Hi All..

I have some Watchguard xSeries firewalls that I got from work which are
end-of-lifed. It's based on a PIII processor has a 256mb ram stick and
64mbCF card. There's an IDE interface inside, LCD, serial port and a
bunch of ethernet ports as well as a mPCI slot with a VPN accelerator
and some keys on the front panel.

One of my coworkers put PFSense on it so we should be able to put ROS on it.

My thoughts were to get a 4 or 8gb CF card and download the ISO to it
from another PC by using a media reader on USB. I believe I have a PC
that will let me boot from USB. I believe we need the first boot on the
PC hardware and then move it over to the WG h/w. Did I miss anything?

Thanks leon

Update:

I picked up a 8 gb CF @ Walmart this morning and have been unsuccessful. I was able to use Netinstall once to load up the files but when I tried to boot off the USB/CF it didn't. Since then I have been unsuccessful trying to reinstall. Netinstall says can not copy system files. Windoze thinks the CF is RAW which makes sense. I've attempted to format FAT32 to verify the CF - wonder if I have a bad one?

I'm assuming Netinstall formats the card? If so what filesystem?

any thoughts?

Thanks leon

You should attach a USB reader to a windows PC, format the CF with FAT32 so that windows recognizes it, then use Netinstall to install RouterOS directly onto this CF (it will be formatted as EXT3 I think), then plug the CF back into the PC to finish the installation.

That's what I did. I'm sending my wife back to exchange it for a 4gb CF. Netinstall attempts to format and then dies.

Leon

UPDATE: Got 4gb stick does same thing. It seems Netinstall will format and write the contents one time. I then tried to reboot the PC from the USB and it bypassed the CF and went to Windoze. Windoze then showed it (the data) gone. If I now try and reinstall get the recurring error mentioned above.

Ideas? I have the flash with me at office today so I can try some recommendations.

Thanks leon

what do you mean netinstall dies after format? what happens?

windows will NOT recognize it after netinstall finishes. windows has no understanding of linux partitions

Hi Normis...

Once I did the successful write I rebooted the PC to test and get it installed on the netbook I was using before I move it to the Watchguard. THe netbook allows booting off USB. I forced the boot to the USB and it didn't see a boot image (I am guessing) and booted windoze.

Now subsequent times to re-install get the error message cant copy system files.

I can reformat FAT32 but if I try to netinstall again it fails.

Leon

As an FYI...the Netinstall version says 4.6 yet the files pulled down are 4.5; this (netisntall) is not version specific is it?

We use a Watchguard x500 at the office here. I used Netinstall to put it on a larger CF and it works fine. I also made an adapter cable to get the LCD working; somewhere I have the drawing for that cable, it has a transistor & a couple resistors in it.

Then what's happening here then any ideas? Yes the schematic would be good too.

You did a Netinstall on the CF and then stuck it into the Watchguard? You should just skip trying it on your netbook.

yes...i was trying to setup/config the CF with the use of the netbook since it has a keyboard and screen and then move the CF to the WG. What I don't understand is why Netinstall stops working.

that is NOT how it is supposed to be done After the windows Netinstall program finishes, remove CF and move it to your Watchguard. It will continue the installation there.

Hi Normis....

You guys are not hearing what I am saying. I can not longer use Netinstall it dies saying whatever I mentioned up above.

I wanted to use the netbook since there is no display (except the 2-line LCD) on the WG and if memory serves me correctly when you do an initial boot doesn't it ask questions?

SO back to my original question, how does one get Netinstall to reinstall?

Leon

yes, the problem is - you didn't say how it dies. Please post a screenshot of the problematic netinstall. I would like to see the exact error message when installation fails.

edit:

Now subsequent times to re-install get the error message cant copy system files.

ok, please show me the screenshot

I actually did. I said it starts to format and then says can not copy system files. Here is the screen.

ldz

same for me

Ok fantastic, at least I'm not the only one. So what's next folks?

Thanks leon

FUrther update:

Used an IDE --> CF adapter on another machine with exact same results.
then tried going to an IDE drive (4gb) and that worked BUT only AFTER I formatted the IDE drive as FAT32.

But I need to use the CF not an IDE since I haven't found power in the WG for the IDE drive.

Leon

PS: Yes I tried formatting the CF as FAT32 and get the same results.

please try this netinstall:

http://www.mikrotik.com/download/netinstall-4.5c.zip

the same...

I can't test it till tonight but I see it already fails. May I suggest a debug version that outputs a log we can send you?

FYI fails for me as well -- I even tried formatting FAT32 first too and got same results.

I found a place where it fails too, so I will test and see what's wrong.

Everyone, please post what devices it works with, and what not. Is the size relevant? maybe it fails only on big drives!?

