Replacing Adam2 booloader with PSP bootloader

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ajiteshm
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Re: Replacing Adam2 booloader with PSP bootloader

Post by ajiteshm » Sun Jul 01, 2012 4:26 pm

mstombs wrote:To be honest very little to gain from just changing version of pspboot, but lots to lose. The bootloader must support the flash, but also the the ram size and sometimes the switch, if any. Acorp are usually AMD compatible flash.
I think i have thrashed my spare router. :cry:

I uploaded the psbl_LAN120M_2M_8M.bin file using sft client from here : viewtopic.php?t=268.The file uploaded successfully.
Then tried the cat command and rebooted the router.
Now only the power lights are on.No effect on plugging the LAN cable.
Can a JTAG cable fix it? If then how can i make one?
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psbl_LAN120M_2M_8M.bin
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thechief
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Re: Replacing Adam2 booloader with PSP bootloader

Post by thechief » Sun Jul 01, 2012 8:51 pm

You will need JTAG. You might want to do a Google search on how to build a JTAG cable.
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rokafeller
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Re: Replacing Adam2 booloader with PSP bootloader

Post by rokafeller » Tue Dec 18, 2012 11:16 pm

Succesfull attempt report :wink:

Router: DLink G624T, WiFi, 4 ports
Adam2 version: Adam2_Release 0.22.02_b04_Mar 10 2005
Routertech version: 2.97
Original mtds (with Adam2):
mtd0 0x90090000,0x903b0000
mtd1 0x90010090,0x90090000
mtd2 0x90000000,0x90010000
mtd3 0x903F0000,0x90400000
mtd4 0x90010000,0x903b0000

PSP bootloader used
1.4.0.8, download/file.php?id=1596, got from the original post by The Chief

Tools used
Putty,PCtool 2.4 on Windows 7 x64, serial cable (not mandatory)

Procedure
I backed up everything with RUC, then followed the steps 1->6 listed here. The command I used at step 6 -the big and scary one :wink: - was

Code: Select all

cat psbl_4M_16M_AMD_AR7WRD.bin > /dev/mtdblock/2
I manually set my pc's IP addres on 192.168.1.0/24 subnet (ie: 192.168.1.10, mask 255.255.255.0), then rebooted the router and opened PCtool 2.4
PCtool easily found PSP bootloader responding at 192.168.1.1, then I resumed the previous procedure from step 14, and everything went fine. I could skip the intermediate steps because, as stated by The Chied, this PSP version kinda automates the env variables tuning.

Then, when everything was working, I tried from the GUI to restore the settings of the box before the bootloader upgrade. RUC saved a file, 181212-210556-Dlink G624T_current_config.bin, containing the settings. From the GUI, you can easily restore this file with the Update gateway button in System->Update gateway.
Again, everything went fine and my G624T is working exactly as it was doing it with Adam2, but now it's on PSP.

cheers
Running D-Link DSL-G624T, PSP bootloader in place of the original Adam2, RouterTech Firmware v2.97. OpenVPN and port knocking services activated.
skybub
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Re: Replacing Adam2 booloader with PSP bootloader

Post by skybub » Mon May 13, 2013 9:31 pm

Hi,

I'd like to replace Adam2 bootloader by PSPBoot on my AZTECH DSL600EU modem.

Does someone already managed to do it ?

Regards
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Re: Replacing Adam2 booloader with PSP bootloader

Post by thechief » Tue May 14, 2013 9:19 am

Be careful. The router has an Intel(compatible) flash chip, and those kinds of flash chips have proved very troublesome. If you have functional JTAG and a backup of your current bootloader, then you can go ahead and try changing it. If not, then don't attempt to change the bootloader. The risk of totally trashing the router is very real.
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Re: Replacing Adam2 booloader with PSP bootloader

Post by skybub » Tue May 14, 2013 9:34 am

thechief wrote:Be careful. The router has an Intel(compatible) flash chip, and those kinds of flash chips have proved very troublesome. If you have functional JTAG and a backup of your current bootloader, then you can go ahead and try changing it. If not, then don't attempt to change the bootloader. The risk of totally trashing the router is very real.
Hi The Chief,

I don't have any JTAG, but I don't care.

