Netgate 5100 inaccessible post 23.09 upgrade
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I can't access my router (it doesn't ping). I was upgrading from 23.05.01 to 23.09. Screen showed upgrade was successful and it was rebooting. I waited about 30 minutes for it to respond and eventually power cycled it.
Last messages on screen from upgrade process:
===> Keeping a copy of current kernel in /booot/kernel.old
Removing unnecessary packages... done.
System is going to be upgraded. Rebooting in 10 seconds.
Success
Reading the forums now, it sounds like I was likely hasty on the power cycle.
I have sense waited over an hour and power cycled a second time, but I still can't access the router. Since I can't ping it, that removes ssh as an alternative access mechanism.
How can I access the router and go back to the previous kernel?
Netgate appliance 5100.
Forgive my ignorance, this is the first time I have ever had issues with it. I am probably a novice+ skilled user.
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@kscrib to see what’s happening:
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/solutions/sg-5100/connect-to-console.htmlIF you had reinstalled at some point to change to ZFS you can maybe revert:
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/backup/zfsbe/index.htmlIf you need to reinstall:
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/solutions/sg-5100/reinstall-pfsense.html
(Often quickest way to recover; free ticket) -
@SteveITS I was able to get to the console via USB.
I rebooted using /boot/kernel.old/kernel
Hoping that was all it would take. Then I could access via web GUI. But once I reboot using the old kernel, the router is not handing out IP addresses.
Is it possible to use kernel.old and get my previous configuration? And then upgrade again from that? Or do I have to reload and build my configuration from scratch?
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@kscrib I would just reinstall, it’s easier than it sounds and will be clean and ZFS. If you don’t have a backup you can grab the file off disk (copy/paste from console?) or try
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/backup/restore-during-install.html#recover-config-xml-from-existing-installation
The config.xml file is kept in /cf/conf/.
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I am making progress. I have the new image and have burned it to a USB drive.
I am trying to save my previous /cf/conf/config.xml file to a different drive so that when I install the new image it won't wipe out the current file.To get to this point, I have had to boot in single user mode. Multiple use mode does does not allow me to log in (a directory error).
|=login: admin
Password:
2023-11-15T00:21:16.891436-06:00 - login 1005 - - login on ttyu0 as admin
2023-11-15T00:21:16.891518-06:00 - login 1005 - - ROOT LOGIN (admin) ON ttyu0
login: /etc/rc.initial: No such file or directoryFreeBSD/amd64 (Amnesiac) (ttyu0)
login:=|
So I went with single user mode and can get in and see the file I need to backup.
root@:/ # ls -al /cf/conf/config.xml
-rw-r--r-- 1 root wheel 111519 Nov 14 19:16 /cf/conf/config.xmlI have gone through the instructions on how to back up the file, but my problem is that I have to create a mount point so I can mount the USB to do the backup. The current file system is read-only and won't allow me to create a directory to use for the mount point.
Do I need to save the config.xml file so I don't loose it? My config has been evolving for 3 or so years now, I have multiple subnets, reserved IP (all the MAC addressess....) and lots of other stuff. I really don't want to have to rebuild those. How can I save my config?
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@kscrib said in Netgate 5100 inaccessible post 23.09 upgrade:
How can I save my config?
You're using the console access, right ?
You don't need to store it on the drive where it already is (write access needed).
The 5100 has two USB ports, right ?
See the link above how to prepare an USB drive.
When inserted, mount it, read and write mode, and now you can copy a file to it.Another solution :
A 'cat' or 'show' will do the job, as it will scroll by in your console 'terminal' windows on the device you use that accesses the console.
Tell this terminal program to save to a file (on your device) whatever it shown = scrolls by - on the screen.Also : you have a 5100, and 23.05.1 previously, so you have this :
Also : when installing, the installer will find the previous file system on the disk of pfSense.
It will access it before everything is formatted, and take the config.xml, and use it, see the manual (same link) about the how-to.Btw : I guess I'm doing even better as all this : once a day, a PC on my pfSense LAN network will "SSH" into my pfSense, grab the config.xml, and store it somewhere in "My Documents".
