Reset DEC 740 device ?

[vincen]

Hi

New user of OpenVPN (have used during a long time OpenWRT) and also of Deciso devices, I have to say I'm quite disappointed so far !
I could not find any real user/admin manual for that device online There is not even a clear reset procedure somewhere !
Probably my fault but I can't log anymore on device although I'm quite sure I had not changed the root password ! Unhappy there is no documentation on reset of that device and not even about Reset button that is physically present on ic ! So far looks to be only able to shut down device 
I found a tutorial explaining how to reflash OpnSense in it but even the default account stated for upgrade (installer/opnsense) is not working on my device
What to do ? out of returning device for refund...
Side note: the Load default in boot menu just generates a kenel panic in device

Thanks for your advices,

Vincèn

[Patrick M. Hausen]

Have you connected a USB cable and used a serial console on your desktop/laptop, then power up the device?

[vincen]

Have you connected a USB cable and used a serial console on your desktop/laptop, then power up the device?

Yep have done that already and gets access at menus and boot text in minicom without problems ! I tried the Load defaults hoping it would reset the device but it just goes in kernel panic
Could not figure out how to reiinstall device with latest Opnsense image I have on a USB stick plugged in DEC 740 !

[AdSchellevis]

Hi,

Our documentation is available at https://docs.opnsense.org/, the reset button is not related to a firmware reset, when not able to access the device at all, a reinstall ([1], [2]) is usually the best option (when able to access over serial, option 4 does the trick).

When the device is undamaged, it can be returned within 30 days as stated in our policy (https://shop.opnsense.com/returns-exchanges/), just send an email to sales@opnsense.com to let us know. If OPNsense isn't the right match for you, no problem at all, things happen.

Best regards,

Ad


[1] https://docs.opnsense.org/manual/how-tos/serial_access.html
[2] https://docs.opnsense.org/manual/install.html

[Patrick M. Hausen]

Could not figure out how to reiinstall device with latest Opnsense image I have on a USB stick plugged in DEC 740 !

There's some key you need to press when the device is powered up (it tells you which!) to get at the boot select menu. Then boot from the USB key for installation.

HTH,
Patrick

P.S. Ad, you must admit that documentation lacks a description of the hardware and setup and install/reinstall guides. Like port assignments when factory new etc.

[vincen]

Our documentation is available at https://docs.opnsense.org/,

Yep have checked that quite a lot today

the reset button is not related to a firmware reset, when not able to access the device at all, a reinstall ([1], [2]) is usually the best option (when able to access over serial, option 4 does the trick).

oki quite original reset button then and better understand now why I could not do anything with it 
for reinstall I tried procedure given on docs but as I can't even login with the installer/opnsense account on the dec I can't even start the reinstall procedure
Which option 4 ? as on boot menu of DEC 740 option 4 is to reboot it 

[vincen]

There's some key you need to press when the device is powered up (it tells you which!) to get at the boot select menu. Then boot from the USB key for installation.

Yep found out that since a while (basically space bar as soon as you apply power) but I can't find anything into it to boot from USB 

P.S. Ad, you must admit that documentation lacks a description of the hardware and setup and install/reinstall guides. Like port assignments when factory new etc.

Well it's an opensource program so quite common but to be honest I didn't expected so incomplete documentation !

[Patrick M. Hausen]

Well it's an opensource program so quite common but to be honest I didn't expected so incomplete documentation !

The OPNsense docs are quite ok in my opinion. But they only cover the installed and running software. And installation in a rather generic way.

What is needed is a hardware guide, e.g. how to get at the boot selector.

When you booted all the way to the menu without going through the boot selector, you most probably booted from internal SSD and not from your USB key. So you cannot login with installer/opnsense - it's your existing live system.

You must get at that boot thingy somehow and select the USB key ... I'd mess around with that a bit more before giving up.

[AdSchellevis]

@ pmhausen

There's some key you need to press when the device is powered up (it tells you which!) to get at the boot select menu. Then boot from the USB key for installation.

<esc> is the key you're looking for during boot, which is the case for all our equipment if I'm not mistaken.

P.S. Ad, you must admit that documentation lacks a description of the hardware and setup and install/reinstall guides. Like port assignments when factory new etc.
Modify message

You know suggestions are always welcome, maybe we should add the different families that exists to the docs, although the number of questions we do receive are quite low to be honest (port numbers are as they are detected by default, so not very magical). When it's about the initial stage before entering the boot selector, it might be more logical to add a section to the installation guide as that is likely the first place you would look for it. Hardware specific things we gather under https://docs.opnsense.org/vendor.html#hardware now, which is also where firmware updates and serial access lives.

If you do have ideas, it might certainly be worth opening a ticket for it on https://github.com/opnsense/docs, sometimes it's more about structure and where information lives than the actual content in my experience.

[vincen]

What is needed is a hardware guide, e.g. how to get at the boot selector.

+1 on that point for sure ! and also get some specific details that are specific at appliances sold by Deciso

When you booted all the way to the menu without going through the boot selector, you most probably booted from internal SSD and not from your USB key. So you cannot login with installer/opnsense - it's your existing live system.
You must get at that boot thingy somehow and select the USB key ... I'd mess around with that a bit more before giving up.

Sorry for confusion but I have been able to get in the boot menu (the one that briefly appears when you apply power and before it starts booting BSD/OpnSense but I could not find out any options for USB boot into it
oki I found out that you can even access the bios of the device and there I can select USB boot so now I have a DEC 740 that boots fine from USB drive. Relogged in it using the installer account and so could reinstall the appliance with latest OS I was running already from live USB key.
Once reinstalled, rebooted without USB key and OS was well clean, did the initial configuration to assign ports (LAN/WAN) and as soon as I had configured one of the SFP+ in DHCP my internet connection went up straight 


Thanks for all your help, going to blay a little now with options and tweaking it at best 

[Patrick M. Hausen]

Thanks for that link. I did not find that with either search or browsing.

I only mentioned the interfaces because someone needed help here on the forum lately, trying to connect the SFP+ port "X0" to access the UI of a factory new device. A picture of each box you sell and clear labels "LAN" and "WAN" would probably be helpful.

Kind regards, in general you are doing great

Patrick

[vincen]

<esc> is the key you're looking for during boot, which is the case for all our equipment if I'm not mistaken.

right and got quite surprised to find a basic boot menu like on a regular PC. I was confused previously by the menu you get at begin of boot as I thought it was that menu that allowed to boot from USB or stuffs like that 

If you do have ideas, it might certainly be worth opening a ticket for it on https://github.com/opnsense/docs, sometimes it's more about structure and where information lives than the actual content in my experience.

Thanks for suggestion and might do once I become more familiar with product and software