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    Successful Install on Watchguard Firebox X700!

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Hardware
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    • S
      Sifter
      last edited by

      Ive gone ahead and purchased a 4gig hitachi microdrive.  Id like to use this in the x700.  Can I do a full install to the microdrive from my other computer, then slide it into the cf slot in the x700?

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • M
        moep
        last edited by

        I replaced our Firebox X500 for pfsense a few months ago and never noticed this thread.
        Selling the box isn't worth it so I ripped into it and cleaned it today.

        Now I'm wondering if anyone has tried installing a 1024 MB PC-133 stick in it?
        I'd like to run a couple of packages on the box (squid in particular, i guess it's too weak for snort ) so the more RAM the better I'd guess.

        Also, what's the smartest solution when it comes to the installation?
        I think I'll go with the "connect cdrom-drive and do the installation via serial console"-route.
        And I'm definitely going to put a harddrive in there, should I get rid of the CF card and do the full installation on the HD or install the base system on a CF and while leaving all busy partitions on the HD?

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • V
          Valhalla1
          last edited by

          @moep:

          I replaced our Firebox X500 for pfsense a few months ago and never noticed this thread.
          Selling the box isn't worth it so I ripped into it and cleaned it today.

          Now I'm wondering if anyone has tried installing a 1024 MB PC-133 stick in it?
          I'd like to run a couple of packages on the box (squid in particular, i guess it's too weak for snort ) so the more RAM the better I'd guess.

          Also, what's the smartest solution when it comes to the installation?
          I think I'll go with the "connect cdrom-drive and do the installation via serial console"-route.
          And I'm definitely going to put a harddrive in there, should I get rid of the CF card and do the full installation on the HD or install the base system on a CF and while leaving all busy partitions on the HD?

          not sure anyones reporting attempting a cdrom install,  it might have problems recognizing or booting from a cdrom unless you can get into the motherboard BIOS config, but good luck.  You can always install the system on another machine and swap the disk out

          here's a question, I just got around to installing phpsysinfo on my Firebox x500 and noticed the temperature sensors seem outragous, is this false info or is something inside my box about to spontaneously combust?  This seemingly hasn't caused any problems but doesn't look pretty

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • M
            moep
            last edited by

            I've finished the installation on my Firebox now, went a different route:

            Attached the notebook-disk to my Notebook via an IDE-USB adapter, fired up VMware Fusion, used the .iso and installed pfsense to the disk via vmware. It worked fine.

            The box will boot with a doublesided 1024 MB PC-133 stick but only 512 MB are recognized.

            And well, keep an eye out for the completely open PSU while working in there. I was stupid enough to accidentally touch a 220V part while swapping the HDD with the box plugged in. Fun, fun.:D

            @ Valhalla1: 127° is a default temperature for sensors as far as I remember. I wouldn't worry too much about it unless the temperature actually fluctuates over 120°C.

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

              Anyone have a good way of removing the heatsink/fan from the Celeron chip that is stock?  I have a PIII 1.4 chip that Id like to throw in, but the heatsink seems bonded pretty tight to the existing celeron.

              Idea's are welcomed.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • M
                moep
                last edited by

                My X500 only has liquid thermal compound between the CPU and HSF — no “baked in” thermal pad or anything like it.
                All it takes is a slight twist and the HSF will come off.
                If your’s sticks to the CPU, try running the firebox so the thermal compound heats up and gets soft. Then lift it off without applying excessive force.

                If you have trouble opening the clip, see the picture for how it works. Be careful not to break the little tabs on the socket though.

                IMG_5223.jpg
                IMG_5223.jpg_thumb
                IMG_5224.jpg
                IMG_5224.jpg_thumb

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • F
                  familyguy
                  last edited by

                  @Valhalla1:

                  How are you generating this system info page?  It seems a LOT more informative than the default.  Is that some special add-on?

