Installing PFsense

Installing PFsense

Test setup

The installation was validated at SolidRun using the following setup:

• PFsense 2.7 community

• Note: versions below 2.7 do not have drivers for intel nics and SFP

• Terminal software:

  • Putty

  • Alternatively, Tio can also be used. known TIO limitation: in BIOS, the currently selected option is displayed in the same color as the background, which makes it not visible, yet it is still fully functional.

• USB flash disk: Kingston Data Traveler

Installation process

Creating bootable USB drive

Please follow instructions at /amd/v3000/sbc-platform/bedrock-v3000-technical-documentation/software-bedrock-v3000/creating-bootable-usb-drive-for-bedrock-v3000.md

Connecting serial console

Please follow instructions at Using serial console with Bedrock V3000

BIOS settings

• Insert the USB media to the device

• Turn on Bedrock

• Repetitively press the DEL / ESC key to enter the BIOS setup

• In BIOS go to -> Save & Exit -> -> yes

• Device will reset and a PFsense boot screen will appear

After boot

• When you see the main boot menu:

• Press "esc" or the arrow buttons to go to the boot option shell

• Set the console redirection (copy to the terminal):

set hw.uart.console="mm:0xfedc9000,rs:2"

    - NOTE: on older versions, the line you paste might look a little weird especially if you type it manually  
example for copy: /K |et hw.uart.console="mm:0xfedc9000,rs:2"   
example for manual type: \\e|/-\\|/r-\\co|sol/-\\|m:/x-ed\\9|0/-\\|:/"   
THIS IS FINE AS LONG AS THE ACTUAL TEXT WAS TYPED CORRECTLY
- Now run:
  - ```
boot

• You will be prompted with a console type selection, tested on console type vt100

  • NOTE: (it’s the default option so you can just press enter)

• Accept copyright and distribution notice

• Choose Install pfSense

• Select keymap

• partitioning:

  • Available options:

  • Guided Root-on-ZFS

  • Auto (UFS) UEFI Guided Disk Setup using UEFI boot method

  • Auto (UFS) BIOS Guided Disk Setup using BIOS boot method

  • Manual - Manual Disk Setup (experts)

  • Shell - Open a shell and partition by hand

  • Note: Options 1 and 2 both worked on bedrock

  • Choose entire disk or partition

  • Choose partition scheme

• Review selections

• To finish, select finish

• Commit to selections

• Wait until the installation is complete

• Select yes because we will need to make the following modifications to enable console:

  • Create the /boot/loader.conf.local file, which will contain our changes and add:

    • hw.uart.console="mm:0xfedc9000,rs:2"

    • console="efi"

    • Note: /boot/loader.conf recreates itself each boot or update, so this will override the changes.

  • If you also don’t want to see the boot log, also add:

    • boot_mute="YES"

• When done type "exit" and reboot the system