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Dockstar mods: SATA, SD, 256MB RAM, Compiling/Modding U-boot; kernel DTB...

Posted by davidalfa 
Re: Dockstar mods: SATA, SD, 256MB RAM, Compiling/Modding U-boot; kernel DTB...
December 05, 2021 06:15AM
David, congratulation on a nicely done RAM upgrade.
Re: Dockstar mods: SATA, SD, 256MB RAM, Compiling/Modding U-boot; kernel DTB...
December 14, 2021 04:31PM
FYI,

> But I also have to enable
> CONFIG_SUPPORT_RAW_INITRD or it'll show the initrd
> format error.

In fact, the Initrd error is a regression recently introduced during the u-boot 2022.01-rc development cycles. I spent a couple hours fixing this, but then found that somebody already submitted a patch :))

The stable version 2021.10 should work fine without CONFIG_SUPPORT_RAW_INITRD workaround.

-bodhi
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Re: Dockstar mods: SATA, SD, 256MB RAM, Compiling/Modding U-boot; kernel DTB...
December 14, 2021 04:58PM
Thanks, nice to know.
I don't work with U-boot, so it was a real pita to figure it out.

The system has been working great since, no issues with the RAM.

By the way, could you share the kernel defconfigs?
Kirwood architecture seems to be "mvebu_v5_defconfig".
Got it to boot, but almost nothing worked, I guess it was missing a lot of options!
Re: Dockstar mods: SATA, SD, 256MB RAM, Compiling/Modding U-boot; kernel DTB...
December 14, 2021 05:51PM
> By the way, could you share the kernel
> defconfigs?
> Kirwood architecture seems to be
> "mvebu_v5_defconfig".
> Got it to boot, but almost nothing worked, I guess
> it was missing a lot of options!

It is in the release thread:

https://forum.doozan.com/read.php?2,12096

Quote

This tarball contains 6 files:
linux-image-5.15.5-kirkwood-tld-1_1.0_armel.deb
linux-headers-5.15.5-kirkwood-tld-1_1.0_armel.deb
config-5.15.5-kirkwood-tld-1
zImage-5.15.5-kirkwood-tld-1
linux-dtb-5.15.5-kirkwood-tld-1.tar
linux-5.15.5-kirkwood-tld-1.patch

So you would get the kernel source -5.15.5 from the kernel source tree, and then copy the config-5.15.5-kirkwood-tld-1, apply the patch linux-5.15.5-kirkwood-tld-1.patch and build the kernel.

For a specific box like the Dockstar, a vanilla Kirkwood Debian kernel would work fine with your own DTS/DTB. See the specific code patches in the patch file linux-5.15.5-kirkwood-tld-1.patch (not much for the Dockstar). For other Kirkwood boxes, there are more substantial patches.

-bodhi
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Re: Dockstar mods: SATA, SD, 256MB RAM, Compiling/Modding U-boot; kernel DTB...
January 01, 2022 03:35PM
Added to the Wiki thread:

Quote

Unbricking with Serial Console & JTAG console

How to unbrick your box using serial console with kwboot
Repair Pogo E02 with Raspberry PI (JTAG) and OpenOCD
Serial Port connector - what are people using to make it work
Serial Console hookup - GoFlex Net (external link)
Serial Console hookup - Pogoplug E02 and Pogoplug Pro V3 (external link)
OSX Serial/Net Console
Use Phone Jack - Phone Jack Serial Console Pics
Adding serial connector to Pogoplug Mobile (external link)
WD Mycloud EX2100/4100 Serial Console pic1, also pic2, pic3
Dreamplug Serial Console
kwboot on Mac OSX 10
Unbrick a Pogoplug Pro v3 OXNAS by flashing u-boot in serial console
Unbricking Synology Diskstation DS414 - See also the working thread for this unbricking session
Restore Netgear Stora FW
Unbricking Netgear Stora using chainload method
Unbricking the Netgear Ready NAS Duo v2
Unbricking (Restore Factory Firmware) Netgear ReadyNAS RN102/104
Unbricking Dockstar with JTAG and OpenOCD

Thanks David!

