Netgear R7900 Nighthawk hangs at bootup

aaronouthier · September 29, 2021, 12:38am

Thankfully, I had the serial wires already attached.
This occurred when I flashed the new 21.02 version of OpenWRT - 19.07.8 works great.

---Begin Bootlog---

sudo picocom -b 115200 -f n -y n -d 8 -p 1 /dev/ttyUSB0
picocom v3.1

port is        : /dev/ttyUSB0
flowcontrol    : none
baudrate is    : 115200
parity is      : none
databits are   : 8
stopbits are   : 1
escape is      : C-a
local echo is  : no
noinit is      : no
noreset is     : no
hangup is      : no
nolock is      : no
send_cmd is    : sz -vv
receive_cmd is : rz -vv -E
imap is        : 
omap is        : 
emap is        : crcrlf,delbs,
logfile is     : none
initstring     : none
exit_after is  : not set
exit is        : no

Type [C-a] [C-h] to see available commands
Terminal ready
Digital core power voltage set to 1.0V

SHMOO VER 1.13

PKID07DC06011801080000000000001A103F01000000

S300001BB
00001200


RDLYW0 00000004

RDENW0 00000030

RDQSW0 

    0000000000111111111122222222223333333333444444444455555555556666
    0123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123
 00 ---++++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++++------------
 01 ------++++++++++++++++++++++++X+++++++++++++++++++++++----------
 02 -----+++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++-------------
 03 ---++++++++++++++++++++++++X+++++++++++++++++++++++-------------
 04 --+++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++----------------
 05 ---+++++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++++-----------
 06 --++++++++++++++++++++++X+++++++++++++++++++++------------------
 07 -------+++++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++++-------
 08 --++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++-----------------
 09 ---------++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++----------
 10 ----++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++---------------
 11 ----------++++++++++++++++++++++X+++++++++++++++++++++----------
 12 ---++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++----------------
 13 ----------++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++-------------
 14 ---+++++++++++++++++++++++X+++++++++++++++++++++++--------------
 15 --------++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++-----------


PW0 

    0000000000111111111122222222223333333333444444444455555555556666
    0123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123
 00 --+++++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++++------------
 01 -------+++++++++++++++++++++++X+++++++++++++++++++++++----------
 02 ----+++++++++++++++++++++++X+++++++++++++++++++++++-------------
 03 ---++++++++++++++++++++++++X+++++++++++++++++++++++-------------
 04 ++++++++++++++++++++++++X+++++++++++++++++++++++----------------
 05 ----+++++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++++----------
 06 ++++++++++++++++++++++++X+++++++++++++++++++++++----------------
 07 -------+++++++++++++++++++++++++X+++++++++++++++++++++++++------
 08 --+++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++----------------
 09 ----------+++++++++++++++++++++++X+++++++++++++++++++++++-------
 10 ----+++++++++++++++++++++++X+++++++++++++++++++++++-------------
 11 ---------+++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++---------
 12 ---++++++++++++++++++++++++X+++++++++++++++++++++++-------------
 13 ----------++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++---------
 14 --+++++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++++------------
 15 --------++++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++++-------


NW0 

    0000000000111111111122222222223333333333444444444455555555556666
    0123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123
 00 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++X+++++++++++++++++++++++++------------
 01 ---++++++++++++++++++++++++++X+++++++++++++++++++++++++---------
 02 --+++++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++++------------
 03 +++++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++++--------------
 04 ++++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++++---------------
 05 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++++++-----------
 06 +++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++------------------
 07 ----++++++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++++++-------
 08 +++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++------------------
 09 ----+++++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++++----------
 10 ++++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++++---------------
 11 -----++++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++++----------
 12 ++++++++++++++++++++++++X+++++++++++++++++++++++----------------
 13 -----+++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++-------------
 14 +++++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++++--------------
 15 ---+++++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++++-----------


