Successful Install on Watchguard Firebox X700!
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There's a huge amount of information about this platform in this thread.
It's the same hardware in the x550e, x750e and x1250e.Just ask in that thread if you have any questions.
Steve
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Finally received my FB X700 and installed ver 1.2.3 on a 4GB flash card. Just have to configure it so it mirrors the PC and replace the fans with Mini-Kaze (SY124010L) fans and the cpu fan (Fractal design 50mm), should be up and running in the next couple of days.
Another happy user
Sleeps
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Finally received my FB X700 and installed ver 1.2.3 on a 4GB flash card. Just have to configure it so it mirrors the PC and replace the fans with Mini-Kaze (SY124010L) fans and the cpu fan (Fractal design 50mm), should be up and running in the next couple of days.
Another happy user
Sleeps
glad to hear it's working out for you why not 2.0?
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Finally received my FB X700 and installed ver 1.2.3 on a 4GB flash card. Just have to configure it so it mirrors the PC and replace the fans with Mini-Kaze (SY124010L) fans and the cpu fan (Fractal design 50mm), should be up and running in the next couple of days.
Another happy user
Sleeps
glad to hear it's working out for you why not 2.0?
Replaced all fans and very silent. However I have one concern not sure if I installed the Processor fan correctly (Should the label be facing up or down?) Will try 2.0 just waiting for hard drive to arrive from ebay.
Sleeps
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when i installed that fan i had it push air towards the cpu. i also reversed my rear fans to push air in. but i tried both ways and both work ok.
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when i installed that fan i had it push air towards the cpu. i also reversed my rear fans to push air in. but i tried both ways and both work ok.
I checked some other forums about the position of the cpu fans and I decided that I stick with the standard push air out. jdetmold thanks for the reply.
Sleeps
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I have not had a chance to test longer term stability because i tend to play a lot with my home network but tomorrow i will hit 40 days uptime with no issues and that means next month i think i will set up another 2 x700's at the office with carp!
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Is that running RC1 release?
Steve
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yup but it seems i lied to you :( i was loged into my 1.2.3 box that is now at 40 days my x700 with 2.0 RC1 is at 38 days! bit im still happy with that! close enough for me!
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I got my X700 today, and like many before me, found it definitely needs to be quieter.
I'm curious. Has anyone tried a passive cooler? I've seen a couple 1U passive coolers for 370, and wondered if that might be an option. I've got a Core2Duo 1U server with a passive sink, but it's got some ducting on it and 3x40mm fans blowing into it. I wasn't sure if you had to go with ducting with a passive sink, or if they ever work alone?
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I've got a Core2Duo 1U server with a passive sink, but it's got some ducting on it and 3x40mm fans blowing into it.
That's not passive then, just has the fans remote to the heatsink.
It's the same arrangement that's in the x-peak and x-core-e boxes. I don't see why you couldn't do that but you'd have to monitor the cpu temperature carefully to make sure you had sufficient airflow.
Steve
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i have a question about the steps to install pfsense on a firebox.
3. 99 Install, accepted all defaults except chose embedded kernel
Why the embedded kernel, instead of the UniProcessor one?
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The embedded kernel uses com1 for console access, useful when you have no on board video.
Also it disables swap and logs to ram, very important if you are booting from flash.
Most people use the NanoBSD install now though which has both the above features as well as running two slices with one for backup.Steve
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I don't know if this is the best place for this, but since I'm running an x700…
How do I access the config menu in the console after Bootup complete?
I need to change my LAN IP before I add it to my network, since most of my boxes are static.
I see a menu in almost every screenshot of a boot, but don't see how it was accessed, and I'm not seeing it (not searching right) in the docs
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What are you booting your firebox from? Which install type is it?
If you have installed a NanoBSD image onto a CF card and booted from that then the menu should appear on the serial console after the box has booted. You should see all the boot messages before that.
Steve
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What are you booting your firebox from? Which install type is it?
If you have installed a NanoBSD image onto a CF card and booted from that then the menu should appear on the serial console after the box has booted. You should see all the boot messages before that.
Steve
Thanks - Yes - that's what I'm using, sorry - 2.0RC on a 512CF (biggest I had. I'll upgrade later)
While I read all this thread before starting, it's a lot to take in before the part where you actually sit down with the box. In reading back again I see several other mentions of 2.0RC stopping after Bootup Complete, but the WebGUI working.
I guess these don't have autonegotiate, and I stuck a laptop on there, but without a crossover and couldn't load the WebGUI. I'll try it with a switch tonight and see if it's there.
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Unfortunately the web GUI won't come up until you have assigned at least the LAN interface in the console.
Try using the 1.2.3 image first.Steve
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I actually did get the web gui after adding a switch to the mix. But it went downhill from there. I had it working momentarily, but pretty much bricked it somehow, and decided to start over.
This time I went the 1.2.3 route and upgraded from the web gui - pretty painless all in all. If I had it to do over again, that's the way I'd go from scratch.
While I'm typing, a question that doesn't technically belong here - but anyone know if there's a process for changing to a larger CF, but keeping your configuration/build? Or do you have to start from scratch? And any advantages/gotchas to a Microdrive for nano?
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There's no easy way to expand your existing image into a bigger card but it's easy enough to backup/restore your config into a new image.
There is almost no point in using a microdrive. CF cards are now very large and very cheap.
The only situation you might want to use one is for a full install with logging to disk and access to all the packages. In this situation you are not restricted by the limited writes of flash memory.Some microdrives do not support ATA mode and cannot be used as HD replacement, as it is in the firebox. Typically these include ipod types sold on ebay! ;)
Steve
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Thanks for the tips and suggestions - and this whole thread all together.
I just went ahead and stuck a 4GB in there (from WalMart of all places) when I killed my first build trying to bridge the three extra ports to LAN, so I should be good there. I figured while it was dead was the best time to maximize it. I'll probably never use anything above the 512, but you never know.
I'm so stoked now. I went from never having even flashed a consumer router to firing up a Netflix stream, seeing which WAN it was using, shutting it off, and watching it switch ISPs without so much as a stutter or hiccup.
Even if I never get the extra ports going, it's already awesome.