-bodhi
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Re: Dockstar mods: SATA, SD, 256MB RAM, Compiling/Modding U-boot; kernel DTB...
January 28, 2022 05:11PM
Had a boring afternoon today.
I wanted to play with the overclocking, but having to solder the resistors every time was a mess.
So I added switches to the bootstrap pins, now I can adjust clocks (cpu, ddr, L2 cache ) and boot source on the fly, like in old computers.

After some testing, I found that DDR was stable at CPU 1500/3=500MHz.
This gave a noticeable 20% bandwidth increase. Network is also faster, NFS went from 51 to 64MB/s.
Only overclocking the cpu achieves 58MB/s, so clearly there's a memory bottleneck.

iperf test gained almost 200Mbit/s.


CPU_CLK=0x9 (1200MHz), DDR Ratio=3 (400MHz), L2 Ratio=2:1
[    5.378783][    T1] raid6: int32x8  gen()   110 MB/s
[    5.548743][    T1] raid6: int32x8  xor()    69 MB/s
[    5.718752][    T1] raid6: int32x4  gen()   114 MB/s
[    5.888801][    T1] raid6: int32x4  xor()    73 MB/s
[    6.058715][    T1] raid6: int32x2  gen()   149 MB/s
[    6.228629][    T1] raid6: int32x2  xor()    89 MB/s
[    6.398767][    T1] raid6: int32x1  gen()   111 MB/s
[    6.568627][    T1] raid6: int32x1  xor()    65 MB/s
[    5.563701][    T1] raid6: using algorithm int32x2 gen() 149 MB/s

[    8.616584][    T1] xor: measuring software checksum speed
[    8.631084][    T1]    arm4regs        :  1113 MB/sec
[    8.650957][    T1]    8regs           :   667 MB/sec
[    8.666250][    T1]    32regs          :   971 MB/sec
[    8.671371][    T1] xor: using function: arm4regs (1113 MB/sec)

dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/null bs=1M count=1024
1073741824 bytes (1.1 GB, 1.0 GiB) copied, 0.992695 s, 1.1 GB/s

 
iperf3
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bandwidth
[  4]   0.00-10.00  sec   850 MBytes   713 Mbits/sec                  sender
[  4]   0.00-10.00  sec   850 MBytes   712 Mbits/sec                  receiver



CPU_CLK=0xC (1500MHz), DDR Ratio=3 (500MHz), L2 Ratio=2:1
[    4.368818][    T1] raid6: int32x8  gen()   138 MB/s
[    4.538627][    T1] raid6: int32x8  xor()    87 MB/s
[    4.708653][    T1] raid6: int32x4  gen()   143 MB/s
[    4.878657][    T1] raid6: int32x4  xor()    91 MB/s
[    5.048664][    T1] raid6: int32x2  gen()   186 MB/s
[    5.218670][    T1] raid6: int32x2  xor()   111 MB/s
[    5.388786][    T1] raid6: int32x1  gen()   141 MB/s
[    5.558716][    T1] raid6: int32x1  xor()    84 MB/s
[    5.563701][    T1] raid6: using algorithm int32x2 gen() 186 MB/s

[    7.255500][    T1] xor: measuring software checksum speed
[    7.268208][    T1]    arm4regs        :  1379 MB/sec
[    7.285152][    T1]    8regs           :   834 MB/sec
[    7.298356][    T1]    32regs          :  1214 MB/sec
[    7.303458][    T1] xor: using function: arm4regs (1379 MB/sec)

dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/null bs=1M count=1024
1073741824 bytes (1.1 GB, 1.0 GiB) copied, 0.794557 s, 1.4 GB/s
 
iperf3
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bandwidth
[  4]   0.00-10.00  sec  1.04 GBytes   895 Mbits/sec                  sender
[  4]   0.00-10.00  sec  1.04 GBytes   895 Mbits/sec                  receiver

Wiring instructions:
https://i.postimg.cc/jKSbd30g/bootstrap.png

Result:
https://i.postimg.cc/TTdWN9Mz/IMG-20220128-200337.jpg
https://i.postimg.cc/YMfWxPVN/IMG-20220128-201212.jpg
Re: Dockstar mods: SATA, SD, 256MB RAM, Compiling/Modding U-boot; kernel DTB...
January 28, 2022 06:03PM
For iperf only, I think the new kernels(5.9.12 above) for kirkwood from bodhi can reach about 940Mbps @ 1.2Ghz.
Re: Dockstar mods: SATA, SD, 256MB RAM, Compiling/Modding U-boot; kernel DTB...
January 28, 2022 06:26PM
daviddyer is correct.

