I picked up a Google OnHub (TP-Link TGR1900) and installed 24.10.0 on it. Everything works fine so far. But the firmware installation process automatically expanded the Overlay partition to full OnHub eMMC size (4GB) and in my purpose of usage of this router, I need a data partition. I poked around a little bit and found that OpenWrt seemed to treat the eMMC as an SD card, which I am not familiar with. Could someone direct me to the right place on how should I go about it? Thanks.
I'd assume every flash will resize it again, what's the difference, anyway ?
The difference is I don't need to flash the router often in my application.
I recall some effort was made by developers to insure the overlay was expanded to the full 4GB on the OnHub routers because numerous people couldn't come up with a way to expand the SQUASHFS after the flash reliably. The SQUASHFS file system is extremely difficult to resize reliably and screwing with the eMMC too means 99.99% probability of bricking your router. Whatever your project, I'd pick a different router to do it.
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... or stick to the big eMMC for everything.
Or use a USB thumbstick as the data partition. That's the easy solution. OnHub can mount and unmount USB drives reliably and they can be any kind of file format you can imagine. OpenWrt has drivers for every kind of partition format I've ever heard of.
I started that way with EA8500 and thought OnHub could eliminate the use of thumbstick with the 4GB built-in eMMC if I can create partitions (data and swap).
If you manage to shrink the squashfs, it should be doable, but it's a big if.
I was wrong about the statement. After some more poking I believe the key to change partition size is the number "3687" in the file chromium.mk. Will consider building a custom firmware to verify when I get a handle on my other OnHub problem - get USB audio adapter playing sound. Currently OnHub's storm soc gets the sound on the built-in "mono" speaker.
A side note. Just found out that you need a USB hub or USB dongle between the USB thumbstick and the OnHub's USB port according to this thread - TP-Link 1900 ONHUB wont boot with a USB flash connected.
That's right. I forgot about that. I've never been able to resize the squashfs successfully on the OnHub. Every attempt results in a bricked router and you have to completely clear the eMMC and start from square one to even get it to work. That includes reinstalling the Google firmware back before you can proceed on. Just getting the OnHub to work with OpenWrt is a win. You need a different device I think. But, then again I have no idea what you are trying to do.
The OnHub is running LogitechMediaServer (now called LyrionMusicServer) and I also have squeezelite-full package installed on it to serve as a 24/7 internet radio player on my desk. OnHub's 1GB memory should be enough for LMS but I still want a small swap partition (256MB) as a safeguard. I also want a data partition to store my favorite 200+ songs instead of a sub-folder under the root (/). As a router function, the OnHub is wireless connected to the main router as an AP to provide connection to my 15 year old (wired) HP Laserjet printer.
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