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    Push configuration on first boot?

    Problems Installing or Upgrading pfSense Software
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    • JeGrJ
      JeGr LAYER 8 Moderator
      last edited by

      Hi guys'n'gals,

      just a quick question with hopes for a quick answer: As I am vaguely remembering, there is the possibility to run a system from CD and write the config to a USB stick. If it reboots, the config is read from USB and then system goes up.

      As I am having quite a few headless embedded boxes running your nanoBSD images I was asking, if this is a possibility with those nanobsd installs as well?

      What I'm trying to do is:

      1. save configuration from current system or prepare a simple one for a customer's base install
      2. copy that to an USB stick
      3. write a nanobsd image to CF card or flash
      4. put the USB stick into the device and boot the fresh install

      -> 5) config gets copied from USB to flash and afterwards read as default configuration

      Is this possible somehow or already implemented (and I just forgot about it ;))?

      Thanks,
      Jens

      Don't forget to upvote ๐Ÿ‘ those who kindly offered their time and brainpower to help you!

      If you're interested, I'm available to discuss details of German-speaking paid support (for companies) if needed.

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      • stephenw10S
        stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
        last edited by

        You mean like this?:
        http://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/Automatically_Restore_During_Install

        Steve

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        • JeGrJ
          JeGr LAYER 8 Moderator
          last edited by

          Yes I do, but not as part of the installation:

          When you install to the HDD, it will copy this configuration

          As described above, I ship out or create and test CF cards and don't actually do classic "installs" to HDD. Thus the question if that process also works with first-time CF deployments?

          Don't forget to upvote ๐Ÿ‘ those who kindly offered their time and brainpower to help you!

          If you're interested, I'm available to discuss details of German-speaking paid support (for companies) if needed.

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          • jimpJ
            jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
            last edited by

            I believe the external config loader will read the config from the USB drive but I believe it wants to keep it on the USB drive. It won't automatically copy it for you.

            But you can always manually copy it over /cf/conf/config.xml

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            • JeGrJ
              JeGr LAYER 8 Moderator
              last edited by

              Hi Jimp,

              thanks for the answer. So if I'm getting this right, it should work at boot time that it loads the config but don't copy it over automatically? That wouldn't be a problem, as you said, I can always manually copy it over after the system is up. I just have to test this, then it would be a nice workaround to running each CF into a device first, do console setup via serial etc. etc. to bring up its LAN and then restore via web interface.

              Thanks!

              Don't forget to upvote ๐Ÿ‘ those who kindly offered their time and brainpower to help you!

              If you're interested, I'm available to discuss details of German-speaking paid support (for companies) if needed.

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              • jimpJ
                jimp Rebel Alliance Developer Netgate
                last edited by

                Much easier yet to use a FreeBSD box/vm to image the cards, then mount and copy the config before ever putting it in the target device :-)

                Remember: Upvote with the ๐Ÿ‘ button for any user/post you find to be helpful, informative, or deserving of recognition!

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                Do not Chat/PM for help!

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