Reset to factory defaults VS fresh install ???

[rfox]

Just wondering - is there a big difference between a fresh install with recover from previous config backup - versus using option 4 in the console which says "Reset to factory defaults" ??

Thanks in advance -

[Patrick M. Hausen]

Just wondering - is there a big difference between a fresh install with recover from previous config backup - versus using option 4 in the console which says "Reset to factory defaults"?

Reset to factory defaults leaves the firewall with factory defaults.
Install with your saved configuration leaves the firewall with your saved configuration.

Depending on how much your saved configuration differs from the factory defaults ... that defines how big the difference is.

[rfox]

Just wondering - is there a big difference between a fresh install with recover from previous config backup - versus using option 4 in the console which says "Reset to factory defaults"?

Reset to factory defaults leaves the firewall with factory defaults.
Install with your saved configuration leaves the firewall with your saved configuration.

Depending on how much your saved configuration differs from the factory defaults ... that defines how big the difference is.

Thanks for the quick response - Not sure it's clear . . .  If "I Reset to factory defaults" - is that equivalent to performing a fresh install plus restored config?

Logically, I would assume a reset to defaults sets everything back to default (including the FW rules, plugins, reporting, etc.) and requires a reload of a backup config file for rulesets, etc. 

A fresh install would wipe the disk clean (so can change file system for example to ZFS)

Just want to make sure I got that right ??

[Patrick M. Hausen]

Thanks for the quick response - Not sure it's clear . . .  If "I Reset to factory defaults" - is that equivalent to performing a fresh install plus restored config?

No. A reset to factory default erases all your configuration so it is the equivalent to a fresh install without a restored config.

[rfox]

Thanks for the quick response - Not sure it's clear . . .  If "I Reset to factory defaults" - is that equivalent to performing a fresh install plus restored config?

No. A reset to factory default erases all your configuration so it is the equivalent to a fresh install without a restored config.

Gotcha!  I was thinking to re-install regarding a dashboard traffic problem - but maybe a "reset" and restore config will be enough . . . will try!  Thx.

[dseven]

(my assumption, at least) ... factory defaults would throw away any configuration you had done using the OPNsense UI, but would not "fix" other changes that had been changed to the system, including any tweaks made using a shell, or (I think) potentially anything that had been put in place by plugin installations (especially from third party repos). If you want a truly "clean slate", a fresh install would be the only way I would completely trust...

[rfox]

(my assumption, at least) ... factory defaults would throw away any configuration you had done using the OPNsense UI, but would not "fix" other changes that had been changed to the system, including any tweaks made using a shell, or (I think) potentially anything that had been put in place by plugin installations (especially from third party repos). If you want a truly "clean slate", a fresh install would be the only way I would completely trust...

That's very helpful!  I've updated the system to 25.1 over time originally from 22.x - so not sure if there is some leftover cruft - a fresh install would be the cleanest indeed.  I just wasn't sure what the reset factory defaults did in comparison to a clean install.  Thx.