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    PC Engines apu2 experiences

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    • stephenw10S
      stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
      last edited by

      Indeed, it doesn't include any ROMs for APU or recognise the hardware to offer it.
      It does install flashrom though so you can use it to add that via the gui.

      Steve

      QinnQ 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
      • QinnQ
        Qinn @stephenw10
        last edited by Qinn

        @stephenw10 I can't use the GUI and I don't like to have something in the GUI menu that doe not work. Flashrom is already installed using pkg

        Hardeware: Intel(R) Celeron(R) J4125 CPU @ 2.00GHz 102 GB mSATA SSD (ZFS)
        Firmware: Latest-stable-pfSense CE (amd64)
        Packages: pfBlockerNG devel-beta (beta tester) - Avahi - Notes - Ntopng - PIMD/udpbroadcastrelay - Service Watchdog - System Patches

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • stephenw10S
          stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
          last edited by

          The only advantage to doing that is that the package is in the config so if you ever re-install and restore the config flashrom gets installed again. You still need to use flashrom in the CLI.

          Steve

          K 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • QinnQ
            Qinn
            last edited by Qinn

            @stephenw10 I can't use the GUI and I don't like to have something in the GUI menu that does not work. Flashrom is already installed using pkg

            Hardeware: Intel(R) Celeron(R) J4125 CPU @ 2.00GHz 102 GB mSATA SSD (ZFS)
            Firmware: Latest-stable-pfSense CE (amd64)
            Packages: pfBlockerNG devel-beta (beta tester) - Avahi - Notes - Ntopng - PIMD/udpbroadcastrelay - Service Watchdog - System Patches

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • K
              kevindd992002 @stephenw10
              last edited by

              @stephenw10 said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

              The only advantage to doing that is that the package is in the config so if you ever re-install and restore the config flashrom gets installed again. You still need to use flashrom in the CLI.

              Steve

              This is what I do. Even though I don't use the package (since it doesn't work for my APU2C4) I have it installed so that flashrom gets installed persistently even after updating pfsense or reinstalling it.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
              • K
                kevindd992002 @kevindd992002
                last edited by

                @kevindd992002 said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                For the APU2C4, why is it that when I have a serial cable connected between its serial port and a computer, its USB ports don't work? I have a UPS plugged in to one of its USB ports and I use the NUT package in pfsense. As soon as I connect to the hardware through the serial port (using putty), the USB port does not work. Unplugging the serial cable fixes the issue and that's why I know it's the one causing it. This is happening for both of my APU2C4 boxes.

                As an update to this issue, I bought a Gearmo USB to Serial adapter and it solved the issue I'm having. So the cause is definitely because of the old cheap cable that I was using. Lesson learned.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • stephenw10S stephenw10 referenced this topic on
                • stephenw10S stephenw10 referenced this topic on
                • L
                  logan5247
                  last edited by

                  Anyone try 2.6.0 (or upgrade to pfSense Plus) on the APU2 yet?

                  https://www.reddit.com/r/PFSENSE/comments/ssabdz/pfsense_plus_version_2201_and_pfsense_ce_version/

                  V R K 3 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • V
                    Vollans @logan5247
                    last edited by

                    @logan5247 I don't plan to until I know there are APU LED drivers available, as for sanity at home I rely on those a lot to know whether NBN is working or the backup connection.

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                    • R
                      rcoleman-netgate Netgate @logan5247
                      last edited by

                      @logan5247 During testing I migrated mine without a single issue.

                      Ryan
                      Repeat, after me: MESH IS THE DEVIL! MESH IS THE DEVIL!
                      Requesting firmware for your Netgate device? https://go.netgate.com
                      Switching: Mikrotik, Netgear, Extreme
                      Wireless: Aruba, Ubiquiti

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • K
                        kinch @logan5247
                        last edited by

                        @logan5247 not yet, but i will do it later today, provide feedback then...

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • QinnQ
                          Qinn
                          last edited by Qinn

                          Upgraded pfS 2.5.2 CE to 2.6.0 took about 11 minutes, all went well, after upgrade had to update Avahi.

                          Thnx Netgate!

                          Hardeware: Intel(R) Celeron(R) J4125 CPU @ 2.00GHz 102 GB mSATA SSD (ZFS)
                          Firmware: Latest-stable-pfSense CE (amd64)
                          Packages: pfBlockerNG devel-beta (beta tester) - Avahi - Notes - Ntopng - PIMD/udpbroadcastrelay - Service Watchdog - System Patches

                          DaddyGoD 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • DaddyGoD
                            DaddyGo @Qinn
                            last edited by DaddyGo

                            @qinn said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                            Thnx Netgate!

