Reset EAP255 v3 running OpenWRT?

Installing and Using OpenWrt
1

I installed OpenWRT on my TP_Link EAP255 v3, installed install factory and the sysupgrade FW and updated a few settings in the UI including updating the ip address to 10.0.6.4. I applied, updated my machine to that IP address and reconnected fine.

Then I connected through SSH, modified my /etc/config/network file and restarted but was unable to reconnect to it. I thought that would be fine since I could just hold down the reset button for 10 seconds and reset it back to normal.

I did that, changed my computer's ip address back to 192.168.1.100/24 but am unable to reconnect, over ssh or on the browser. I have rebooted several times, waiting anywhere between 5 minutes to an hour between each reboot and still am unable to reconnect. I have also tried to restart it in recovery mode by hitting reset several times once the light started to blink slowly the first time, but nothing.

The light still boots to solid green eventually. I have tried tapping reset several times during boot which seems to cause the amber light to flash a lot, I've also tried holding it down for shorter. I have tried the ip address I specified earlier (10.0.6.4/24) but nothing is working.

How do I reset this device back to a freshly flashed state so I can connect to it on 192.168.1.1/24?

2

You can do it from web gui, if you can not find that try this:

--- https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/troubleshooting/failsafe_and_factory_reset#entering_failsafe_mode

3

Thank you for your help. Unfortunately it didn't work, but it did give me some additional information.

This device has a single POE ethernet port.

On my mac I set my ip address to the connected interface to 192.168.1.8/24

en6: flags=8963<UP,BROADCAST,SMART,RUNNING,PROMISC,SIMPLEX,MULTICAST> mtu 1500
        options=6464<VLAN_MTU,TSO4,TSO6,CHANNEL_IO,PARTIAL_CSUM,ZEROINVERT_CSUM>
        ether <MAC>
        inet6 <ipv6 addr> prefixlen 64 secured scopeid 0x20
        inet 192.168.1.8 netmask 0xffffff00 broadcast 192.168.1.255
        nd6 options=201<PERFORMNUD,DAD>
        media: autoselect (100baseTX <full-duplex>)
        status: active

I then ran "sudo tcpdump -Ani en6 port 4919 and udp" and plugged in my EAP225 v3.
I let it run for about 5 minutes and then terminated tcpdump.

I expected to see at least one broadcast packet containing "Please press button now to enter failsafe", but I don't see any.

➜  ~ sudo tcpdump -v -Ani en6 port 4919 and udp -U -w -
tcpdump: listening on en6, link-type EN10MB (Ethernet), snapshot length 524288 bytes
0 packets captured
0 packets received by filter
0 packets dropped by kernel
4

That is correct. Does the device blink LED light fast for ~2sec at boot? If it has button tap it when it does....

5

At boot the LED goes through a solid green, fast blink, slower blink, solid green, slower blink, and solid green again. I've tried tapping reset during each of these, and have seen the color change to ember and blink rapidly when pressing it the first times it blinks.

When it has finished and went back to solid green I still cannot connect to 192.168.1.1/24 from 192.168.1.8/24

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6

Is there a reason you won't let your Mac obtain an IP address via DHCP - instead of manually configuring your network interface?

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7

I think it is already plan B as no dhcp worked.

Is it OpenWrt? Maybe it is customized to somehow neuter failsafe and reset states?

Serial would answer it right away.

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8

Hmm - do you use PoE injector? Original brand? Does it keep link up when one cable disconnects? If it is long to reconnect you may lose the hello packet.

Try (random similar +/-10% specs power adapter.

9

Thank you all for your help.

Is there a reason you won't let your Mac obtain an IP address via DHCP - instead of manually configuring your network interface?

I didn't enable DHCP on the unit and it isn't enabled by default, if I understand correctly.

Is it OpenWrt? Maybe it is customized to somehow neuter failsafe and reset states?

I used the factory FW at https://openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/eap225#supported_versions, and then the sysupgrade fw found at firmware-selector site

Hmm - do you use PoE injector? Original brand? Does it keep link up when one cable disconnects? If it is long to reconnect you may lose the hello packet.

The EAP255 v3 doesn't have a power outlet and only works with POE. I am using the POE adapter that came with the unit. I'll see if I can find a friend with another POE adapter to see if that makes a difference.

Serial would answer it right away.

I've never done anything like that, but it looks like I've got a new thing to fiddle with and learn this weekend!

Again, thank you for your help!

10

Try pressing the reset button quickly and repeatedly (I.e. button mashing) from the moment you apply power until you (hopefully) see the rapid LED blinks. In my experience, this is the best way to enter failsafe mode, as the exact timing for the button press becomes less of an issue if you're just hammering that button during the window.

11

Phew... I opened up the device and was starting to poke around when I decided to move to my desktop and it worked :man_facepalming: . It looks like there is something wrong with either my macbook air or the ethernet -> usbc adapter I've been using. My linux machine was able to communicate with it just fine and I was able to configure it the way I like it.

The strange thing is I initially configured it using my macbook so I don't know what could have changed which made it not work anymore.

Thank you all for your help and suggestions!

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