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pfSense installation to a CF Card

It is time to download the physdiskwrite from the m0n0wall web site.

Create a new folder at "C:" with name  "pfsense"

Now put the pfSense-2.X.X-RELEASE-4g-i386-nanobsd.img.gz  and the  physdiskwrite.exe  files to the C:\pfsense  folder.

Open a command prompt with administration rights.
Start -> Run -> cmd (right click run as adsministrator)  and write :

cd C:\pfSense

Make sure your CF card is not attached to your computer, then run :

physdiskwrite a

Now write down on a piece of paper all the PhysicalDriveX that already exist.

Load pfSense at CF Reader Step 1
Load pfSense at CF Reader Step 1

 

Abort physdiskwrite by pressing CTRL+C, and attach your CF reader with  the card loaded using the usb cable.

Connect-CF-Reader-To-PC
Connect CF reader to PC

 

From the command prompt  run the command (always as admin):

physdiskwrite -u  pfSense-2.X.X-RELEASE-4g-i386-nanobsd.img.gz

substituting the " pfSense-2.X.X-RELEASE-4g-i386-nanobsd.img.gz " with your image name.

Load pfSense at CF Reader Step 2
Load pfSense at CF Reader Step 2

 

Compare the output to the former.
You will notice that a new physical drive appeared, which will most likely be your CF media.

When prompted, input the right number (in our case 1) and watch physdiskwrite writing the image to your CF media.

After physdiskwrite exits you can disconnect your CF card.

In the next article we will discuss how to connect our CF card with the pfSense image to the hardware.

We will also see how to configure pfSense.

Stay tuned !