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    check_upgrade: "Updating repositories metadata" returned error code 1

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software
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    • R Offline
      renanlofiego
      last edited by

      Me too, after the update, I started receiving the message "check_upgrade: "updating repositories metadata" returned error code 1".

      I ran the command "pkg -d update" and it returned the following: "DBG(1)[56533]> pkg initialized
      pkg: Unable to open '/usr/local/etc/pkg/repos//pfSense.conf': No such file or directory
      No active remote repositories configured.
      "

      I don't know if it has to do with the license. Is there still a free pfSense+ license for labs?

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      • stephenw10S Online
        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
        last edited by

        So same as above; run pfSense-repoc -ND and see what error that returns.

        Send me your NDI in chat and I'll check it.

        A 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • M Offline
          mrpon8
          last edited by

          check_upgrade: "Updating repositories metadata" returned error code 1
          for resolve this problem only need update the pkg
          into the "Diagnostics, then Command Prompt" run "pkg update -f"

          R 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • R Offline
            renanlofiego @mrpon8
            last edited by

            @mrpon8 When I run this command "pkg update -f" it returns this message "pkg: Unable to open '/usr/local/etc/pkg/repos//pfSense.conf': No such file or directory
            No active remote repositories configured.
            "

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • B Offline
              benhamou.ahmed
              last edited by

              i have same issue

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • B Offline
                benhamou.ahmed @stephenw10
                last edited by

                @stephenw10 i have same issue

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • H Offline
                  hbbn
                  last edited by

                  I had same issue for a long time.

                  Then I tried pkg update -f and got an error for SunnyVally repository
                  I figured that I had a old version of zenarmor installed that matches the FreeBSD 14 and not 15.
                  Upgraded the zenarmor to the latest version.

                  Haven't had any of the error messages for some time now. hopefully that was it.

                  Maybe this can be helpfull to someone.

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                  • J Offline
                    JonnyQuest @JonnyQuest
                    last edited by

                    I did a fresh install of 2.8.0 and do not get the error anymore.

                    C 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • C Offline
                      Cre8or @JonnyQuest
                      last edited by

                      @JonnyQuest

                      im on 2.8.0 and i also had no problems

                      Shell Output - pkg update -f

                      Updating ntop repository catalogue...
                      Fetching meta.conf: . done
                      Fetching data.pkg: . done
                      Processing entries: . done
                      ntop repository update completed. 6 packages processed.
                      Updating pfSense-core repository catalogue...
                      Fetching meta.conf: . done
                      Fetching data.pkg: . done
                      Processing entries: . done
                      pfSense-core repository update completed. 4 packages processed.
                      Updating pfSense repository catalogue...
                      Fetching meta.conf: . done
                      Fetching data.pkg: ......... done
                      Processing entries: .......... done
                      pfSense repository update completed. 541 packages processed.
                      All repositories are up to date.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                      • L Offline
                        lutel
                        last edited by lutel

                        Same problem here, i'm running 2.8.0 updated from 2.7.2. It also takes much longer to login to dashboard than in previous version.

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • S Offline
                          SuperTypeGuy
                          last edited by

                          I am also encountering the (check_upgrade: "Updating repositories metadata" returned error code 1) Upgrade Notice after updating from 2.8.0 => 2.8.1

                          The notice timestamp updates on every reboot even with the dashboard auto-update check disabled. Even if I wait 10 minutes after the reboot before logging into the gui, the notice timestamp is when the system rebooted and not at time of log in.

                          Also, no repository errors when checking from the cli or the System Update gui. Other than the notice message, everything seems fine.

                          S F 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • stephenw10S Online
                            stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                            last edited by

                            Yup the check that fails is during boot. The alert should be there however long you wait to login. But, yes, it's just ugly. It shouldn't actually be a problem.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • S Offline
                              SuperTypeGuy @SuperTypeGuy
                              last edited by

                              fwiw, after checking a few other systems I am seeing this exact notice on several other 2.8.0 systems. Now I am geussing the above system had the notice before upgrading to 2.8.1.

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                              • A Offline
                                ag0s @stephenw10
                                last edited by

                                This post is deleted!
                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • F Offline
                                  f1d094 @SuperTypeGuy
                                  last edited by

                                  @SuperTypeGuy said in check_upgrade: "Updating repositories metadata" returned error code 1:

                                  Also, no repository errors when checking from the cli or the System Update gui. Other than the notice message, everything seems fine.

                                  Just chiming in. I came here to report this "check_upgrade: "Updating repositories metadata" returned error code 1 @ 2025-10-01 17:41:46" which is reported on each boot This was for a new host, installed fresh via USB. The config was then updated from backup of the (failed) host it was replacing.

                                  Everything works...but we get this message on every reboot.

                                  F 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • F Offline
                                    f1d094 @f1d094
                                    last edited by f1d094

                                    Point of interest: This may be related to my other issue/unbound. It seems that unbound is taking an inordinately long time to load now on v2.8.1 (1-2 minutes). @Gertjan pointed out that I am running an archaic config with pfBlocker in unbound mode and should update that to "python mode" for speed...

                                    Is there something new with 2.8.2 / unbound / pfBlocker that causes DNS to take too long and therefore isn't available to "pkg update" when it is first run?

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                                    • stephenw10S Online
                                      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                      last edited by

                                      Hmm, it would certainly hit an error if it's unable to resolve.

                                      Do you have the DNS behaviour set to local DNS only in System > General Setup?

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                                      • F Offline
                                        f1d094 @stephenw10
                                        last edited by f1d094

                                        @stephenw10 The slow-boot issue I fixed. Not interesting. I fat-fingered an entry in DNS TLS resolver names while working on other issue...

                                        The "check_upgrade" errors on boot persist. However, I've tested every aspect of package management and can identify zero functional issues. Since the firewalls get rebooted on average of once a year, I'll just click "Mark as Read" and call it good. 🕶

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                                        • stephenw10S Online
                                          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                          last edited by

                                          Just for reference do you have DNS set to local only or can it fall back to external?

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