8gb and 4gb CF fail.
4gb IDE (real disk) works
4gb CF as IDE fails (via CF--IDE adapter

Any updates on this?

hey guys.... any update on the netinstall issue?? i am still waiting eagerly...

please update...

The issue has been fixed and will be included in the next release Netinstall

take 3 (3rd attempt tp post)

Hi Normis: WHen will that be? I am working on a project at work with the WG and need to get moving ASAP.

No beta?

Thanks leon

try this one:

http://mikrotik.com/download/netinstall-4.6.zip

note! this is a pre-release build, if you find any issues, please report immediately.

Just got to work. WIll try it tonight when I get home.

THanks!

Hi Normis...

sorry fails same way.

Leon

I suggest you output some debugging to a .txt file to see what's happening. Also, 9 times out of 10 I keep getting logged out when I want to reply. It's possible that I am gettting timed out but I do successfully log back in but I try and report and get the logon prompt again.

ldz

Normis...

Where are we on getting this resolved? My project is totally stopped until I can move forward. I am trying to introduce Mikrotik into the company I work for, PAETEC (a large CLEC/ILEC) and this doesn't bode well.

Please give us some status.

THanks leon

I am having the same problem with a Kingston 8gb USB Key. It copied the files over once. Now it has the "cannot copy system files" error with Netinstall 3.3 and 4.6.

Any ideas?

Sorry, that fix was not yet in the public build. It will be in the RouterOS v4.6 release. I tested, and it works now. If you have issues with v4.5 you can try installing from WindowsXP where you shouldn't have an issue.

Hi there...

I'd prefer to get a copy NOW so I can test it and get moving on my project. I can not wait for yet another fix of the week.

THanks, Leon

We can't give you a non-existing program. It will be available when it's ready

Hi there!

Just DL'ed the file you told me about in the e-mail. Still fails same way.

Thanks, Leon

Hi Guys...

I stand corrected. I grabbed it from the wrong place.

It works. Thanks. Now I need to see if the image loads on the WG

Leon

So whats the fix? I would really like to get this going as well.

UPDATE:

BAD NEWS----

Image seems to get to CF but doesn't boot.

1. CF as IDE -- files seem to get to flash but sometimes filesizes are 0 bytes. Was able to get a good load. Put into WG boots and after a few minutes reboots and thats it. Nothing out on serial port nor nothing seen by Winbox on a PC.

2. CF on USB Reader -- Files get to flash (haven't seen any 0 byte files). Same problem as #1.

3. Moved USB Reader to Netbook. System boots as follows:

SysLinux 3.84 2009-12-18 EBIOS
Loading Linux ......
Loading initrd.rgz ...... ready
Welcome to Mikrotik Router Software hard disk installation
Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete to abort
Loading drivers
Looking for hard drives ......
FATAL ERROR: nohard disk found
Press ENTER to reboot

Why isn't the CF found as a HD? Why isn't the internal HD found (not that I want to overwrite the netbook HD).

This would explain why, possibly, nothing works on the WatchGuard.

BTW I had a terminal session running on a PC hooked up to the serial port of the WG and there was no data output to it. I had the PC set to 9600 and on Netinstall I specified 9600 as well. I put the WG CF in and got data out the serial port, so I know it works.

Open to any suggestions.

Thanks, Leon

UPDATE:

MTK says WG has a problem. I say WG is not problem since I can boot original WG CF. I found a laptop drive with v3.30 on it and it boots in the WG. So while that solves my initial issue, does not serve long-term as I need to use CFs. I added the LCD package and while I see what looks like the LCD resetting that's all i see.

How does one get it working with RouterOS? Also, does the ARM light seem to be supported.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Leon

I don't even know if this hardware is supported. We support generic PCs and RouterBOARDs only. Maybe it uses some non supported parts. It's not tested

As a former embedded engineer I would predict it's hanging off the parallel port. SOmeone on the forum made an early post about that?

Thanks

I grabbed the "NEW" netinstall-4.6.zip from the download page and guess what? it doesn't work, AGAIN. The date on the .exe is 2/9/10. COme on guys, please get your release mechanism straight. Also, I request the following:

1. everything should have info on the version x.y.z in an ABOUT or HELP including date/timestamp
2. Please make the Changelogs have date/timestamps on each version

This should make things better IMHO.

Leon

doesnt work for me either

I have been trying to get this software to install for two weks with no luck. Netinstall 4.5b generates the cannot copy system files error and screws up the format on the usb drive. Netinstall 4.6 starts with "error 0 no code found" and shuts down. I have another post with this problem mentioned. No response yet from anyone, 22 views. Sorry to rant abit but I am almost ready to give up and look for another product.

