There are two console types available with pfSense® software, VGA and Serial.The active default console depends on the image/installer used and configurationsettings. The difference between the two console types is explained in moredetail below.
VGA Console¶
The VGA (video) console is a console with a monitor and keyboard. The videoconsole requires hardware with a connection for a monitor (e.g. HDMI, VGA) andkeyboard (USB, PS/2). In some cases a serial BIOS that does VGA redirection maywork.
The VGA console is active by default using the normal memstick installer or ISO.
Serial Console¶
The serial console uses a serial/COM port to communicate with a serial client.It is primarily intended for systems without a monitor or keyboard. The serialconsole can also be used on systems where those are either not available or notwanted, so long as the hardware has at attached (non-USB) serial port.
The serial console is active by default when installing using the serialmemstick and may be enabled under System > Advanced on VGA images.
Accessing the serial console requires a null modem serial cable attached betweenthe COM1 port on the firewall and a serial client. A hardware serial port isrequired on the firewall, but the client may use a USB serial adapter if needed.
Serial clients are quite common, often pre-installed on an operatingsystem or easily available. The free PuTTYclient is the most popular GUI choice. Other choices include GNU screen,tip, cu and minicom.
See also
See Connect to the Console for details on how to connect to a serialconsole.
The default speed of the serial port is 115200/8/N/1. The serial port speedmay be changed under System > Advanced.
If the device has a BIOS accessible over serial console, it is also possiblethat it will not be using the same serial speed that the OS is using.
The most common serial speeds to try would be: 115200, 38400, and9600.
If the BIOS serial speed does not match the OS serial speed, the best practiceis to adjust one or the other to match, so that POST messages may be viewed aswell as the OS messages without having to adjust the client
