Installing PFsense

Tested on PFsense 2.7
kernel: freeBSD 14 which includes amd_xgbe and intel igc drivers

Version 2.6 was tested and working, BUT intel nics and SFPs are not working due to lack of drivers 

• 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 IS CORRECT 

  • Maybe there are more settings to add later 

  • Type boot 

• You will be prompted with a console type selection, tested on console type vt100 (it’s the default 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 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