                  Best,

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • jahonixJ
                    jahonix
                    last edited by

                    That's a package called 'phpSysInfo'.
                    You can install it from  System|Packages  if you are on a full install.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • F
                      familyguy
                      last edited by

                      @jahonix:

                      That's a package called 'phpSysInfo'.
                      You can install it from  System|Packages  if you are on a full install.

                      Ah.  It doesn't appear to be available for the 1.2.1-snapshots.

                      Best,

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

                        @moep:

                        My X500 only has liquid thermal compound between the CPU and HSF — no “baked in” thermal pad or anything like it.
                        All it takes is a slight twist and the HSF will come off.
                        If your’s sticks to the CPU, try running the firebox so the thermal compound heats up and gets soft. Then lift it off without applying excessive force.

                        If you have trouble opening the clip, see the picture for how it works. Be careful not to break the little tabs on the socket though.

                        Worked like a charm, thank you.

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

                          @Sifter:

                          It looks like the mini pci slot could be used for a wifi card, so you could choose if you wanted a vpn card or wifi card in that slot.  Granted, both have to be recognized by pfsense.

                          So has anyone tried sticking a wifi card in there? If not, what's a generally accepted card for FreeBSD which I could try?

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

                            @emigrating:

                            @Sifter:

                            It looks like the mini pci slot could be used for a wifi card, so you could choose if you wanted a vpn card or wifi card in that slot.  Granted, both have to be recognized by pfsense.

                            So has anyone tried sticking a wifi card in there? If not, what's a generally accepted card for FreeBSD which I could try?

                            I havent tried it yet, but I do have one at home.  I finally received my hitachi 4gig microdrive, so I can now install pfsense on the thing and then boot my x700.  Hopefully Ill have time later this week.

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

                              @Sifter:

                              I havent tried it yet, but I do have one at home.  I finally received my hitachi 4gig microdrive, so I can now install pfsense on the thing and then boot my x700.  Hopefully Ill have time later this week.

                              Cool. Do keep us updated.

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

                                Ok below is my screen from the serial cable.  I ordered a Hitachi 4gig microdrive off ebay, and this morning did a full install to it via a bootable cdrom on another machine.  I had a usb-cf card reader that was attached to the computer.  After it got done installing, I took it out and slid it into the firebox cf slot.

                                Will ufs:ad0 be my microdrive?

                                Copyright © 1992-2007 The FreeBSD Project.                                           
                                Copyright (c) 1979, 1980, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994                                                                       
                                        The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.                                                                         
                                FreeBSD is a registered trademark of The FreeBSD Foundation.                                                           
                                FreeBSD 6.2-RELEASE-p11 #0: Sun Feb 24 16:32:58 EST 2008                                                       
                                    sullrich@builder6.pfsense.com:/usr/obj.pfSense/usr/src/sys/pfSense.6                                                                       
                                Timecounter "i8254" frequency 1193182 Hz quality 0                                                 
                                CPU: Intel(R) Pentium(R) III CPU - S         1400MHz (1403.19-MHz 686-class CPU)

