Ubiquiti Nanostation AC loco device settings not sticking, falling back to RAM overlay

Installing and Using OpenWrt
1

Followed standard generic Ubiquiti device installation procedures: https://openwrt.org/toh/ubiquiti/common

Then flashed Supported Current Rel 23.05.0 as documented here: https://openwrt.org/toh/ubiquiti/nanostation_ac_loco

Device configuration wouldn't stick after reboot. Checked log and found:

Mon Oct  9 21:45:58 2023 kern.notice kernel: [   10.686589] jffs2: notice: (389) jffs2_build_xattr_subsystem: complete building xattr subsystem, 0 of xdatum (0 unchecked, 0 orphan) and 0 of xref (0 dead, 0 orphan) found.
Mon Oct  9 21:45:58 2023 user.err kernel: [   10.703847] mount_root: unable to set filesystem state
Mon Oct  9 21:45:58 2023 user.info kernel: [   10.709708] mount_root: switching to jffs2 overlay
Mon Oct  9 21:45:58 2023 user.err kernel: [   10.715911] mount_root: switching to jffs2 failed - fallback to ramoverlay
2

This is a known bug. Use 22.03.6 until 23.05.3 is released, which will contain the fix.

A sysupgrade is going to fail because the bug prevents OpenWrt from writing to flash including writing a new OS. It will be necessary to TFTP recover to stock and repeat the installation process.

1 Like
3

I'm new to OpenWRT, just flashed my Ubiquiti Nanostation AC Loco, found out that there's not enough space and that settings revert after turning it off. Any ideas on how to fix this?

4

Space is not the reason for the problem. If you read the discussion in this thread (in fact the post right above yours), you will see that there is a bug.

The current solution is also in that post -- roll back to 22.03.6.

7

Thanks for pointing that out. I did try rolling back to 22.03.6, after a few mins it still goes back to 23.05.3.

8

That's not possible. The device doesn't have 2 firmware slots. It only has a single firmware partition.

9

I'll try it now, will let you know if the result is the same, should I just flash it normally in Luci or SSH it?

10

You can use LuCI or ssh -- they're effectively the same. Make sure you use the 'sysupgrade' image and do not keep settings.

11

thanks, will now test it.

12

Followed the instructions, downloaded 22.03.6, flashed using sysupgrade in Luci, and did not keep any settings, for some reason I still have 23.05.2.

13

What exact file did you download (exact filename, please)?
How did you run the upgrade?
Did you see any status information during the update?

14

I downloaded openwrt-22.03.6-ath79-generic-ubnt_nanostation-ac-loco-squashfs-factory.bin from firmware-selector.openwrt.org/?version=22.03.6&target=ath79%2Fgeneric&id=ubnt_nanostation-ac-loco, as for the status and information during flashing, it seems normal like the usual status I see.

It restarts after a seconds, and then boots up again only to see the same version, didn't downgrade to 22.03.6.

15

You downloaded the 'factory' file -- you need the 'sysupgrade' file.

16

I didn't mention this but before I tried the factory file I also did try the sysupgrade from the same link, but will re-try it again right now, apologies for not mentioning it.

17

Downgrade will not work. It will complete without error but nothing is actually written to flash because of the bug.

Either TFTP back to stock and repeat the installation process with 22.03, or use serial to boot and install 22.03.

1 Like
18

Yes that seems to be the case, as you said above sir. So far I have no experience in TFTP, but if there's a tutorial I might be able to follow it.

19

A little bit of update. As sir @mk24 recommended I TFTP back to stock Ubiquiti WA.v8.7.4, and from there reinstalled 22.03, and was able to flash it successfully, gained a valuable experience as I'm basically a newbie.

Thanks to sir @mk24 and @psherman for the assistance.

1 Like
22

I compiled openwrt 23.05.3 including luci for nanostation AC loco WA.v8.7.4 ... worked for me. Just want to share ... perhaps it will be helpful to someone. You can download the firmware here: (deleted)
To install, just follow the instructions provided here.

[Moderator edit: link disabled, but available for people to see - we do not know if it is a legit link and/or what is in the build]

23

Standard images are available on the firmware selector. The stable release builds already include LuCI and you can also request a custom build.

What is special about your build? Is there a reason someone should use your build as compared to the standard ones?

3 Likes
24

@psherman Why did you edit my post ... is this best practice on this board?