Here is my printenv result :

Code: Select all

/var # printenv
mtd4    0x90010000,0x901f0000
memsize 0x00800000
flashsize       0x00200000
modetty0        38400,n,8,1,hw
modetty1        38400,n,8,1,hw
bootserport     tty0
cpufrequency    150000000
sysfrequency    125000000
bootloaderVersion       0.22.03
ProductID       AR7RD
HWRevision      Unknown
SerialNumber    none
my_ipaddress    192.168.1.1
prompt  Adam2_AR7RD
firstfreeaddress        0x9401d468
req_fullrate_freq       125000000
maca    00:30:0A:38:98:2E
mtd0    0x9008a000,0x901f0000
mtd1    0x90010090,0x9008a000
mtd2    0x90000000,0x90010000
mtd3    0x901f0000,0x90200000
autoload        1
vcc_encaps0     0.0
vcc_encaps1     0.0
vcc_encaps2     0.0
vcc_encaps3     0.0
vcc_encaps4     0.0
vcc_encaps5     0.0
vcc_encaps6     0.0
vcc_encaps7     0.0
HWA_RNDIS       00:30:0A:38:98:2F
HWA_HRNDIS      00:30:0A:38:98:2F
usb_flag        1
macc    00:30:0A:38:98:30
azcpmac_config  1
usb_vid 0x0451
usb_pid 0x6060
connection0     0xd001

curr_connid     connection0
curr_muxid      mux0
curr_encapsid   encaps0
autoload_timeout        15
modulation      0x3
cron_enable     1
RT_cmd_defrag   write_crontab.sh '0' '2' '7' '*' '*' 'auto_defragenv.sh'
checksync.sh    1 20
RT_cmd_4        write_crontab.sh '5' '2' '*' '*' '0,2,4,6' 'clearlog.sh && dmesg -c'
autodefrag      1
Could you explain how to backup my current bootloader ?

After, can I follow the instructions you gave here ?

And which PSPboot choose ?

Regards
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Re: Replacing Adam2 booloader with PSP bootloader

Post by thechief » Tue May 14, 2013 12:29 pm

skybub wrote:I don't have any JTAG, but I don't care.
So what happens when your router gets trashed?
skybub wrote:Could you explain how to backup my current bootloader ?

Code: Select all

cat /dev/mtdblock/2 > bootloader.bin
Then you transfer bootloader.bin to your hard disk or other such storage. How you will do that is a different matter.
skybub wrote:After, can I follow the instructions you gave here ?
The procedure explained there applies to a router with 4mb flash. You won't get WinSCP working with a router with 2mb flash, because the necessary support is not in the firmwares for such routers.
skybub wrote:And which PSPboot choose ?
One that is built for a router with Intel flash chip, and 2mb flash memory, and 8mb RAM.
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Re: Replacing Adam2 booloader with PSP bootloader

Post by skybub » Tue May 14, 2013 6:38 pm

Hi The Chief,

Many thanks for your help.

If I do understand, it's impossible to use FTP protocol with RT firmware on 2mb flash routers ? Is there another way to transfer a bootloader binary to the router's /var/ directory (USB for example) ?

The new PSP bootloader binary for my router should be "psbl_2M_8M_INTEL_AR7RD.bin", that's it ? Do you know where I can find it ?

Regards
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Re: Replacing Adam2 booloader with PSP bootloader

Post by skybub » Tue May 14, 2013 6:46 pm

skybub wrote:Hi The Chief,

Many thanks for your help.

1 - If I do understand, it's impossible to use FTP protocol with RT firmware on 2mb flash routers ? Is there another way to transfer a bootloader binary to the router's /var/ directory (USB for example) ?

2 - The new PSP bootloader binary for my router should be "psbl_2M_8M_INTEL_AR7RD.bin", that's it ? Do you know where I can find it ?

Regards
For point 1, I think about a tftp client and wget ...
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Re: Replacing Adam2 booloader with PSP bootloader

Post by thechief » Tue May 14, 2013 10:31 pm

skybub wrote:The new PSP bootloader binary for my router should be "psbl_2M_8M_INTEL_AR7RD.bin"
If it exists, yes.
skybub wrote:Do you know where I can find it ?
Nope.

I do have some intel pspboot images, but no-one has ever tested them. I think you should look for ones that have been tested.
skybub wrote:For point 1, I think about a tftp client and wget
Yes, that should work (as should using wget to fetch the file from your web server).
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Re: Replacing Adam2 booloader with PSP bootloader

Post by mstombs » Wed May 15, 2013 9:05 pm

Many years ago I did convert the bootloader on one of these to pspboot, using a dlink bootloader. I did use serial console and tftp I recall (server on pC). My unit did have JTAG pins but I never needed them. To help test new releases I did put the original adam2 back. pspboot does make the router more robust when loading/changing firmwares - but once the firmware is loaded there's little difference I recall.
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