Trouble Starting 9.3

[Keith Kobuke]

Hi All,

New user here. I was able to successfully install 9.3 onto a Sandisk 16GB USB stick. However, it keeps getting stuck when starting on my Gigabyte B75-D3P board with I3 and 8 GB RAM. FreeNAS does start up on my wife's B85--D3H board with I5 and 8 GB RAM. Not sure what I'm missing here, but the pic shows where it stops. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[SweetAndLow]

unsupported hardware is the most likely the culprit. If you are using a video card try removing it.

 

[Keith Kobuke]

Thank you for your response, but using the on-board video. Intel HD4000.

 

[DrKK]

Everything on the screen shot looks fine...don't know what to tell you. You say it just sits there? Have you waited long enough for it to proceed?
That HEFRAS/EFER warning is nothing important, and is not the reason for your trouble.

 

[Keith Kobuke]

Yeah, it just sits there...I've waited for 30 minutes or so.....

 

[dlavigne]

Try an install of the latest 9.10-STABLE as there have been several watchdog fixes.

 

[DrKK]

Yeah, it just sits there...I've waited for 30 minutes or so.....

Right so, I just went through the boot sequence.

The thing that's supposed to happen at the moment that your system hangs, sir, is the appropriate driver for the network interface is supposed to come up.

So, that's actually unsurprising---one of the most common hardware incompatibilities is a substandard or unsupported NIC. However, if I've done the research right, I believe your board has a RealTek 8111DP, which, while a GIGANTIC piece of shit, is still, to my knowledge(?) supported in FreeBSD (and hence FreeNAS).

And I see nothing in your screen here which indicates that the NIC was picked up.

Hail Mary Pass: Is there any chance the onboard ethernet/NIC was shut off in BIOS?

So I am not sure where that leaves us, but the evidence right now is that it is the network hardware in the motherboard which poses the problem. At least that's what I'm concluding as the strong possibility.

 

[Ericloewe]

which, while a GIGANTIC piece of shit, is still, to my knowledge(?) supported in FreeBSD (and hence FreeNAS).

Yes, the driver was even "overhauled" between FreeBSD 9.3 and 10.3.

In any case, 9.10 might be interesting to try.

 

[Keith Kobuke]

Thank you everyone. Will try 9.1 this weekend. Will post the results.

 

[Keith Kobuke]

Same problem with 9.1. Also double checked that NIC is enabled in BIOS. Will order a NIC and see how it goes.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Ericloewe]

Same problem with 9.1. Also double checked that NIC is enabled in BIOS. Will order a NIC and see how it goes.

Thanks for the help!

9.10 or 9.1? They're completely different things.

 

[Keith Kobuke]

Oops. That was 9.10. Just tried 9.1 and it gets stuck here....

 

[Jailer]

No don't go backwards, stick with 9.10

That naming scheme...........

 

[diedrichg]

Will order a NIC and see how it goes.

Which NIC? There are a few strongly suggested by this community, the Intel PRO/1000 being one of them. You shouldn't go and throw just any NIC into the mix. Here is the link to the FreeBSD Hardware Compatibility List for Ethernet controllers: https://www.freebsd.org/relnotes/9-STABLE/hardware/support.html#ethernet I was originally inclined to suggest you don't waste your money on additional hardware but the PRO/1000 is going for stupid cheap on eBay.

As mentioned, your issue is most likely unsupported hardware. FreeNAS has a hardware compatibility list here: http://www.freenas.org/hardware-requirements/ Read the sickies in each forum section and start here for hardware suggestions: https://forums.freenas.org/index.php?posts/139151

 

[Keith Kobuke]

Thank you. Considering the Intel PRO/1000 or the HP NC380T.

 

[Keith Kobuke]

Looks like the problem was the on-board NIC. Installed the new NIC, disabled the on-board NIC and it fired right up.

Thank you for all the help!

 

[DrKK]

Looks like the problem was the on-board NIC. Installed the new NIC, disabled the on-board NIC and it fired right up.

Thank you for all the help!

Another low-information diagnosis by DrKK, successfully resolved.

Good luck with your FreeNAS sir. But, you'll want a proper motherboard at some point, I am required to tell you :)