                            same here on test apu4d4 / FW v4.15.0.2 👏

                            11eb3823-191d-4276-8c0d-107b2dad2535-image.png

                            ++++edit:

                            and it also worked perfectly (let's see what it will show us).... 😉

                            d3322619-b48b-47f2-b02a-93c524251ce4-image.png

                            Cats bury it so they can't see it!
                            (You know what I mean if you have a cat)

                            V 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • V
                              Vollans @DaddyGo
                              last edited by

                              I can confirm the apuled.ko driver that worked in 2.5.2 still works in 2.6

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • K
                                kevindd992002
                                last edited by

                                What is the use of the apuled driver and how do you install it?

                                fireodoF V 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • fireodoF
                                  fireodo @kevindd992002
                                  last edited by

                                  @kevindd992002 said in PC Engines apu2 experiences:

                                  What is the use of the apuled driver and how do you install it?

                                  A possible utilisation you can find here:
                                  Apuled

                                  Regards,
                                  fireodo

                                  Kettop Mi4300YL CPU: i5-4300Y @ 1.60GHz RAM: 8GB Ethernet Ports: 4
                                  SSD: SanDisk pSSD-S2 16GB (ZFS) WiFi: WLE200NX
                                  pfsense 2.8.0 CE
                                  Packages: Apcupsd, Cron, Iftop, Iperf, LCDproc, Nmap, pfBlockerNG, RRD_Summary, Shellcmd, Snort, Speedtest, System_Patches.

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • A
                                    alexouxou
                                    last edited by

                                    Hello,

                                    I'm running APU2 Legacy firmware v4.0.33 and would like to switch to the mainline firmware.
                                    When I bought my APU2 a few years ago I tried to do this update without success.

                                    Is there something specific to verify in order to switch from legacy to mainline firmware.

                                    I saw in this post that I just havec to connect via SSH to my APU2 and then execute these commands (adapted to the current release):

                                    pkg install flashrom
                                    
                                    (upload the firmware to /tmp with scp and run:)
                                    
                                    flashrom -w /tmp/apu2_v4.15.0.3.rom -p internal:boardmismatch=force
                                    Shutdown pfSense, pull the power for 10 seconds, then boot up.
                                    

                                    Is there something else to do or should it run without any error ?
                                    If there is an error, is it possible to rollback ?

                                    Thanks in advance,
                                    Alex

                                    D 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • V
                                      Vollans @kevindd992002
                                      last edited by

                                      @kevindd992002 The apuled driver controls the three LEDs at the front of the box. I use it to provide a quick visual check of the box status.

                                      I have a little script that runs every couple of minutes so that LED 1 shows me how hard the CPU is having to work, flashing at higher speeds as it works harder. LED 2 shows me that my main FTTN/VDSL connection is working, with solid being all ok, flashing being packet loss and no LED being connection dead. LED 3 shows me that my backup 4G connection is working and flashing the same way as my VDSL one does.

                                      You can write a script to make the LEDs do whatever is useful to you. If you do a search for apuled.ko you'll find full instructions and a link to the driver.

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • D
                                        dugeem @alexouxou
                                        last edited by

                                        @alexouxou

                                        No longer any need to use boardmismatch=force since legacy v4.0.15 or mainline v4.6.7.

                                        So just the command

                                        flashrom -w /tmp/apu2_v4.15.0.3.rom -p internal
                                        

                                        (Source github.com/pcengines)

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                        • D
                                          daemonix
                                          last edited by

                                          Hello all!

                                          What do you think is a better wifi antenna placement for an AP2 with both 2.4 and 5 PCIe cards from an RF point of view? 2 antenna each band. Any suggestions?

                                          One side (let's say closer to COM) takes both 2.4G antennas and the other side, closer to USB, takes the 2 5G antennas.
                                          OR
                                          On the back panel (the one with all the IO) takes one 2.4 and one 5G and the second antennas are 'crossed', meaning that on the side closer to the first 2.4G we place a 5G and visa versa.

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • QinnQ
                                            Qinn
                                            last edited by

                                            If I may suggest something, when you need more WiFi range then instead of the APU's WiFi use a few Unifi nanoHD's (access points) as they have managed to create a good roaming WiFi network.

                                            Hardeware: Intel(R) Celeron(R) J4125 CPU @ 2.00GHz 102 GB mSATA SSD (ZFS)
                                            Firmware: Latest-stable-pfSense CE (amd64)
                                            Packages: pfBlockerNG devel-beta (beta tester) - Avahi - Notes - Ntopng - PIMD/udpbroadcastrelay - Service Watchdog - System Patches

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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