How to install Debian in a WD MyCloud EX2 Ultra: Definitive edition

Anderson,

> Marvell>> scsi reset
>
>
>
> Reset SCSI
>
> AHCI init for unit0
>
> Target spinup took 0 ms.
>
> SATA link 1 timeout.
>
>
>
> Error: SCSI Controller(s) 1B4B:9215 1B4B:9235 not
> found
> scanning bus for devices...
>
> Device 0: (0:0) Vendor: ATA Prod.: WDC
> WD5000LPCX-2 Rev: 02.0
> Type: Hard Disk
>
> Capacity: 476940.0 MB = 465.7 GB
> (976773168 x 512)
> Found 1 device(s).
> [/code]

Cool!

> in this HD is the same rootfs of USB... how make
> u-boot boot then?
>

Not the USB.

Now you know u-boot can access the HDD at boot time. You can put the rootfs on that HDD. The procedure is the same for USB or HDD.

If you have not done this.

-Boot into Debian with USB rootfs. Format the HDD with an Ext3 partition (use about 100 GB for future growth). And repeat the rootfs installation to that Ext3 partition (being root, label it as rootfs, extract the rootfs tarball ....) like you did for the USB rootfs.

- Shutdown and remove the USB rootfs.

Power up with serial console connected, interrupt u-boot at cound down, and

setenv set_bootargs_debian 'setenv bootargs console=ttyS0,115200 root=/dev/sdb1 $mtdparts earlyprintk=serial init=/bin/system'
setenv load_debian_uimage 'ext2load scsi 0:1 0x00800000 /boot/uImage'
setenv load_debian_uinitrd 'ext2load scsi 0:1 0x02100000 /boot/uInitrd'
setenv boot_debian_sata 'scsi reset; run load_debian_uimage; run load_debian_uinitrd; bootm 0x00800000 0x02100000'
setenv bootcmd 'run set_bootargs_debian; run boot_debian_sata'
boot

-bodhi
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I have a working Debian installation via a USB stick, would it be possible to move the /boot to onboard flash NAND?

================
WD EX2 Ultra - ext3 usb kernel/rootfs, 6.6.2-mvebu/Debian/OMV, realtek-r8152 2.5GbE
Uboot - u-boot-a38x-RangerPeak_2014T3_PQ-nand_1G
Kernel Patch - mvneta.patch, linux-6.6.2-mvebu-tld-1

Hi guys,

After following your instructions, I was able to make U-Boot load `uImage` and `uInitrd` from the HDD, on the `/dev/sda1/` partition formatted in ext3 (ext4 doesn't work).

But I remembered the reason for not being able to use HDDs larger than 2TB: they are in 'GPT' and not 'MBR'...

Thus, U-Boot does not read disks in GPT, so now it is necessary to perform some procedure to transfer `uImage` and `uInitrd` to the NAND (I believe the recommendation to avoid this and use USB is due to writing to NAND being more cumbersome when it is necessary to run an 'update-initramfs').

Is that correct?

So how would it be possible to make U-Boot recognize GPT disks?

> After following your instructions, I was able to
> make U-Boot load `uImage` and `uInitrd` from the
> HDD, on the `/dev/sda1/` partition formatted in
> ext3 (ext4 doesn't work).
>
> But I remembered the reason for not being able to
> use HDDs larger than 2TB: they are in 'GPT' and
> not 'MBR'...
>
> Thus, U-Boot does not read disks in GPT,

Do you have the log where you tried GPT disk at u-boot console?

> so now it
> is necessary to perform some procedure to transfer
> `uImage` and `uInitrd` to the NAND (I believe
> the recommendation to avoid this and use USB is
> due to writing to NAND being more cumbersome when
> it is necessary to run an
> 'update-initramfs').
>
> Is that correct?

Yes. Kernel on flash is an old recipe (for embedded systems, such as routers). For NAS boxes, the rootfs should have everything on it and stored on disk drive (HDD, SDD, or USB). That is better because you will update your system frequently.

-bodhi
===========================
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Claro:

Hit any key to stop autoboot:  0 
Marvell>> scsi reset

Reset SCSI
AHCI init for unit0
Target spinup took 0 ms.
SATA link 1 timeout.

Error: SCSI Controller(s) 1B4B:9215 1B4B:9235 not found
scanning bus for devices...

its freeze....

to compare, when is connected a HD MBR o result is:

Marvell>> scsi reset

Reset SCSI
AHCI init for unit0
Target spinup took 0 ms.
SATA link 1 timeout.

Error: SCSI Controller(s) 1B4B:9215 1B4B:9235 not found
scanning bus for devices...
  Device 0: (0:0) Vendor: ATA Prod.: WDC WD5000LPCX-2 Rev: 02.0
            Type: Hard Disk
            Capacity: 476940.0 MB = 465.7 GB (976773168 x 512)
Found 1 device(s).

this reconized ocurred in the 1 second...

until loading ENV corrects all works...however dont use hdd > 2tb.....

after more 4 toolchains, multiples compiles... i give up...


mais facil o inferno congelar do que adicionar disco gpt ao u-boot.

another maybe i will try again....

https://github.com/vzhilov/WDMC-Ex2-Ultra/tree/master/1.UBoot
this steps almost well done... but dont work....

saddly

Anderson,

I've been running 4 NAS boxes with USB rootfs (Sandisk brand) for more than 10 years now. A couple years ago, I had to replace one of the internal HDDs, but the USB rootfs are still the same drives.

-bodhi
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Hi Bodhi,

I think it is really best to use rootfs on the USB. On my 'EX2 Ultra', I used it like this for a long time with 2 HDDs (8TB+8TB) in RAID0, but I lost one of the HDDs without any prior warning... I still seek to understand what actually happened... I will try again with 2 HDDs (2TB + 2TB), but just to see how the 'NAS' will behave...

One more time thanks.

Anderson,

> I think it is really best to use rootfs on
> the USB.

That's what I said. The kernel is already installed in the USB rootfs. You would load the uImage and uInitrd from the rootfs /boot. And you would update it regularly when I release a new one. And you woud update to the latest Debian. So it is secured if you use it facing the internet.

> On my 'EX2 Ultra', I used it like this
> for a long time with 2 HDDs (8TB+8TB) in RAID0,
> but I lost one of the HDDs without any prior
> warning... I still seek to understand what
> actually happened... I will try again with 2 HDDs
> (2TB + 2TB), but just to see how the 'NAS' will
> behave...

Sure. Also my experience too. Ironically, one of the Seagate HDDs crapped out and I had to throw it to trash. But the USB rootfs keep on running fine after 10 years. I think the precaution that I posted in the Wiki works well.

-bodhi
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/25/2024 09:50PM by bodhi.

I have a working WD MyCloud EX2 Ultra, Debian installation, with OMV6, USB rootfs.

I am seeing that the WD MyCloud EX2 Ultra unit resets whenever there is sustained high load (NFS data transfer).

I assumed it might be due to faulty power supply, changed it few times, issue still persists. Could this be due to watchdog?

Any tips on troubleshooting this further? I has serial access on the device

================
WD EX2 Ultra - ext3 usb kernel/rootfs, 6.6.2-mvebu/Debian/OMV, realtek-r8152 2.5GbE
Uboot - u-boot-a38x-RangerPeak_2014T3_PQ-nand_1G
Kernel Patch - mvneta.patch, linux-6.6.2-mvebu-tld-1