Advice on installing usbip-server in 18.06.1

Hello,
I'm new to OpenWRT and I've successfully installed it in a Linksys WRT1900AC (v1) which has two USB ports.
I'm trying to experiment with the USB over IP provided by the usbip-server package, but when I try to install it, it shows a dependency problem with the kernel version:

root@OpenWrt:~# opkg update >/dev/null; opkg install usbip-server; uname -a
Installing usbip-server (2.0-10) to root...
Downloading http://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/packages/arm_cortex-a9_vfpv3/packages/usbip-server_2.0-10_arm_cortex-a9_vfpv3.ipk
Collected errors:
 * satisfy_dependencies_for: Cannot satisfy the following dependencies for usbip-server:
 * 	kernel (= 4.14.73-1-57915b076d0a209a436caaf133006cd0) * 	kernel (= 4.14.73-1-57915b076d0a209a436caaf133006cd0) * 	kernel (= 4.14.73-1-57915b076d0a209a436caaf133006cd0) * 	kernel (= 4.14.73-1-57915b076d0a209a436caaf133006cd0) *
 * opkg_install_cmd: Cannot install package usbip-server.
Linux OpenWrt 4.14.71 #0 SMP Fri Sep 21 11:25:08 2018 armv7l GNU/Linux

The very last line shows my kernel version 4.14.71, and these packages seem to require 4.14.73-1-57915b076d0a209a436caaf133006cd0). Those are very specific kernel specifications. Can I build the package myself and install it? What would be advised in this situation?

Thanks!

You seem to be using a snapshot.
Snapshot packages only work with installations from the same build, which are redone every few days.

So you can either install a new snapshot and quickly install or copy the packages you need before the next build.

Or

Install from a current release such as 18.06.1 and have long term support.

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Thank you!
I should use a stable release.
Will/should my configuration (i.e.: wifi setup, firewall rules, openvpn setup etc.) be preserved or should I backup my files and start over configuring everything?
Thank you again for your help!

In general, "should", yes

sysupgrade -l will confirm what is going to be preserved.

Additional things can be added by editing /etc/sysupgrade.conf

Generally that isn't needed if all you have are "stock" packages and their config files to consider. Still, worth checking in advance!

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Thank you for your prompt response. Iā€™m going to try this :slight_smile:

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A backup other than blind trust is always a good idea. It can be done from the command line (sysupgrade with no arguments gives "help"), or through LuCI. I've had my cat pull the plug on a device at the most inopportune time!

It took me a while to have a slot of free time (where I could potentially break my router) and it worked without problems. It took a couple of reboots make cablemodem work again but everything (I caread about) was preserved.
I installed usbip but unfortunately it seems broken in 18.06.1 in my hardware and some people are reporting similar issues, but at least having a long time support firmware will save me time looking for snapshot packages.