On Fri, Jan 13, 2023, at 8:34 PM, patrick keshishian wrote: >> Search with keywords like "mini pc router", "pfsense router" etc, >> you will find a load of boxes along these lines (to pick the first >> one I found, there are loads of choices of all very similar hardware) >> - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004420642522.html? >> They do have video out as well but you can just configure OpenBSD >> to use serial console. >> >> Now that the 1G em(4) chips are out of stock everywhere, the common >> NICs these days are igc(4) 2.5G ethernet (very common, to the extent that >> "I225" will probably also do as a search term ..). > > I picked up one of these and just got it unpacked. > I am failing to figure out how to boot from an external > USB CDR to get OpenBSD installed on there. > > I'm connecting through the serial/COM port, but it > automatically goes through the Pfsense/FreeBSD > boot process and starts the "configuration" questions. > > Some reddit discussions seem to suggest pressing > either F2 or Delete key at the first beep. But either > I'm not quick enough, or I'm misunderstand something. > > Can someone offer any hints? > > --patrick
While they might exist, none of the mini PC/firewalls I've received from China support BIOS redirection over serial. If yours is the same, you'll want to hook up a monitor and keyboard and then either redirect bsd.rd over serial, or complete the installation and then set up a serial console going forward. Another issue I've run into are BIOSes that disable all the CPU C-states by default. You will likely want to enable those for decent power management/cooling/power consumption. Overall, I've enjoyed my AliExpress cheapies, but the firmware leaves a lot to be desired. They seem to be compiled with every option under the sun present, even if they don't apply to the hardware in question - other than the aforementioned serial BIOS redirection. Brian Conway