Works great :
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@SteveITS said in Netgate 5100 inaccessible post 23.09 upgrade:
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/solutions/sg-5100/reinstall-pfsense.html
Thanks to all!!!
I was able to reinstall and keep my previous config.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!
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Are you running on the eMMC or an SSD. If not I strongly recommend getting an SSD and clean installing with ZFS to it.
That was the first thing I did for my SG-5100 when I purchased it.Phizix
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@Phizix said in Netgate 5100 inaccessible post 23.09 upgrade:
That was the first thing I did for my SG-5100 when I purchased it.
You created your own 5100-MAX, right ?
No "help me" PM's please. Use the forum, the community will thank you.
Edit : and where are the logs ?? -
@Phizix - I am confused. I thought the SG-5100 did not support an internal M.2 drive. I have never opened mine up. I bought the SG-5100 in 2020, if that makes a difference.
I found the installation guide that confused me.
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/solutions/sg-5100/m-2-sata-installation.html
The installation guide states that the SG-5100 does not support NVMe. I assumed that meant the SG-5100 does not support any M2 drives. I thought the upgrade was only available for the XG-5100, not the SG-5100. Now that I read it closer, I think it means that the SG-5100 only supports M.2 SATA and does not support M.2 NVMe. Has that changed to now support NVMe?
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@Gertjan said in Netgate 5100 inaccessible post 23.09 upgrade:
You created your own 5100-MAX, right ?
Effectively. I also put in a 16 Gb memory stick (it was inexpensive enough)
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@kscrib said in Netgate 5100 inaccessible post 23.09 upgrade:
I am confused. I thought the SG-5100 did not support an internal M2 drive. I have never opened mine up. I bought the SG-5100 in 2020, if that makes a difference.
It does not support Nvme, but does support an M.2 drive.
I purchased the base model. Did you purchase the "MAX"? If so, apparently it already has an SSD?
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@kscrib said in Netgate 5100 inaccessible post 23.09 upgrade:
The installation guide states that the SG-5100 does not support NVMe. I assumed that meant the SG-5100 does not support any M2 drives.
Here is the one I got Mar 2022 for about $35 + tax:
Transcend 64GB SATA III 6Gb/s MTS400 42 mm M.2 SSD Solid State Drive (TS64GMTS400)
Notice that it is NOT an NVMe drive - only SSD.
The smallest now seems to be 128GB for about $75.
You can add memory, but I think I have very rarely exceeded 1/2 of the 16 GB I installed.
Phizix
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@Phizix - I ordered this one today.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087CL5KHL?th=1
Kingshark Gamer SSD M.2 2242 256GB Internal Ngff SSD 42MM SATA III 6Gb/s (256GB, M.2 2242)
for $25.29 + tax. (they offered a 6% discount coupon) and free shipping for Prime members. It had descent reviews. And if it doesn;t work, I get free returns :-)
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Let us know how it works.
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@Phizix -
Installation was easy. Since the drive did not come with heat tape, I had to get some of that, so plan ahead. Also, the drive comes with two screws, but they are the wrong size for the SG-5100. I had some laying around that were the proper size, so I used that to secure the drive.
I saved my configuration file during installation. Then I installed with ZFS on the new drive. pfSense lists the drive as "867M used (0%) of 206G" used. I will not be able to increase my log files and ntopng data retention time.
Only time will tell if the drive holds up. But for now it works good.
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Now that you are installed to/booting from the SSD you should wipe the MMC while you still can to ensure it doesn't interfere with your current installation:
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/troubleshooting/multiple-disks.html
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@jimp Thanks for the tip. I have completed the steps to wipe the old mmcsd0 drive.
The instructions don't mention what to do with mmcsd0boot0 and mmcsd0boot1. So, I decided best to not wipe those.I rebooted after the change and everything is working as expected.
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My 5100 eMMC still has the original UFS load from Mar 2020, but I have never had a collision.
I have not checked the boot priority menu for a very long time. The eMMC has never seen a ZFS load.
I will be converting to my 8200 near the end of the year, so I will likely not do anything with it right now.
Phizix
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Should be fine if it's UFS. Unless you ever decide to install as UFS to the SSD of course!
