Expand file system - 16MB SPI Flash

For Developers
1

Hello friends.
My English is not that good, so I'm trying to use a translation program.

I currently have a WR841ND here and would like to equip it with 16MB flash instead of 4MB.

I tried to create an image myself. But I can't find the options that are mentioned for creating it
(make menuconfig

Target Images ---> Root filesystem partition size)

Unfortunately, I can't find them.

Have they been renamed or removed?

I would be incredibly grateful if someone could help me make the additional memory usable.

If someone is even kind enough to create an image, it's a WR841ND V9.1 and the new flash is a Winbond 25Q128, I think that should be the most important information.

The RAM is not being changed (yet).
I'm currently preparing the Raspberry Pi to read the old flash and write the new one.

I'll manage that too, I know electronics and am also a good Linux user. But unfortunately I'm not really good at programming or creating my own operating systems.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read my post.

Best wishes from Germany.

2
1 Like
3

Thank you so much the link is really helpful, I didn't find it before!

One more quick question so I can be sure I have understood it.

From the bin/targets/ath79/tiny/ directory, I just need to flash the kernel image at the end, right?

For me as a beginner, this is all a bit confusing.
I only know the pre-packaged *.bin and am therefore a bit unsure.

4

that's how I read it, but I would still make a backup of all the existing mtd:s.

1 Like
5

absolutely!

Unfortunately my plan didn't quite work out. The one (used, soldered from a circuit board) is unfortunately protected (OTP register, nothing can be done about it)

So I'll go through my inventory again and see if I can find a 16MB or maybe just 8MB flash that isn't protected and can be used.

I'll of course make a full backup of the original and the 4MB flash chip itself will go to the router to have a "fallback".

Thank you very much for the quick help.

I'll be happy to keep you updated.

:heart:

6

Half Way!

Desoldering & Copy is Done.
New 8MB Flash chip is found and checked! (Reading content twice, md5sum, ERASE, write old content, read, md5sum. On First Try, COOL!)

I think everything will be fine!

7

done
done1920Ă—1080 142 KB

The forum is brilliant! Really!

The tip with the bootloader led me here in the end:

I did the rest as described in this guide:

Booted completely error-free on the first attempt!

Thank you very much for the tips, even if I didn't need the help to create the image in the end, it led me to success!

1 Like
8

Wi-Fi working?

1 Like
9

Yes, everything is working.
Last night I even programmed two more 8MB flash memories as a "reserve". If you want and have a suitable V9 router, I can send you one for a postage fee.

PM if you are interested.

1 Like
10

Thanks, but I don't need it.

1 Like
11

This topic was automatically closed 10 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.