Test setup
The installation was validated at SolidRun using the following setup:
Freebsd 13.2-RELEASE
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
Download FreeBSD Image
Creating bootable USB drive
Please follow instructions at Creating bootable USB drive
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 -> <your bootable USB device> -> yes
Device will reset and a PFsense boot screen will appear
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" boot
Kernel messages will start to spill out, wait until you see the following prompt:
Select console type, press enter for default(VT100):
Choose install:
Choose keymap:
Choose host name for your device:
Choose system components, press enter for default:
Select Auto (UFS) Guided UFS Disk Setup:
Select installation disk:
Select Entire disk:
Confirm destructive action:
Select partition scheme:
Review disk setup and select Finish:
Confirm destructive action:
Wait for the installation to finish:
Select password:
Select network interface to configure:
Follow the istructions to configure the interface.
Configure resolver:
Configure your system:
Configure system hardening:
Add users if needed:
Follow the istructions to add a new user
Apply the configurations and exit the isntaller:
Open shell to further configure the system:
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 want to hide the boot log, add:
boot_mute="YES"
Reboot