Upgrading a Netgate 5100
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Has anyone succeeded in upgrading a Netgate 5100 to the latest pfsense version. Any do's and don't's appreciated.
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@michael2z What version do you have now?
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@SteveITS
23.09.1-RELEASE (amd64)
built on Mon Dec 11 13:24:00 EST 2023
FreeBSD 14.0-CURRENT -
I've upgraded 5100s many times. Nothing special should apply there.
Yes, if you're running a very old version consider installing 24.11 clean and restoring your config.
If you're running from eMMC consider installing an SSD or at least check the ware level on the eMMC:
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/troubleshooting/disk-lifetime.html#emmcSteve
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@stephenw10 Can you please provide me with a step-by-step instruction? I don't know how to do a clean install of 24.11.
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Instructions are here: https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/solutions/sg-5100/reinstall-pfsense.html
But from 23.09.1 you can just upgrade to 24.11 directly, there should be no problem.
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@stephenw10 Do I just update from the GUI via the internet connection? If so, should I do anything prior to clicking on the install icon?
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Yes. Unless you have a lot of packages installed or you have seen issues upgrading in past in which case I would upgrade from the console just because it shows more debug output.
The usual upgrade precautions apply:
Backup your config
Make sure you have a recovery image in case you need it.
Reboot the firewall before upgrading to be sure there are no existing issues.See: https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/install/upgrade-guide.html
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@michael2z said in Upgrading a Netgate 5100:
Has anyone succeeded in upgrading a Netgate 5100 to the latest pfsense version. Any do's and don't's appreciated.
Do's:
Backup your configuration – Always take a full configuration backup before upgrading. It’s your safety net in case something goes wrong.
Check compatibility – Ensure the new pfSense version is compatible with your hardware and any additional packages you’ve installed.
Disable unnecessary packages – Temporarily disable or uninstall third-party packages that might conflict with the upgrade.
Use the console for upgrades – If possible, upgrade through the console or directly on the device instead of the web UI. This reduces the risk of issues during the process.
Monitor the upgrade process – Stay with the device during the upgrade to catch any errors or prompts quickly.
Reboot after upgrading – A manual reboot post-upgrade ensures all services start cleanly.Don'ts:
Don’t upgrade during peak usage hours – Avoid upgrading when your network is actively in use to minimize downtime impact.
Don’t skip multiple versions – If you’re on a much older version, consider incremental upgrades rather than jumping directly to the latest one.
Don’t ignore release notes – Read the release notes for the version you’re upgrading to, especially for any known issues or deprecated features.
Don’t rush the upgrade – Test the upgrade in a lab environment first, if possible, especially if you have a complex setup with VLANs, VPNs, or custom firewall rules. -
@michael2z said in Upgrading a Netgate 5100:
Has anyone succeeded in upgrading a Netgate 5100 to the latest pfsense version. Any do's and don't's appreciated.
I have a Netgate SG-5100 device. I maintain it on the most recent pfSense Plus versions as they are released, so I'm never more than 1 version behind. I just click the Upgrade button and let it go. I have no optional packages installed. Generally takes about 5 - 7 minutes if I recall for an upgrade.