Pogoplug V4 fails to upgrade

Hello Bodhi good day

After 3 days of struggling I have decided to call for help...
I am running old Debian (3.14) on pogoplug_v4 (as NAS/ftp server/dlna...) for about 4 years now; unfortunately I did not maintain it (everything was working..).
Now in quarantine I have decided to update the system. Standard apt-get fails on site not found and trying to follow your instructions for installing ver 5.2.9 did not do the job. I am currently stuck.

my system:
Pogoplug V4, running Debian version 3.14, boot from MMC (I have a backup MMC), running with no issues. I can also boot the same version from USB.
USB is normally connected to hard-disc.

I have followed the instructions as published here: https://forum.doozan.com/read.php?2,12096 and per the recommendation went to the post on 25-Aug-2019, trying to install version 5.2.9.
The system is stuck with orange led.

Checking on serial I have noticed that the process is stuck after extracting the kernel, trying to boot the kernel.

here is a print of the boot process:

//--------------------------------------------

U-Boot 2014.07-tld-2 (Sep 19 2014 - 16:13:05)
Pogoplug V4

SoC:   Kirkwood 88F6192_A1
DRAM:  128 MiB
WARNING: Caches not enabled
NAND:  128 MiB
MMC:   kwsdio: 0
In:    serial
Out:   serial
Err:   serial
Net:   egiga0
No link on egiga0
ping failed; host xxx.xxx.x.x is not alive  //remark - while on serial I am with no network 
Hit any key to stop autoboot:  0

MMC rescan: current device # 0 initialized OK
4973642 bytes read in 1605 ms (3 MiB/s)
9713936 bytes read in 1966 ms (4.7 MiB/s)
## Booting kernel from Legacy Image at 00800000 ...
   Image Name:   Linux-5.2.9-kirkwood-tld-1
   Created:      2020-05-02   5:31:40 UTC
   Image Type:   ARM Linux Kernel Image (uncompressed)
   Data Size:    4973578 Bytes = 4.7 MiB
   Load Address: 00008000
   Entry Point:  00008000
   Verifying Checksum ... OK
## Loading init Ramdisk from Legacy Image at 01100000 ...
   Image Name:   initramfs-5.2.9-kirkwood-tld-1
   Created:      2019-08-25   2:22:50 UTC
   Image Type:   ARM Linux RAMDisk Image (gzip compressed)
   Data Size:    9713872 Bytes = 9.3 MiB
   Load Address: 00000000
   Entry Point:  00000000
   Verifying Checksum ... OK
   Loading Kernel Image ... OK
Using machid 0xf78 from environment

Starting kernel ...

Uncompressing Linux... done, booting the kernel.

//-------------------------------------------
here it stops.

I have stopped the process before autoboot and printed environment parameters:

