OpenWrt rebuild from running image

Installing and Using OpenWrt
1

Hello,
i was looking to try flashing openwrt to my router, interestingly after creating an uart connection i found out that on my router runs OpenWrt stock. The model im using is wavlink_wl-wn531g3, which isnt listed as supported device, so i was curious how i can get a clean current version of openwrt on my router. here is the output of ubus call system board

[root@OpenWrt]ubus call system board
{
	"kernel": "2.6.36",
	"hostname": "OpenWrt",
	"system": "MT7620",
	"model": "MT7620",
	"release": {
		"distribution": "OpenWrt",
		"version": "Bleeding Edge",
		"revision": "r16861",
		"codename": "barrier_breaker",
		"target": "ramips\/mt7620a",
		"description": "OpenWrt Barrier Breaker r16861"
	}
}
2

https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-developer/adding_new_device
https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-developer/add.new.device

3

If the device isn't listed as supported, it probably runs a modified version, not "OpenWrt stock".

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4

The firmware on this device is based on a 10 year version of OpenWrt. That is a bit surprising given that this device appears to be relatively modern (within the past few years).

You’ll need to go through the process of adding device support per the link above from @frollic.

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5

And the keyword here is 'based on', very loosely based on - with crucial changes all over the system (in particular kernel, configuration system and more), it does not help you at all in regards to porting real OpenWrt to it.

1 Like
6

Thank you for the replies. As far as i understood there is no benefit in creating a new openwrt target by using "leftovers" of the running os, right?
I managed to compile a new image. But im not sure how to correctly setup the .dts file. Is there a way to dump this information directly from the device? I read through the pages related to adding a new device, but the documentation is not very detailed.
Or is there additional documentation?
Thank you in advance