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 https://solidrun.atlassian.net/l/cp/m9Reo11r

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

After boot

• When you see the main boot menu: 

Open

• 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 

  Open

  

   

• 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