Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    Watchguard Firebox XTM 8 Series

    Hardware
    23
    234
    111.3k
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • stephenw10S
      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
      last edited by

      Hmm, that's slightly odd about the ports being 1 and 4. The numbering in pfSense is determined by he order in which they're probed..

      I'm confused as to what you did to get that bootlog, I've forgotten quite where we were.  ::)
      So firstly it includes some information about the serial redirect module which is something I've not seen on any other box.
      I assume that you got this from the rear com port whilst booting the Nano-VGA image. In which case I think it's safe to assume that it only got there by being redirected by the module (which is set to continue after boot). That could explain why you don't see anything after 'bootup complete'. The redirect module can only handle basic text so perhaps the menu is drawn in some way that it can't handle?

      See: https://www.freebsd.org/doc/handbook/serialconsole-setup.html#serialconsole-com2
      Seems to imply that simply selecting the I/O address of the port selects the com port. That's why I was hopeful that changing the port address in the bios would suffice. It seems not.  :-\

      Steve

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • A
        angelkiller
        last edited by

        Yes, its from the rear com port. Baudrate 118200 is showing system initializing and bios and the first boot process only to the question how to boot. At this point the boot must interupt with 7 and tell the box to use comconsole for output. After this command the baudrate must set to 9600 and it is showing the rest and stops with "Boot completed".

        But now we know the way and i think with my backup from the default installation there is no need to do complete serial output. But i will test more in the new year.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • stephenw10S
          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
          last edited by

          Ah, maybe similar to the serial quirk then:
          https://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/PfSense_on_Watchguard_Firebox#Serial_Port_Quirk
          In the X-core box that stops in exactly that place.

          Even if it's not necessary to have access to the serial console it's very useful to have it in case you are locked out of the webgui.

          Steve

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • A
            angelkiller
            last edited by

            Not at home for christmas. Will test it in a few days.

            merry xmas!

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • _Adrian__
              _Adrian_
              last edited by

              Any updates ???

              I'm looking at an XTM810 and would like to know the ins and outs which seem it may need a bit a messin about but the end product is well worth it!

              If it ain't broken, fix it till it is :P

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • S
                ScottMcNaught
                last edited by

                Hey guys,

                I have recently bought an XTM 810.  I can get it to boot but I lose video & console input. 
                Can see boot loader, can see first pfSense options menu, after this I lose video and it continues to boot completely with the startup noise.  (The video and input disappear after the first pfSense options menu.)

                So I press 7 to exit to shell.  But when I type:
                set console=comconsole

                … I lose all video and control.  This is noted to be due to it redirecting output to COM1 which is a blank header at the front of the board.  COM2 at the back as discussed.  Note: I have tried Putty at 9600 and tried comconsole_speed="115200" in /boot/loader.conf and /boot/loader.conf.local.

                My question is:  How did you get it to use COM2 instead of COM1?

                On another note, angelkiller, if you get stuck at the step "Bootup complete", on other Watchguard products, as a work around with this serial quirk you can Control+C the bootup right before "Bootup complete", and then run /etc/rc.initial via command.  This will give you the configuration menu and allow you to setup the interfaces and IP addresses.

                Cheers,
                Scott

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • stephenw10S
                  stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                  last edited by

                  Replied to your PM before I read this.  ::)
                  I don't think anyone has got com2 to work yet, Angelkiller used a Nano+VGA image I think. However JimP rcently posted a possible method for changing com ports:
                  https://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=76382.msg418066#msg418066

                  Steve

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • S
                    ScottMcNaught
                    last edited by

                    Hey Guys,

                    I bought off eBay this item: http://www.ebay.com/itm/VGA-Graphics-Card-Bracket-Header-Cable-11pin-12P-Small-/150600480861?ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:AU:3160

                    It makes life so much easier.  It works with both the XTM 5 and the XTM 8 series.
                    USB ports work on both devices.  You can access the BIOS etc.

                    I bought another 4 of these today.  My plan is to case-mod the chassis of all my boxes and permanently add this to the side of the box.  Honestly, it is the best money I have ever spent.

                    XTM 8 works great out of the box with nano-bsd vga, and this vga header cable.