GoFlex Home benchmark (GF Home is identical to Dockstar in CPU, RAM, and Ethernet chip)

iperf -n2000M -i 3 -c 192.168.0.224
------------------------------------------------------------
Client connecting to 192.168.0.224, TCP port 5001
TCP window size: 43.8 KByte (default)
------------------------------------------------------------
[  3] local 192.168.0.235 port 43918 connected with 192.168.0.224 port 5001
[ ID] Interval       Transfer     Bandwidth
[  3]  0.0- 3.0 sec   337 MBytes   941 Mbits/sec
[  3]  3.0- 6.0 sec   337 MBytes   941 Mbits/sec
[  3]  6.0- 9.0 sec   334 MBytes   935 Mbits/sec
[  3]  9.0-12.0 sec   337 MBytes   942 Mbits/sec
[  3] 12.0-15.0 sec   337 MBytes   941 Mbits/sec
[  3]  0.0-17.8 sec  1.95 GBytes   940 Mbits/sec

So the ~700mbs range in davidalfa test is probably either test evironment artifacts (the switch in the midle, or the box at the other end slowed it down), or the kernel.

-bodhi
===========================
Forum Wiki
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/28/2022 06:48PM by bodhi.
Re: Dockstar mods: SATA, SD, 256MB RAM, Compiling/Modding U-boot; kernel DTB...
January 28, 2022 07:19PM
Hmm I'm still on 5.14.9.
The results where consistent, tested several times.
Maybe some daemon (samba, nfs, transmission) could affect, but everything was idling, 0% CPU usage and no transfers.
Will re-test with a clean filesystem.

Btw, dd made 110MB/s reading 2GB file from Ext4, didn't do that few months ago, maybe some improvements in the recent kernel?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/28/2022 07:25PM by davidalfa.
Re: Dockstar mods: SATA, SD, 256MB RAM, Compiling/Modding U-boot; kernel DTB...
January 28, 2022 09:05PM
> Btw, dd made 110MB/s reading 2GB file from Ext4,
> didn't do that few months ago, maybe some
> improvements in the recent kernel?

Could be. Seems like Ext4 driver has been worked on and improved in each kernel release.

-bodhi
===========================
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Re: Dockstar mods: SATA, SD, 256MB RAM, Compiling/Modding U-boot; kernel DTB...
January 29, 2022 06:15PM
The HDD performance was due the use of a diferent 2.5" disk. I switched from a 500GB to 1TB disk.

Clean rootfs, kernel 5.15.5

1.2GHz, DDR400
iperf3 -n2000M -i 3 -c 192.168.0.165
Connecting to host 192.168.0.165, port 5201
[  4] local 192.168.0.100 port 52354 connected to 192.168.0.165 port 5201
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bandwidth
[  4]   0.00-3.00   sec   254 MBytes   711 Mbits/sec
[  4]   3.00-6.00   sec   256 MBytes   716 Mbits/sec
[  4]   6.00-9.00   sec   256 MBytes   715 Mbits/sec
[  4]   9.00-12.00  sec   256 MBytes   716 Mbits/sec
[  4]  12.00-15.00  sec   256 MBytes   717 Mbits/sec
[  4]  15.00-18.00  sec   256 MBytes   715 Mbits/sec
[  4]  18.00-21.00  sec   256 MBytes   717 Mbits/sec
[  4]  21.00-23.46  sec   210 MBytes   716 Mbits/sec
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bandwidth
[  4]   0.00-23.46  sec  1.95 GBytes   715 Mbits/sec                  sender
[  4]   0.00-23.46  sec  1.95 GBytes   715 Mbits/sec                  receiver

iperf Done.

