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    Nexcom 1041/console redirection & boot

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    • C Offline
      carl 0
      last edited by

      what I've got:

      1. nexcom 1041.
      2. 2GB CF Card.
      3. Keyboards (either or both) on USB and PS2 (using provided K&M PS2 to board cable).
      4. Everything setup correctly in the bios for the CF, etc.
      5. Serial (using I/O port & cable) with minicom or hyperterm.

      The good stuff:

      I can boot with m0n0 1.235 on CF, the installation process without bios console redirect set and with PS2 keyboard works.

      I can boot with m0n0 1.235 on CF, the installation process with bios console redirect, neither ps2 nor usb keyboard works but serial keyboard works (as expected).

      The bad stuff:

      I can boot with pfsense 1.2.2 or 2.0Alpha.200090201 on CF, bios console redirection settings don't seem to matter…
      I can see the bios boot and the initial bsd loader and after that it forces redirection to console.
      I can then watch pfsense go through it's usual bootup sequence and everything seems fine until I get to the "use VLANs" yes/no where I find NO keyboard input works (serial, ps2 or usb).

      What I'm thinking:

      I'm using generic-pc-1.235.img for m0n0 and pfSense-*-Embeded.img for pfsense....
        so does the embeded have forced console redirection? If so can it be disabled before or during boot?

      I do know a few people seem to be using the nexcom boxes with pf, but most references seem to be to HDD installs using the full ISO/cd.
        Is it possible to-do a straight CF install with the 1041?

      I've lost the copy/paste of the serial pf boot sequence, I'll go grab this if needed.

      Any input is appreciated as I don't really want to use m0n0 or different hardware.

      EDIT: I just saw http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,13811.0.html which seems plausible if I can get a USB or IDE CD drive hooked up, do a full install then switch to embeded. I will be trying this but I'm still interested as to root issue of console redirection.

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      • C Offline
        carl 0
        last edited by

        minicom boot log: http://paste2.org/p/144527

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        • GruensFroeschliG Offline
          GruensFroeschli
          last edited by

          Te embedded version always outputs only on the console.
          If you want VGA output you need the fullversion.
          Search the forum on how to change a fullinstall to embedded.
          This might help: http://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/Full_Install_on_WRAP_Embedded_Router

          We do what we must, because we can.

          Asking questions the smart way: http://www.catb.org/esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

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          • C Offline
            carl 0
            last edited by

            Thanks for the reply, that clarified what I thought to be the case (but couldn't find anywhere)! Strange that the keyboard wouldn't work in minicom though…

            I managed to use a USB CD and a HDD to get the unit into testing, it's using an extra 0.05A with the HDD but it's only using 0.17A anyway (240V).

            I'll have another go when I get more time (and maybe look into getting a cheap-ish/32GB SSD to replace the HDD.

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