# PCEngines APUC2 suitable? **URL:** \ **Category:** Single Board Computers\ **Created:** [23 May 2025 17:18 UTC](https://community.ipfire.org/t/pcengines-apuc2-suitable/14112 "2025-05-23T17:18:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![joea](https://community.ipfire.org/user_avatar/community.ipfire.org/joea/32/12971_2.png) [@joea](https://community.ipfire.org/u/joea)\ **Post date:** [23 May 2025 17:18 UTC](https://community.ipfire.org/t/pcengines-apuc2-suitable/14112/1 "2025-05-23T17:18:53Z")
Apologies for using vendor names that may cause irritation. Got an older Netgate appliance, based on PCengines APU2c SBC It runs pfSense well enough, using a USB-\>ethernet dongle as the “DMZ” port.. Any chance IPFire will load and work? It’s not on the approved list, that I can see. Worth a try, or, abusing a deceased equine? Ultimately I wish to replace a Sophos XG-85 (first gen) appliance that has not been supported for a while. I guess a similar question applies to that appliance, but I have not clue as to the “innerds” of that one. ---
**Author:** ![bbitsch](https://community.ipfire.org/user_avatar/community.ipfire.org/bbitsch/32/7420_2.png) [@bbitsch](https://community.ipfire.org/u/bbitsch)\ **Post date:** [23 May 2025 17:49 UTC](https://community.ipfire.org/t/pcengines-apuc2-suitable/14112/2 "2025-05-23T17:49:08Z")
Look at [www.ipfire.org - PC Engines](https://www.ipfire.org/docs/hardware/pcengines) BTW: I use an APU2E0 since years. ---
**Author:** ![joea](https://community.ipfire.org/user_avatar/community.ipfire.org/joea/32/12971_2.png) [@joea](https://community.ipfire.org/u/joea)\ **Post date:** [23 May 2025 18:24 UTC](https://community.ipfire.org/t/pcengines-apuc2-suitable/14112/3 "2025-05-23T18:24:01Z")
Which image to download? ---
**Author:** ![bbitsch](https://community.ipfire.org/user_avatar/community.ipfire.org/bbitsch/32/7420_2.png) [@bbitsch](https://community.ipfire.org/u/bbitsch)\ **Post date:** [24 May 2025 05:44 UTC](https://community.ipfire.org/t/pcengines-apuc2-suitable/14112/4 "2025-05-24T05:44:36Z")
I took the standard ‘disc image’, wrote it with Rufus to an USB stick and installed onto the SSD. Prerequisites: - serial connection to APU board - set serial to 115200 Baud in APU BIOS - first boot device = USB in BIOS - the new IPFire images should detect the serial port and use it for setup Manual of APU: [https://www.pcengines.ch/pdf/apu2.pdf](https://www.pcengines.ch/pdf/apu2.pdf) For firmware (BIOS) updates see [www.ipfire.org - firmware-update](https://www.ipfire.org/docs/addons/firmware-update) ---
**Author:** ![luxskywalker](https://community.ipfire.org/user_avatar/community.ipfire.org/luxskywalker/32/16720_2.png) [@luxskywalker](https://community.ipfire.org/u/luxskywalker)\ **Post date:** [24 May 2025 07:37 UTC](https://community.ipfire.org/t/pcengines-apuc2-suitable/14112/5 "2025-05-24T07:37:19Z")
using APU.2c4 too, without any Problem - just use the x64 Image ---
**Author:** ![joea](https://community.ipfire.org/user_avatar/community.ipfire.org/joea/32/12971_2.png) [@joea](https://community.ipfire.org/u/joea)\ **Post date:** [25 May 2025 23:16 UTC](https://community.ipfire.org/t/pcengines-apuc2-suitable/14112/6 "2025-05-25T23:16:11Z")
I must be confused. Created a bootable USB stick using RUFUS. When presented with SeaBIOS blurb Press F10 key now for boot menu, I select my USB device, which boots and presents a setup dialog. I don’t see how to install this to the Device in the box. ---
**Author:** ![ms](https://community.ipfire.org/user_avatar/community.ipfire.org/ms/32/16615_2.png) [@ms](https://community.ipfire.org/u/ms)\ **Post date:** [26 May 2025 08:43 UTC](https://community.ipfire.org/t/pcengines-apuc2-suitable/14112/7 "2025-05-26T08:43:37Z")
It is not the fastest horse in stable, but it will work. ---
