Running on fit-pc2i

[djzort]

There are a few threads about this, but i wanted to note that in linux the fit-pc2i (and fit-pc2) require this module/kernel boot option

libata.force=40c

as apparently poor libata cant get the cable type right.

it seems in freebsd there are only the following options (as touched on in http://doc.pfsense.org/index.php/Booting_Options)

hw.ata.setmax: 0
hw.ata.wc: 1
hw.ata.atapi_dma: 1
hw.ata.ata_dma_check_80pin: 1
hw.ata.ata_dma: 1

im curious if there is a way of coercing freebsd in to similar behavior as in linux?

[stephenw10]

This page seems relevant:
http://www.pl0rt.org/text/freebsd-on-fitpc-2i/

Steve

[djzort]

thats a great link, thank you!

[djzort]

In case this dies of link rot, i found that…

To install you need to add both these two boot arguments. When prompted at the boot loader, select the prompt and set both of the below options.

hw.ata.ata_dma=0
hw.ata.ata_dma_check_80pin=0

Then type 'boot'

Infact, even with these settings i had an dma error installing the first time and had to try again.
Note that the installer doesn't add these options to /boot/loader.conf, so you will have to do that manually.

At first boot, you will need to once again add this option as a boot argument.

hw.ata.ata_dma_check_80pin=0

Then having booted in to pfsense, manually add the above line to /boot/loader.conf manually using vi or echo, or whatever.

ie.
echo "hw.ata.ata_dma_check_80pin=0" >> /boot/loader.conf

[wallabybob]

Better to change /boot/loader.conf.local than /boot/loader.conf since /boot/loader.conf.local is supposed to survive a firmware upgrade whereas /boot/loader.conf might not.

[djzort]

great tip! thanks wallabybob

i wonder if its ok to create a page on doc.pfsense.org  ?

[djzort]

just adding a note, that 2.1-RELEASE doesnt seem to need this any more.

though i have not done a clean install, just an upgrade.

loader.conf.local seems to be wiped though, when upgrading.

[djzort]

with regards to the watchdog timer, thread here but i cannot reply http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php?topic=43844.0

according to -> http://lwn.net/Articles/342308/

its a derivative of the IXP2000 linux driver