                                Origin = "GenuineIntel"  Id = 0x6b4  Stepping = 4                                                   
                                  Features=0x383f9ff<fpu,vme,de,pse,tsc,msr,pae,mce,cx8,sep,mtrr,p   =""  <br="">T,PSE36,MMX,FXSR,SSE>                     
                                real memory  = 268435456 (256 MB)                                 
                                avail memory = 253263872 (241 MB)                                 
                                wlan: mac acl policy registered                               
                                kbd1 at kbdmux0               
                                ath_hal: 0.9.17.2 (AR5210, AR5211, AR5212, RF5111, RF5112, RF2413, RF5413)                                                                         
                                cpu0 on motherboard                   
                                pcib0: <intel 82815="" (i815="" gmch)="" host="" to="" hub="" bridge="">pcibus 0 on motherboard                                                                           
                                pir0: <pci 11="" interrupt="" routing="" table:="" entries="">on motherboard                                                             
                                $PIR: Using invalid BIOS IRQ 9 from 2.13.INTA for link 0x63                                                           
                                pci0: <pci bus="">on pcib0                       
                                pcib1: <pcibios pci-pci="" bridge="">at device 30.0 on pci0                                                     
                                pci2: <pci bus="">on pcib1                       
                                pci2: <unknown>at device 6.0 (no driver attached)                                                 
                                re0: <realtek 10="" 8139c+="" 100basetx="">port 0xd500-0xd5ff mem 0xefefa000-0xefefa1ff                                                                               
                                irq 10 at device 9.0 on pci2                           
                                miibus0: <mii bus="">on re0                         
                                rlphy0: <realtek internal="" media="" interface="">on miibus0                                                     
                                rlphy0:  10baseT, 10baseT-FDX, 100baseTX, 100baseTX-FDX, auto                                                             
                                re0: Ethernet address: 00:90:7f:31:0e:f2                                       
                                re0: [FAST]           
                                re1: <realtek 10="" 8139c+="" 100basetx="">port 0xd600-0xd6ff mem 0xefefb000-0xefefb1ff                                                                               
                                irq 5 at device 10.0 on pci2                           
                                miibus1: <mii bus="">on re1                         
                                rlphy1: <realtek internal="" media="" interface="">on miibus1                                                     
                                rlphy1:  10baseT, 10baseT-FDX, 100baseTX, 100baseTX-FDX, auto                                                             
                                re1: Ethernet address: 00:90:7f:31:0e:f3                                       
                                re1: [FAST]           
                                re2: <realtek 10="" 8139c+="" 100basetx="">port 0xd900-0xd9ff mem 0xefefc000-0xefefc1ff                                                                               
                                irq 11 at device 11.0 on pci2                             
                                miibus2: <mii bus="">on re2                         
                                rlphy2: <realtek internal="" media="" interface="">on miibus2                                                     
                                rlphy2:  10baseT, 10baseT-FDX, 100baseTX, 100baseTX-FDX, auto                                                             
                                re2: Ethernet address: 00:90:7f:31:0e:f4                                       
                                re2: [FAST]           
                                re3: <realtek 10="" 8139c+="" 100basetx="">port 0xda                                         
                                irq 12 at device 12.0 on pci2                             
                                miibus3: <mii bus="">on re3                         
                                rlphy3: <realtek internal="" media="" interface="">on miibus3                                                     
                                rlphy3:  10baseT, 10baseT-FDX, 100baseTX, 100baseTX-FDX, auto                                                             
                                re3: Ethernet address: 00:90:7f:31:0e:f5                                       
                                re3: [FAST]           
                                re4: <realtek 10="" 8139c+="" 100basetx="">port 0xdd00-0xddff mem 0xefefe000-0xefefe1ff                                                                               
                                irq 9 at device 13.0 on pci2                           
                                miibus4: <mii bus="">on re4                         
                                rlphy4: <realtek internal="" media="" interface="">on miibus4                                                     
                                rlphy4:  10baseT, 10baseT-FDX, 100baseTX, 100baseTX-FDX, auto                                                             
                                re4: Ethernet address: 00:90:7f:31:0e:f6                                       
                                re4: [FAST]           
                                re5: <realtek 10="" 8139c+="" 100basetx="">port 0xde00-0xdeff mem 0xefeff000-0xefeff1ff                                                                               
                                irq 6 at device 14.0 on pci2                           
                                miibus5: <mii bus="">on re5                         
                                rlphy5: <realtek internal="" media="" interface="">on miibus5                                                     
                                rlphy5:  10baseT, 10baseT-FDX, 100baseTX, 100baseTX-FDX, auto                                                             
                                re5: Ethernet address: 00:90:7f:31:0e:f7                                       
                                re5: [FAST]           
                                isab0: <pci-isa bridge="">at device 31.0 on pci0                                             
                                isa0: <isa bus="">on isab0                       
                                atapci0: <intel ich2="" udma100="" controller="">port 0x1f0-0x1f7,0x3f6,0x170-0x177,0x37                                                                               
