PFSense CE 2.7.0 package manager has no available packages, can't find "openvpn-client-export"

timbopoise

I'm attempting to install the package "openvpn-client-export" that is supposed to help me export my vpn client configuration.
However when I navigate to System->Package Manager->available package I'm unable to find the package--NO PACKAGE ARE EVER
LISTED!

I've refreshed my self-signed certs. Please advise. Thanks in advance.
I've lost the IT person who setup and managed this router. Apologize for my ignorance.

From Status page:
Version 2.7.0-RELEASE (amd64)
built on Wed Jun 28 03:53:34 UTC 2023
FreeBSD 14.0-CURRENT

The system is on the latest version.
Version information updated at Tue May 28 14:26:51 CDT 2024
CPU Type Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU J3160 @ 1.60GHz
Current: 1600 MHz, Max: 1601 MHz
4 CPUs: 1 package(s) x 4 core(s)

Background:
My original goal was to setup pfsense as VPN server. I completed all steps explained here. Install the OpenVPN Client Export Utility step requires installing package to help export client config.

Any suggestions on how t setup VPN client on Ubuntu 22.04 manually would be appreciated, in meantime.

SteveITS

@timbopoise try "certctl rehash":
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/releases/2-7-1.html#troubleshooting
...but then upgrade before installing packages, per my sig.

timbopoise

@SteveITS Thanks.

I initiated the upgrade and it took much longer than 15min but that's probably system specific.
My network restarted and I seem to be able to access all my public accessible routes as I use NGINX reverse proxy to reach various servers.
however, when the pfsense reloaded the page it is all white and doesn't seem to be loading or rendering properly. In effect I can't seem to login to the pfsense router now.

I'm going to now try to power cycle.

Any other Suggestions?

timbopoise

@SteveITS
when I navigate to https://<192.168.*.1:nnn> I'm getting a 200 response with an empty html body.

SteveITS

@timbopoise hmm the 10-15m is more typical of slow/eMMC storage.

Blank white page could be a PHP error.

Not sure what broke but you could reinstall 2.7.2 clean and restore during/after the install.

timbopoise

@SteveITS

I'm suddenly concerned about what I've done, I'm a senior level software/hardware design engineer and not an IT person.

You have been patient with me and I appreciate it. I appear to be able to ssh into the router and the prompt indicates "[2.7.2-RELEASE][<>]/home/<>:
Can you offer link with instructions, or keywords to search on how to reinstall 2.7.2. Or more troubleshooting suggetions?

I performed a backup prior to the upgrade.

Thanks

My router is a FW4B – 4 Port Intel J3160.
Installing pfsense with USB

timbopoise

@SteveITS
I'm attempting to look at /var/log files but I'm getting permission issues. My login's groups are "nobody admins". 'su' and 'sudo' don't seem to be recognized.

SteveITS

@timbopoise for instance
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/backup/restore-during-install.html
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/install/netinstaller.html

Reinstall is probably less time than repairing whatever happened, tbh, as long as you have a backup file. “Brute force” but clean.

stephenw10

Check: /cf/conf/upgrade_log.latest.txt

Or just check the dmesg output if it's failing to load pages. There will likely be some error there.

timbopoise

@SteveITS
Are you referring to /var/log/dmesg.boot?

not sure if these results are helpful:

/var/log: grep -i error dmesg.boot
module_register_init: MOD_LOAD (iwi_monitor_fw, 0xffffffff807652e0, 0) error 1
module_register_init: MOD_LOAD (ipw_bss_fw, 0xffffffff807475a0, 0) error 1
module_register_init: MOD_LOAD (ipw_ibss_fw, 0xffffffff80747650, 0) error 1
module_register_init: MOD_LOAD (ipw_monitor_fw, 0xffffffff80747700, 0) error 1
module_register_init: MOD_LOAD (iwi_bss_fw, 0xffffffff80765180, 0) error 1
module_register_init: MOD_LOAD (iwi_ibss_fw, 0xffffffff80765230, 0) error 1

but I doubt it. What am I looking for? I don't see anything obvious to me.

timbopoise

@SteveITS

A) https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/backup/restore-during-install.html
B) https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/install/netinstaller.html

Questions:
when using B) approach ("brute force"), I will lose all of my routing rules, etc?
I believe I've read that when restoring backup it will restore pfsense version too. Am starting over again with upgrade
to 2.7.2 with possible problem again?

stephenw10

Nope those are expected messages.

No I mean just run dmesg and see what the most recent logs are. They are probably going to be some error messages if you just tried to connect to the webgui.

You can also try checking /var/log/system.log

timbopoise

@stephenw10

@stephenw10 said in PFSense CE 2.7.0 package manager has no available packages, can't find "openvpn-client-export":

just ran dmesg and see what the most recent logs are

No joy. I don't see anything to indicate a problem from output, after I attempted to open login page (https://192.168.5.1:xxx).

I don't know anything about PHP, but as I snoop around (nginx) and looking at /usr/local/www/ many of the *.php files are zero size?

stephenw10

Hmm, well hard to say what happened without logs. It sounds like the upgrade only partially completed. I've not seen it fail like that though. Usually failed upgrades would show library errors.

Do you have pkg access? Can you run: pkg update?

If so you could try a forced pkg reinstall:
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/troubleshooting/upgrades.html#forced-pkg-reinstall

timbopoise

@stephenw10
No I apparently don't. I do not have su/root privilege (sudo not setup) but working on making a Comm cable to connect to comm port to connect and then set root passwd using a FreeBSD trick, if you call it that.

What a pain! Once I get this done I'll have more access and try to force pkg reinstall...I think

Thank goodness the router is up and running as is...just no ability to config from webpage.

Thanks @stephenw10 and @SteveITS

stephenw10

How does pkg update fail?

Since you can't access the webgui you may need to run pfSense-repoc before hand. The GUI processes usually run that when you access it.

timbopoise

@stephenw10

@stephenw10 said in PFSense CE 2.7.0 package manager has no available packages, can't find "openvpn-client-export":

How does pkg update fail?

": pkg update
pkg: Insufficient privileges to update the repository catalogue."

@stephenw10 said in PFSense CE 2.7.0 package manager has no available packages, can't find "openvpn-client-export":

you may need to run pfSense-repoc before hand

I run this from the command line and then try to login webpage again?

stephenw10

Run pfSense-repoc at the command line then try running pkg update again.

If it still fails try: pkg-static -d update and note the error output.

timbopoise

@stephenw10

@stephenw10 said in PFSense CE 2.7.0 package manager has no available packages, can't find "openvpn-client-export":

Run pfSense-repoc at the command line

[2.7.2-RELEASE][  ]: pfSense-repoc
failed to read the repo data.
[2.7.2-RELEASE][  ]:

@stephenw10 said in PFSense CE 2.7.0 package manager has no available packages, can't find "openvpn-client-export":

if it still fails try: pkg-static -d update

[2.7.2-RELEASE][  ]: pkg-static -d update
DBG(1)[23852]> pkg initialized
pkg-static: Insufficient privileges to update the repository catalogue.
[2.7.2-RELEASE][  ]:

timbopoise

@timbopoise
I'm getting a comm cable and will hopefully gain root by tomorrow afternoon. Thanks