[Solved] Sysupgrade to recent snapshot hangs on boot with "Waiting for root device /dev/ubiblock0_0"

Installing and Using OpenWrt
14

I've found the problem and it can be resolved prior to me deciding the best way to "fix" the upstream source.

What happens is that the OEM firmware has already taken over the root file system partition in a way that sysupgrade, right now, can't take it back. It can be resolved "by hand" using the command line (over SSH) relatively easily.

Step 1) Determine which partition you've booted into

root@test:~# cat /sys/devices/virtual/ubi/ubi0/mtd_num 
11

:warning: If this is 11, then you will be working with 13 in the later steps, if it is 13, then use 11

Step 2) Connect the "other" firmware to a UBI device

root@test:~# ubiattach -m 13
UBI device number 1, total 680 LEBs (86343680 bytes, 82.3 MiB), available 0 LEBs (0 bytes), LEB size 126976 bytes (124.0 KiB)

If this does not say UBI device number 1 here, stop now and ask for clarification.

Step 3) Confirm that there is an OEM volume there that needs to be removed

root@test:~# ubinfo -d 1 -a
ubi1
Volumes count:                           1
Logical eraseblock size:                 126976 bytes, 124.0 KiB
Total amount of logical eraseblocks:     680 (86343680 bytes, 82.3 MiB)
Amount of available logical eraseblocks: 0 (0 bytes)
Maximum count of volumes                 128
Count of bad physical eraseblocks:       0
Count of reserved physical eraseblocks:  40
Current maximum erase counter value:     1
Minimum input/output unit size:          2048 bytes
Character device major/minor:            246:0
Present volumes:                         0

Volume ID:   0 (on ubi1)
Type:        dynamic
Alignment:   1
Size:        636 LEBs (80756736 bytes, 77.0 MiB)
State:       OK
Name:        ubifs
Character device major/minor: 246:1

If is says Name: ubifs then proceed. If not, recheck your steps, especially which partition you've booted into, and don't proceed if you aren't seeing Name: ubifs

Step 4) Remove the OEM ubifs volume

root@test:~# ubirmvol /dev/ubi1 -N ubifs

You should be able to use sysupgrade now.

Patch submitted http://patchwork.ozlabs.org/patch/1116472/

Downloading https://gist.github.com/jeffsf/cd516fb84d0a46f1c3f9d49f2abea7ad and replacing /lib/upgrade/linksys.sh with it should give you the effect of that patch on your local, running install.

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