Serial usb for ZTE MF286D? (and a few other questions)

[0335]

Hey
After some thinking I have have decided to go with the ZTE MF286D due to cost and popularity in my country (uk).

However I just want to ask a few questions before I bite the bullet:

[OpenWrt Wiki] ZTE MF286D

The installation instruction page mentions a serial connector. Is this the standard USB-TTL converter? like this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Serial-Download-PL2303TA-Converter-Adapter/dp/B08HS9M3P9

Are there any drivers that are needed to make this work on linux (debian or ubuntu)?

Does TFTP just mean the computer that I am using to flash the router with, or is it a special protocol? I believe I have to sudo apt install tftpd-hpa but to be honest I am quite unsure - do you know of any good documentation of setting this up in more detail?

When the instructions say: Stop u-Boot by pressing ESC, and run u-Boot commands, does that mean when the router is booting at first, so I would turn on the router (while the serial and ethernet is connected to the computer) and just as it powers on start pressing ESC?

when the instructions say: Then /dev/mtd9 needs to be formatted. is that referring to a USB flash drive?

Is the flash layout code just for verification or is it something I have to input?

Another thing is that while the wiki says it supports the current snapshot, the firmware selector doesn't seem to indicate that https://firmware-selector.openwrt.org/?version=22.03.5&target=ipq40xx%2Fgeneric&id=zte_mf286d

Sorry if the questions seem silly. I just want to really make sure!

[frollic]

@0335

like this one:

It's not - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AFRXKFU

@0335

drivers that are needed to make this work on linux (debian or ubuntu)?

That's a question for the Linux dist, but probably not.

@0335

or is it a special protocol

It's a protocol.

@0335

I believe I have to sudo apt install tftpd-hpa but to be honest I am quite unsure

That's another client OS specific question, but very likely.

Look for TFTP router flashing videos on YT.

@0335

and just as it powers on start pressing ESC?

Yes.

@0335

is that referring to a USB flash drive?

It's referring to the flash.

@0335

the firmware selector doesn't seem to indicate that

It's supported by the brand new 24.10.1.

Walkthrough from an older thread, not it doesn't back up the current install pre flashing

Cheap Router with LTE/4G, Wifi 2.4/5GHz and Eth-Ports

So finally success, luci is back (IPQ40xx) # setenv serverip 192.168.1.64 (IPQ40xx) # setenv ipaddr 192.168.1.1 (IPQ40xx) # set fdt_high 0x85000000 (IPQ40xx) # tftp openwrt-23.05.3-ipq40xx-generic-zte_mf286d-initramfs-zImage.itb MAC0 addr:0:3:7f:ba:db:ad PHY ID1: 0x4d PHY ID2: 0xd0b1 ipq40xx_ess_sw_init done eth0 eth0 PHY0 Down Speed :10 Half duplex eth0 PHY1 Down Speed :10 Half duplex eth0 PHY2 Down Speed :10 Half duplex eth0 PHY3 up Speed :1000 Full duplex eth0 PHY4 Do…

[0335]

thank you frolic. that clears a lot up. Just for clarification is the /dev/mtd9 on the router or the computer? And how does it get formatted? Using a tool like gparted? I am now ok on the tftp and can mess about with that but knowing exactly where some things are actually stored confuses me.

Is the serial just used to boot it up in the mode to then let the tftp take over from? Is there no way to do this by just using serial without tftp?

In the wiki the specific configuration, switch ports (for VLANs), and buttons are have EXAMPLE in the boxes with a Fix Me! on top. Does this mean that the wiki maintainer is still unsure of which values should be used?

Sorry if this seems overly pedantic I just want to really make sure to avoid as much confusion and trail and error during the process as possible!

My OS is debian if that makes any difference.

[frollic]

@0335

Just for clarification is the /dev/mtd9 on the router or the computer? And how does it get formatted?

From the old thread:

root@OpenWrt:/# mtd erase rootfs
Unlocking rootfs ...
Erasing rootfs ...

@0335

Is the serial just used to boot it up in the mode to then let the tftp take over from?

Serial is used for initiating the TFTP transfer.

@0335

Is there no way to do this by just using serial without tftp?

Depends on if it's supported by the boot loader, but it'll take 15 mins to transfer the image, vs 3 sec over Ethernet.

@0335

Does this mean that the wiki maintainer is still unsure of which values should be used?

Means no one bothered putting anything useful there.

[Dro]

I read https://openwrt.org/toh/zte/mf286d and have Only One question…

Id possible by any way, access into LTE module? I need IM** change here from my old modem (allowed by operator)

I think, is qualcomm inside and this is hard or not possible…

I have uart-ttl cable and some skils

Many thx for any comment…