                                6,0xff00-0xff0f at device 31.1 on pci0                                     
                                ata0: <ata 0="" channel="">on atapci0                               
                                ata1: <ata 1="" channel="">on atapci0                               
                                pmtimer0 on isa0               
                                orm0: <isa option="" rom="">at iomem 0xe0000-0xe0fff on isa0                                                       
                                atkbdc0: <keyboard controller="" (i8042)="">at port 0x60,0x64 on isa0                                                               
                                atkbd0: <at keyboard="">irq 1 on atkbdc0                                     
                                kbd0 at atkbd0             
                                atkbd0: [GIANT-LOCKED]
                                ppc0: <parallel port="">at port 0x378-0x37f irq 7 on isa0
                                ppc0: Generic chipset (ECP/PS2/NIBBLE) in COMPATIBLE mode
                                ppc0: FIFO with 16/16/16 bytes threshold
                                ppbus0: <parallel port="" bus="">on ppc0
                                lpt0: <printer>on ppbus0
                                lpt0: Interrupt-driven port
                                ppi0: <parallel i="" o="">on ppbus0
                                sio0 at port 0x3f8-0x3ff irq 4 flags 0x10 on isa0
                                sio0: type 16550A, console
                                sio1: configured irq 3 not in bitmap of probed irqs 0
                                sio1: port may not be enabled
                                unknown: <pnp0c01>can't assign resources (memory)
                                unknown: <pnp0303>can't assign resources (port)
                                speaker0: <pc speaker="">at port 0x61 on isa0
                                unknown: <pnp0501>can't assign resources (port)
                                unknown: <pnp0401>can't assign resources (port)
                                RTC BIOS diagnostic error 20 <config_unit>Timecounter "TSC" frequency 1403186855 Hz quality 800
                                Timecounters tick every 1.000 msec
                                Fast IPsec: Initialized Security Association Processing.
                                ad0: 3906MB <hms360604d5cf00 dp4ec30h="">at ata0-master UDMA33                                                       
                                ad0: FAILURE - READ_DMA timed out LBA=7999485                                             
                                ad0: FAILURE - READ_DMA timed out LBA=7999471                                             
                                ad0: FAILURE - READ_DMA timed out LBA=7999484                                             
                                ad0: FAILURE - READ_DMA timed out LBA=7999487                                             
                                ad0: FAILURE - READ_DMA timed out LBA=7999425                                             
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (1 retry left) LBA=7999487                                                           
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (0 retries left) LBA=7999487                                                             
                                ad0: FAILURE - READ_DMA timed out LBA=7999487                                             
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (1 retry left) LBA=7999487                                                           
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (0 retries left) LBA=7999487                                                             
                                ad0: FAILURE - READ_DMA timed out LBA=7999487                                             
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (1 retry left) LBA=128                                                       
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (0 retries left) LBA=128                                                         
                                ad0: FAILURE - READ_DMA timed out LBA=128                                         
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (1 retry left) LBA=16                                                     
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (0 retries left) LBA=16                                                       
                                ad0: FAILURE - READ_DMA timed out L                                 
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (1 retry left) LBA=0                                                     
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (0 retries left) LBA=0                                                       
                                ad0: FAILURE - READ_DMA timed out LBA=0                                       
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (1 retry left) LBA=512                                                       
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (0 retries left) LBA=512                                                         
                                ad0: FAILURE - READ_DMA timed out LBA=512                                         
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (1 retry left) LBA=64                                                     
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (0 retries left) LBA=64                                                       
                                ad0: FAILURE - READ_DMA timed out LBA=64                                       
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (1 retry left) LBA=0
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (0 retries left) LBA=0
                                ad0: FAILURE - READ_DMA timed out LBA=0
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (1 retry left) LBA=2
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (0 retries left) LBA=2
                                ad0: FAILURE - READ_DMA timed out LBA=2
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (1 retry left) LBA=16
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (0 retries left) LBA=16
                                ad0: FAILURE - READ_DMA timed out LBA=16
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (1 retry left) LBA=128
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (0 retries left) LBA=128
                                ad0: FAILURE - READ_DMA timed out LBA=128
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (1 retry left) LBA=0
                                ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (0 retries left) LBA=0
                                ad0: FAILURE - READ_DMA timed out LBA=0
                                Trying to mount root from ufs:/dev/da0s1a

