Headless pfSense, sort of.

[Evan Lai]

This is my first post on this forum. If I violate any rules, please let me know.

 

First of all. I'm no expert on pfSense, but I found a way to get to WebConfigurator without vga or serial, sort of.

If there's anything wrong in this post, please let me know.

You still need video output during the process.

This method is only tested on the latest version (2.5.1) of pfSense, but should work on older versions.

 

Simply put, you install pfSense the regular way with video out, edit the config.xml file, clear config.cache, shutdown, change hardware, boot the system and done.

config xml docs

This is why you still need video out.

 

Use case example:

     I have an itx build lying around ( thus only 1 pcie x16  slot ) but the motherboard does not have video out, and I need another Nic card since the motherboard only comes with one ethernet port.

 

Here are the steps:

1. install pfSense with the graphics card. ( or other video output ).
2. Setup WAN, and ignore LAN ( you should not have other Nics to setup LAN here, otherwise you can get to the WebConfigurator easily in the first place ).
3. Get in to shell.
4. Edit xml file.

   ee /conf/config.xml

    

5. Find something like this in the xml file.

   <interfaces>
   		<wan>
   			<enable/>
   			<if>em0</if>
   			<ipaddr>dhcp</ipaddr>
   		</wan>
   </interfaces>

    

6. Add lan config.
   You need to know which driver your Nic is using. I'm using intel i350 t4 which is using igb driver.

   <interfaces>
   		<wan>
   			<enable/>
   			<if>em0</if>
   			<ipaddr>dhcp</ipaddr>
   		</wan>
   		<lan>
   			<enable/>
   			<if>igb0</if>
   			<ipaddr>192.168.1.1</ipaddr>
   			<subnet>24</subnet>
   		</lan>
   </interfaces>

    

7. Find something like this in the xml file.

   <dhcpd></dhcpd>

    

8. Add lan DHCP.

   <dhcpd>
   		<lan>
   			<enable/>
   			<range>
   				<from>192.168.1.10</from>
   				<to>192.168.1.200</to>
   			</range>
   		</lan>
   </dhcpd>

    

9. Save config.xml.
10. Clear config.cache.

    rm /tmp/config.cache

11. Shutdown.
12. Remove graphic card and plug in the Nic card.
13. Boot the system and connect ethernet cable on the Nic card's corresponding port.

You should now be able to get to WebConfigurator.