Close

Debugging TODOs

A project log for pfSense Router/Firewall Install

*on a Dell Dimension E521, lol!

sarandisarandi 02/21/2020 at 17:060 Comments
  1. [x] Try reseating both ends of the cable the Dupont connector and the USB itself - no improvement
  2. [x] Try changing USB header positions - no improvement
  3. [x] Update config and test - failed
  4. [x] Collect TODOs
  5. [x] Look into BIOS/Boot Issues as described here. - 20200227
    1. [x] Possibly update BIOS - 20200226 - no noticeable differences in performance or BIOS options
  6. [x] Look into NIC related troubleshooting/tuning as described here.  - 20200227
    1. [x] Possibly install FreeBSD drivers for the PT - 20200226 - I looked into this more but the drivers are being mapped to the interfaces with the expected identifiers (em0-3)
  7. [x] Optional: Figure out what happened to the USB boot drive - is it still useable? [tested 20200223; USB drive functions and boots; I believe the error I was seeing is related to the NIC; Updating TODOs below. ]
    If so,
    1. [ ] Test continuity in Dupont header to USB Female connector
    2. [ ] If there's enough clearance, try mounting DMM clips and observe while trying to force error
    3. [ ]  If the above fail, mount externally and return the connector (see below)
    4. [x] Look into the CSM settings as described here. This is essentially the same as the todo:
      1. pfSense's boot loader is still being wonky - preferring the DVD drive as the highest priority. I want to eliminate this as a sticking point because it adds minutes to the boot sequence - 20200227 - this seems to have mostly resolved itself by disabling several BIOS boot options.
  8. [ ] Prep hard drives for 2.5" HDD install (I'm ready to give up on USB boot)
    1. [x] Move files from 2.5" to 3.5" HDD [completed 20200224; 3.5" drive is behaving erratically, I need a different backup solution.]
    2. [ ] backup both 2.5" and 3.5" HDDs
    3. [ ] partition 2.5" HDD to isolate logs/data from OS
  9. [ ] Reinstall pfSense on 2.5" HDD? after more research, I'm not pursuing this idea.

Discussions