**Author:** ![bbitsch](https://community.ipfire.org/user_avatar/community.ipfire.org/bbitsch/32/7420_2.png) [@bbitsch](https://community.ipfire.org/u/bbitsch)\ **Post date:** [26 May 2025 09:43 UTC](https://community.ipfire.org/t/pcengines-apuc2-suitable/14112/8 "2025-05-26T09:43:14Z")
As is stated in [www.ipfire.org - Step 3: Run the installer](https://www.ipfire.org/docs/installation/step3) the installation lets you chose the HD IPFire is installed on. In your case you’ll see only one, the SSD on the mSATA module. ---
**Author:** ![joea](https://community.ipfire.org/user_avatar/community.ipfire.org/joea/32/12971_2.png) [@joea](https://community.ipfire.org/u/joea)\ **Post date:** [26 May 2025 11:32 UTC](https://community.ipfire.org/t/pcengines-apuc2-suitable/14112/9 "2025-05-26T11:32:52Z")
Thanks for the tip, I seem to have missed the docs you linked to, though I did look for them before starting I plead infirmity of years. Upon boot I do not see those options, only a text screen with options. Which “menus” are not easy to navigate, appearing as I have seen when the wrong terminal is selected. I should add that the device does not have a “video port”, for a monitor, I connect via a serial port and terminal emulator. Perhaps I should review the image creation procedure and start again. ---
**Author:** ![bbitsch](https://community.ipfire.org/user_avatar/community.ipfire.org/bbitsch/32/7420_2.png) [@bbitsch](https://community.ipfire.org/u/bbitsch)\ **Post date:** [26 May 2025 12:05 UTC](https://community.ipfire.org/t/pcengines-apuc2-suitable/14112/10 "2025-05-26T12:05:02Z")
Yes, the system console is the serial port of the APU board. Serial port means, you have to set both end points of the connection to the same parameters ( 115200 Baud, 8N1, flow control XON/XOFF in case of IPFire ). First try to set the APU to these. Best done in the BIOS boot menu, F10 at boot. The default settings are the same as IPFire’s. So you could read the boot messages in your terminal emulator. If there are weird characters, try another baudrate in the emulator. Then set the params to IPFire’s values. Switch your emulator back to this. Now you should be able to follow the setup process. To be sure select the boot order 1. USB HDD 2. mSATA HDD This ensures that the USB stick is used, when connected. Without an USB stick the system boots from the internal mSATA device. For installation these settings mean that an old contents of the mSATA device are ignored. ---
**Author:** ![joea](https://community.ipfire.org/user_avatar/community.ipfire.org/joea/32/12971_2.png) [@joea](https://community.ipfire.org/u/joea)\ **Post date:** [26 May 2025 13:16 UTC](https://community.ipfire.org/t/pcengines-apuc2-suitable/14112/11 "2025-05-26T13:16:52Z")
It appears to boot into a “runnable” system of IPfire, running through a complete (typical) Linux boot sequence, ending up asking me to select keyboard, timezone, etc, all in a text mode. I should really review the basics on what image to use and the proper USB creation method. ---
**Author:** ![joea](https://community.ipfire.org/user_avatar/community.ipfire.org/joea/32/12971_2.png) [@joea](https://community.ipfire.org/u/joea)\ **Post date:** [26 May 2025 13:25 UTC](https://community.ipfire.org/t/pcengines-apuc2-suitable/14112/12 "2025-05-26T13:25:59Z")
Downloaded new image. Using RUFUS, and progressing to “START” get this message, which I did not receive before: ![image](https://community.ipfire.org/uploads/default/original/2X/6/681606f60d883444303b0a29fc34f3f8b433722d.png) I’ll wait for advice while brewing more coffee. Using ipfire-2.29-core194-x86\_64.iso ---
**Author:** ![roberto](https://community.ipfire.org/user_avatar/community.ipfire.org/roberto/32/8265_2.png) [@roberto](https://community.ipfire.org/u/roberto)\ **Post date:** [26 May 2025 13:38 UTC](https://community.ipfire.org/t/pcengines-apuc2-suitable/14112/13 "2025-05-26T13:38:22Z")
Hi. Make it with balena-etcher. For this, is better. > **[balenaEtcher - Flash OS images to SD cards & USB drives](https://etcher.balena.io/)** > > A cross-platform tool to flash OS images onto SD cards and USB drives safely and easily. Free and open source for makers around the world. Saludos. ---