There was a 4.6 version that would not error out but the stuff it installed didn't work (boot properly,etc). Then they said they fixed it again after I sent a message. Then they released 4.6 and reverted to an old non-working version.

IMHO they need better s/w control mechanisms.

leon

I was going to try their software for a x86 and see if it was any good then buy a Routerboard. But if this is how they support their product I will look elsewhere.

watchguard is NOT their product, thats the problem ; )

my guess is that if you used a 256mb or 512mb CF then it would work. Or a CF that specifically has the fixed disk bit set, not removable disk. Anything > 2gb is not going to work right with older hardware.

nope that's NOT the problem. If you read the thread you would see that wasn't the only platform it failed on and I wasn't the only one having Netinstall issues.

ldz

okay, so the problem has nothing to do with the watchguard, its just the installation to your CF with netinstall? What happens when you just take another working installation from another box (CF or HDD) and run it on the watchguard?

http://h1x.com/mt/netinstall-3.30.zip - does that one work?

Sam

MTK says they "fixed" the problem, but the version released is the wrong one. But in response to your question, my co-worker has PFSense on a 4gb CF. As I have said, I found a MTK 3.30 on a laptop IDE and that boots fine. I have since upgraded that to 4.6.

The first problem with Netinstall was it failed to install files. Once that got fixed then next problem was the image loaded into the CF failed to boot as it couldn't find a filesystem.

HTH

ldz

released the wrong one? hmm. I removed the netinstall zip file from the web, and added the correct one (i'm not saying that I removed some bad file, I simply re-uploaded it). Clear your browser cache and download again. Does it have the Flashfig button? It should

hi normis!

yes as I indicated the .zip file has the 2/9/10 .exe and I did redownload it. Also, the one that was in the temp directory off the website while it formatted and added files I reported that it failed to boot (see above) which I believe you fixed but I never saw another test version.

thanks leon

that device could simply be unsupported by RouterOS. did you try to install and boot some other device in a similar way?

this is going round-n-round. It's all documented up above. The short answer is YES and it did not work either (a netbook)

also,as I have indicated, the WG boots MTK from a hard drive. and one other item, others are having same problem with other platforms.

ldz

so to be clear, this has NOTHING to do with the watchguard, this is a netinstall issue only. Correct?

I would say YES

We can't reproduce this problem on any other device.

Normis...

1. The version on the website was dated 2/9 and would NOT format and install files to CF.
2. THere was a newer version that did do that but when it was booted on either the WG or my Netbook it would fail. See above for exact message. Basically it could not find a filesystem/device.
3. I suggested numerous times to output a debugging log file so you can see what is happening.
4. WG boots with IDE drive (real HD) attached that was originally installed in a laptop and used 3.30 ISO and is now updated to 4.5

WHat next?

Thanks leon

the version on the web is the newest we have, i don't know what you are talking about. RouterOS v4.6 was released AFTER the test version you refer to. This release included a new build of Netinstall. You can see in the Netinstall.zip file that the build date is February 26.

This file includes all changes that were in the test builds. You are saying that one of the previous builds worked, and this doesn't? Why can't you use the test build then?

That was NOT the version that was downloaded from the web when I downloaded ROS 4.6. I just noticed there is a different date/timestamp on that exe.

THe test code allowed it to install onto the CF but would not boot and finish the install. See above I am tired of typing duplicate comments.

What's the problem with putting a log file out?

Another update:

I just redownloaded netinstall.zip and it is dated end of feb.

I "burned" a new image on the CF. It fails on the WG as well as my Netbook.
The messages on the Netbook are different than last reported (I am ASSUMING this is what is happening on the WG but nothing is output on the com port during boot, which would be a good thing to do. The WG eventually goes into a reboot loop).

What I see on the Netbook is:

Loading system with initrd
ERROR: could not find disk!
Please attach it somewhere else.

This is much different from what I last reported.

There is a HD in the Netbook and I also put a HD in the WG (with 4.6 on it)
As I asked once before, why doesn't it find the CF or HD?

Thanks leon

What's the difference between those netinstall versions if neither of them can install your device?

The older ones don't format nor copy any files. Everything is documented in this thread.

I am having same problem installing routeros on a usb flash drive (booting it on a x86 machine)

sometimes "cannot copy system files", but sometimes it finish, but it's not possible to boot it.

if i use a real harddisk it works perfectly.

(i only use routeros 4, not 3).

We use a Watchguard x500 at the office here. I used Netinstall to put it on a larger CF and it works fine. I also made an adapter cable to get the LCD working; somewhere I have the drawing for that cable, it has a transistor & a couple resistors in it.

Attached is the drawing for the LCD schematic.