Build for Linksys EA9500

millsii · April 10, 2020, 1:42am

So an update on this. I tried again this morning, but instead from latest Linksys FW 1.1.7.180968. This time after first reboot of the router and cycling through the blue LEDs once, the Linksys logo started flashing. I thought I had bricked the router, but left it alone and eventually it came solid. Opened browser to 192.168.1.1 and was presented with openwrt.

Only other thing different this time was I was plugged into ethernet port 8. Yesterday was plugged into port 4.

I like the basic inclusions like PPPoE and Luci to get the WAN back online nice and quick.

npcomplete · April 10, 2020, 5:11am

Make sure you flash both the partitions with openwrt from ssh:

mtd write /tmp/EA9500_Factory.trx firmware
mtd write /tmp/EA9500_Factory.trx failsafe

btw, port selection shouldn't have any effect on the flashing.

millsii · April 10, 2020, 5:30am

I didn't think the ethernet port would make a difference, but thought I would try it as port 8 for CFE was mentioned on an old blog page I noticed you had posted on a few years back.

From the top of this page it says only need to flash openwrt to one partition? Is that no longer recommended?

npcomplete · April 10, 2020, 5:54am

Some of the instructions were written when I was still learning about the router. Connecting it to port 8 doesn't alter the outcome of the flash.

Technically, you will never need second partition. Unless of course if the first goes bad. The bleeding edge build now has the partitions defined, in future I would like to add support for booting from second partition.

Lasius · April 14, 2020, 7:27pm

After a few days of testing i can report some good news regarding Non-US builds. After I've read the post by our Aussie friend, I've tried the same thing, and this time it worked like a charm! Since then I've flashed it at least 6 times from factory and it boots straight into OpenWrt. So i can confirm for the Non-US models, GUI-flashing from the most recent factory firmware (1.1.7.xxx) works flawlessly. (Bold for the people with the same issue who are searching the forum.)

Now the reason I've flashed it so many times is because it obviously reverts to factory after reboot. Can you provide a quick guide for flashing both partitions for non-US builds, for those of us who are relatively new to OpenWrt?

You mentioned flashing 'factory.trx' file, do you rename 'openwrt-20200102.trx' to 'factory.trx', put the renamed file in putty's folder and flash it through putty, or..?

npcomplete · December 19, 2020, 10:29pm

Thanks for your helpful feedback.

Here is a detailed (for people who might not be used to *nix) instructions to flash both partitions.

To flash both partitions (once you are in openwrt), all you have to do is

Download Full Build version (even for Non-US router) from first post above.
Copy openwrt-yyyymmdd.trx onto a flash drive and plug it into the router
ssh into your router. I use Putty to ssh into the router @ 192.168.1.1
Mount the usb drive using

mount /dev/sda1 /mnt/

Locate the file name using

ls /mnt/

Assuming openwrt-20200102.trx is the file name, flash using below commands.

mtd write /mnt/openwrt-20200102.trx firmware
mtd write /mnt/openwrt-20200102.trx failsafe
nvram set bootpartition=0 && nvram set partialboots=0 && nvram commit

Reboot to make sure you have openwrt.

Lasius · April 14, 2020, 8:34pm

I don't know what to say, if only the other devs were as helpful as you are... Compared to the ddwrt community what a difference.. Much appreciated!
I'll flash it and try the stable build for a few days then i'll report back after i test the 'bleeding edge' for a few days.. Thanks again!

millsii · April 15, 2020, 1:06pm

Good to hear you have made the openwrt firmware take from the Linksys GUI as well! Interesting to hear that after reboot it reverts back to Linksys firmware as I have rebooted a number of times straight back into openwrt.

Might do the double flash as suggested by npcomplete just to make sure.

I am currently using the swconfig build as using all 8 ethernet ports. Does the bleeding edge build resolve the cross ports comms issue?

Lasius · April 15, 2020, 8:37pm

Yes, thanks to your findings i decided to try flashing it from the v.1.17 and to my surprise it worked without a single hiccup. I don't know about rebooting maybe we have different versions of routers (v.1.0 vs v.1.1) but i think flashing the both partitions is a good practice anyways. As for the bleeding edge question i wouldn't know as I'm still testing the 20200102 build, npcomplete or jallen2281 are probably the right people to answer it.

hassankiara · April 16, 2020, 2:10pm

Hi, i can install openwrt on this router with serial cable, but i can’t revert back to factory, i have tried and tried. its driving me crazy. if anybody out there can help with information how to do this for dummies pls help help. by the way it non-usa model
will be highly appreciated. thank u

jallen2281 · April 16, 2020, 7:47pm

I'm currently trying out the Hurrian swconfig builds and liking the addition of configurable vlans. I have yet to try the latest builds from ncomplete. I'm really waiting for the DSA drivers to mature and fully support proper bridging and vlans as hurrian has also stated.

hurrian · April 16, 2020, 11:27pm

Don't worry, npcomplete's builds are totally fine - it's just that UCI configuration for DSA bridging isn't there yet (for bcm53xx at least).

You can configure bridges manually with "ip bridge" and it'll work fine on npcomplete's builds

jallen2281 · April 17, 2020, 7:45pm

I've run a bunch of his builds and have loved them over stock firmware. I'm totally aware of the CLI bridging utility also, but it's extra work and I like Luci. I'm also cisco certified and still like their gui when i can use it. I also utilize more than 5 ports on mine. That said I am always trying out the new builds. I am curious as to the changes in the new kernel. Haven't looked at the change logs yet.

npcomplete · April 17, 2020, 7:57pm

Try this from Serial cable:

flash -noheader 192.168.1.10:/EA9500_Factory.trx nflash0.trx
flash -noheader 192.168.1.10:/EA9500_Factory.trx nflash0.trx2

And

flash -noheader 192.168.1.10:/EA9500_Factory.trx nflash1.trx
flash -noheader 192.168.1.10:/EA9500_Factory.trx nflash1.trx2

Then

nvram set bootpartition=0 && nvram set partialboots=0 && nvram commit

It has to boot into Factory

hassankiara · April 18, 2020, 12:46pm

Hi thank you for the quick reply but I tried the instructions and nothing all i get is the reloop boot and nothing else.
I can revert to openwrt but no to factory firmware .

npcomplete · April 19, 2020, 2:42pm

Are you downloading factory firmware from this page or somewhere else?

hassankiara · April 20, 2020, 1:56pm

Hi I am downloading from this website. its the same as the one u posted at first post.
the router works fine with openwrt but I cannot revert it to factory.

Aragorn64 · April 20, 2020, 2:47pm

Hello.

I have a Linksys EA9500 V 1.1 US Version. I have read the thread and I think that I want to install the OpenWRT software on my router.

Before to doing that, I want to ask if there is any drawback of installing OpenDWR software on my router instead using the Linksys stock firmware.

Thank you all

npcomplete · April 20, 2020, 5:11pm

https://openwrt.org/reasons_to_use_openwrt

Aragorn64 · April 20, 2020, 10:25pm

Hello again :).

I followed the steps of the "Detailed tutorial". I have connected the 3 wires correctly, set my IP to 192.168.1.10/255.255.255.0 (Gateway 192.168.1.1), set the Putty settings as in the guide but when I open the Putty session and power on the router, nothing happens. I only see a black screen on the Putty console.

Should I open the Putty session prior to power up the router, right?
Should I wait some time until I see something on Putty console?

Here some screenshots about what I did:

Thank you.