OpenWrt support for Linksys MX4200

hansie · 2024-03-05T14:05:34.709Z

ok thanks, will do that later. FYI: backup functionality from your build is not working. it generates a 0 bytes .tar.gz file that cannot be opened.

I did flash the official snapshot on the other partition and further test in the evening. Thanks for all your help so far!

lytr · 2024-03-05T14:18:52.686Z

There is a fix for that: https://github.com/openwrt/openwrt/commit/4efbfcd996abd351547203cf5d51d53564ada5fb

You can check if backup functionality works on new build: https://github.com/testuser7/openwrt/releases/tag/qualcommax-3191136

lytr · 2024-03-06T07:58:09.716Z

I have prepared a new version. Configuration backup should now be working here. There is also an added -s option for sysupgrade to install on the same partition.

The patch for regdomain has been removed in this build. Can you check how WiFi behaves without this patch?
It is necessary to install without saving the configuration (-n) or to delete the file /lib/firmware/ath11k/IPQ8074/hw2.0/cal-ahb-c000000.wifi.bin after installation and restart.

Build: https://github.com/testuser7/openwrt/releases/tag/qualcommax-970c50c

judahrand · 2024-03-07T17:34:00.440Z

I did the sysupgrade using that new build and then did

rm /lib/firmware/ath11k/IPQ8074/hw2.0/cal-ahb-c000000.wifi.bin
reboot

once rebooted I ran iwinfo:

phy0-ap0  ESSID: "XX"
          Access Point: D8:EC:5E:XX:XX:X
          Mode: Master  Channel: 52 (5.260 GHz)  HT Mode: HE80
          Center Channel 1: 58 2: unknown
          Tx-Power: 5 dBm  Link Quality: unknown/70
          Signal: unknown  Noise: -110 dBm
          Bit Rate: unknown
          Encryption: WPA2 PSK (CCMP)
          Type: nl80211  HW Mode(s): 802.11ac/ax/n
          Hardware: embedded [Qualcomm Atheros IPQ8074]
          TX power offset: none
          Frequency offset: none
          Supports VAPs: yes  PHY name: phy0

phy1-ap0  ESSID: "XX"
          Access Point: D8:EC:5E:XX:XX:XX
          Mode: Master  Channel: 6 (2.437 GHz)  HT Mode: HE20
          Center Channel 1: 6 2: unknown
          Tx-Power: 5 dBm  Link Quality: unknown/70
          Signal: unknown  Noise: -102 dBm
          Bit Rate: unknown
          Encryption: WPA2 PSK (CCMP)
          Type: nl80211  HW Mode(s): 802.11ax/b/g/n
          Hardware: embedded [Qualcomm Atheros IPQ8074]
          TX power offset: none
          Frequency offset: none
          Supports VAPs: yes  PHY name: phy1

phy2-ap0  ESSID: "XX"
          Access Point: D8:EC:5E:XX:XX:XX
          Mode: Master  Channel: 108 (5.540 GHz)  HT Mode: HE80
          Center Channel 1: 106 2: unknown
          Tx-Power: 8 dBm  Link Quality: 67/70
          Signal: -43 dBm  Noise: -108 dBm
          Bit Rate: 6.0 MBit/s
          Encryption: WPA2 PSK (CCMP)
          Type: nl80211  HW Mode(s): 802.11ac/ax/n
          Hardware: embedded [Qualcomm Atheros IPQ8074]
          TX power offset: none
          Frequency offset: none
          Supports VAPs: yes  PHY name: phy2

Seems like without the regdomain patch the TX powers are all low again.

bz101 · 2024-03-07T19:03:37.316Z

What's the speed without the regdomain patch?
Maybe also try 160MHZ channel?
Also is the ping better?

lytr · 2024-03-08T05:44:59.008Z

Thanks for checking. Could you add a comment with the results without the patch and with the patch here: https://github.com/openwrt/openwrt/pull/14512 ?

lytr · 2024-03-08T05:46:44.298Z

160MHz is not supported on this SoC.

ilkka-ollakka · 2024-03-10T10:51:54.188Z

I'm having same issue with v1, seems that memory is really tight and kernel seems to reserve quite a big chunk to itself from the boot, so I only get around 365M of memory to use.

innovara · 2024-03-11T11:45:26.977Z

I backported support for the MX4200 v1 and v2 to 23.05 which uses kernel 5.15. It might be more suitable for MX4200v1. I have a v2 and it's more stable, but that is to be expected from a stable branch anyway.

GitHub

GitHub - innovara/openwrt: This repository is a mirror of...

This repository is a mirror of https://git.openwrt.org/openwrt/openwrt.git It is for reference only and is not active for check-ins. We will continue to accept Pull Requests here. They will be mer...

