Watchguard XTM 5 Series

t-rexky

Back once more with a little bit of the BIOS modifying information that I promised a while ago. Unfortunately I do not have the time to write elaborate instructions, but in any case there is a minimum amount of knowledge required in order to be successful, so just a few pointers should be enough.

Fundamentally, a few software tools and files are required that one can locate on the "net" with a little bit of effort. As always, be cautious about the source and do the required virus checks, etc., especially for items 1 and 2 below:

AmiBCP-3.51.zip
MMTool_322_1B_21Fix.zip
Intel IASL compiler tools for platform of your choice (I compiled it for my Mac) to modify the ACPI module
Any hex editor if you would like to change the string displayed on the LCD
Intel microcode update files for your CPU

The AmiBCP program is used to unlock the BIOS, modify the displayed menus, enable the red LED, change boot version string, change any other BIOS strings, etc.

The MMTool program is used to extract/insert/replace individual modules within the BIOS. For example, you can use it to replace the microcode for the specific platform and cpuid, or you can replace the ACPI_AML module with one that contains the Speedstep configuration specific to your CPU.

For a little bit more information I would refer you to the ~~realm~~ readme file in my unlocked BIOS archive that I posted a little bit ago. I tried to be a little bit more descriptive in it and indicate where the changes are being made. It should be a good starting point.

Peter.

StlCardsFanJR

I've successfully upgraded an XTM 505 and 515 using the following DIMMs.
XTM 505: CRUCIAL CT25664AA800.K16F (2 GB 240-PIN DDR2 DIMM UNBUFFERED)
XTM 515: G.SKILL F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ (DDR2 2GB PC2-6400 CL5-5-5-15 1.8V-1.9V) @wildio:

Hi everyone! Thanks for all the info in here. With it, I've managed to convert an XTM 515 to a very nice Sophos box. However, I keep getting stuck on upgrading the memory. I've tried everything I see here and nothing is working. Does anyone have a link or part number for the memory I will need? Would be super awesome! Don't think Amazon is going to let me return anything else for another 10 years probably.

XTM-505_DIMMs.jpg_thumb

XTM-515_DIMMs.jpg_thumb

TraderX

Hi All,

First post with plenty of reading ahead so glad to have found this forum and great to see such a strong community.

Very much rookie status so looking for basics of what I'm missing to get going again.

So far Ive done the following:

Upgraded both XTM530's with ram 4gb and c2d e8400 proc's
Burnt 2 4gb cf cards one with pfsense 2.43 serial image and freedos1.2 using win32disk
Using putty and usb/rj45 fdti chip console cable to connect via console port

Using tab I can access locked bios and navigate through menus, however when I let either
box with either card boot with burnt images 530 boxes seem to freeze with no sign
of OS's running, only cursor in top left or centre of screen unresponsive.

AMIBIOS(C)2006 American Megatrends, Inc.
MB-7580 Ver.WD0 04/26/2010
CPU : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz
Speed : 3.00 GHz

Press DEL to run Setup (F4 on Remote Keyboard)
Press n if you want to boot from the network
Press F11 for BBS POPUP (F3 on Remote Keyboard)
The MCH is operating with DDR2 667
DRAM Timing: Tcl:5/Tras:15/Trp:5/Trcd:5/Twr:5/Trfc:44/Twtr:3/Trrd:3/Trtp:3
Initializing USB Controllers .. Done.
4062MB OK

Have I missed step or could there be something wrong with hardware or images burnt?

Lastly CPU seems to be running unusually hot at 65 degrees celius so could this be related?

thanks

stephenw10

What exact image did you use? At what point does it appear to freeze?

65C does seem very hot. How are you measuring that? Is the heatsink seated correctly? Fans running?

Steve

TraderX

Hi Steve.

Googled after posting and 65deg seems to be mid range for that proc where the second box
with slower proc runs cooler at 38deg.

conflicting results from further testing??

Both boxes "seem" to freeze after the controller cards loads the CF card images
pfSense-CE-memstick-serial-2.4.3-RELEASE-amd64.img

AMIBIOS(C)2006 American Megatrends, Inc.
MB-7580 Ver.WD0 04/26/2010
CPU : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz
Speed : 3.00 GHz

Press DEL to run Setup (F4 on Remote Keyboard)
Press n if you want to boot from the network
Press F11 for BBS POPUP (F3 on Remote Keyboard)
The MCH is operating with DDR2 667
DRAM Timing: Tcl:5/Tras:15/Trp:5/Trcd:5/Twr:5/Trfc:44/Twtr:3/Trrd:3/Trtp:3
Initializing USB Controllers .. Done.
4062MB OK

Auto-Detecting Pri Master..IDE Hard Disk
Pri Master : SanDisk SDCFH-004G HDX 6.03
Ultra DMA Mode-2
Auto-detecting USB Mass Storage Devices ..
00 USB mass storage devices found and configured.

0078

However the orig watchguard CF card doesnt seems to freeze still running after 7-10mins

Though strangly after in the bios for 3-5mins it freezes

Freeze.jpg_thumb

stephenw10

Hmm, my box with that same CPU rarely gets above 45C. However that's mostly idle and booted into the OS where it's running various CPU halt features to reduce usage. The BIOS setup does not do that.

