[Solved] Alix 2D2 - Install on Hard Drive won't boot
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Hi guys,
I just bought 2 alix 2d2 to build router for my wife's office and for home. I did not buy CF cards as my plan is to install it on an hard drive.
What I did :
- Install pfsense from my old dell laptop on the hard drive and select embedded kernel
- Plug the hard drive on my alix board
- Boot and connect to serial
- I can boot but it did not find the root partition. Then I typed the ufs:ad0s1a. It starts to init but it failed to go up to the end (some files were not found if I remember well) and reboot
- If I re-type the ufs:ad0s1a, it runs fsck which fails due to some non permitted operations
What did I miss or make wrong ?
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What version of pfSense? Did you retry the install since it sounds like it didn't complete correctly.
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Pfsense 1.2.3 - I install on my dell laptop with the LiveCD, choosing the installer mode.
When I install pfsense on the Hard Drive from the dell, the installation process is complete (aka, I go up to the reboot step). Then I unplug the disk from the Dell to put it in my Alix board and go on with the Serial connection.
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What happens if you let the installer CD run completely and then choose option 99 to install to hard disk. I seem to remember running into similar problems on a net5501. After choosing the install option booting failed. Installing via menu option 99 worked like a charm.
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I'll try this way tonight, thanks for the tip.
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Delex, you"re my hero 8)
It just works as expected. Thanks so much, I now need to bring back the CF card I just bought in case I failed to install on the hard drive.
Edit: in fact, it works with another (old) Toshiba HD. Still fails with my (new) Hitachi 5K500. Let's try with another (new) Hitachi 5K500 I also have.
Edit2 : Ok I found the reason: I do not know why but my dell laptop does not see the correct number of cylinders. So I think it makes the HD messy but my alix board find the correct number. Will try with my macbook which is more recent.
Edit3 : No luck with my macbook. Same thing. Will contact my vendor to see how I can do it. Maybe I'll use the CF Card by the end.
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;D Your welcome!
Do you still have a workstation with IDE interface? I use an ide 2.5" > 3.5" (cost $10) whenever installing hard drives for pfsense devices. Maybe this will get you better results then with the notebooks.
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HD is a SATA one. With the alix board, I have a converter ; see http://store.calexium.com/cartes-alix-pc-engines/36-kit-disque-dur-sata-pour-alix.html.
I no longer have old workstation anyway or maybe should I go to my parents for this ;)
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I give up. I'll use Pfsense on my CF and add the Hard Drive after just to store files for HAVP/Squid.
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In fact, I found the right way :
- On my laptop, install pfsense 1.2.3 to the HD from the live-CD via the 99 option : Choose custom install, accept all defaults, except for swap I reduced to 1024M and select "Embedded kernerl".
- After the reboot, still on the laptop with the liveCD running, open the Shell (menu 8 ), mount /dev/ad0s1a and edit the "boot/loader.conf" file to add
hw.ata.ata_dma="0"- Save file, unmount the disk
- Put your HD to the Alix board
- Check that "LBA", "HD Wait" are active in your BIOS
- Boot and enjoy :)
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Just did the same with my Hitachi 250 Go Hard drive and it works well 8)
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Nice!
