Installing pfSense CE on a MBT-2220 and MBT-4220

Download the installer

Download the latest pfSense® CE AMD64 (64-BIT) installer image and select the VGA option.

Prepare the install media

Write the install image to a USB flash-drive or CD/DVD. The installation media must be at least 700MB in size.

Note

MinnowBoards shipped after September 28, 2018 come with a USB key already prepared to install pfSense software. You can go directly to Install pfSense CE below.

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Included USB Key for pfSense Installation

Install pfSense CE

Install pfSense CE in the standard way for a VGA console device:

  1. Insert the installation media. If you’re using the the USB key provided by Netgate, the blue pfSense logo should face up. Ensure that the USB key is completely inserted.

    ../_images/pfsense-usb-key.png

    Blue pfSense Logo Faces Up

    Note

    Best practice is to put the installation media (USB key) in the bottom USB slot (USB 3.0).

  2. Insert a USB keyboard.

  3. Connect the HDMI port to a powered on monitor.

  4. Power on the device.

  5. Access the boot manager and choose to boot from the USB drive.

  6. Follow the prompts to install pfSense software.

Warning

When reinstalling, use UFS, not ZFS. These devices cannot currently boot ZFS volumes when also loading the necessary video drivers.

Add necessary HDMI settings

Note

You only need to perform these steps if you upgraded pfSense from an earlier version. If you performed a fresh install of pfSense 2.4.4 or above as outlined in the preceding section, you do not need to perform the following steps.

In order to enable HDMI “hotplug”, the graphics driver must be loaded. This procedure is automated in the 2.4.4-RELEASE installer, but can be performed manually on devices upgraded from older versions.

Note

“Hotplugging” allows HDMI output to work when a monitor is connected at any time, otherwise HDMI output will not work unless a monitor is connected while the device boots.

Warning

If the device is currently installed with ZFS, do not make these changes or the device will not boot successfully. These devices cannot currently boot ZFS volumes when also loading the necessary video drivers.

If the video drivers must be loaded, reinstall the device using UFS, not ZFS.

  1. Add the following to /boot/loader.conf.local manually through the shell or through the webGUI, by navigating to Diagnostics > Edit File:

    i915kms_load=YES
drm.i915.enable_unsupported=1
kern.vt.fb.modes.VGA-1=d
kern.vt.fb.default_mode="1024x768"

  2. Reboot the device to apply the settings. Once applied, these changes will persist through reboots and upgrades.