I couldn't find any info on how to update from a linux tar file. I found info on how to update from a sysupgrade.bin file using the Luci interface, but there is no bin file for my system. The file that I downloaded is:

openwrt-kirkwood-linksys-viper-squashfs-sysupgrade.tar

containing:

drwxr-xr-x buildbot/buildbot 0 2017-02-05 04:06 sysupgrade-linksys-viper/
-rw-r--r-- buildbot/buildbot 1933640 2017-02-05 04:06 sysupgrade-linksys-viper/kernel
-rw-r--r-- buildbot/buildbot      20 2017-02-05 04:06 sysupgrade-linksys-viper/CONTROL
-rw-r--r-- buildbot/buildbot 2032402 2017-02-05 04:06 sysupgrade-linksys-viper/root

Thanks.

Routers with NAND flash use a tar file instead of a bin.
You just run sysupgrade on the complete tar file as it is, sysupgrade knows what to do.

(Last edited by mk24 on 21 Apr 2017, 22:48)

so I just put the tar file somewhere, e.g. /tmp, and type "sysupgrade /tmp/<file>.tar" ?

(Last edited by danielsender on 22 Apr 2017, 17:45)

Yes.
Download the file to /tmp because it is a RAM disk.  It won't take up flash space (which NOR flash routers usually don't have) or wear on the flash chip.

OK - thanks.