                                Manual root filesystem specification:
                                  <fstype>:<device>  Mount <device>using filesystem <fstype>eg. ufs:da0s1a
                                  ?                  List valid disk boot devices
                                  <empty line="">       Abort manual input

                                mountroot></empty></fstype></device></device></fstype></hms360604d5cf00></config_unit></pnp0401></pnp0501></pc></pnp0303></pnp0c01></parallel></printer></parallel></parallel></at></keyboard></isa></ata></ata></intel></isa></pci-isa></realtek></mii></realtek></realtek></mii></realtek></realtek></mii></realtek></realtek></mii></realtek></realtek></mii></realtek></realtek></mii></realtek></unknown></pci></pcibios></pci></pci></intel></fpu,vme,de,pse,tsc,msr,pae,mce,cx8,sep,mtrr,p >

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

                                  When I try ad0 I get:

                                  mountroot> ufs:ad0
                                  Trying to mount root from ufs:ad0
                                  ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (1 retry left) LBA=128
                                  ad0: TIMEOUT - READ_DMA retrying (0 retries left) LBA=128
                                  ad0: FAILURE - READ_DMA timed out LBA=128

                                  Manual root filesystem specification:
                                    <fstype>:<device>  Mount <device>using filesystem <fstype>eg. ufs:da0s1a
                                    ?                  List valid disk boot devices
                                    <empty line="">       Abort manual input

                                  mountroot>

                                  …even though when I display the bootable devices it gives me:

                                  List of GEOM managed disk devices:
                                    ad0</empty></fstype></device></device></fstype>

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                                  • S
                                    Sifter
                                    last edited by

                                    @jmcentire:

                                    Works perfectly!  So if you have any old p3s laying around, swap em out and get a little more performance!  Also these boards do support 512 MB sticks of PC133, so as soon as I find some I will be upgrading that as well.

                                    I just stuck in a 512meg stick into mine and it still registers as 256.  I had this problem on the old IP330's as well.

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                                    • dotdashD
                                      dotdash
                                      last edited by

                                      I would try setting hw.ata.ata_dma=0 in the loader.conf to see if that helps getting the microdrive to boot.

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                                      • S
                                        Sifter
                                        last edited by

                                        @dotdash:

                                        I would try setting hw.ata.ata_dma=0 in the loader.conf to see if that helps getting the microdrive to boot.

                                        How would I go about doing that?

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                                        • D
                                          Dayblade
                                          last edited by

                                          Sorry to be a noob and ask this - but been following this thread faithfully and finally decided to take the plunge and try pfSense on my Firebox x700 - however - having difficulties getting the Hyperterminal commands to "take" - more specifically - I get to see the boot sequence and it asks me for the "mount location" - and then I attempt to type in the commands to mount the hard drive and I am not getting "ENTER" to work.  Any clues?

                                          Great resource and forums by the way peeps - thx for all the hard work and effort you guys have done in making pfSense work as well as it has.

                                          Dayblade

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                                          • dotdashD
                                            dotdash
                                            last edited by

                                            @Sifter:

                                            @dotdash:

                                            I would try setting hw.ata.ata_dma=0 in the loader.conf to see if that helps getting the microdrive to boot.

                                            How would I go about doing that?

                                            Drop to a shell and enter:
                                            echo 'hw.ata.ata_dma="0"' >>/boot/loader.conf

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