How to Install OpenBSD on The Vault

OpenBSD Overview

OpenBSD is a common open source UNIX-like operating system. Information regarding OpenBSD can be found on the home page at openbsd.org.

Download OpenBSD

OpenBSD is highly configurable and there are multiple versions of OpenBSD and multiple system targets so it is important to get the correct installation file. OpenBSD can be downloaded from one of many mirrors. The mirrors are available at https://www.openbsd.org/ftp.html.

Follow these steps to download OpenBSD for the Vault:

• Select a mirror
• Select the version of OpenBSD (6.3 was tested for this installation)
• Select “amd64” for 64 bit
• Select “install63.fs” where “fs” includes the “file sets” which are OpenBSD core OS files
• Verify that an image such as “install63.fs” is downloaded that is about ~400 MB

Burn the installation image to a USB drive

The easiest way to transfer the installation image to a USB drive is by using software called “Rufus” on Windows or “balenaEtcher” on Apple OSX. See this link for detailed instructions on how to create a bootable USB drive using Rufus or balenaEtcher.

Install OpenBSD on The Vault

• Verify that the Vault is powered down
• Verify that the VGA or HDMI monitor is connected
• Verify that the USB keyboard is plugged in
• Insert the USB install drive into the another USB port on the Vault
• While powering up the Vault, press “F11” key and hold it down until it boots to the BIOS and you see the boot options screen
• Select the USB drive to boot from
• Verify that the Vault boots and begins the installation process
• Follow the installation prompts, in many cases the defaults are the desired response
• Select (I) for Installation
• Select the keyboard
• Enter the Hostname
• Select the Network Interface (em0 is “WAN” on the Vault)
• Configure Network Interface for DHCP, Static IP as desired
• Configure additional Network Interfaces as desired
• Set the root password
• Enable sshd as desired
• Recommend not starting Xwindows at installation
• Recommend not changing console at installation
• Recommend not adding users at installation
• Allow root ssh login as desired
• Set timezone
• At available disks, Which disk is the root disk? hit “?” to verify the disks, sd0 should be the mSATA SSD, sd1 should be the USB
• Select the root disk [sd0]
• Select (W)hole disk
• Select (A)uto layout
• Initialize disk, select “done”
• Install the sets, Location of sets, select “disk”
• Is disk partition already mounted?, select “no”
• Select install media, “sd1”
• Select sd1 partition with install sets, select “a” (the largest partition displayed)
• Pathname to the sets, select default “6.3/amd64”
• Set name(s), select “done”
• If prompted for SHA256.sig, continue without verification
• Verify all sets are installed
• Select “done”
• Continue and verify successful installation
• Reboot
• Verify system boots to the login prompt
• Login as “root” with the password set during installation
• OpenBSD is now successfully installed on The Vault

System Compatibility

The table below shows the latest tested release of OpenBSD on each of the Vaults.

At this point, OpenBSD should be up and running on The Vault.  However, if you experience any issues, please feel free to reach out to us at: support@protectli.com or find more information in our Knowledge Base.