Troubleshooting pfSense computer

Jantje · Jul 19, 2008, 8:49 AM

Random crashes could also be a result of faulty capacitors. Open up your computer case and check to see if any of the capacitors look like the ones in the attached picture. Note that the top of a capacitor should always be flat. If it's not, then it needs to be replaced. Although it's often easier just to replace the motherboard entirely.

Creighton · Jul 19, 2008, 4:33 PM

@cmb:

When it happens, can you still get into the web interface? The description you've given thus far is pretty broad, narrowing down things will help determine what is happening.

When it crashes, I can't ping it, nor access the web interface. The options menu on the actual monitor attached to the pfSense computer is frozen as well. (Pressing any keys/numbered options does nothing.) I've let it sit like that for a while in hopes of recovering itself, but it never does. A restart would bring it back to working order for a random amount of time. (Minutes to hours)

As of right now, I've had it up and running for 48 hours without a single freeze. Seems odd since I have changed very little of the previous configuration it was running on. This is what I did:

leave it unplugged for a few days
tested the RAM, CPU, etc
let pfSense run disconnected from everything overnight
enabled remote syslog'ing to my personal computer's syslog server & disabled writing log files to local ram disk

Thanks for the help so far. As far as faulty capacitors, I will eventually take a look into that. (I'm scared to turn it off now that it seems to be back to functional working order :) )

Valhalla1 · Jul 26, 2008, 11:27 AM

I like your network map, hehe.. just curious, from looking at the map it looks almost like you're using pfsense to load balance your cable modem along with maybe your neighbor's cable modem by tapping into his unsecured wireless.. lol

cheesyboofs · Jul 27, 2008, 9:52 AM

hehe, a bit off topic but that's exactly what I thought.

Creighton · Aug 4, 2008, 8:53 PM

@Valhalla1:

I like your network map, hehe.. just curious, from looking at the map it looks almost like you're using pfsense to load balance your cable modem along with maybe your neighbor's cable modem by tapping into his unsecured wireless.. lol

Exactly (but with permission and its a secure access point where pfsense's WAN2 is the only client). My goal was to basically give RoadRunner the middle finger ;D .

Anyway, back on topic - I removed the CMOS battery and the computer hasn't froze since. Is this some weird coincidence, or could the battery actually negatively effect the system/pfsense? I thought it was only used for the internal clock and BIOS.

cheesyboofs · Aug 4, 2008, 9:16 PM

I seriously doubt it.
More likely you enabled some setting in your BIOS freebsd didn't like, (speed stepping, DRAM speed adjustments) and when you pulled the battery it is now running on the 'fail safe' defaults IMHO :)

MikeyB · Aug 4, 2008, 9:20 PM

Wow i was just about to make a post about this

my pfSense box has just started doing this… random crashes, no web interface, cant ping, but all the link lights are on... i have to reboot the system then its fine again

jsmwalker · Aug 13, 2008, 5:00 PM

I would also third this, been running since setup (only 30days ago) and suddenly in the last 4 days has locked up twice, no web interface, no ping, no console…. very weird.

Anyone?

J

cheesyboofs · Aug 14, 2008, 7:58 AM

@jsmwalker & MikeyB

You guy's really need to edit your posts and state what version you are running, I too have seen very similar lockup's but ONLY on version 1.2.1.

http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,10214.0.html

The first thing to rule out with lockup's is heat! Has the environment your router is got hotter recently? I know my problem isn't heat related because it doesn't happen under 1.2-Release and the BIOS says the CPU is at 42 degrees.

Cheers

jsmwalker · Aug 14, 2008, 8:29 AM

Hi

Yep sorry about that, had posted on another forum about another issue (RRD graphs stopping) and forgot to put version on this, the version i'm running is 1.2-RELEASE built on Sun Feb 24 17:04:58 EST 2008, I can't imagine it is heat in my case, is in a a/c server room, although not as cool as i'd hope it hasn't been hotter then in the last month.

Is very frustrating, as this is such a great product, and yes there are a few bugs but nothing the distracts from the overall excellence, apart from this one issue :-[

J

MikeyB · Aug 24, 2008, 5:15 AM

I just thought i would post here insted of making a new topic…

its really starting to annoy me. it locks up randomly.... but i know whats doing it.... large downloads.... or 2 or more torrents downloading causing pfsense to lock up, computer is on, link lights are on.... cant ping router though...

im running
1.2-RELEASE
built on Sun Feb 24 17:04:58 EST 2008

every time i start a download of server 2008 from microsoft (1.7GB) it will lock up after a few seconds.

jsmwalker · Aug 24, 2008, 10:57 AM

Hi

Thanks for your idea, but have managed to download Vista Business the other day (2.1Gb) with no problem at all (This was from MS, using webbrowser not download manager, and we dont allow Torrents in the office). Have to say I have moved over to other hardware and since that poin haven't had any lock ups at all, but saying that, didn't have any problems with the oroginal hardware for 30days so can't be sure that this may not happen again.

J