Convert memstick_serial.img into ISO bootable CD image

[Antonix]

Hi,

I have a Firebox x550e but VGA port don't works.
I have flashed the bios for work via serial and now the bios won't boot from USB HDD but only with USB CDROM.
I want to convert the pfSense-CE-memstick-serial-2.3.5-RELEASE-i386.img file into an ISO image for boot with a USB CD ROM and make and installation via serial interface.

Thanks in advance.

[stephenw10]

The VGA port on that is internal only. Why would you want to use it over the serial console?

Why are you trying to use an ISO image though? Are really trying to boot it from CD?

And no, there's no easy way to make a serial ISO image.

Steve

[Grimson]

Also 2.3 is EOL pretty soon.

[Antonix]

Hi,

the VGA port is internal but the schematics/pinout for make an adaptor don't works.
Now the only way to install FPSENSE is to use the serial console.
The ISO boot image CD ROM works, can make boot but I don't view installation windows because I have only serial console for work abd ISO installation requires VGA output.
The bios of firebox unfortunately don't boot from USB HD pen drive.
Now I thinked to convert the img file into ISO bootable image because USB BOOT CD works.
The only version I can install is 2.3.5 because firebox x550e have x32 cpu.

Thanks in advance.

[stephenw10]

Are you installing to hard disk or CF card?

Are you still running the default BIOS version?

See: https://web.archive.org/web/20171205175929/https://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/PfSense_on_Watchguard_Firebox#X-Core-e

Steve

[Antonix]

I want to installing to hard disk.
I have modified B7 bios with serial console redirect as the link posted.
My only request is to convert pfSense-CE-memstick-serial-2.3.5-RELEASE-i386.img into an ISO CD image.

[stephenw10]

There is no way to convert that to an ISO I'm aware of. Do you want that just so you can boot from an IDE optical drive?

Whenever I have done this I used an old laptop to install to the HD and moved it across. However I think you can do it by writing the serial installer to a CF card and booting from that.

You should use the B8 bios image really, it's far more flexible and can boot more things without needing to set all the drive parameters manually.

Steve

[Antonix]

Hi,

I have flashed BIOS with XEBIOS_81.BIN file and now I'm able to boot from USB Flash pen drive with serial console.
The installation from pen drive start but after I select the installation type I have this error:

ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´ Error Loading Script ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
³ Û
³ An internal Lua error occurred while Û
³ trying to run the script Û
³ /usr/local/share/dfuibe_lua/easy_instal Û
³ l/main.lua: Û
³ Û
³ ...l/share/dfuibe_lua/easy_install//200 Û
³ _select_disk.lua:71: attempt to call Û
³ method get_capacity' (a nil value) Û ³ stack traceback: Û ³ /usr/local/share/lua/5.0/app.lua:264: Û ³ in function get_capacity' Û
³ ...l/share/dfuibe_lua/easy_install//200 °
³ _select_disk.lua:71: in function °
³ <...l/share/dfuibe_lua/easy_install//20 °
³ 0_select_disk.lua:11> °
³ (tail call): ? °
³ /usr/local/share/dfuibe_lua/lib/flow.lu °
³ a:273: in function run' ° ³ /usr/local/share/dfuibe_lua/easy_instal ° ³ l/main.lua:11: in main chunk ° ³ [C]: in function xpcall'

I have tried to start a custom installation but the destination hard disk is not in the list (but the hard disk works and the bios recognize it).

[stephenw10]

Hmm, it's been a while but that error used to mean there was not anything available to install to. So for whatever reason the installer is not seeing your drive even if the bios is.

Is it a 2.5" IDE drive? How is it connected? What capacity is it?

How are you booting from USB? None of the X-e boxes I ever saw had a USB port, although there are pads for one on the board.

Steve

[Antonix]

Hi,

the drive is 2,5" 40GB IDE drive connected to original firebox IDE port and Bios recognize it correctly.
My 4GB installation pen drive is connected to USB port that I have mounted on USB1 pin on board.

[stephenw10]

Hmm, well that's interesting. I never tried that myself.

Are you able to post a complete boot log from the installer?

Can you try booting the install image from CF?

I assume you don't have anything else you can install on first and then move the drive?

Steve