WRDQW0 

    0000000000111111111122222222223333333333444444444455555555556666
    0123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123
 00 ++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++------++++++++++++-
 01 +++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++------+++++++++++-
 02 ++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++------++++++++++++-
 03 ++++++++++++++++++++++X+++++++++++++++++++++-------++++++++++++-
 04 +++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++---------++++++++++++-
 05 ++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++-----+++++++++++++-
 06 ++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++---------+++++++++++++-
 07 +++++++++++++++++++++++X+++++++++++++++++++++++----++++++++++++-
 08 +++++++++++++++++++++X+++++++++++++++++++++--------++++++++++++-
 09 +++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++---------++++++++-
 10 ++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++------++++++++++++-
 11 ++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++----------++++++++-
 12 ++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++------++++++++++++-
 13 -++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++----------+++++++-
 14 +++++++++++++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++------+++++++++++-
 15 -++++++++++++++++++++++X+++++++++++++++++++++------------++++++-


WRDMW0 00000021
WRDMW0 00000022


ADDR

    0000000000111111111122222222223333333333444444444455555555556666
    0123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123
 00 ++++++++++++++++++S++++++++++++X++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Decompressing...done


CFE for Foxconn Router R8000 version: v1.0.9
Build Date: Fri Oct 17 09:06:40 CST 2014 
Init Arena
Init Devs.
Boot up from NAND flash...
Bootcode Boot partition size = 524288(0x80000)
DDR Clock: 800 MHz
Info: DDR frequency set from clkfreq=1000,*800*
et2: Broadcom BCM47XX 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet Controller 7.14.43.2 (r474543)
CPU type 0x0: 1000MHz
Tot mem: 262144 KBytes

Device eth0:  hwaddr A0-04-60-90-4B-CF, ipaddr 192.168.1.1, mask 255.255.255.0
        gateway not set, nameserver not set
Checking crc...Loader:raw Filesys:raw Dev:nflash0.os File: Options:(null)
Loading: ... 2348450 bytes read
Entry at 0x00008000
Closing network.
Starting program at 0x00008000
Uncompressing Linux... done, booting the kernel.

---Post I.T. Note: system hangs here 3+ hours minimum unless powered off prior to that. At least mine did---

Terminating...
Thanks for using picocom

---End Bootlog---

aaronouthier · September 30, 2021, 3:47am

System hangs after "Uncompressing Linux. Done, booting kernel".

aaronouthier · September 30, 2021, 3:49am

What can I do to fix?
I compiled and ran nmrpflash to apply the update. Nmrpflash completed successfully.

DGdodo · October 4, 2021, 11:45pm

aaronouthier,

You speak about the wiki (within a complete other topic in the forum?), which wiki do you mean? For your R7900, I don't see a wiki-page at OpenWrt.
There is a tech-page, which hold indeed same image for install and upgrade.

What update process do you follow?

You log is saying btw: Router R8000
What version of OpenWrt was running fine on your / which router?
Which file did you upload? Did you do the SHA check? No? So you don't know your download went 100% ok?
You talk about nmrpflash? Where did you read about that?
(Edit: I see thats the OEM tool to flash a device, why not just update OpenWrt within web-GUI?)

So many questions, if you don't be specific
Are you aware of the changes within v21.02.0? Like /etc/config/network will be adjusted etc. https://openwrt.org/releases/21.02/notes-21.02.0

But we are willing to help.

DG.

aaronouthier · October 5, 2021, 12:31am

Sorry. Yes, SHAsum and file size on your site matches what I downloaded.

I have tried multiple methods to update, including NMRPflash, the webui, and the command line. I have tried both with and without saving settings.

Previously, when I first installed OpenWRT after purchasing the device, I was told to use nmrpflash, as that was the only way to install from stock firmware.

Currently, I have gone back to 19.07.8, which works just dandy.

I suppose I don't really NEED to upgrade, but I am curious as to the new features, and I also am really trying to fix a very annoying problem in 19.07. Perhaps I just need to ask for help with that issue.

This particular unit is absolutely an R7900, however, I also have an R8000 elsewhere.

DGdodo · October 5, 2021, 1:25am

aaronouthier,

Ok, about the downloaded file. But pity it did not worked out (yet).
For the annoying problem in v19.07.x I suggest you create a new forum topic, with as much info about it you have, and / or report a bug. (https://bugs.openwrt.org/)

I do not have a R7900 or have knowledge about it, nor am I a developer.