Note 1: please note that it is extremely unlikely that you will ever see this backport merged into the official repo. There is an open PR but the feedback is that it requires more changes than a backport should for a stable branch. https://github.com/openwrt/openwrt/pull/14474

Note 2: since that's the case, I backported lytr's code to remove regdomain, which is not merged into main yet. I am also less concerned about minimising the changes included in the backport to the essentials. Having said that, I want a very stable firmware and I am not going to backport any changes that aren't self-contained and a clear improvement.

ilkka-ollakka · 2024-03-12T06:44:24.723Z

My issues seems to be mostly that I configured too many ssid networks and those ate my memory, otherwise daily snapshot builds have been running nicely for me.

innovara · 2024-03-13T15:56:02.611Z

I have one SSID for my home network and one for the guest network. They are enabled on the three BSSIDs / radios available. That didn't give me any trouble on either the snapshots or 23.05. But more importantly, I have a v2 which has double the RAM so it's like comparing apples and oranges

eilz · 2024-03-22T15:09:24.818Z

Any chance the kernel can be updated to 6.1.82-1-c5bffb40 I wanted to install wireguard from software tab tried force install but if didn't work, (see message)

Support for WireGuard VPN

The installed version of package kernel is not compatible, require 6.1.82-1-c5bffb40… while 6.1.79-1-3910cb06… is installed.

wolf359 · 2024-04-03T06:10:33.545Z

Not visited the mx4200 for a while as had chucked an early build on last year and had just left it. Finally got around to updating my 2nd unit (use them both as AP's) and realised chaos ensued as MAC associated with the LAN were identical (clearly ARP table on router got confused). quick fix is to manually set it in br-lan but would be better for it to be picked up - unsure if this is fixed in newer builds ?

lytr · 2024-04-03T07:14:32.747Z

MAC addresses for LAN and WAN interfaces should be the same as on the sticker.
And for wireless interfaces, the MAC address from the sticker +1, +2 and +3.

Fixed in this commit: https://github.com/openwrt/openwrt/commit/7173a52f6aea971ae90610f10fd2f184dd29755c

wolf359 · 2024-04-03T08:35:16.226Z

ahh the joys of openwrt. Was running OpenWrt SNAPSHOT r24632-82670f94b4 ok but is quite old so pulled newest V2 snapshot from https://firmware-selector.openwrt.org/?version=SNAPSHOT&target=qualcommax%2Fipq807x&id=linksys_mx4200v2

ran sysupgrade... and its gone !!
Isnt on ip it was using, isnt on default and back 192.168.1.1. Left for 5 min and power cycled and blue led light is on almost immediately and stays there. Any debricking advice ?

lytr · 2024-04-03T09:07:41.545Z

Did you install OpenWrt on both partitions before sysupgrading: https://github.com/openwrt/openwrt/pull/13432 ?
After 3 failed starts you should be switched back to your previous partition.

This router has 2 independent rootfs_data partitions, you lose your settings after installation. There is a PR allowing installation on the current partition: https://github.com/openwrt/openwrt/pull/14720

wolf359 · 2024-04-03T09:17:47.962Z

ok so 3 failed boots seems to get it to come back (although no indication of what it is or isnt doing). Could see previous as had console cable connected but this unit hasnt even been opened.
I can only presume to v2 snapshot isnt ok as had tried sysupgrade without saving config, yet when it finally came back it was still with the previous config and still on OpenWrt SNAPSHOT r24632-82670f94b4
I had only ever flashed 1 partition so am a little unsure as to why it didnt reboot with stock firmware (unless each flashing process alternates the partition and in which case I have killed the 2nd partition which was stock and it reverts back to the last working)

lytr · 2024-04-03T09:28:44.854Z

So now check the current partition:

fw_printenv -n boot_part

and install OpenWrt on the second one using this command:

mtd -r -e alt_kernel -n write openwrt-qualcommax-ipq807x-linksys_mx4200v2-squashfs-factory.bin alt_kernel

or

mtd -r -e kernel -n write openwrt-qualcommax-ipq807x-linksys_mx4200v2-squashfs-factory.bin kernel

You can also modify bootcmd to be able to start initramfs image from USB:

w_setenv bootusb 'usb start && usbboot $loadaddr 0 && bootm $loadaddr'
w_setenv bootcmd 'run bootusb; if test $auto_recovery = no; then bootipq; elif test $boot_part = 1; then run bootpart1; else run bootpart2; fi'

USB preparation:

dd bs=1M if=openwrt-qualcommax-ipq807x-linksys_mx4200v2-initramfs-uImage.itb of=/dev/sda

nicklvh · 2024-04-04T01:47:30.401Z

Hey guys, I have a linksys provided router by my isp (community fibre in London) and I would like to know what version of the mx4200 I have (if I have that version at all). How can I know this?

This is all it says in my firmware update page.

Edit: it was on the bottom of my router. It says the model number is: SPNMX42
Is this the same as an mx4200? and if it is, what version would it be? v1 or v2

Edit 2: did a little more research and the SPNMX42 is the same as an MX4200 V2. not sure 100% but saw this on another forum and can link it if requested

nicklvh · 2024-04-04T03:05:58.558Z

ok, researched a bit more and actually read this forum.

what should I do to install openwrt on my router? should I use snapshot build or use the other build 25.03? can someone give me a short guide on what to do

should I just wait until openwrt supports it on the stable branch?