Script needed for firmware and module updating

[Chadster766]

We need a script that will use fw_printenv to get the u-boot envars flash_pri_image and flash_alt_image in order to flash a new firmware (McDebian or other) to the WRT1x00AC\S using nandwrite command.

[ValCher1961]

If the download from of file system, would be useful.

[Chadster766]

@ValCher1961 I'm not clear on you comment. Do you mean install firmware from file system or download root file system updates?

[ValCher1961]

Load the kernel from Debian. Something similar to - http://gumstix.org/how-to/70-writing-images-to-flash.html

[Chadster766]

Great thanks, It might be as simple as flash_erase and nandwrite to the correct MTD image partitions.

[ValCher1961]

In principle, we do not need a lot, and only checking the correctness of the recording and control of the length of the selected area in the nand. If something goes wrong, then everything can be corrected in the u-boot.

[Chadster766]

Right I think we have a lot of firmware space in the WRT1900AC V2 but are the MTD partitions the same size in the other WRT1x00AC\S models?

mtd4
Name:                           kernel1
Type:                           nand
Eraseblock size:                131072 bytes, 128.0 KiB
Amount of eraseblocks:          320 (41943040 bytes, 40.0 MiB)
Minimum input/output unit size: 2048 bytes
Sub-page size:                  2048 bytes
OOB size:                       64 bytes
Character device major/minor:   90:8
Bad blocks are allowed:         true
Device is writable:             true

mtd6
Name:                           kernel2
Type:                           nand
Eraseblock size:                131072 bytes, 128.0 KiB
Amount of eraseblocks:          320 (41943040 bytes, 40.0 MiB)
Minimum input/output unit size: 2048 bytes
Sub-page size:                  2048 bytes
OOB size:                       64 bytes
Character device major/minor:   90:12
Bad blocks are allowed:         true
Device is writable:             true

[Chadster766]

The script could parse the MTD listing for name of "kernel1" and "kernel2" and then write to those MTD partition without being concerned with size because there is more than enough room in those partitions for McDebian firmware.

[ValCher1961]

Yes, pre-set variables in u-boot: pri kern_size 0x2800000 alt_kern_size 0x2800000

[ValCher1961]

The model has a core size difference, but using the new variables we remove these differences.

[Chadster766]

I think the new WRT1x00AC\S all use the same MTD partitioning since the u-boot kwb recovery file is the same for them.

[ValCher1961]

That's right, see the wiki - http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/linksys/wrt1x00ac_series

[Chadster766]

It turns out only a short McDebian Wiki page is needed instead of a script.

I tested the below process to load McDebian firmware and it's good for WRT1x00AC\S models.

flash_erase /dev/mtd4 0 0
flash_erase /dev/mtd6 0 0
nandwrite -p /dev/mtd4 McDebian-WRT1?00AC-V?-FW_VER1_kernel_4_4_17.img
nandwrite -p /dev/mtd6 McDebian-WRT1?00AC-V?-FW_VER1_kernel_4_4_17.img

Keep in mind that if the McDebian firmware has changed to a new kernel than there would also be a matching McDebian rootfs update (modules update) that would have to be applied before restarting the router.

I haven't tried loading Linksys stock firmware with this process yet.

[Chadster766]

I've tested loading Linksys stock firmware and it works fine.

[ValCher1961]

Well, I also checked out yesterday, all is well!