                    Cheers,
                    Scott

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • stephenw10S
                      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                      last edited by

                      Thanks for the link. Good to know.  :)

                      Steve

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • mcdonnjdM
                        mcdonnjd
                        last edited by

                        I'll have to keep this in mind for down the road. Don't really need VGA as the serial works rather well on the XTM 5, but always nice to have options.

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • E
                          Eams
                          last edited by

                          I'm back!

                          I see there's been some good activity and progress on here with the XTM 8's now more readily available :)

                          I'm still stuck with my duff XTM 8 but I now want it working!

                          I tried various SPI programmers but got nowhere, is my only option to source a bios chip and replace my current one or is there an easier way?

                          Considering the bios chip is a SMD and therefore it will be very hard to remove/replace :(

                          Regards
                          Eamon

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • stephenw10S
                            stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                            last edited by

                            Welcome back!  ;)
                            Perhaps you could remind us of your stuation, what have you tried so far. Did you ever try the '4 resistors' parallel port meathod? Have you tried any software other than flashrom?

                            Steve

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • E
                              Eams
                              last edited by

                              Thanks :)

                              Ok so I flashed the Bios, it gave an error, I tried to reflash it back to normal but no joy, rebooted and now it's in an endless reboot loop without completing POST :(

                              I never did try the 4 resistor method, would this work do you think?

                              Unable to try any other software on the XTM 8 as it won't boot to a command prompt :(

                              Eamon

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • stephenw10S
                                stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                last edited by

                                When I bricked my xtm5 the 4 resistors/parallel port connection was the only thing that worked. Though I only tried one other thing! I know when you first had trouble you tried various versions of flashrom, any of them show anything different?
                                Did you try anything other than flashrom via the SPI connector?

                                Steve

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • J
                                  jimkisa
                                  last edited by

                                  Eams thanks for this topic , it's really help me .

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • E
                                    Eams
                                    last edited by

                                    No Probs Jimkisa, - stephenw10 helped too :)

                                    Ste,

                                    Flashrom is what got it bricked, so since then I tried a couple of SPI programmers (BlackCat and some other one off ebay - has no name on it but it had good reviews on the net).

                                    The software for both were pretty much garbage and I couldn't get anywhere with them.

                                    Whats needed for the parallel port hack? I might as well give that a try!

                                    Eamon

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • stephenw10S
                                      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                      last edited by

                                      It's on the website I linked to:
                                      http://rayer.ic.cz/elektro/spipgm.htm
                                      Might have to use the way back machine. The site now seems to be behind some security. (Edit: looks legit. I forgot it's in Czech though!)

                                      You need: a parallel port plug, 4 resistors, a cable/connector to connect to the SPI header and something to solder it together. Perhaps harder to find these days is anything with a parallel port on it to run flashrom. I happened to have an old laptop running FreeBSD 8.1 I was using for pfSense development that fitted the bill.

                                      Steve

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • E
                                        Eams
                                        last edited by

                                        Thanks for the link Ste.

                                        The security is just a Captcha form. Get past and the info is all there in Czech!

                                        I did find this thou which looks to be the same http://write-code.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/parallel-port-spi-flash-programmer-and-unbrick-wm8650.html?m=1

                                        I'll try and give that a go at the weekend.

                                        I think my old laptop has a parallel port on it. If not I've deffo got one on a old Abit VP6 computer I have :)

                                        Eamon

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • stephenw10S
                                          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                                          last edited by

                                          That's a good link. I didn't have to use the battery or capacitors since the XTM5 provides that in standby. I believe the XTM8 does too.
                                          You can also try the SPIPGM program under Windows if flashrom doesn't work.  :)

                                          Steve

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • E
                                            Eams
                                            last edited by

                                            For information to help others, I've attached linked two handy pdf's from Lanner.

                                            Motherboard Spec and Motherboard Layout with Pinouts in the user manual - these are for the Lanner FW-8750 which the XTM 8 is based on (doesn't include the SPI header).

                                            Bear in mind WatchGuard changed/didn't include a few things e.g. COM1, Power Switch Header, Northbridge Fan Header, USB 2 Header, etc..

                                            https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B0TOx6iNE-K4Rml0bmduRURuUDg&usp=sharing

                                            Eamon

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                            • First post
                                              Last post