Dynalink DL-WRX36 Askey RT5010W IPQ8072A technical discussion

hnyman · March 29, 2023, 5:06pm

frollic:

hnyman:

I haven't tested it, but this might work:

fw_setenv bootcmd 'usb start && fatload usb 0:1 0x44000000 openwrt-ipq807x-generic-dynalink_dl-wrx36-initramfs-uImage.itb && bootm 0x44000000; setenv bootargs console=ttyMSM0,115200n8 ubi.mtd=rootfs rootfstype=squashfs rootwait; ubi part fs; ubi read 0x44000000 kernel; bootm 0x44000000#config@rt5010w-d350-rev0'

Did you ever try it ?

I tested it now.
Both approaches do work.
If a properly named initramfs image is found from an attached USB stick then it is booted, but if no USB stick is found then the normal image from flash is booted.

Adding the USB detection step adds maybe 5-7 seconds to the boot process, so a bit longer boot time but no major problem.

1) combined boot command:

bootcmd=usb start && fatload usb 0:1 0x44000000 openwrt-ipq807x-generic-dynalink_dl-wrx36-initramfs-uImage.itb && bootm 0x44000000; setenv bootargs console=ttyMSM0,115200n8 ubi.mtd=rootfs rootfstype=squashfs rootwait; ubi part fs; ubi read 0x44000000 kernel; bootm 0x44000000#config@rt5010w-d350-rev0

Setting the u-boot variable from SSH console:

fw_setenv bootcmd 'usb start && fatload usb 0:1 0x44000000 openwrt-ipq807x-generic-dynalink_dl-wrx36-initramfs-uImage.itb && bootm 0x44000000; setenv bootargs console=ttyMSM0,115200n8 ubi.mtd=rootfs rootfstype=squashfs rootwait; ubi part fs; ubi read 0x44000000 kernel; bootm 0x44000000#config@rt5010w-d350-rev0'

2) split into two separate commands for clarity:
(note that each alternative can also be run manually from the u-boot console)

bootcmd=run openwrtusb; run openwrtboot
openwrtboot=setenv bootargs console=ttyMSM0,115200n8 ubi.mtd=rootfs rootfstype=squashfs rootwait; ubi part fs; ubi read 0x44000000 kernel; bootm 0x44000000#config@rt5010w-d350-rev0
openwrtusb=usb start && fatload usb 0:1 0x44000000 openwrt-ipq807x-generic-dynalink_dl-wrx36-initramfs-uImage.itb && bootm 0x44000000

Setting the u-boot variables from SSH console:

fw_setenv bootcmd 'run openwrtusb; run openwrtboot'
fw_setenv openwrtboot 'setenv bootargs console=ttyMSM0,115200n8 ubi.mtd=rootfs rootfstype=squashfs rootwait; ubi part fs; ubi read 0x44000000 kernel; bootm 0x44000000#config@rt5010w-d350-rev0'
fw_setenv openwrtusb 'usb start && fatload usb 0:1 0x44000000 openwrt-ipq807x-generic-dynalink_dl-wrx36-initramfs-uImage.itb && bootm 0x44000000'

.
(Verify set values with fw_printenv)

USB stick detected, initramfs image loaded:

Hit any key to stop autoboot:  0
starting USB...
USB0:   Register 2000140 NbrPorts 2
Starting the controller
USB XHCI 1.10
scanning bus 0 for devices... 2 USB Device(s) found
USB1:   Register 2000140 NbrPorts 2
Starting the controller
USB XHCI 1.10
scanning bus 1 for devices... 1 USB Device(s) found
reading openwrt-ipq807x-generic-dynalink_dl-wrx36-initramfs-uImage.itb
11531400 bytes read in 6174 ms (1.8 MiB/s)
## Loading kernel from FIT Image at 44000000 ...
   Using 'config@rt5010w-d350-rev0' configuration

USB not found, mount flash normally

Hit any key to stop autoboot:  0
starting USB...
USB0:   Register 2000140 NbrPorts 2
Starting the controller
USB XHCI 1.10
scanning bus 0 for devices... 1 USB Device(s) found
USB1:   Register 2000140 NbrPorts 2
Starting the controller
USB XHCI 1.10
scanning bus 1 for devices... 1 USB Device(s) found
** Bad device usb 0 **
ubi0: attaching mtd1
ubi0: scanning is finished
ubi0: attached mtd1 (name "mtd=0", size 97 MiB)
ubi0: PEB size: 131072 bytes (128 KiB), LEB size: 126976 bytes

frollic · March 29, 2023, 5:11pm

Awesome, thnx.

thekillah · March 29, 2023, 6:43pm

With which U-Boot version does this work?

hnyman · March 29, 2023, 6:50pm

The current one... Do we change u-boot? To my knowledge we do not.

