Hello!

I'm new to the forum, and as a bit of a tweaker, I have messed about with OpenWRT now and again.

I decided to follow this tutorial to install the latest OpenWRT on a BT Homehub 5A, located here: https://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/bt/homehub_v5a.  It looks as though the image was missing, but I managed to successfully compile this overnight and it successfully flashed onto the Home Hub a couple of hours ago.  Btw, if anyone is looking for the openwrt-lantiq-xrx200-BTHOMEHUBV5A-ubifs-sysupgrade.tar image, as it appears to have been pulled at some point from the sources, The one I compiled and flashed is uploaded it here: www.commolly.co.uk/openwrt-lantiq-xrx200-BTHOMEHUBV5A-ubifs-sysupgrade.tar.  It's hosted at home, so please be patient - perhaps someone can add it to the images?

It appears stable enough, as it hasn't crashed.  But, it hasn't been doing much either.  The package locations aren't set and I've had some trouble doing this.  I manually set the opkg config file and managed to install LuCi.  I've enabled and started the webserver, and having it hooked up via ethernet to the linux deskop I'm using, I cannot for the life of me access the LuCi webpage.

Right now I'm downloading the packages for the platform, and I'll install things locally once this is done (USB flash drive to hand).

In the meantime though, I could do with some help with accessing LuCi.  I've not changed any defaults, and as previously stated, I've enabled the http server.  The router is pinging my local machines so it has local connectivity.

Next I'm going to try and disable the firewall, hands full right this second, but if that doesn't help, I'm at a loss.

Any idea what I'm missing or overlooking?

Cheers,

Chris.

(Last edited by connchri on 2 Mar 2016, 15:37)

Update:

I've played around with this a bit more, and realised that the uhttpd server is not starting.  It's set to start after booting, and I've also invoked it manually, however when I check what services/processes are running uhttpd never is.  It appears to be crashing/ending before any error messages are thrown.

Here's the config file for uhttpd:

Is there anything obviously wrong with that?

Chris.

New update.

I have LuCi working, wifi all working, xDSL modem drivers installed and I'm getting synchronisation.

I'm now really struggling to create a PPPoA connection to my internet provider though.  I've tried doing this via LuCi and setting up a new interface via the /etc/config/network file, but I have to admit I'm at a bit of a loss here.  I'm 90% sure this is just a configuration issue on my behalf.

Here's the /etc/config/network file output:

config interface 'loopback'
        option ifname 'lo'
        option proto 'static'
        option ipaddr '127.0.0.1'
        option netmask '255.0.0.0'

config vdsl 'dsl'
        option annex 'a'
        option firmware '/lib/firmware/vdsl.bin'
        option tone 'av'
        option xfer_mode 'ptm'

config interface 'IntLAN'
        option type 'bridge'
        option _orig_ifname 'eth0 wlan0 wlan1'
        option _orig_bridge 'true'
        option proto 'static'
        option ipaddr '192.168.1.14'
        option netmask '255.255.255.0'
        option gateway '192.168.1.1'
        option dns '8.8.8.8'
        option ifname 'eth0'

config interface 'WAN_PN'
        option proto 'pppoa'
        option encaps 'vc'
        option atmdev '0'
        option vci '38'
        option vpi '0'
        option username 'xxxxxxx@plusdsl.net'
        option password 'xxxxxxx'
        option ipv6 'auto'

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

Please give us a hint which provider you are using! Based on the username in your config, I would assume Plusnet (UK). Furthermore it's not clear to me whether you are on a ADSL or VDSL broadband connection.

According to http://www.plus.net/support/broadband/h … ings.shtml PPPoA is used for ADSL but your are writing that you get a sync with xfer_mode 'ptm' (VDSL).

