Hi! Just installed your build and it's quite snazzy! (I was using the optimized build that's on a bit older kernel and I missed the ability to install OPKGs).
There is one thing I am missing however - and that is the ability to control the LEDs on the switch (ar8327 which is a part of the Archer C7 v2). Previously, I was able to do this with default openwrt as well as with the build from here: [GCC 7.2 BUILD] Optimized TP-Link Archer C7 V2 AC1750 LEDE Firmware but now I can only control the wireless LEDs and the system LED + USB leds. Would it be possible to compile support for those LEDs into your build? (or is it gone from trunk? D: )
I tried flashing this upgrade package to my Archer C7 using sysupgrade -n -F and found that the router rebooted and it was the identical version it was before?
What should the OpenWRT version say after flashing?
Does it sound like I'm doing anything potentially wrong?
From an enduser pov, nothing. Its modernization under the hood, with the main goal to bring the code into a form that is acceptable for Linux upstream, so that all (most) of the whole ar71xx supported devices can be handled by an upstream, unpatched Linux kernel.
There might be a slight decrease in kernel image size, but the general bloat of newer versions will likely eat that up completely.
I had this build on my Archer C7 V2 for a week or so but couldn't get 5ghz wifi to work at all, and 2.4ghz wifi would just die off after a few days, so I decided to use the same flashing procedure to go back to ar71xx builds of sysupgrade -n -F. It seems to have made the router unbootable though and it seems to be caught in a bootloop. Any ideas?
edit: seems to be completely bricked to the point tftp won't even recover it, it attempts to send the firmware but it does not flash and just reboots itself every 1-2 seconds. Time to order a new router I guess, been itching for a dual-core one.
As long as your bootloader is okay this problem should be solvable...
I think you current tp link header is erased and you have to use a image with a modified header.
Checkout this: Can't get my archer c7 unbricked.. been trying all weekend
PS: The wireless driver is almost the same as on ar71xx for ath79. My devices have uptimes of five days and more until i do a sysyupgrade...
Sorry, without a real device for testing this is not that funny. But if you have time and some programming/bash skills that shoulnd be that hard as long as there isn't a hw unit that needs a workaround or isn't supported by openwrt.
I tried tftping the firmware you posted in that thread - same result, seems to recognize and send but just reboots before it does anything. Unfortunately I don't have a serial cable to read what the thing is actually doing.
Nope.. I've ordered a xiaomi MIR3G for $38 since I just have my cable modem directly connected to my desktop now using it as a wireless access point. I was trying these builds in the first place since the C7 wasn't as fast as I wanted anyway.
It's already supported by OpenWRT for some time, but official 18.06 build is 4.9 kernel based.
I was hoping you could create a custom 4.14 kernel based build with some NAT or PPTP offloading support...
I'm afraid I am not skilled enough for that, but thanks for explanation.
Thank you for pointing me to the right direction, maybe I give it a try some day.
Right now I'm a bit cautious cause it's my main modem/router, have no spare in case I screw it
Upgrade on my ArcherC7v2 worked fine, old configuration works.
One thing surprised me, MAC addresses of both WLAN adaptors have changed.
In previous build, based on 4.14.59 kernel, WLAN MAC address values differences were -2 and -1 from BR-LAN MAC address.
In this build, based on 4.14.62 kernel, WLAN MAC address values differences are -1 and 0 from BR-LAN MAC address.
So MACs for BR-LAN and 2.4G WLAN are now the SAME!
MAC addresses of BR-LAN and WAN have not changed.