How to Upgrade PFSense from 2.4.2 p1 to 2.4.4 p3

[atul.chauhan]

Hello Everyone,

I am planning to upgrade PFSense which is installed on Netgate SG-4860.
Please let me know best way to upgrade PFSense from 2.4.2 p1 to 2.4.4 p3.
I am thinking to upgrade from PFSense GUI.

Thanks

[Gertjan]

Hi,

As always : make a backup copy of your config - export it, including RRD data.

Download the latest firmware from Netgate's site, and put it on a stick. Test if you can boot from the stick.

When done all this, upgrade from GUI or console, I advise the later.
If all goes well, the "download and stick test" doesn't get used. This is normal, when you have a good plan B, you don't need it.

[atul.chauhan]

Is there anyway to take backup of whole pfsense version which can be restore if something goes wrong apart from config file.

[Gertjan]

You mean cloning, backing up or makeing an image of a whole partition, or even the whole drive ?

Dono.
But guess what : yes, it is possible. Any drive can be cloned with some tool, as long as you have a device that can 'read' your' drive, and eventually 'write' it. You'll be needing the some clone software on the host OS.

I know I can take out the SSD or old fashioned hard disk out of my pfSense 'PC' and clone it using another device like Windows or whatever Linux based (FreeBSD, why not) PC. It's a question of : do you know your "dd" command ^^
But why should I ? Installing from scratch and importing the config = 5 minutes or so ....

[jimp]

@atul-chauhan said in How to Upgrade PFSense from 2.4.2 p1 to 2.4.4 p3:

Is there anyway to take backup of whole pfsense version which can be restore if something goes wrong apart from config file.

Not easily. There are ways, but none of them worth the effort. Just backup config.xml and you'll be fine in almost all cases.

[atul.chauhan]

Thanks for help Gertjan and Jimp.
one last question can you help me to understand difference between Newgate ADI and AMD64 (64-bit).
I can see two options while downloading PFSense 2.4.4 p3, I have Newgate SG-4860 hardware with me.

[Gertjan]

@atul-chauhan said in How to Upgrade PFSense from 2.4.2 p1 to 2.4.4 p3:

I have Newgate SG-4860 hardware

I always thought that when you have a "Netgate device" you have a Netgate account, activated with the ID of that device, and that you have you're own firmware storage access.
Better yet : that is the main advantage of having a Netgate's device.
I'm also pretty sure that that question (where do I get the updates from ), and many more, is answered with the doc that came with the device.

[jimp]

If it's an SG-4860, you'll want the ADI image. But you should contact support to get the factory ADI image for that hardware, rather than using CE.

[johnpoz]

@Gertjan said in How to Upgrade PFSense from 2.4.2 p1 to 2.4.4 p3:

you have a Netgate account, activated with the ID of that device, and that you have you're own firmware storage access.

You do... And you don't need a support contract, etc.

This leads to different download then the CE download site that everyone has access too.
https://portal.pfsense.org

[atul.chauhan]

how can i activate my Netgate account with device ID?

[atul.chauhan]

@johnpoz This portal site asking for login credential. also i can't see option to create account

[johnpoz]

Contact support - open a ticket, etc
https://go.netgate.com/support/login

[Gertjan]

Added to all those (mine !) guesses, I really thought, when some one buys a Netgate device, instructions about how to maintain it up to date are delivered with it.
Am I wrong ?

I really like to know .... I'll be ordering a 'real' Netgate' box very soon now.

[Rico]

Huh? There is not really much difference to the CE.

-Rico