OpenWrt build for ZBT z8102ax - M2-a -t (v2)

For Developers
1

I'm new to this, so please be gentle.

I needed a 5g router for the Campervan for use when in Europe, so had a look around and found this router. It seemed to have everything I need and advertised that it runs OpenWrt. It boots perfectly, and everything works, including the 5g modem (using a normal sim), but on closer inspection, it's running an older version (a modded v21 I think).

In the near future, I plan to try and use an IOT club hardware Esim in the modem, and would also like to add a simple HDD to save to when out and about.

To keep everything safe, I would like to upgrade to the latest vanilla OpenWRT, where I can use the package manager, and hopefully a couple of command line utilities to manage the esim.

I Honestly thought I was buying the v1 version (metal box) but this isn't so, and have read most of the posts telling me that the v2 isn't supported.

On my journey down the rabbit hole, I came accross a post by @maurer

where he seems to have built a firmware [maurerr/openwrt at z8102ax-v2] (https://github.com/maurerr/openwrt/tree/z8102ax-v2) but I am guessing this was never added to the main dev tree, and seems to be a few commits behind.

Umm... I think I'm asking how to request that this v2 version is supported in the main build.
Failing that, maybe some idea of how to use the build and update it myself. I have a little linux and embedded experience (mostly Yocto).

Anyhow, thanks for reading this far.

Adrian

2

just open a pull request with the code on github :slight_smile:

3

Thanks.. I think that you are saying - do it yourself... :grinning_face:

This might be a little scary...

I did have a look at the changes on your github. They all seem to be Device Tree defenitions. Is this all thats required ? Did this build ok? and did it run?

From my short trip down the rabbit hole, It seems the storage layout is what's causing issues? Different underpinning storage structure on the emmc and nand?

Just started to read the developer guide (although calling me a developer is a long stretch)

Adrian

4

I can rebase my work on latest main branch and build an image but you'll have to do the test - last time I've built the image it worked just fine - only the drivers for my modem (fibocom fm350-gl) were missing/hard to get working so I just switched using the ROOter builds (ofmodemsandmen.com) and put my device into "production" in a remote location - so no testing possible.

5

I'm happy to have a play if you are... (thanks)

First order of the day is to find a way to reinstall the current firmware ... my thoughts are .. BL1 will be on the soc, and looking at your dts files, there's a second bootloader that starts uboot. Factory contains the tuning details for the hardware (so don't loose that)? ubi (wear leveling?) and FIP(no clue)? does that hold the base kernel (busybox) and the rest of the packages on the emmc? I guess that worse case I can rewrite the nand using a spi flash tool! (all of this is conjecture, so please fill in the blanks - )

I've connected a console. Is there anything from this build you would like? Dmesg? copy of the current driver and kernel?

6

Wait, does your device have an emmc or nand? Please check

7

no, it doesn't... I read it had, but on inspection it does not.

1 Like
8

so I've rebased my branch (https://github.com/maurerr/openwrt/tree/z8102ax-v2) on latest main but build is failing now on :slight_smile:

Error: ../dts/mt7981b-zbtlink-zbt-z8102ax-v2.dts:144.1-5 syntax error

no idea why... maybe someone will chime in

9

Ummm.... I'm kind of making this up, but it looks like you have a few blocks defined twice?

	gpio-export {
		compatible = "gpio-export";
		#size-cells = <0>;

		pcie {
			gpio-export,name = "pcie_power";
			gpio-export,output = <1>;
			gpios = <&pio 3 GPIO_ACTIVE_HIGH>;
		};

		5g1 {
			gpio-export,name = "5g1";
		modem1 {
			gpio-export,name = "modem1";
		5g1 {
			gpio-export,name = "5g1";
			gpio-export,output = <1>;
			gpios = <&pio 4 GPIO_ACTIVE_HIGH>;
		};

		5g2 {
			gpio-export,name = "5g2";
		modem2 {
			gpio-export,name = "modem2";
		5g2 {
			gpio-export,name = "5g2";
			gpio-export,output = <1>;
			gpios = <&pio 5 GPIO_ACTIVE_HIGH>;
		};

		sim1 {
			gpio-export,name = "sim1";
			gpio-export,output = <0>;
			gpios = <&pio 6 GPIO_ACTIVE_LOW>;
		};

		sim2 {
			gpio-export,name = "sim2";
			gpio-export,output = <0>;
			gpios = <&pio 7 GPIO_ACTIVE_LOW>;
		};
	};
};

line 100 - 143 - I asked copilot to tidy it up...

gpio-export {
    compatible = "gpio-export";
    #size-cells = <0>;

    pcie {
        gpio-export,name = "pcie_power";
        gpio-export,output = <1>;
        gpios = <&pio 3 GPIO_ACTIVE_HIGH>;
    };

    5g1 {
        gpio-export,name = "5g1";
        gpio-export,output = <1>;
        gpios = <&pio 4 GPIO_ACTIVE_HIGH>;
    };

    5g2 {
        gpio-export,name = "5g2";
        gpio-export,output = <1>;
        gpios = <&pio 5 GPIO_ACTIVE_HIGH>;
    };

    sim1 {
        gpio-export,name = "sim1";
        gpio-export,output = <0>;
        gpios = <&pio 6 GPIO_ACTIVE_LOW>;
    };

    sim2 {
        gpio-export,name = "sim2";
        gpio-export,output = <0>;
        gpios = <&pio 7 GPIO_ACTIVE_LOW>;
    };
};
10

thanks - i finally done it - you can compile your own version or download mine from https://oshi.ec/tjam (90days link)
fyi - there are no modem drivers except the defaults - I've also included the web ui luci
if your testing is ok I can start the PR process

1 Like
11

Thanks.... I've downloaded the bin file and will spend sometime tomorrow seeing if this will boot. You mentioned that you had a Rooter build that worked. Is it worth looking at that to see what drivers etc are installed?

12

You can but seems a bit more complex than vanilla openwrt https://github.com/ofmodemsandmen/SourceMaster/blob/48f57c6e6792f934184114301474edc25e37ae63/target/linux/mediatek/image/filogic.mk#L764

1 Like
13

Hi Guys, today i purchased V2 version of z8102ax-T (V2) and i ended in boot-loop (that was quite suprise....) anyway i would like to test your image too. :slight_smile:

14

Are you able to get to the console?

I haven't tried the image yet, I need a whole day ... just in case!

15

Actually boot-loop was with openwrt for V1. Few hour ago i installed openwrt for V2(https://oshi.ec/tjam) and it seems to work(booting is fine, interfaces are visible). This week i will configure it (vlans, multiple ssid, LTE VPN ). If i find any issues, i will post it here.

//Martin

1 Like
16

so LTE is working ? then I will start PR process

17

Lte modem will arrive today, i will need to get some testing sim card. I will know in 2-3 days. Minimally wifi seems to be stable.Vlans seems to be fine,multiple ssid seems to be fine.

Br. Martin

18

Hello found bug:

Wan interface is incorrectly mapped.

image
image757×711 77.3 KB

and on the status homepage it shows disconnected (i assume it is hardcoded as wan interface.)

//Martin.

19

I am testing mass storage, and i am not offered kmod-usb-storage package via LuCi. Has anyone idea why?

Minimally the system see the usb device.
usb 2-1.4: new SuperSpeed USB device number 6 using xhci-mtk

20

yeah as I said no other drivers are built in.
Let's wait for my PR to be reviewed and merged so tou can use the official builds