Hi, I am planning to buy two Linksys E8450 to setup a 802.11s Mesh network with 802.11k/v/r Fast Roaming. However, I am not familiar with OpenWrt so I want to ask some basic questions:
Which image I should use to flash to OpenWrt firmware?
Do the Linksys E8450 with OpenWrt support 802.11s and 802.11k/v/r?
As I will flash the routers using non-UBI method (as the router is in warranty), I would like to know the correct method of flashing it in the vendor firmware web admin page. I see there are several image available in the download page. https://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/targets/mediatek/mt7622/
I managed to load Uboot on Putty but what option do I press? I just wanna flash this to go back to stock and try flashing OpenWrt again.
1. System Load Linux to SDRAM via TFTP.
2. System Load Linux Kernel then write to Flash via TFTP.
3. Boot master system code via Flash.
4. Boot slave system code via Flash.
5. System Load U-Boot then write to Flash via TFTP.
6. System Load U-Boot then write to Flash via Serial.
7. System Load ATF then write to Flash via TFTP.
8. System Load Preloader then write to Flash via TFTP.
U-Boot console
I don't know what option to press. I read somewhere in this thread I have to press two? Once I do, I have to have a filed called "lede-mediatek-mt7622-MTK-AX3200-MT7531-squashfs-sysupgrade.bin"
where do I even find this file?
Set your computer (i.e. tftp server) IP to 192.168.1.254 and rename the factory firmware to "lede-mediatek-mt7622-MTK-AX3200-MT7531-squashfs-sysupgrade.bin". Then use option 2.
Then flash the belkin version
LE: just noticed they are the same ... If it does not show Belkin then it seems you don't have the original mtd5 "Devinfo" partition.
Here is the description of the original and new (UBI) flash format https://openwrt.org/toh/linksys/e8450. The original mtd5 keeps some information like manufacturer, version, serial number, mac addresses, default ssid, passphrase, things that are used by the factory firmware. This is not used by openwrt.
Is there no way to do this without opening up the router? E.g. just using tftp server? Can that not be facilitated somehow? I feel for all these individuals having to crack open router just to flash stock firmware.
I don't know for sure. If the factory bootchain is intact, maybe there is a method to trigger the automatic loading by tftp. I think I remember someone mentioning that you need to press the reset button while the device is booting (not before powering) and having the tftp server on LAN1 but I did not test it as mine is already on UBI bootchain with no intention to revert...
What actually is the bootchain? In my own I installed the initial installer but that got upgraded and I installed the upgraded installer. What does that mean for my bootchain? Not that I would ever want to go back to stock, but I'd still like to try to understand the concepts.
Bootchain is the collection of partitions that loads the operating system (Preloader + ATF + Bootloader + Config -or- bl2 + fip, see the above link with partition structure, Factory is usually not touched). Installing the UBI variant replaces the original partitions mtd0..3 with new partitions mtd0..1. You may still have the original boot partitions in the new ubi0_3 partition, depending on the procedure you've followed. To verify, connect with ssh the router and execute these:
mount -t ubifs /dev/ubi0_3 /mnt
ls /mnt
If you have here mtd files then transfer these to your computer and store them safely. But if you installed a second time the UBI installer from Daniel, they will be replaced with the UBI partitions, so the initial backup is overwritten.
Do these contain info unique to router like wireless calibration data? Or will they be same for every RT3200? Can someone just use backup created by another?
Please can someone else confirm if 802.11s is working or not in the RT3200 at the moment? Last I checked not, but now I'm worried it's just a config issue.
For the benefit of anyone else concerned about wireless connectivity I can confirm that WDS works perfectly and I see speeds in excess of 300 Mbit/s without ramping up power.
Anyone know the max tx power these devices are capable of? I haven't tried ramping that up.
I think only your mtd2 file (i.e. factory mtd4) is unique to the router. Also factory mtd5 (needed for the factory firmware) is specific but it seems you don't have it anymore, so I suppose when the router is loading a factory image without this original partition it will revert to some hardcoded default values. Anyway, factory mtd5 is a simple text file so I think you can take one saved from another router and edit it with your specific info like macs, ssid, passphrase etc before writing it using the non-UBI initramfs image.
Cool, thanks. Is that that when making in factory there are some physical variations that they need to compensate for? Would it make a big difference to use the wrong data? Just curious.
Otherwise time to try this power reduction hack now.