**Author:** ![bbitsch](https://community.ipfire.org/user_avatar/community.ipfire.org/bbitsch/32/7420_2.png) [@bbitsch](https://community.ipfire.org/u/bbitsch)\ **Post date:** [26 May 2025 13:38 UTC](https://community.ipfire.org/t/pcengines-apuc2-suitable/14112/14 "2025-05-26T13:38:51Z")
Which version of Rufus do you use? I tried with version 4.7.2231. No error message. ‘Boot selection’ lists Syslinux 6.04. ---
**Author:** ![joea](https://community.ipfire.org/user_avatar/community.ipfire.org/joea/32/12971_2.png) [@joea](https://community.ipfire.org/u/joea)\ **Post date:** [26 May 2025 14:01 UTC](https://community.ipfire.org/t/pcengines-apuc2-suitable/14112/15 "2025-05-26T14:01:20Z")
Version 4.7.2231 is what it claims. The message does not appear if I choose ipfire-2.29-core194-x86\_64.img.xz (downloaded yesterday) but it does appear if I choose ipfire-2.29-core194-x86\_64.iso (downloaded this morning) ---
**Author:** ![joea](https://community.ipfire.org/user_avatar/community.ipfire.org/joea/32/12971_2.png) [@joea](https://community.ipfire.org/u/joea)\ **Post date:** [26 May 2025 14:02 UTC](https://community.ipfire.org/t/pcengines-apuc2-suitable/14112/16 "2025-05-26T14:02:00Z")
I will give that a try also. ---
**Author:** ![joea](https://community.ipfire.org/user_avatar/community.ipfire.org/joea/32/12971_2.png) [@joea](https://community.ipfire.org/u/joea)\ **Post date:** [26 May 2025 14:06 UTC](https://community.ipfire.org/t/pcengines-apuc2-suitable/14112/17 "2025-05-26T14:06:14Z")
> [@roberto](#): > > Make it with balena-etcher. For this, is better. I will try it. Sorry for the botched replies, I cannot see how to edit my previous comment(s). ---
**Author:** ![bbitsch](https://community.ipfire.org/user_avatar/community.ipfire.org/bbitsch/32/7420_2.png) [@bbitsch](https://community.ipfire.org/u/bbitsch)\ **Post date:** [26 May 2025 14:11 UTC](https://community.ipfire.org/t/pcengines-apuc2-suitable/14112/18 "2025-05-26T14:11:39Z")
> [@joea](#): > > Version 4.7.2231 is what it claims. > > The message does not appear if I choose > ipfire-2.29-core194-x86\_64.img.xz (downloaded yesterday) > > but it does appear if I choose > ipfire-2.29-core194-x86\_64.iso (downloaded this morning) The second is the file to make a installation medium. The .img.gz is an image to flash directly to the system disk. The flashing is the install. This needed only, if the system doesn’t support booting from an USB stick. ---
**Author:** ![joea](https://community.ipfire.org/user_avatar/community.ipfire.org/joea/32/12971_2.png) [@joea](https://community.ipfire.org/u/joea)\ **Post date:** [26 May 2025 15:18 UTC](https://community.ipfire.org/t/pcengines-apuc2-suitable/14112/19 "2025-05-26T15:18:09Z")
> [@bbitsch](#): > > The second is the file to make a installation medium. > The .img.gz is an image to flash directly to the system disk. The flashing is the install. This needed only, if the system doesn’t support booting from an USB stick. That works better. Better still when I remembered to edit the Terminal Emulator (putty), so now I have a screen. that reminds me of the IPCop daze., See? Memory has not failed completely. Apparently I am still missing a basic step, as I noticed no option to install to the existing media, so reboot, without USB installed, brings up pfSense, still. So, it appears the “clue by four” is required., yet again. But, for now, I will take a break to attend to other duties. Please feel free to comment, I’m sure they will be helpful. ---
**Author:** ![bbitsch](https://community.ipfire.org/user_avatar/community.ipfire.org/bbitsch/32/7420_2.png) [@bbitsch](https://community.ipfire.org/u/bbitsch)\ **Post date:** [26 May 2025 15:45 UTC](https://community.ipfire.org/t/pcengines-apuc2-suitable/14112/20 "2025-05-26T15:45:07Z")
For boot of the APU see [https://www.pcengines.ch/pdf/apu2.pdf](https://www.pcengines.ch/pdf/apu2.pdf)