But, you write: 'This particular unit is absolutely an R7900', why your log show Router R8000 version: v1.0.9?:

Decompressing...done


CFE for Foxconn Router R8000 version: v1.0.9
Build Date: Fri Oct 17 09:06:40 CST 2014 
Init Arena
Init Devs.
Boot up from NAND flash...

Are you using the right file on the right device?
Maybe check it against old logs to see if this is right.

Are you using your own OpenWrt builds (v19.07.8) or just regular from https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/ which work fine now?

As there is so little info about your device here, why not create a OpenWrt wiki page for it?
Maybe you can chat about your 'very annoying problem in 19.07' on: https://openwrt.org/irc

Regards, DG.

aaronouthier · October 9, 2021, 2:21am

The 7900 and the 8000 appear to use the same logic board, but with a few small changes to the components. For example, the R8000 has both a USB 2 and a USB 3 port, whereas the R7900 has only 1 USB port.

My guess is that someone used the source code from the R8000 as a base to make the firmware for the R7900. The 19.07 firmware for the R7900 also says R8000.

As for my "annoying problem", I have 3 different OpenWRT routers in my house, and would to run 2 of them as complete bridges, with only 1 DHCP server on the network, and all devices in the same subnet. I only want a LAN firewall rule, no WAN, no NAT, etc. on two of the three. Every time I try to accomplish this, I get completely locked out of the router, and the settings get reset to previous settings after a few minutes. As that is indeed a different discussion, I will create a new topic here on the forums.

DGdodo · October 18, 2021, 11:48pm

aaronouthier,

For the time being I should stay on 19.07.8 (or make the master 1st work fine with 21.02.0) and try the following:
Why not setup 1 router as main with 2 repeaters instead of bridges?
I've used an OpenWrt-(wlan)repeater for years without problems, it took DHCP and DNS nicely from main router.
Or create a MESH network?
I wanna go over to OpenWrt Mesh Network one time, but for now its running fine on 4 OEM Fritzboxes.

DG.

aaronouthier · October 19, 2021, 12:13am

I have being trying to use it as a repeater. My desire is to have only one dns/dhcp server, and have the same network everywhere. Unfortunately, anytime I remove the WAN segment, the system locks up, and my changes are undone after a few minutes. I have 3 different NetGear routers, with 2 different architectures in total. Both have the same issue.

Besides the R7900, I have an R8000 and an R6120.

DGdodo · October 19, 2021, 9:33am

aaronouthier,

Where did you read to remove the WAN? Then your router always crashes, without WAN.
That's the main setup of OpenWrt, WAN & LAN. Where does your repeater get internet, DHCP, DNS? From WAN...
The WAN always points to internet (wlan or ethport).
It needs to be seperated by zones and firewall from LAN.

Next you turn of DHCP on your repeater and it should take the DHCP from main router.
Same for DNS.

DG.

aaronouthier · October 20, 2021, 11:40am

I didn't read about it. I'm an IT professional. The thing is, I need everything in the same firewall zone.

On my main router, the internet of course is separate, so turn on NAT there. Currently though, my other 2 routers also have NAT enabled, and I have to have different IP address ranges for each segment in my own LAN. That's the part I need to get rid of - 3 separate routers, to 3 different LAN segments. My office in the garage needs to be on the same subnet as the main router, and likewise with the OpenWRT Wireless repeater in the front of the house - all need to be in the same network. So far, all attempts to do this have failed!

DGdodo · October 20, 2021, 7:16pm

aaronouthier,

I use a (OEM) MESH network for that, all ports (on 4 -all WIFI- Fritzboxes around my house) and WIFI are in 1 LAN segment.
Can walk with phone from outside to 2th floor without any loss.
Try setup MESH network.

DG.

aaronouthier · October 28, 2021, 10:12am

Unfortunately, my remaining budget for the rest of this year is $0.

aaronouthier · October 28, 2021, 10:21am

Also, I have devices which don't have WiFi in remote locations where I can't run an ethernet cable direct. Having the WWAN to a 5-port switch is essential here. I really need my OpenWRT routers here.

Thank you for your efforts though.

aaronouthier · February 13, 2024, 9:44pm

I'm back!
Still trying to get openwrt installed on my R7900. Bootup still hangs at "Decompressing Linux, booting kernel". Stock Netgear Firmware works fine.

The last working firmware was 19.07, which I can no longer find available for download.