//-------------------------------------------

U-Boot 2014.07-tld-2 (Sep 19 2014 - 16:13:05)
Pogoplug V4

SoC:   Kirkwood 88F6192_A1
DRAM:  128 MiB
WARNING: Caches not enabled
NAND:  128 MiB
MMC:   kwsdio: 0
In:    serial
Out:   serial
Err:   serial
Net:   egiga0
No link on egiga0
ping failed; host xxx.xxx.x.x is not alive  //remark - while on serial i am with no network 
Hit any key to stop autoboot:  0
Pogov4> printenv
arcNumber=3960
baudrate=115200
bootcmd=run bootcmd_mmc; run bootcmd_usb; run bootcmd_sata; run bootcmd_pogo; reset
bootcmd_mmc=run mmc_init; run set_bootargs_mmc; run mmc_boot
bootcmd_pogo=if ubi part root 2048 && ubifsmount ubi:rootfs && ubifsload 0x800000 uboot.mtd0.dockstar.original.kwb ; then go 0x800200; fi
bootcmd_sata=run sata_init; run set_bootargs_sata; run sata_boot;
bootcmd_uenv=run uenv_load; if test $uenv_loaded -eq 1; then run uenv_import; fi
bootcmd_usb=run usb_init; run set_bootargs_usb; run usb_boot;
bootdelay=10
console=ttyS0,115200
device=0:1
ethact=egiga0
ethaddr=xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx  //remark - actual numbers hidden
if_netconsole=ping $serverip
ipaddr=xxx.xxx.x.xx  //remark - actual numbers hidden
led_error=orange blinking
led_exit=green off
led_init=green blinking
machid=f78
mainlineLinux=yes
mmc_boot=mw 0x800000 0 1; run mmc_load_uimage; if run mmc_load_uinitrd; then bootm 0x800000 0x1100000; else bootm 0x800000; fi
mmc_init=mmc rescan
mmc_load_uimage=ext2load mmc $device 0x800000 /boot/uImage
mmc_load_uinitrd=ext2load mmc $device 0x1100000 /boot/uInitrd
mmc_root=/dev/mmcblk0p1
mtdids=nand0=orion_nand
mtdparts=mtdparts=orion_nand:1M(u-boot),4M(uImage),32M(rootfs),-(data)
partition=nand0,2
preboot=run preboot_nc
preboot_nc=run if_netconsole start_netconsole
rootdelay=10
rootfstype=ext3
sata_boot=mw 0x800000 0 1; run sata_load_uimage; if run sata_load_uinitrd; then bootm 0x800000 0x1100000; else bootm 0x800000; fi
sata_init=ide reset
sata_load_uimage=ext2load ide $device 0x800000 /boot/uImage
sata_load_uinitrd=ext2load ide $device 0x1100000 /boot/uInitrd
sata_root=/dev/sda1
serverip=xxx.xxx.x.x   //remark - actual numbers hidden
set_bootargs_mmc=setenv bootargs console=$console root=$mmc_root rootdelay=$rootdelay rootfstype=$rootfstype $mtdparts
set_bootargs_sata=setenv bootargs console=$console root=$sata_root rootdelay=$rootdelay rootfstype=$rootfstype $mtdparts
set_bootargs_usb=setenv bootargs console=$console root=$usb_root rootdelay=$rootdelay rootfstype=$rootfstype $mtdparts
start_netconsole=setenv ncip $serverip; setenv bootdelay 10; setenv stdin nc; setenv stdout nc; setenv stderr nc; version;
stderr=serial
stdin=serial
stdout=serial
uenv_import=echo importing envs ...; env import -t 0x810000
uenv_load=usb start; mmc rescan; ide reset; setenv uenv_loaded 0; for devtype in usb mmc ide; do for disknum in 0; do run uenv_read_disk; done; done
uenv_read=echo loading envs from $devtype $disknum ...; if load $devtype $disknum:1 0x810000 /boot/uEnv.txt; then setenv uenv_loaded 1; fi
uenv_read_disk=if test $devtype -eq mmc; then if $devtype part; then run uenv_read;  fi; else if $devtype part $disknum; then run uenv_read; fi;  fi
usb_boot=mw 0x800000 0 1; run usb_load_uimage; if run usb_load_uinitrd; then bootm 0x800000 0x1100000; else bootm 0x800000; fi
usb_init=usb start
usb_load_uimage=ext2load usb $device 0x800000 /boot/uImage
usb_load_uinitrd=ext2load usb $device 0x1100000 /boot/uInitrd
usb_root=/dev/sda1

Environment size: 2987/131068 bytes
Pogov4>

//--------------------------------------------

Can you please help and advise - what is the error? How can I upgrade to newer version?

Regards

Eyal

Eyal,

You are running the 2014 u-boot with a set of old envs.

bootcmd=run bootcmd_mmc; run bootcmd_usb; run bootcmd_sata; run bootcmd_pogo; reset
bootcmd_mmc=run mmc_init; run set_bootargs_mmc; run mmc_boot
mmc_boot=mw 0x800000 0 1; run mmc_load_uimage; if run mmc_load_uinitrd; then bootm 0x800000 0x1100000; else bootm 0x800000; fi
mmc_init=mmc rescan
mmc_load_uimage=ext2load mmc $device 0x800000 /boot/uImage
mmc_load_uinitrd=ext2load mmc $device 0x1100000 /boot/uInitrd
mmc_root=/dev/mmcblk0p1
set_bootargs_mmc=setenv bootargs console=$console root=$mmc_root rootdelay=$rootdelay rootfstype=$rootfstype $mtdparts

So when you try to use Debian-5.2.9-kirkwood-tld-1-rootfs-bodhi.tar.bz2, you need to do step 4:

Quote

4. Create uImage with embedded DTB for booting with older u-boots (2012 or earlier). Do not do this step if you have installed the latest U-Boot for Kirkwood (or are installing this u-boot at the same time).

