Indeed, I found 'is_sec_boot_enabled' command in Dynalink DL-WRX36 thread and it is based on Qualcomm, not on MediaTek.
Ok, so to sum up OpenWrt on Acer Predator W6 / W6d routers:
It is possible to install vanilla OpenWrt, it needs to be done via serial connection with USB TTL adapter, there is no need to open the router, soldering is also not needed - instructions can be found in git commit (link in first post)
Unfortunatelly, after every router restart it is needed to connect laptop with USB TTL adapter and interrupt autoboot to launch again vanilla OpenWrt, because image signature verification is used by stock Acer U-Boot - if autoboot is not interrupted, stock sw will be launched
It is not possible to replace stock Acer U-Boot because Acer enables full-chain secure boot which means that BL2 preloader is signed and will be verified by BootROM - it is not possible to replace stock BL2 without signing it with the same RSA private key Acer is using
CONCLUSION:
Acer provided router with decent platform (2 GHz quad core CPU, 1GB RAM, 4GB eMMC), they used OpenWrt 21.02 as base for their stock firmware, however they locked U-Boot bootloader so that it is not possible to normally boot vanilla OpenWrt. The only way to boot vanilla OpenWrt is to connect serial cable, interrupt autoboot and boot OpenWrt without signature check. It needs to be done after every system restart which makes this router not suitable for daily use because for every restart it is needed to connect laptop with USB TTL adapter and interrupt autoboot.
Cheers,
Przemek
P.S. Is it possible to add link to this post in Table Of Hardware for Acer W6? By looking at ToH, this router looks like a very good choice - strong HW, support for latest release of OpenWrt, but in reality user experience is not so perfect...
It's such a pity to view this conclusion since Acer indeed create a geneous hardware platform. My solution is to create a simple circuit board to solve the booting problem by plugging it into Predator's UART port(drain few power from UART pin) and answer the booting message automatically. It works like a charm. some pics
Since I do not have the device yet, I would like to ask if anybody has tested how much power the usb 3.0 can provide. Is it the standard usb3.0 5v 900mA or higher?
Theoretically most MCU equipped with UART port can do this, but the PCBA's power consumption must stay very low otherwise the UART port of Predator's main chip might be burned out. (Not a problem if supply with external power source instead of drain from UART pin).
I'm considering to factory make a small quantity of this boot-helper PCBA, further information will be update here once happened. Who are also interested in buying have to take his/her own risk(see above), and must have some handy skills to soldering the Predator-W6's UART pin header.
This boot-helper PCBA had been tested on Predator-W6 only. Other models may be supported if give the message log.
Hi it's my first device with openwrt ( if it works) .
But how do I open the case without breaking it?
Can someone start a wiki page with a few informations? I already found the screws below the rubber feet's but I don't how to open the rest
Status update:
The boot-helper module is available now.
I'd also like to share the circuit here and encourage hobbist to build it on their own. https://lurl.cc/djx9J
so everyone, i think i have an fix for you all and the solution
first big THANKS to @blocktrron and @MyIgel for your help these evening!!!!
After you followed the instructions in the MR from blocktrron you have to do the following things:
reboot the device and make sure its the same uboot version. at my system and blocktrron it was U-Boot 2022.07-rc3 (Sep 08 2022 - 12:14:58 +0800), Build: jenkins-YX6_MT7986-AX7800-197 ( version after stopping the auto boot to get the version)
boot into openwrt
check with cat the uvent entrys if they are the same partition like on our devices to make sure your not deleting something wrong. It should look like these: