18.1 Installation tips - How to pick correct .ISO version !!!

[jsmart377]

So for the benefit of anyone else who was as lost as me, here is how I installed OPNsense 18.1.6 on a Pentium D system:

1) Downloaded AMD64 DVD (yes I know, this version is for BOTH Intel and AMD CPU's) But you don't know this until you read the FreeBSD HW compatibility doc here!: https://www.freebsd.org/releases/11.1R/hardware.html#proc-amd64 (I wonder how many people are actually running the WRONG VERSION!! poor naming choice but I get it....)

2) Download AMD64 DVD version here: https://opnsense.org/download/

3) Burn ISO to DVD (My system is Pentium D, so it support x64 architecture but does not have boot from USB option on the motherboard) On my MacBook I just right clicked the .Iso and selected: File > Burn to DVD option (Older MacBook that has a superdrive.)

4) On the system for install: run HW setup and set the DVD drive as the first BOOT drive

5) Boot the DVD and it will eventually stop the Login: prompt.

6) At Login type "Installer" , password = "opnsense"

7) Follow the prompts to setup your correct network / system options

None of this was extremely intuitive so I helps this saves a few others the circular mess I was stuck in!!

Cheers!!

John Smart

[franco]

Hi John,

Thanks for compiling this, although I'd like to mention that most of this info already exists at:

https://docs.opnsense.org/manual/install.html


Cheers,
Franco

[jsmart377]

You are very welcome!!  Sorry, but I did not see a direct reference to using the AMD64 .iso for Intel 64 bit systems in the main install page.

Unless you are a bit of a CPU history buff and know that AMD64 was the first vendor to provide the x86-64 cpu architecture, you might miss the fact that the newer version supports both Intel and AMD systems. I am guessing that the first 64-bit release of FreeBSD was primarily for AMD and this naming convention has just stuck. 

Thanks for the great forum support and helping further the mission of OPNsense.

I love this product!!

John Smart