If you are on VDSL, your need to tag the pppoe packages on your wan interface with vlanid 101. Something like the following should do the job:

config interface 'wan'
    option ifname 'ptm0.101'
    option proto 'pppoe'
    option username 'XXX
    option password 'XXX'
    option ipv6 'auto'

(Last edited by mkresin on 4 Mar 2016, 17:40)

Hello,

Sorry for that.  It is indeed Plusnet.  It's ADSL.  It was syncing with ADSL2+ at ~ 20Mbps down, 1Mbps up.  Although that config was set to ptm when I copied it over, I had tried atm - I just didn't revert it back before posting this.

I'm thinking that I've perhaps got some packages missing, but at the moment I've got a bigger issue.  I was messing with virtual switches on it, and I have somehow locked myself out by mistake.  Trouble is I can't get it in recovery mode either, as I was hoping to start a fresh - followed the guides, and looked over the forums (and the net) and it's just not being compliant.  It's still booting, and broadcasting the WiFi I set up, and all the ports are bridged - so it's acting as little more than just an access point now.

Back to soldering the uart connection again...

Then I'll build another image with the additional packages (I think I may have missed br2684ctl, I assumed it is included as default).

Thanks for your reply.

(Last edited by connchri on 4 Mar 2016, 19:16)

As far as I remember, br2684ctl is included by default.

For ADSL the following should work (I use ADSL rarely and never used pppoa):

config vdsl 'dsl'
        option annex 'a'
        option firmware '/lib/firmware/adsl-a.bin'
        option tone 'av'
        option xfer_mode 'atm'

config atm-bridge 'atm'
        option vpi '0'
        option vci '38'
        option encaps 'llc'
        option payload 'bridged'

config interface 'wan'
        option ifname 'nas0'
        option proto 'pppoa'
        option username 'XXX
        option password 'XXX'
        option ipv6 'auto'

Please note, the ifname for ATM is nas0 and not atm0.

You might want to fire up

logread -f

after your line is synced, to monitor the logfile for error messages.

(Last edited by mkresin on 4 Mar 2016, 20:27)

Ok, Thank you very much for the help.

I've just got it back to being able to log in, for some reason the /etc/config/network file was a mess - I don't know if I reset it during a write or what not.

I'll try your suggestions and report back.

Kind regards,

Chris.

Did you have much success with this in the end mate, also how are you finding the build on the Home Hub thus far does it seem stable?

I plan to also flash this firmware tomorrow, I have downloaded your firmware image (thanks!).

Hello,

Sorry for the delay - had a busy weekend with mother's day and all.

I haven't had much success with the ADSL connection, but to be fair, I put this entirely down to my own ignorance on how to do it correctly.  Stability wise, I've had the thing running for days on end now, without any apparent hiccup so I think it's perfectly stable.

I can use Linux perfectly fine, but I'm still in the early day's of comprehensively being able to configure it and learning it as well as I do on Windows. 

Last I was at it, I was setting up some vlans, as I work from home and want my home office (fairly comprehensive with multiple machines, a micro server, printers, and VOIP phones) completely segregated from the home network, as getting an ISP package with multiple IP's is costly. I've got that almost the way I want it. I'll then go back to having a go at getting the ADSL connection working correctly but I do have a spare Linksys AM200 modem that I'll end up using if I don't get any success. 

How are you getting on?  Did you get round to flashing it?  If so, have you got an internet connection going with the onboard modem?  Are you on ADSL or Fibre?

Just a wee word of advice, once you have soldered on your TTL/Serial connection, don't remove them!  Make some sort of semi-permanent header on the board.  I got a bit too optimistic and pulled them off and then needed to recover from the uart serial connection again, after messing up the network settings, - and it's 10 times harder soldering onto the same place a second time with the pads being so small.  The second time I stuck down some female 2.54mm socket headers so I can go back to the uart connection if I ever need to.

(Last edited by connchri on 8 Mar 2016, 19:12)

Hi mate;

It looks like I am possibly stuck as the same point as you at getting xDSL up and running. In my case I am using VDSL.

I did put a post up on the Plusnet community forums about how I did the firmware flash.etc, I'm assuming this is the same as you;
http://community.plus.net/forum/index.p … 227.0.html

I know what you mean about the UART interface, I locked my self out a couple of times (doh!), again I'm not bad at finding my way around a Linux terminal but the quirks of this firmware are not my strong point.

