Linksys MR7350 question regarding install instruction

Installing and Using OpenWrt
1

Hello.
I managed to install openwrt-25.12.0-qualcommax-ipq60xx-linksys_mr7350-squashfs-factory.bin on my Linksys MR7350 without any problems.
But i have one question regardind the install instruction...

For what exactly is this part?

- First Check booted partition:
fw_printenv -n boot_part

- Change the partition:
fw_setenv boot_part 1
or
fw_setenv boot_part 2
depending on the current partition

- Then install Openwrt to the other partition if booted in slot 1:
mtd -r -e alt_kernel -n write openwrt-qualcommax-ipq60xx-linksys_mr7350-squashfs-factory.bin alt_kernel

- If in slot 2:
mtd -r -e kernel -n write openwrt-qualcommax-ipq60xx-linksys_mr7350-squashfs-factory.bin kernel```
Is this part necessary? 


BR and thx in advance
2

If you're still at this spot, you haven't actually installed anything yet.

It's a dual firmware device, depending on value of boot_part OpenWRT is written to 1st or 2nd firmware slot.

1 Like
4

So it should NOT work if i dont' do it?

1 Like
5

What should not work ?

OpenWRT should be flashed twice, once via Linksys web UI, 2nd time using mtd via ssh.

1 Like
6

Ok.
But what can happen if i only flash one via linksys web ui?

1 Like
7

Test, let us know.

I'm guessing it'll (in a best case scenario) roll back to stock.
Worst case, you'll need serial to recover your soft bricked router.

Why are you even considering this ?

8

Im runnig this setup since friday without any problems with a lot of reboots, restarts, reset to default...
so i just want do know why i need this step...

9

I tried it now...
Not working :wink:

BusyBox v1.37.0 (2026-03-03 00:14:15 UTC) built-in shell (ash)

  _______                     ________        __
 |       |.-----.-----.-----.|  |  |  |.----.|  |_
 |   -   ||  _  |  -__|     ||  |  |  ||   _||   _|
 |_______||   __|_____|__|__||________||__|  |____|
          |__| W I R E L E S S   F R E E D O M
 -----------------------------------------------------
 OpenWrt 25.12.0, r32713-f919e7899d Dave's Guitar
 -----------------------------------------------------

 OpenWrt recently switched to the "apk" package manager!

 OPKG Command           APK Equivalent      Description
 ------------------------------------------------------------------
 opkg install <pkg>     apk add <pkg>       Install a package
 opkg remove <pkg>      apk del <pkg>       Remove a package
 opkg upgrade           apk upgrade         Upgrade all packages
 opkg files <pkg>       apk info -L <pkg>   List package contents
 opkg list-installed    apk info            List installed packages
 opkg update            apk update          Update package lists
 opkg search <pkg>      apk search <pkg>    Search for packages
 ------------------------------------------------------------------

For more information visit:
https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/additional-software/opkg-to-apk-cheatsheet

root@OpenWrt:~# fw_printenv -n boot_part
1
root@OpenWrt:~# fw_setenv boot_part 2
root@OpenWrt:~# mtd -r -e alt_kernel -n write openwrt-qualcommax-ipq60xx-linksys_mr7350-squashfs-factory.bin alt_kernel
Couldn't open image file: openwrt-qualcommax-ipq60xx-linksys_mr7350-squashfs-factory.bin!
10

Is this file (exactly with this spelling) in the current path?

11

My fault...
Startet in wrong directory...

But still have a problem

root@OpenWrt:/tmp# mtd -r -e alt_kernel -n write openwrt-25.12.0-qualcommax-ipq60xx-linksys_mr7350-squashfs-factory.bin alt_kernel
Unlocking alt_kernel ...
Erasing alt_kernel ...

Writing from openwrt-25.12.0-qualcommax-ipq60xx-linksys_mr7350-squashfs-factory.bin to alt_kernel ...  [w]Error writing image.
12

I'm guessing you need to install kmod-mtd.

Your router will require internet access for this:

apk update
apk add kmod-mtd-rw
insmod mtd-rw i_want_a_brick=1

Then rerun the mtd command.

Let us know if it works, and we'll update the incomplete wiki page.

13 
root@OpenWrt:/tmp# insmod mtd-rw i_want_a_brick=1
failed to insert /lib/modules/6.12.71/mtd-rw.ko
root@OpenWrt:/tmp#
14

Post the whole sequence, not only the error.

15 
root@OpenWrt:/tmp# apk update
 [https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/25.12.0/targets/qualcommax/ipq60xx/packages/packages.adb]
 [https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/25.12.0/packages/aarch64_cortex-a53/base/packages.adb]
 [https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/25.12.0/targets/qualcommax/ipq60xx/kmods/6.12.71-1-d65aec9eed37393a3ccdc8363369c0dc/packages.adb]
 [https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/25.12.0/packages/aarch64_cortex-a53/luci/packages.adb]
 [https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/25.12.0/packages/aarch64_cortex-a53/packages/packages.adb]
 [https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/25.12.0/packages/aarch64_cortex-a53/routing/packages.adb]
 [https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/25.12.0/packages/aarch64_cortex-a53/telephony/packages.adb]
 [https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/25.12.0/packages/aarch64_cortex-a53/video/packages.adb]
OK: 10998 distinct packages available
root@OpenWrt:/tmp# apk add kmod-mtd-rw
(1/1) Installing kmod-mtd-rw (6.12.71.2021.02.28~e8776739-r1)
  Executing kmod-mtd-rw-6.12.71.2021.02.28~e8776739-r1.post-install
OK: 26.1 MiB in 180 packages
root@OpenWrt:/tmp# insmod mtd-rw i_want_a_brick=1
failed to insert /lib/modules/6.12.71/mtd-rw.ko
root@OpenWrt:/tmp#
16

Try insmod kmod-mtd-rw instead.

17 
apk add kmod-mtd-rw
OK: 26.1 MiB in 180 packages
root@OpenWrt:/tmp# insmod kmod-mtd-rw i_want_a_brick=1
Failed to find kmod-mtd-rw. Maybe it is a built in module ?
18

looks like same issue as here:

the possible solution is here:

I myself didn’t try it, as I always keep Linksys firmware on one of the two partitions.

19

the github correction works on this router. Without doing that it soft bricks for both partitions. I used serial to recover, used that to flash both partitions and zero issues going forward. I have posts in the thread on how to use the serial to recover just in case.

20

So...what should i do now?

21

If you don’t upgrade openwrt frequently, I would suggest ignore those steps in post #1, openwrt runs normally without those. When you need to upgrade openwrt, install luci-app-advanced-reboot, boot to the other partition where linksys resides, upgrade by installing openwrt…mr7350….factory.bin (not the ……sysupgrade.bin) from there.

If you upgrade openwrt frequently, it would be convenient to install openwrt to both partitions so that you can sysupgrade directly under current running openwrt, then follow my previous post #17.