Unable to Install pfsense on Nortel Contivity 400 using embedded version on CF

[artbybart]

I'm pretty new at installing pfsense.  So far, I have been successful twice in installing it (ver. 1.0.1): one install on a PC (using LiveCD) and the other install on Nortel Contivity 100 (using embedded ver. on SanDisk CF).

This is my third time, and I'm having a hard time getting it to work.

I'm trying to install it on Nortel Contivity 400: CPU AMD-K6-2+/500; RAM 256Mb.
I'm using SanDisk CF with 1GB of space.

I'm using physdiskwrite for both versions.

Here's where it stops loading (flashing cursor underneath /):

–----------------------------

Using pfSense-1.0.1-Embedded.img.gz

Verifying DMI Pool Date …......

BTX loader 1.00  BTX version is 1.01
Consoles: internal video/keyboard
BIOS drive C: is disk0
BIOS 639kb/257024kb available memory

FreeBSD/ i386 bootstrap loader, Revision 1.1
(sullrich@builder.livebsd.com, Sun Oct 29 01:30:00 UTC 2006)
Loading /boot/defaults/loader.conf
/

---

Using pfSense-1.2-RC3-Embedded.img.gz

Verifying DMI Pool Date …......

BTX loader 1.00  BTX version is 1.01
Consoles: internal video/keyboard
BIOS drive C: is disk0
BIOS 639kb/257024kb available memory

FreeBSD/ i386 bootstrap loader, Revision 1.1
(sullrich@builder.livebsd.com, Sun Oct 29 01:30:00 UTC 2006)
Loading /boot/defaults/loader.conf
/

I then suspected the problem to be with the CF, so I decided to install m0n0wall on it.  To my surprise, the m0n0wall booted just fine and I'm able to work with it.  So now I know the CF is fine.

I also have a NIC, wireless NIC, and a VGA card connected.  I tried booting the Nortel with just the VGA card connected, but it gets stuck at the same place (flashing cursor underneath /).

I don't think the problem is with the embedded version since I have used it once before and so have other people.  I'm guessing that I'm doing something wrong with my steps or missing something, but I don't know what it is.

Any suggestions?

Thank you for your time.

[Cry Havok]

You did note the part where it mentions that the Embedded version doesn't have VGA/keyboard support and that after the boat loader you need to use a serial cable ;)

[artbybart]

"Cry Havok"….thank you for the tip.  :)

I was able to see the boot menu through the console port using Tera Term.

For some reason, on the web interface I don't see the wireless NIC setting.  It's almost as if that card is not installed, which means I'll have to install it separately.  I'll look around in the forums and see if I can find an answer.

Thanks again for the tip.

[Cry Havok]

The wireless NIC may not be supported - have you checked the supported hardware list?  In theory anything that FreeBSD 6.2 supports can be made to work even if it isn't on that list.

[artbybart]

Quick Update:

I found out what the problem was…..I had to go to Interfaces -->then choose "assign" then choose and add the actual MAC address of the wireless NIC (from the drop down menu).  Once I did that, I saw the actual interface listed as OPT1 (which you can rename it if you like i.e. WLAN).

Needless to say, there was one more step left and that was to "Enable" the interface that I had just added.  For some odd reason, I kept thinking that the wireless NIC interface will "automatically" be detected and listed in the "Interfaces" menu (goes to show you how little I know!!)

Eventually, I got it working through my wireless NIC.

Thanks for the help.