I did put a post up on here about setting up xDSL I just hope someone can help as I really wanted to have this running as a modem;
https://forum.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php?id=63246

With Fibre I have managed to get the internet connected, the issue here was that the ptm0 interface needed to be on VLAN 101.

Not sure if this applies to ADSL however, when you set up ADSL what info/error do you see when you run logread command?

core2lee,

Again, sorry for the delay.  Had an awful week.

Anyway, I have had success.  I've got vlans working, independant wireless connections per vlan, and most importantly, I have got the internal modem working fine with ADSL - that's what I'm using right now. 

My issue had nothing to do with a virtual interface on the ptm0.  Mines had to do with something I must've overlooked a million times over when reading through the literature - bringing up the br2684ctl bridge.  The second I did that, it all sprung into life - feel stupid for it.

Glad you have got it all working.  I'm just configuring the rest of my network now to play nice with the vlans.  Next thing will the QOS too, as this was one of the reasons for using OpenWRT - the missus's streaming impacts my VOIP phones in the office.

Cheers for the help, that goes to mkresin too, and I'll come back here and drop off a link to the howto guide I plan on writing.

Cheers,

Chris.

I've installed this but im struggling to install usb support

root@OpenWrt:~# opkg install kmod-usb-storage
Installing kmod-usb-storage (4.4.7-1) to root...
Downloading http://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/trunk/lantiq/xrx200/packages/kernel/kmod-usb-storage_4.4.7-1_lantiq.ipk.
Multiple packages (kmod-usb-core and kmod-usb-core) providing same name marked HOLD or PREFER. Using latest.
Collected errors:
 * satisfy_dependencies_for: Cannot satisfy the following dependencies for kmod-usb-storage:
 *      kernel (= 4.4.7-1-92a0cf9b85f2bf93bf6f8e3d8b03346c) *   kernel (= 4.4.7-1-92a0cf9b85f2bf93bf6f8e3d8b03346c) *
 * opkg_install_cmd: Cannot install package kmod-usb-storage.

looks like its due to the kernel

root@OpenWrt:~# opkg list-installed| grep kernel
kernel - 4.4.3-1-d7362506023f5c4cc5e14c67c9fe941a

I'm new to openwrt so im on a steep learning curve so any help would be greatful

Thanks

Have a look at https://wiki.openwrt.org/doc/faq/after. … pendencies.

Long story short: It's an OpenWrt feature, to ensure that possibly incompatible kmods and kernels are not used together. This can lead into strange errors and the bugtracker was full of such error reports back in the days.

(Last edited by mkresin on 3 May 2016, 18:47)

Will the hh5a make it into trunk or build?

It's already in the trunk. I am using unmodified trunk for my build. I am very happy with its stability, good synchronisation on vdsl and adsl (I have both at 2 different locations).
I guess the official images will appear when DD becomes final, until then you'll have to build them on your own or have someone share their images.

Hi,

I don't suppose that any of you that did this on your HH5 happen to have the original firmware image dump that you would be willing to share? BT broke the firmware on the HH5 in version 4.7.5.1.83.8.230 (released in July), the fix ETA is weeks away, and they won't/can't provide older firmwares for manual rollback. So I was hoping one of you might have an older firmware backed up that you would be willing to provide.

I know it's probably not as good a solution as getting OpenWRT on it, but right now I would prefer to avoid soldering wires to the HH5 to get the serial port working.

TIA.

Sorry for the delay,

I'm afraid I don't.  As these routers are fairly common (I have 3 plus another Plusnet 'HH5a'), so went into it feet first - if anything went wrong, I'd just replace it.

Yeah, BT sent me a new Hub 5 and that worked great for a week, until it got the firmware update to the latest version, at which point it started dropping the connection about 80-100 times per day, just like the old hub. They are aware of the problem but have no ETA for the firmware fix.