503 - Service Not Available Error
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While trying to troubleshoot an IPSEC VPN setup that was failing, I rebooted the PfSense unit from the GUI and am no longer able to access the GUI at all. I get the 503 - Service Not Available Error.
( Hardware is the VK-T40E, running latest version of PfSense )
My attempts to log in via the console are met with a login prompt that I cannot get past. My normal GUI login doesn't work at all. Booted into single user mode, ran through the process of resetting the password to the defaults and rebooted the unit. ( boot single user mode -> /sbin/mount -t -a ufs -> /etc/rc.initial.password -> reboot )
The default login / password combo doesn't work either even after running the rc.initial.password script :|
SSH isn't enabled on the box, so I currently have no means to access neither the GUI nor the console menu to reload the software.
Are there any other options to gain access to the console menu before I throw this entire unit through the nearest wall and go back to using my Cisco 3825 ?
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Why don't you just reinstall the box and restore configuration backup?
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That's easier said than done since I've never had to reinstall the software from scratch on the VK-T40E box.
I don't suppose there is a document floating around out there that shows one how to install the PfSense software onto the M-SSD that's in the VK box ? Upgrade from console* didn't do squat. Went through the entire process and I still can't get the GD Web Gui to come up.
*Noted my console login was root / password vs admin / password, so I now have console access again.
( This thing came pre-loaded with the software and I don't have the first clue as to how to reinstall it from scratch. Assuming you can boot an install image from a USB stick via the console port and go from there ? )
For now, until I calm down about it, I've pulled the PfSense hardware offline and have reverted back to the Cisco platform. If I'm unable to figure out how to reinstall the image onto the VK box, I'll make a ceremony out of putting a block of Thermite on top of it and burning it to ash :|
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That's easier said than done since I've never had to reinstall the software from scratch on the VK-T40E box.
Then you where getting also 1 year of premium support, right?
And what they where answering to your open ticket?I don't suppose there is a document floating around out there that shows one how to
install the PfSense software onto the M-SSD that's in the VK box ? Upgrade from console* didn't do squat. Went through the entire process and I still can't get the GD Web Gui to come up.This is then a mSATA SSD, is this right?
(This thing came pre-loaded with the software and I don't have the first clue as to how to reinstall it from scratch. Assuming you can boot an install image from a USB stick via the console port and go from there ? )
Did you opening a ticket at the support?
For now, until I calm down about it, I've pulled the PfSense hardware offline and have reverted back to the Cisco platform.
I am pretty sure no ine was pressing you to go with pfSense, or?
If I'm unable to figure out how to reinstall the image onto the VK box, I'll make a
ceremony out of putting a block of Thermite on top of it and burning it to ash :|Should we call the homeland security or NSA to help you?
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Leaving the support aside, simple Google search for "pfSense APU install" or this forum gives you exactly what you need.
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@BlueKobold:
Then you where getting also 1 year of premium support, right?
And what they where answering to your open ticket?Yes, I have one year of premium support. Ticket was submitted and is pending an answer.
This is then a mSATA SSD, is this right?
That is correct.
Did you opening a ticket at the support?
See answer above.
I am pretty sure no ine was pressing you to go with pfSense, or?
I purchased the hardware and the Gold Membership ( because it's unlikely the updated book will ever get published )
so I could run the box through its paces to see if it would be a viable alternative to some of the Cisco hardware I currently run.
While the lifetime of the SSD is one of my concerns, the fact the file system managed to corrupt itself with a simple reboot
( via the GUI at that ) doesn't do a lot for my confidence. Makes utilizing a UPS system of some sort a mandatory item.I'll give it the benefit of the doubt in that it's only happened once, but I've run Cisco units for many years and the one thing
they provide is rock solid reliability.Should we call the homeland security or NSA to help you?
Sarcasm will get you nowhere, but if you have their number feel free to give them a ring and chat them up.
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Leaving the support aside, simple Google search for "pfSense APU install" or this forum gives you exactly what you need.
While Google and the typical search algorithms can make life pretty easy, knowing what search terms to utilize makes all
the difference in the world. For example: " pfsense install VK-T40E " produces absolutely nothing useful that I could locate.
Thus, the question here on the forum and the submitted ticket.I will try again utilizing your search terms and see if they produce better results.
My assumptions are that the image will be loaded on a USB stick and the unit directed to boot from said stick during the
initialization process and the image copied over to the SSD. So far I have yet to get the VK unit to successfully boot from
the USB, ( it appears to start, but hangs ) but I'll continue to research it until support or a forum answer tells me otherwise. -
Is this something right for you?
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Looks like they had a more difficult time than I getting it reloaded :D
After using doktornotor's search terms, I found a page that pretty much gives a step by step tutorial on how to reload this thing.
Turns out I was on the right track from the get-go, just the software I was using to make the USB stick bootable wasn't playing nice. :|The tutorial in question for future reference: http://www.get-virtual.net/2014/09/16/build-firewall-appliance/