Redmi AX6000. Error "Image metadata not present" during OpenWrt installation

[floppy1]

Hi, I have a Redmi AX6000 and was installing OpenWrt 23.05.5 following the guide.
I downloaded the files Xiaomi Redmi Router AX6000 (stock layout) from https://firmware-selector.openwrt.org/?version=23.05.5&target=mediatek%2Ffilogic&id=xiaomi_redmi-router-ax6000-stock

When installing, the output of cat /proc/cmdline showed firmware=1.

I'm stuck at the "Installing OpenWrt (stock layout)" section, at step 5.

When I run the following command:
sysupgrade -n /tmp/openwrt-{version}-mediatek-filogic-xiaomi_redmi-router-ax6000-stock-squashfs-sysupgrade.bin

I get the following error:
root@OpenWrt:~# sysupgrade -n /tmp/squashfs-sysupgrade.bin
upgrade: Image metadata not present
upgrade: Use sysupgrade -F to override this check when downgrading or flashing to vendor firmware
invalid sysupgrade file
Image check failed.

Additionally, after running cat /proc/cmdline again, I now get firmware=0.

I tried using sysupgrade -F before, but it ended up bricking the router, and I had to recover to xiaomi firmware 1.0.48 using TFTP.

I downloaded the files to my computer and transferred them using SCP. I also tried downloading the files directly using wget.

I can still access the OpenWrt web interface at http://192.168.1.1, which shows the version:
Powered by LuCI openwrt-23.05 branch (git-24.264.56413-c7a3562) / OpenWrt 23.05.5 (r24106-10cc5fcd00)

What steps should I take to avoid the "Image metadata not present" error and complete the installation?

Thank you for your help!

[hnyman]

@floppy1

I get the following error:
root@OpenWrt:~# sysupgrade -n /tmp/squashfs-sysupgrade.bin
upgrade: Image metadata not present

That sounds like there is something wrong with the sysupgrade file, if it does not verify as a valid sysupgrade file. Has the file transfer gone ok?

You could check its sha256sum hash that it matches the one given on the download page/tool.
(And that the file looks proper length, and the contents look similar as on your PC, with a hex editor or viewer, like hexdump)

[floppy1]

Hi, thank you for the help.

It looks like you were right.

When I powered on the router, the previous files were gone, so I couldn't compare them. However, this time I downloaded the files on a linux machine and transferred them to the router from my PC using WinSCP, and it worked.

I also used a different Ethernet cable, just to be safe.

I still need to do the ubootmod part, but it looks like the files were the problem.

Thank you again!