TFTP issues - nothing happens after file is sent

Installing and Using OpenWrt
1

I have the TP-Link Archer A7 https://openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/archer_a7_v5 and tried installing OpenWRT through the factory webgui. This didn't work and only the power light would come on.

I got TFTP working and it sends the file, but nothing happens. The power light blinks some, then the LAN light blinks some, then after awhile just both lights stay on and nothing else happens. I'm not sure what to try next of if I'm missing a step. I've tried sending the OpenWRT -factory.bin, the latest tp-link firmware, an older tp-link firmware and nothing is working.

Here is one of the TFTP logs:

Connection received from 192.168.0.86 on port 1271 [13/01 09:11:40.781]
Read request for file <ArcherC7v5_tp_recovery.bin>. Mode octet [13/01 09:11:40.781]
OACK: <timeout=5,blksize=1468,> [13/01 09:11:40.781]
Using local port 1110 [13/01 09:11:40.781]
<ArcherC7v5_tp_recovery.bin>: sent 10680 blks, 15677994 bytes in 8 s. 1 blk resent [13/01 09:11:48.156]

Any tips on what I should try? Thanks.

2

Frequently you need to just wait. I’ve had to wait many minutes for some devices to fully write the file to flash memory and rebooot.

How long have you waited?

Do you happen to have a serial adapter - that is the way to find out what is happening in detail.

3

The log timestamp is from ~40 minutes ago and the router still just has the power and LAN light on.

I have an arduino that I believe I can use as a serial adapter. I'll have to read up on that.

4

I think the serial adapter is going to be key here.

The other thing I tend to do when TFTP flashing a device...

I start a persistent ping to the device on its expected recovery address... in this case 192.168.0.86. From here, you are able to see when it first initializes the interface, and you should be able to see if/when it goes down. Assuming it does transfer the file completely (as it appears to have done in your log), you'd then see successful pings return for a while, and eventually stop. At that point, set a manually configured static IP on your computer (192.168.1.5/24 would be a good one if you've flashed OpenWrt, or if you flashed stock you can keep your existing IP), and then setup another persistent ping to the router's default address (192.168.1.1 for OpenWrt, 192.168.0.1 for stock).

5

You led me to my missing step. OpenWRT default address is 192.168.1.1 and I still had my PC ip set to 192.168.0.66 for the TFTP server. Once I changed it to 192.168.1.12, I could get to the login page. It was probably that way the whole time, doh!

Thanks for your help!

6

glad I could help!

7

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