Auto boot

bmeeks

I am pinging @stephenw10 to have a look at the boot attempt. He is one of the experts on hardware issues around here.

One question you forgot to answer is has this just started, or has it always been like this with this hardware?

DaddyGo

you wrote that this is a self-built pfsense box

is the feature in the MOBO BIOS not enabled to wait for the F1 key to be pressed in the event of a boot problem / error?

JKnott

@DaddyGo

Also, some computers won't boot without a keyboard attached, though there is usually a setting to take care of that.

I remember the old tagline from the BBS days:

"Keyboard not found. Press any key to continue."

keesdek

@DaddyGo
I will have to check that DaddyGo.

Hopefully I can solve the problem right there. Never thought of checking the BIOS; thought it would be a pfSense problem

DaddyGo

@JKnott

exactly
if older BIOS, so it mainly handles the PS2 keyboard / mouse (less commonly USB)..
of these functions could be turned off (F1 and input device waiting)

pressing the F1 key instead it often moves on with "enter"

Note: this still has a problem loading the BIOS

keesdek

@bmeeks
It has always been like this with this hardware

DaddyGo

@keesdek

if you’re already there, also check for the latest BIOS version
there are many problems with old BIOS, with ACPI FW code

test method:

dmesg | grep 'error'
dmesg | grep 'Firmware*'

keesdek

@DaddyGo

Tried different settings in the BIOS -> no luck. De BIOS is from 2028, see attached image.

Here is an image of the boot page as well.

Gertjan

Easy.

I put all my bets on the UEFI boot method.
That's not the good one.
Chose the old, MBR style method.

See, for example : https://forum.netgate.com/topic/121343/2-4-uefi-install

I'm not saying EUFI doesn't work, but why complicating things when the old method worked so good ^^

also : Your BIOS : Quiet Boot surpresses all the nifty (often meaningless for normal people) info.
But, this is a firewall, so you should actually show all that info, as it looks far more "serious".
Possible bonus : you would see more info about the issue.

Btw : it's not 'pfSense' or it's kernel that is halting. The halt is before that point.

keesdek

@Gertjan

Thank you for your input Gertjan. I will have a look later today, or tomorrow.

DaddyGo

@keesdek

Come back to us with the results, it can be instructive

keesdek

@DaddyGo
Sure will!

keesdek

Hello guys,

Tried all kinds of settings in BIOS, but no luck

So, the boot process still halts and needs a keyboard 'enter'. Is there a way I can add a keyboard 'enter' into the startup file? Preferably with a delay of 5 seconds?

DaddyGo

@keesdek

how old is that MOBO?
no newer BIOS than 2018

it seems to me it is also struggling with a Y2K problem
because the system time on it 07-01-7920 ????

+++edit: sorry no time + date

flash the BIOS again, on it

keesdek

@DaddyGo

I will try and find the latest BIOS of this MOBO, while 2018 is not old I think...

bmeeks

It might be time to retire that hardware if the BIOS is that stubborn. No modern BIOS would hang like that (or shouldn't).

DaddyGo

@keesdek said in Auto boot:

2018 is not old I think...

don't joke in this world
yes old

keesdek

@DaddyGo

You are right of course!

DaddyGo

@keesdek

"system time on it 07-01-7920 ????"

and this is absolutely not normal
you know that, how many processes use the system time / date

keesdek

@bmeeks

I am still under the impression, that it hangs while pfSense is starting up, see linked image. And BTW the system is just 6 months old.

https://forum.netgate.com/assets/uploads/files/1593609153333-img_0471.jpg