1.5GHz, DDR500
iperf3 -n2000M -i 3 -c 192.168.0.165
Connecting to host 192.168.0.165, port 5201
[  4] local 192.168.0.100 port 52318 connected to 192.168.0.165 port 5201
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bandwidth
[  4]   0.00-3.00   sec   318 MBytes   888 Mbits/sec
[  4]   3.00-6.00   sec   318 MBytes   889 Mbits/sec
[  4]   6.00-9.00   sec   319 MBytes   893 Mbits/sec
[  4]   9.00-12.00  sec   320 MBytes   895 Mbits/sec
[  4]  12.00-15.00  sec   319 MBytes   892 Mbits/sec
[  4]  15.00-18.00  sec   316 MBytes   885 Mbits/sec
[  4]  18.00-18.85  sec  89.6 MBytes   888 Mbits/sec
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bandwidth
[  4]   0.00-18.85  sec  1.95 GBytes   890 Mbits/sec                  sender
[  4]   0.00-18.85  sec  1.95 GBytes   890 Mbits/sec                  receiver

iperf Done.


If the bottleneck was the computer/switch/router then the overclock wouldn't make a difference.
Strange...



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/29/2022 06:25PM by davidalfa.
Re: Dockstar mods: SATA, SD, 256MB RAM, Compiling/Modding U-boot; kernel DTB...
January 29, 2022 07:04PM
davidalfa,

Strange indeed.

Of course we assume that this Dockstar is the same as the GF Home regarding CPU, RAM, and network chip. My Dockstar and GF Home do have indentical specs for that.

But the Dockstar comes in 2 versions, so could you check the network chip label to see if it is 88E1116R or 88E1118R or something else?

Also, see what settings the network has currently:
ethtool eth0
ethtool --show-offload eth0 | grep tcp-segmentation-offload

I'll boot up my Dockstar if it is still a mystery.

-bodhi
===========================
Forum Wiki
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/29/2022 07:30PM by bodhi.
Re: Dockstar mods: SATA, SD, 256MB RAM, Compiling/Modding U-boot; kernel DTB...
January 30, 2022 09:25AM
It's a 88E1116R

Just in case, I compiled latest official U-Boot (2022.01-00846-g98a90b2730).
CONFIG_SUPPORT_RAW_INITRD is no longer required, as you already mentioned.

I also tested the GofFlexNet DTB.
No changes in performance in any case.

root@debian:~# ethtool eth0
Settings for eth0:
        Supported ports: [ TP    MII ]
        Supported link modes:   10baseT/Half 10baseT/Full
                                100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full
                                1000baseT/Full
        Supported pause frame use: Symmetric Receive-only
        Supports auto-negotiation: Yes
        Supported FEC modes: Not reported
        Advertised link modes:  10baseT/Half 10baseT/Full
                                100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full
                                1000baseT/Full
        Advertised pause frame use: No
        Advertised auto-negotiation: Yes
        Advertised FEC modes: Not reported
        Link partner advertised link modes:  10baseT/Half 10baseT/Full
                                             100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full
                                             1000baseT/Full
        Link partner advertised pause frame use: Symmetric Receive-only
        Link partner advertised auto-negotiation: Yes
        Link partner advertised FEC modes: Not reported
        Speed: 1000Mb/s
        Duplex: Full
        Auto-negotiation: on
        master-slave cfg: preferred slave
        master-slave status: master
        Port: Twisted Pair
        PHYAD: 0
        Transceiver: external
        MDI-X: Unknown
        Supports Wake-on: d
        Wake-on: d
        Link detected: yes


root@debian:~# ethtool --show-offload eth0 | grep tcp-segmentation-offload
tcp-segmentation-offload: on



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 01/30/2022 11:53AM by davidalfa.
Re: Dockstar mods: SATA, SD, 256MB RAM, Compiling/Modding U-boot; kernel DTB...
January 30, 2022 04:44PM
Ok, it looks normal. So still a mystery why stock Dockstar performs poorly comparing to the GF Home. I'll boot up my Dockstar when I have a chance.

-bodhi
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