Ubuntu on Watchguard XTM 5
Ubuntu on Watchguard XTM 5
No one knows for sure if Ubuntu Server works on a Watchguard XTM 5 series. You mentioned PFSense is possible, so it might be worth checking compatibility before installing.
It’s going to be challenging because there’s no video available and you’ll need to rely on the console. Performance will also be sluggish.
That's what makes Linux exciting for me. Playing around with the terminal. I believe it's achievable as long as your CPU model is compatible. However, since Ubuntu includes a Celeron chip, it seems the 64-bit version should work fine.
I thought it would be useful to include this here as one of the leading results for installing Ubuntu on a WatchGuard XTM 5 series device. I didn’t find a clear tutorial, but the process proved quite manageable and performed well. It was just a chance I had since I was bored and had a machine available. The guide works best depending on your specific needs. I set up Ubuntu 24.04 on an SSD using another computer and the debootstrap utility (be sure to configure partitions properly). Once inside, chroot into the install environment, refresh GRUB, adjust serial output in GRUB, and configure console redirection in BIOS (keep in mind it may be restricted if your BIOS hasn’t been modified). Install SSH during this setup. After mounting the SSD into the WatchGuard box, everything functions smoothly for testing, including direct serial console access. Some advice for others: you might need to update the BIOS for full serial support (I documented this on netgate forum), and verify your network configuration before powering on. The best approach is to create a catch-all netplan that lists all interfaces with asterisks.