Migration from SG-3100 to Custom Hardware - pfSense won't boot

MordyT

The SG3100, in addition to being long in the tooth, can't really exceed 1Gbps. As such, I'm making a move to a HP DL320e with Intel X520's.

I took a backup of the SG3100. I installed pfSense CE 2.7.2 on the HP, connected my laptop to the LAN port, browsed to 192.168.1.1 without issue, and uploaded the backup. I remapped all the interfaces, hit save, firewall rebooted... and it hangs. I tried this about a dozen times now, after a fresh install it boots, restore my backup it hangs at the below screenshot. I've tried both ZFS and UFS as the file system. The HP doesn't have a UEFI mode (at least not with the current BIOS).

I can't seem to find what's the cause. No logs that I can see anywhere, verbose mode changes nothing, single user mode doesn't boot either. I can drop to the loader though without issue and I can see the filesystem. I don't really want to configure it from stock 1 by 1 as this config is very large at this point and I have a fairly complex network.

How can I properly troubleshoot this?

stephenw10

Try setting the console specifically at the loader prompt:
https://docs.netgate.com/pfsense/en/latest/troubleshooting/boot-issues.html#booting-with-an-alternate-console

Check the config file you are restoring to see if it has a console type setting. Normally the 3100 would not because it doesn't need one, it always sets a serial console. If it was imported to that though the previous device may have set one. What you're seeing there looks like it's enabling the wrong console. That sceenshot looks very well aligned though, is that actually the serial console?

MordyT

@stephenw10 Tried setting it to video as per your link. I also tried setting it to video per option 5, as well as Dual video preferred. All hung the same way.

What value in the config file would control this?

Regarding the screenshot, the HP has iLo (their version of IPMI) and I used that to take a screenshot.

The config a long time ago was on a Intel Nuc, moved to the SG3100, now moving to the DL320e

I'm attaching a config file from the DL320e after install before I restore the SG3100 config - maybe it will help. There is almost zero configuration done here, just defining some interfaces. config-pfSense.home.arpa-20260621210951.xml

stephenw10

If you restore that near vanilla config into the HP does it still boot? Just wondering if the restore process itself is setting something.

MordyT

@stephenw10 Yes, restoring that config does not break booting.

stephenw10

Then I would check the config from the 3100 for console settings.

MordyT

@stephenw10 Do you know what keys/values might exist to look for?

stephenw10

In the main <system> section look for:

		<enableserial></enableserial>
		<serialspeed>115200</serialspeed>
		<primaryconsole>serial</primaryconsole>

I assume you are not using the serial console on that device then?

MordyT

@stephenw10 Thanks for sticking with me here.

No, I have a physical monitor plugged into the video out port on the HP.

I found the first 2 items in the config file. I deleted them and now it's working fine. You're the best!