Also your CPU target temperature is 70C so the fans are probably not spooling up.

I would expect it to boot that image if it's written to the CF card correctly (I recommend using Etcher) but that's an install image meant for installing to something else like an SSD maybe.

You might try booting a Nano image as a test: https://nyifiles.pfsense.org/mirror/downloads/pfSense-CE-2.3.5-RELEASE-2g-amd64-nanobsd.img.gz

Steve

TraderX

I've removed cleaned and repasted the E8400 proc with similar bios temps
but guessing that is secondary at this stage.

the second box runs at 45dec Celsius so will look at first box temps

Swapped out ram, hdd, switched sata ports, replaced drive, removed partitions but cf card with image above still
wont boot BUT can confirm both boxes boot and work from nana image using etcher which
confirmed was burned sucessfully.

Downloaded last image from pfsense NY USA site where first image was pfsense asia

Will try 2.35 serial amd64 installer but doesnt seem likely will work given 2.43 is stable

Running out of idea of than that?

EDIT: sigh 2.35 did start and installed to hdd so back to troubleshooting why 2.43 wont install on my XTM530?

stephenw10

Did you verify the file checksum?

Allow Etcher to extract the file? (write the img.gz file directly).

I have done exactly that on my box here and it worked fine.

You can always just update from 2.3.5.

Steve

TraderX

didnt know etcher could extract the img.gz file but great feature.

In hindsight may have well been a checksum error, as again downloaded 2.43
serial from another pfsense site and it installed last night.

We learn the most "doing" through our own and other peoples experiences so
thanks so much Steve and hope others will benefit from this.

TraderX

Next ;) would like to unlock the bios with added features, from your experience which is the
latest safe image I could upgrade too?

And the cpu fans are definitely spinning up high then slows which I repasted the cpu heatsink, what else could
be causing the high temps. The heatsink sheild are warm to hot so transfer seems effective.

stephenw10

I think either of the two images linked in this thread should be fine. I've only tested the one I modified. Quite a few people have flashed that now and I haven't had any reports of failure.

t-rexky's bios includes the modified DSDT table if you have one of the CPUs he's using.

Flashing the BIOS is inherently risky. You have been warned etc!

Steve

TraderX

Thanks Steve.

I'm guessing the failure rate when flashing is very low, much the same as a pc motherboard
as you say noone has reported failure?

Did I recall seeing someone or you sucessfully recovering a bricked unit with with some hardware
or replacing the bios chip but again guessing its surface mounted

stephenw10

Yeah, I bricked mine a few times using an older bios editing program that had glitchy results. I recovered it using 4 resistors and a parallel port cable. I don't think I have anything with a parallel port that still work though.

The actual images available now

Steve

diesel678

@stephenw10 Hmm.. I tried again upgrading from 2.4.1 to 2.4.3_1 and again after the update it will not boot anymore. It just gets stuck on this screen and will not boot into pfsense anymore with no console output. As it seems i can't update to 2.4.3, but 2.4.2 works fine, do you know a way to just update to 2.4.2 and not to a later version?

chpalmer

@diesel678 said in Watchguard XTM 5 Series:

2.4.3_1

Ive been on 2.4.3_1 here since it was released.. What happens if you console into it?

diesel678

@chpalmer I can't console into it because pfsense will not boot. So there is no console output. Did you upgrade to 2.4.3_1 from 2.4.1, or did you install 2.4.3_1 straight from the start with no upgrading?

diesel678

@diesel678 I tried just booting from a new install of 2.4.3 too. It boots into PFsense fine on a new install on 2.4.3, but when i try to upgrade to 2.4.3_1 it breaks again and will not boot anymore. PFsense does not boot and there is no console output except the POST info at boot. Are you using the stock bios? do i need to flash the bios?

chpalmer

Im using a modified BIOS. But I did get pfsense running first back when I did it.

If you can read German or use Google translate a little.. I saved this page a while back and now host it for my own benefit.. http://airsignalinfrastructure.com/

Original but not working right now.. - http://www.triebwerk23.de/joomla/index.php/firewalls/watchguard-xtm-5-xtm-505-515-525-545-pfsense-64-bit

Maybe there is something there that helps.

stephenw10

The BIOS modifications should make no difference there.

Have you tried a 2.4.4 snapshot? https://www.pfsense.org/snapshots/

Steve

TraderX

Seems like I'm locked out of my 5 series running 2.43.1 yet again on admin and second account for some reason!!!

Though thats not my main reaspon for posting as I cant seem to see the boot menu option for single use mode using this guide to reset my password.
https://www.netgate.com/docs/pfsense/usermanager/locked-out-of-the-webgui.html

Pfsense seems to be working as I get the webgui login that I cant login but when at the console on cold boot I see the bios startup the disk confirmed at bios the green cursor flashing spinning jumping all over screen finally get the login prompt and again credentials fail.

So I thought I may have changed the colour font or terminal setting but to no success can get it working again.

I've been successfully using the box for 3mths now, using putty serial with usb2rj45 console cable which using 115200,8,1,none

Seems like a terminal or display issue but strange thing is (maybe red herring) but it did show the boot menu on 1 or 2 occasions