Network interface mismatch on ALIX

dotdash

I see the same messages on 1.3 AA builds on an Alix2c3. I think it is just due to FreeBSD 7 telling you the driver needs updating. It still seems to work fine. I'm sure other drivers are showing warnings also.

firestar

I didn't try the 1.3 ALPHA, but with all latest embedded snapshots I'm unable to start pfSense. It enters in this 'question-loop':

Creating symlinks......done.
Launching PHP init system... done.
Initializing.................. done.
Starting device manager (devd)...done.
Loading configuration......done.

Network interface mismatch -- Running interface assignment option.

Valid interfaces are:

vr0     XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
vr1     XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
vr2     XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
ath0    XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX

Do you want to set up VLANs first?
If you are not going to use VLANs, or only for optional interfaces, you should 
say no here and use the webConfigurator to configure VLANs later, if required.

Do you want to set up VLANs now [y|n]?

I answer no by pressing 'n' and I hit enter, but it always asks the same
question. I'm forced to switch off power and reflash the old CF's content.

I don't understand what happens, because I followed the same steps when I flashed pfSense 1.2rc4.

I'd like to understand what "Network interface mismatch – Running interface assignment option." exactly means. ???
The CF's content haven't got any previous configuration because it got re-flashed with new binary .img file.

Are you using the embedded platform or you use a Microdrive with a Full install?
Have you also tried embedded 1.2.1 testing snapshots?

I'm worried about the future of my Alix2c3...

Thank you!

dotdash

The embedded images aren't configured for vr interfaces by default, so assigning the interfaces is a necessary step. The 1.2 release images also do this- I actually never tried rc4 on an Alix.
What happens if you assign the interfaces, say vr0 for LAN, vr1 WAN, vr2 OPT1, ath0 OPT2?

firestar

It doesn't allow me to assign interfaces as it should be.
To do that is necessary to answer no to this question:

Do you want to set up VLANs now [y|n]?

…but then it asks the same question forever denying me to step over and use a newer version of pfSense on my Alix2c3.
That's why I'm curious to know what causes this 'loop'.

Hence are you using 1.3AA for everyday use? Did you use 1.2 release before?

Regards

dotdash

Strange. Are you are saying that it shows you the list of interfaces, and when you say no to setting up VLANs it loops instead of asking which interface you want to assign to WAN? Or are you trying to use VLANs and the VLAN setup is looping?
I have a dozen or so Alix's with 1.2 release in the field. I have a test Alix with 1.3AA on my desk-NOT in production.

firestar

@dotdash:

Are you are saying that it shows you the list of interfaces, and when you say no to setting up VLANs it loops instead of asking which interface you want to assign to WAN?

Yes. It is strange, but it happens :-\

Or are you trying to use VLANs and the VLAN setup is looping?

By answering no, it shouldn't try to use VLANs. Theoretically.
I read about VLAN problems in "KnownIssues121" , but I don't use VLAN and my problem should be unrelated to this.

I have a dozen or so Alix's with 1.2 release in the field. I have a test Alix with 1.3AA on my desk-NOT in production.

Now my Alix2c3 came back to use pfSense-1.2rc4 and it is working well again. I don't understand why this happens and I'd like to hear opinions from pfSense developers, too.

dotdash

Hmm. I'll grab the latest snap of 1.2.1, try it in my test 2c3 and see what happens.

dotdash

Don't know what to tell you, but it works for me. Here's what I did:

grabbed pfSense-20080711-0208.img.gz from the snapshot server
Un-zipped it to pfSense-20080711-0208.img
Used physdiskwrite to write the image to a 1GB cf card. (how big is your card- old images would fit on a 128, newer images need 256+)
Put the card in my Alix and booted.

Welcome to pfSense 1.2.1-TESTING-SNAPSHOT on the 'embedded' platform…

Setting up embedded specific environment... done.
Mounting filesystems... done.
Creating symlinks......done.
Launching PHP init system... done.
Initializing.................. done.
Starting device manager (devd)...done.
Loading configuration......done.

Network interface mismatch -- Running interface assignment option.

Valid interfaces are:

vr0 00:0d:b9:12:e6:bc
vr1 00:0d:b9:12:e6:bd
vr2 00:0d:b9:12:e6:be
ath0 00:11:f5:8f:3d:97

Do you want to set up VLANs first?
If you are not going to use VLANs, or only for optional interfaces, you should
say no here and use the webConfigurator to configure VLANs later, if required.

Do you want to set up VLANs now [y|n]?n

NOTE pfSense requires AT LEAST 2 assigned interfaces to function.
If you do not have two interfaces you CANNOT continue.

If you do not have at least two REAL network interface cards
or one interface with multiple VLANs then pfSense WILL NOT
function correctly.

If you do not know the names of your interfaces, you may choose to use
auto-detection. In that case, disconnect all interfaces now before
hitting 'a' to initiate auto detection.

Enter the LAN interface name or 'a' for auto-detection: vr0

Enter the WAN interface name or 'a' for auto-detection: vr1

Enter the Optional 1 interface name or 'a' for auto-detection
(or nothing if finished): vr2

Enter the Optional 2 interface name or 'a' for auto-detection
(or nothing if finished): ath0

Enter the Optional 3 interface name or 'a' for auto-detection
(or nothing if finished):

The interfaces will be assigned as follows:

LAN -> vr0
WAN -> vr1
OPT1 -> vr2
OPT2 -> ath0

Do you want to proceed [y|n]?y

Updating configuration…done.

firestar

Thank you for having tested a newer snapshot on your ALIX.

Tomorrow I'll try to reflash my CF with a newer .img, I hope it will work, because it is really strange.

Regards

cmb

@firestar:

It doesn't allow me to assign interfaces as it should be.
To do that is necessary to answer no to this question:
Do you want to set up VLANs now [y|n]?
…but then it asks the same question forever denying me to step over and use a newer version of pfSense on my Alix2c3.

I loaded 1.2.1 on my ALIX and it works fine. Anything you enter there other than "y" will skip VLAN assignment and move to interface assignment. No clue how you could have ended up with anything different, that code hasn't changed at all since 1.2 release.