diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'content/posts/WIP-installing-openbsd-on-pcengines/index.org')
| -rw-r--r-- | content/posts/WIP-installing-openbsd-on-pcengines/index.org | 92 |
1 files changed, 0 insertions, 92 deletions
diff --git a/content/posts/WIP-installing-openbsd-on-pcengines/index.org b/content/posts/WIP-installing-openbsd-on-pcengines/index.org deleted file mode 100644 index 28f8d33..0000000 --- a/content/posts/WIP-installing-openbsd-on-pcengines/index.org +++ /dev/null @@ -1,92 +0,0 @@ -#+TITLE: Installing OpenBSD on a PC Engines APU2 -#+DATE: 2020-07-07T21:21:18-04:00 -#+DRAFT: false -#+DESCRIPTION: How I installed OpenBSD ob my new PC Engines APU2 -#+TAGS[]: openbsd pcengines -#+KEYWORDS[]: openbsd pcengines -#+SLUG: -#+SUMMARY: - -#+ATTR_HTML: :tag OpenBSD APU2 -#+ATTR_HTML: :title OpenBSD APU2 -[[file:OpenBSD%20APU2.jpg]] - -I recently purchased a new PC Engines APU2E4 to use as a home -router. I purchased the kit, which includes the board, case, and power -supply from https://corpshadow.biz/. I also ordered the DB9F to USB -adapter (Silicon Labs CP2104), so I don't need to get a separate null -modem connector. They're the only PC Engines distributor in Canada -listed on the PC Engines website. I had a great experience with -CorpShadow, they also sell a lot of other small single board PCs, so -check them out if you live in Canada. - -I also ordered a 128 GB mSATA SSD, as it significantly out-performs -any SD card you might put in the machine. While it's not necessary, -and an SD card would be much cheaper, I find the improved read and -write speeds are worth it. I got it from Canada Computers, as they -seemed to have the best price on one. mSATA SSDs are surprisingly not -as common as one might think on PC parts websites. And even when they -have one, I've found most sites will only carry one brand. - -The first step was to install the heat sync onto the CPU. This is -described on the PC Engines website. The heat sync is effectively just -a block of aluminum that you use to thermally bridge the CPU to the -enclosure. They're connected with, what I assume is, thermally -conductive double sided tape, which they provide for you. - -After the CPU is stuck to the enclosure using the tape and the board -is screwed in place, I installed the mSATA SSD into the first -expansion slot labelled =mSATA=. Then I screwed the top of the case -on, plugged the antenna holes with the provided rubber stoppers, and -screwed the bolts back on the RS232 port. These things are really easy -to put together! - -I downloaded the AMD64 =installXX.fs= image from the OpenBSD website and -burned it onto a spare USB drive I had lying around using =dd=. After -that I inserted the drive into the USB port on the APU2. - -I then plugged one end of the DB9F end of the serial adapter into the -APU2, and the USB end into my PC. My desktop runs Fedora, so I had to -install the =cu= utility using =sudo dnf install cu=. I then dialed it -up using the serial adapter with the command =sudo cu -s 115200 -l -/dev/ttyUSB0=. - -I plugged in the power connector into the APU2, and I saw the boot -info in my terminal! It's really cool that these things use SeaBIOS -and Coreboot. - -It automatically booted from the USB device, and I got dropped into -the OpenBSD =boot>= prompt. Instead of pressing enter like normal, I -entered -#+BEGIN_SRC -boot> stty com0 115200 -boot> set tty com0 -#+END_SRC - -The first command sets the baud rate for the serial connection. The -second command tells the OpenBSD installer to set the default TTY to -the serial port =COM0=. Without these, the machine will start to boot, -fail to find an output, and reboot. - -After that the installation went along as a normal install would. I -wasn't connected to the internet, but I already knew what IP was -assigning it, so I entered that manually when asked. I also installed -the sets from the USB. To do that, when prompted for the location of -the sets, type =disk=, when asked if it's already mounted type =no=, -then select the default partition and path, and continue without -signature. The signature isn't required since it's part of the install -media (assuming you verified the signature of the install media). - -After the install was done, I moved it to where I will be leaving it -to run, plugged in the power and ethernet, and SSH'd in. At that point -I ran [[https://man.openbsd.org/fw_update][=fw_update(1)=]] to pull in any extra firmware I might need, and -[[https://man.openbsd.org/syspatch][=syspatch(8)=]] to keep myself up to date with security patches. I was also -sure to add my user to the [[https://man.openbsd.org/doas.conf][=doas.conf(5)=]] config file. - -I kept the serial adapter connected and plugged it into another -machine I have right next to it, so if I ever have any trouble -booting, I can always SSH into the other machine and dial into the -serial connector to work things out without having to physically plug -the APU2 into my laptop. - -Finally I added the OpenBSD sticker! |