Question re First boot of 5100

JonH

My 5100 died a few months out of warranty. I just ordered a new replacement 5100.
My last config backup on 5100 was just prior to updating to 21.02.2

While trying to recover the dead box Netgate Support had me make a bootable usb stick w/ 21.02.2 firmware. Unfortunately the box is too far gone to boot. I did test this stick on a linux box and it boots to freeBSD and offers the recovery & install choices.

The way I read the docs, I should be able to put the stick into the new 5100 and on powering up the first time it will offer to recover the config. I copied that config to the stick into the same partition as the pfSense readme (partition 3). The other partitions are boot & freeBSD w/ pfSense.

If the config is recovered, other than re-installing packages, will this bring me back without going though the wizard? Or is there more to this than I realize? Or a better way to do it?

Gertjan

@jonh said in Question re First boot of 5100:

Or a better way to do it?

I wouldn't 'change' the USB boot drive.
The 'recover' option works fine, but can't work on a new devioce, as there is nothing to recover.
The broken 5100, if its drive isn't readable any more, is unusable to recover the config file.

That's why you download, ones in a while, after you added packages and/or changed settings, a copy of the config.

If you have a Windows PC somewhere, have a look at this :
https://github.com/KoenZomers/pfSenseBackup
It can download a copy of the config "when ever you want - let's say : daily" and limit the number of copies to, for example 20 (last days). Now you have always on another device the latest copy, do doing nothing ... ;)

The new 5100 comes with the latest 5100 pre installed, so you even won't need the USB boot drive.

Instead of "import the saved config.xml" and wait it out, I propose :
You probably know what packages you've had before, so install them manually, upfront, one by one.
Without configuring them.
When all the packages are present, import your saved config.
Have it reboot.
It will come up quickly, as nothings has to be downloaded, and all settings will be applied.

JonH

@gertjan That advice is very helpful. I don't use Windows but do have it avail.
I usually make a backup config before & after changes. My last backup was immediately prior to upgrade to 21.02.2. Since it was an os upgrade I didn't rush to make a backup since pfSense remained unchanged, next time I'll be more disciplined.

So to make sure I understand, you suggest going through the wizard, grab the pkgs I previously had, and then import the config.

Thank you for this.

Gertjan

@jonh said in Question re First boot of 5100:

I don't use Windows but do have it avail.

Then things might be actually easier for you.
Just script a SSH session that connects and download the config file ones a day.
There is not much to it.