ECL does not restore packages

demux

Hi!

Full restore of a pfSense plus machine:

We start with installing 2.7.0. At initial start we set up LAN to be DHCP and we upgrade to plus version what now reboots the machine...
We let it finalize the upgrade. Then we reboot again and now we insert the USB stick with /config/config.xml (*)
ECL grabs the config and restores config

But packages do not get restored. /conf/needs_package_sync is missing.
Docu states that package restore is only possible at first boot. So it may be normal.

(1) Should packages be restored before going to plus version?
(2) Or is it ok to touch /conf/needs_package_sync after upgrade when/before inserting USB with config.xml (like above *)?

Tried (2) and everything seems to be ok. Is really everything ok if setting the flag afterwards?

What is the first boot in this sequence? Is it while installing 2.7.0 or during upgrade?

And another question here: Is there a way to disable ECL?
It takes quite a long time at boot for ECL to check/mount the USB stick.

Thanks!
-demux

provels

In my experience, the base install should just be configured enough to get it online, then be upgraded to Plus.
When that is done, you can reinstall your previous Plus backup and packages should be installed.

Can't help with ECL. I use a backup held on a network PC.

demux

@provels
Yes, as decribed above.

But how does ECL fit in there?

stephenw10

So you're seeing this in 23.05.1 and not at the first boot after upgrading?

demux

@stephenw10
Could you please clearify your question.

stephenw10

You are upgrading from 2.7 to 23.05.1?

You then reboot into 23.05.1 and then reboot again in order to pull in the config from USB?

demux

@stephenw10
yes, 2.7 to 23.5.1

install 2.7
(1st boot) start/boot into network setup, set lan to dhcp
enter gui and start upgrade to plus
(2nd boot) auto-reboot by upgrade
let machine come up again
(3rd boot) now insert usb stick and reboot
-- here I expect ECL to run and install the packages

the (3rd boot) is the first boot in 23.5.1 (except 23.5.1 install/upgrade boot)
so, what is the first boot in that scenario?
where do we have to insert the usb stick to get the packages installed?
and is it ok to set the file flag for package installation by hand as we did? it seems to have worked.

config is ok, it is about missing package installation only.

stephenw10

Yes you can set the flag manually, I wouldn't expect any issues there. But I also wouldn't expect to have to. Let me try to replicate....

stephenw10

Ok, I see what you're saying here. I initially tested this by resetting the config and then restoring it but that sets the package sync flag hiding the issue.

It seems that was a specific decision though: https://redmine.pfsense.org/issues/7914

Let me see....

stephenw10

Opened a bug to track it: https://redmine.pfsense.org/issues/14921