VGA. A directly-attached keyboard isn't going to work with a serial console. 🤦

                  I've seen Lanner boxes where you use a direct attached keyboard to control the serial console, but that's only for the BIOS setup. It sounds like an APU1, so I'd check the null-modem cable and verify the console settings are correct. I also would replace the SD card with an msata drive.

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                  • stephenw10S
                    stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                    last edited by

                    It's an APU2 so was never sold by Netgate.

                    If you can't send any keystrokes that could be a bad serial cable or it could be a bad terminal setup. Particularly we have seen that with Mac clients using a USB/serial converter.

                    Steve

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