Can't boot without monitor

dam034 · Mar 8, 2019, 2:13 PM

Dear users,

till now I tried with a test PC to see pfsense features, pros and cons.

Today I installed the latest version of pfsense on the production PC, which really will be the firewall. I managed to install in UEFI mode from the USB stick. I downloaded the image with these parameters:

I can use pfsense normally, but there is a problem: if I disconnect the monitor from the VGA interface, the pfsense system doesn't boot.

The hardware is this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0148KG3SK/ and I disabled the serial port in the BIOS.

Since I need the hardware in a 19' rack and I can't put a monitor (due to encumbrance and power consumption), is it possible to boot the pfsense OS without the monitor?

Thanks

Gertjan · Mar 7, 2019, 11:44 PM

You choose the "VGA" version ...
... but you boot without VGA
You have a Serial port ...
... but you boot without Serial ...

Don't worry, the solution is in the NetGate/pfSense manual and in this forum.
Just one click away.

dam034 · Mar 8, 2019, 11:14 AM

Following your link, I found these two pages:
https://forum.netgate.com/topic/135987/vga-console-won-t-boot-in-2-4-4-upgrade-bug
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/hardware/boot-troubleshooting.html
But I have not found anything I need, or at least I think.

I know that to power off a PC, I have to keep pressed the power button for 4 seconds, but if I boot pfsense without a monitor and I press the power button normally (as for power on, not for 4 seconds), the PC shuts down, so I think the pfsense OS doesn't start.

Can you explain here how to fix this issue?

Please help!

Gertjan · Mar 8, 2019, 1:18 PM

@dam034 said in Can't boot without monitor:

I know that to power off a PC, I have to keep pressed the power button for 4 seconds,

That's a very bad idea and should be your last ressort.
Use the console access to shut it down if needed.
Use the console access to create the file /boot/loader.conf.local as stated in the mentionned forum posts.

dam034 · Mar 8, 2019, 1:53 PM

Wait, I can plug the monitor just to configure the boot without monitor.

So, what I have to do?

Thanks

Gertjan · Mar 8, 2019, 1:55 PM

Probably this https://forum.netgate.com/topic/135987/vga-console-won-t-boot-in-2-4-4-upgrade-bug

Grimson · Mar 8, 2019, 2:14 PM

@dam034 said in Can't boot without monitor:

I can use pfsense normally, but there is a problem: if I disconnect the monitor from the VGA interface, the pfsense system doesn't boot.

That has nothing to do with pfSense, that's the UEFI BIOS refusing to boot if it doesn't detect a monitor. Read the documentation of your BIOS and see if you can turn that off or try running it in legacy mode, if that doesn't work you can't use that PC to run headless.

dam034 · Mar 8, 2019, 3:24 PM

@gertjan said in Can't boot without monitor:

Probably this https://forum.netgate.com/topic/135987/vga-console-won-t-boot-in-2-4-4-upgrade-bug

That topic tells about the upgrade from previuos versions, but I installed the latest version.

@grimson said in Can't boot without monitor:

That has nothing to do with pfSense, that's the UEFI BIOS refusing to boot if it doesn't detect a monitor. Read the documentation of your BIOS and see if you can turn that off or try running it in legacy mode, if that doesn't work you can't use that PC to run headless.

Do you want to tell that the problem is UEFI boot and not pfsense? I can't find the documentation about the BIOS, but I can screencast the entire BIOS so you tell me which option I have to change. Do you want me to do it?

Thanks

Gertjan · Mar 8, 2019, 4:05 PM

@dam034 said in Can't boot without monitor:

Do you want to tell that the problem is UEFI boot and not pfsense?

These words do not leave much space for imagination :

@grimson said in Can't boot without monitor:

That has nothing to do with pfSense, that's the UEFI BIOS refusing to boot if it doesn't detect a monitor.

BIOS settings are detailed as soon as you access the BIOS.
Google will tell you everything you need to know.

Screen casting only chances one thing : we have to look and see for EUFI settings, and/or Google it up.

Good plan B will : use another device. It"s normal that not every device can not run every OS using every possible boot type.

dam034 · Mar 9, 2019, 12:25 AM

Since I don't know what to do, and I can't change the production hardware, I recorded two screencasts:

https://cdn.dampc.ga/ctv/pfsense-produefi.mp4 showing the UEFI BIOS of production hardware;
https://cdn.dampc.ga/ctv/pfsense-prodboot.mp4 showing the boot in production hardware if I connect a VGA or HDMI interface

Now, since I'm stuck on the hardware, I want to find a solution to boot the pfsense OS without monitor.

This is installed in UEFI mode, and if necessary, I can reinstall it in Legacy mode, if will work, or change the current installation from UEFI to Legacy if possible.

What have I to do?

Thanks

Gertjan · Mar 9, 2019, 10:49 PM

Your BIOS shows clearly that EUFI booting est enabled.

dam034 · Mar 10, 2019, 3:12 PM

This post is deleted!

dam034 · Mar 13, 2019, 1:48 PM

I had in idea. If I put a VGA dummy, it will work?

Thanks

Gertjan · Mar 13, 2019, 1:49 PM

Don't ask us - ask your BIOS/Mobo.
Do it, see if it works, and report back ^^

dam034 · Jun 27, 2024, 4:46 AM

Finally I received the VGA dummy.

I want to report it works fine, I connected it and now the boot works without monitor.

Thanks

davidmuller · Jun 27, 2024, 5:02 AM

@dam034
Thank you for sharing VGA Dummy. And then i owned that...It helped my mini PC work well which doesn't need a plug-in monitor when booting up
Everybody can seek a lots dummy on the internet with the lowest price (About 1$)
Another dummy type:

HDMI Dummy (I am using it. Work well)
DP Dummy
...etc...