Please replace kirkwood-goflexnet.dtb below with the correct DTB name for your box (see the folder /media/sdb1/boot/dts for the exact spelling of your Kirkwood box name).

Generate the uImage with DTB embedded inside:
cd /media/sdb1/boot
cp -a zImage-5.2.9-kirkwood-tld-1 zImage.fdt
cat dts/kirkwood-goflexnet.dtb >> zImage.fdt
mv uImage uImage.orig
mkimage -A arm -O linux -T kernel -C none -a 0x00008000 -e 0x00008000 -n Linux-5.2.9-kirkwood-tld-1 -d zImage.fdt uImage
sync

So if you did not create the uImage with DTB appended, it will not boot (even though 2014 u-boot is relatively new, your envs are quite old).

Mount the MMC drive to another Linux box and do Step 4 above (using the Pogo V4 DTB). Bring it back and boot.

-bodhi
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Hello Bodhi,

Thanks for the prompt reply.
Just to be sure I have repeated everything, including step 4, with no errors.
I get the same result: kernel does not boot.
Any other thing I can check?

Eyal,

I kept forgoting this u-boot still had problem with reallocation.

Power up, interrupt serial console and

setenv mmc_boot 'mw 0x800000 0 1; run mmc_load_uimage; if run mmc_load_uinitrd; then bootm 0x800000 0x2100000; else bootm 0x800000; fi'
setenv mmc_load_uinitrd 'ext2load mmc $device 0x2100000 /boot/uInitrd'

The above change is the fix.

And while we are at it, also change the bootargs so that you can see more printed out in serial console in the future:

setenv set_bootargs_mmc 'setenv bootargs console=$console root=$mmc_root rootdelay=$rootdelay rootfstype=$rootfstype $mtdparts earlyprintk=serial'

and then

boot

-bodhi
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Hello Bodhi,

As expected - you are right. Setting those parameters enabled the boot and things work. Thanks!

Two points here:
1. When I have used 'setenv' and soft boot things were ok. Once I have unplugged from power source and cold boot, the system failed as the changed parameters were not saved. I have done that again, but this time after the soft boot I have used 'fw_setenv' with the same commands. That one saved the parameters and cold boot is possible now. I can login and work.
2. I am trying upgrade the currently running MMC (the one with ver 3.14) so I will not have to re-install and setup all the different programs that are already there (ftp server, dlna, samba...). Any recommendation on the right way to do it?

Regards,

Eyal

Eyal,

> 1. When I have used 'setenv' and soft boot
> things were ok. Once I have unplugged from power
> source and cold boot, the system failed as the
> changed parameters were not saved. I have done
> that again, but this time after the soft boot I
> have used 'fw_setenv' with the same commands. That
> one saved the parameters and cold boot is possible
> now. I can login and work.

That's expected. setenv does not commit the change to NAND. fw_setenv changes and commits at the same time.


> 2. I am trying upgrade the currently running MMC
> (the one with ver 3.14) so I will not have to
> re-install and setup all the different programs
> that are already there (ftp server, dlna,
> samba...). Any recommendation on the right way to
> do it?

- Back up the MMC rootfs:
https://forum.doozan.com/read.php?2,12096,24034#msg-24034

- Install the latest kernel linux-5.6.5-kirkwood-tld-1. At this point you can run the same Debian system but with the latest kernel.

- Back up the MMC rootfs again. This is very important.

- Upgrade to the latets Debian. This step cause a massive change to the rootfs, and will take hours to finish (SD card is quite slow).

apt-get update
apt-get dist-upgrade

When it finished, you will need to regenerate uInitrd in /boot.

-bodhi
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Hi Bodhi,

Thanks, things are much better now (almost everything is working with no need to change).
I had to go through 5.2.9 and then to 5.6.5.

Thanks!

Eyal