But in ayny case, my router has u-boot as of
U-Boot 0.0.1-1-80112-CS (May 21 2021 - 09:29:10 +0800)

(and there is nothing fancy in that bootcommand, so the exact version should not even matter)

frollic · March 29, 2023, 6:53pm

Test and let us know ,)

hnyman · March 30, 2023, 9:46am

6 posts were split to a new topic: Z800AX? (Same hardware as dl-wrx36)

rmandrad · March 30, 2023, 12:14pm

nope no change on the u-boot ... vanilla as per the shipped stock firmware

thekillah · March 30, 2023, 2:30pm

How long will it take for the 160 Mhz patch to be applied to the snapshot?

sqrwv · March 31, 2023, 12:28pm

New testing FW version 2.9.0.1-01385 released:
https://github.com/quic/upstream-wifi-fw/tree/main/ath11k-firmware/IPQ8074/hw2.0/testing/2.9.0.1/WLAN.HK.2.9.0.1-01385-QCAHKSWPL_SILICONZ-1

When I tried it in both Xiaomi-ax3600 and dl-wrx36, it gives the same error (log is from ax3600):

[   10.055969] remoteproc remoteproc0: powering up cd00000.q6v5_wcss
[   10.062507] remoteproc remoteproc0: Booting fw image IPQ8074/q6_fw.mdt, size 668
[   11.012757] remoteproc remoteproc0: remote processor cd00000.q6v5_wcss is now up
[   11.017215] kmodloader: done loading kernel modules from /etc/modules.d/*
[   11.056851] ath11k c000000.wifi: qmi ignore invalid mem req type 3
[   11.064289] ath11k c000000.wifi: chip_id 0x0 chip_family 0x0 board_id 0xff soc_id 0xffffffff
[   11.064329] ath11k c000000.wifi: fw_version 0x290c84a5 fw_build_timestamp 2023-03-25 07:34 fw_build_id WLAN.HK.2.9.0.1-01385-QCAHKSWPL_SILICONZ-1
[   11.271131] ath11k c000000.wifi: htt event 48 not handled
...
[   36.133017] ath11k_warn: 396 callbacks suppressed
[   36.133077] ath11k c000000.wifi: invalid length in mgmt rx hdr ev
[   36.136725] ath11k c000000.wifi: failed to extract mgmt rx event
[   36.172468] ath11k c000000.wifi: invalid length in mgmt rx hdr ev
[   36.172499] ath11k c000000.wifi: failed to extract mgmt rx event
[   36.180666] ath11k c000000.wifi: invalid length in mgmt rx hdr ev
[   36.183615] ath11k c000000.wifi: failed to extract mgmt rx event
[   36.189609] ath11k c000000.wifi: invalid length in mgmt rx hdr ev
[   36.195685] ath11k c000000.wifi: failed to extract mgmt rx event
[   36.220685] ath11k c000000.wifi: invalid length in mgmt rx hdr ev
[   36.220715] ath11k c000000.wifi: failed to extract mgmt rx event

Radio is up, but can't connect to wifi.

NicholasKK · March 31, 2023, 1:06pm

Have you seen any improvement updating qca? Can you explain how to flash it? Can you do it through ssh or luci?
Thanks

SiXX · March 31, 2023, 7:36pm

You can do it through SSH, or by using something like WinSCP. The files are under /lib/firmware/IPQ8074 . You'll need to download the files, then copy & overwrite the existing files in the directory. Make sure you reboot when completed.

SiXX · March 31, 2023, 7:37pm

I tried and had the same errors as well.

rmappleby · April 1, 2023, 9:05am

To take a full backup (before I install my first OpenWRT snapshot) is it sufficient to nanddump all the mtd partitions?

earth08 · April 1, 2023, 4:52pm

After reading all the post
Still unclear,
Should we buy this device and use openwrt
Performance , Wi-Fi are working perfectly?

NicholasKK · April 1, 2023, 5:28pm

Can you add the safe boot commands somehow without using a UART cable? I guess not because one needs to intrupt the booting, right?
Thanks.

hnyman · April 1, 2023, 5:45pm

Yes.
fw_printenv and fw_setenv are the commands to manipulate the u-boot env variables in the SSH console.

Just like the initial installation instructions say in step 8 ...

8. Set U-boot env variable: bootcmd
>    # fw_setenv bootcmd 'setenv bootargs console=ttyMSM0,115200n8 ubi.mtd=rootfs rootfstype=squashfs rootwait; ubi part fs; ubi read 0x44000000 kernel; bootm 0x44000000#config@rt5010w-d350-rev0'

I give the exact modified command in

fw_setenv bootcmd 'usb start && fatload usb 0:1 0x44000000 openwrt-ipq807x-generic-dynalink_dl-wrx36-initramfs-uImage.itb && bootm 0x44000000; setenv bootargs console=ttyMSM0,115200n8 ubi.mtd=rootfs rootfstype=squashfs rootwait; ubi part fs; ubi read 0x44000000 kernel; bootm 0x44000000#config@rt5010w-d350-rev0'

SiXX · April 1, 2023, 8:18pm

This is such a loaded question that largely depends on end user. The more “involved” your setup is, the more risk there is for various issues to arise. But for simple setups (general routing and Wi-Fi) - yes I do find the Dynalink to be remarkable stable considering it’s relative OpenWRT infancy.

frollic · April 1, 2023, 8:52pm

I would.

For me it is, two devices as APs, with 802.11r, up since I flashed them, some 45+ days ago or so.

sampson · April 1, 2023, 11:25pm

Do I need to enable 802.11r for my simple setup below:

1 Router with 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio
SSID with same name, same security, 1 for each radio

I have bought 6 wrx36 so far, and will buy again for my friends / family members w/ OpenWrt .

3 at my brother's home, 1 as main router, 2 as dump AP w/ cable connection. Simple (default VLANs and 1 same named SSID for each radio) . It runs more than 1 months and no issues reported by my brother so far.

Myself, only encouter some minor issues with my simple setup:

WPA3 can introduce issues
Interrupt balance still not fully resolved.
Port LED for 2.5Gb interface not reflecting link status fully

frollic · April 2, 2023, 5:34am

If the 5ghz radio is covering your whole flat/house, I wouldn't bother.