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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
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Please follow instructions at Using serial console with Bedrock V3000
BIOS settings
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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 -> <your bootable USB device> -> yes
Device will reset and a grub PFsense boot screen will appear
After boot
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Press "esc" or the arrow buttons to go to the boot option shell
Set the console redirection (copy to the terminal):
Code Block 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:
Code Block 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 , file 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
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