Restore Pogoplug V4 to factory State

Hi Bodhi, the thing is that i cannot boot from rootfs because whenever i try to reboot it doesn't go online so i have to use the kwboot process everytime.

FelipeC

FelipeC,

Do this in order:

- Create the rootfs on another Linux box following instruction for

Quote

Updated 02 Sept 2014:
Rootfs Debian-3.16.0-kirkwood-tld-2

Using any Linux box will work. If you don't have one, the use Live CD. Remember to become root in Linux before doing any thing.

- Plug the USB rootfs to the PogoV4 top port.
- kwboot like you have done, and let it boot completely into Debian
- flash u-boot.

-bodhi
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Hi Bodhi, i did all your steps one by one but when i get to the step of nandwrite it throws the following lines :

root@debian:/dev# nandwrite -on /dev/mtd0 mtd0
Input file is not page-aligned. Use the padding option.
Data was only partially written due to error
: Success

also when i tried to do the fw_printenv it shows the following:

root@debian:/dev# fw_printenv mtdparts
Warning: Bad CRC, using default environment
## Error: "mtdparts" not defined
root@debian:/dev# fw_printenv         
Warning: Bad CRC, using default environment
bootcmd=bootp; setenv bootargs root=/dev/nfs nfsroot=${serverip}:${rootpath} ip=${ipaddr}:${serverip}:${gatewayip}:${netmask}:${hostname}::off; bootm
bootdelay=5
baudrate=115200

Im sorry for not being able to fix this as expected, i don't know what else to do.

FelipeC

FelipeC,

Pls get the nandwrite command syntax output and post her:

nandwrite --help

-bodhi
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Hi Bodhi, below the output as requested.

root@debian:~# nandwrite --help
Usage: nandwrite [OPTION] MTD_DEVICE [INPUTFILE|-]
Writes to the specified MTD device.

  -a, --autoplace         Use auto oob layout
  -j, --jffs2             Force jffs2 oob layout (legacy support)
  -y, --yaffs             Force yaffs oob layout (legacy support)
  -f, --forcelegacy       Force legacy support on autoplacement-enabled mtd
                          device
  -m, --markbad           Mark blocks bad if write fails
  -n, --noecc             Write without ecc
  -o, --oob               Image contains oob data
  -s addr, --start=addr   Set start address (default is 0)
  -p, --pad               Pad to page size
  -b, --blockalign=1|2|4  Set multiple of eraseblocks to align to
  -q, --quiet             Don't display progress messages
      --help              Display this help and exit
      --version           Output version information and exit
root@debian:~#

FelipeC

FelipeC,

I'll take a look later when I can. In the mean time let's double check the size of the backup mtds:

ls -lh mtd*

-bodhi
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/25/2015 07:36PM by bodhi.

HI Bodhi,

below your request.

root@debian:/dev# ls -lh mtd*
crw------- 1 root root 90, 0 Dec 31  1969 mtd0
crw------- 1 root root 90, 1 Dec 31  1969 mtd0ro
crw------- 1 root root 90, 2 Dec 31  1969 mtd1
crw------- 1 root root 90, 3 Dec 31  1969 mtd1ro
crw------- 1 root root 90, 4 Dec 31  1969 mtd2
crw------- 1 root root 90, 5 Dec 31  1969 mtd2ro
crw------- 1 root root 90, 6 Dec 31  1969 mtd3
crw------- 1 root root 90, 7 Dec 31  1969 mtd3ro
crw------- 1 root root 90, 8 Dec 31  1969 mtd4
crw------- 1 root root 90, 9 Dec 31  1969 mtd4ro
root@debian:/dev#

FelipeC

bodhi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Using any Linux box will work. If you don't have
> one, the use Live CD. Remember to become root in
> Linux before doing any thing.

I wanted to put in a good word for using VirtualBox https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads with a virtual instance of Debian Wheezy or Ubuntu 14.04 to load rootfs on USB sticks for bodhi's rootfs'. I actually just did this for the first time a week or so ago. The ViirtualBox VM does not take much resources but you can still shut it down completely when not in use and you don't need much disk space (I'm using 8GB). You can mount external USB drives and card readers very easily. Plus it's there to give you Linux netconsole when you are troubleshooting boot issues. And best of all it's free for personal use.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/25/2015 10:05PM by LeggoMyEggo.

FelipeC Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> HI Bodhi,
>
> below your request.
>

> root@debian:/dev# ls -lh mtd*
> crw------- 1 root root 90, 0 Dec 31  1969 mtd0
> crw------- 1 root root 90, 1 Dec 31  1969 mtd0ro
> crw------- 1 root root 90, 2 Dec 31  1969 mtd1
> crw------- 1 root root 90, 3 Dec 31  1969 mtd1ro
> crw------- 1 root root 90, 4 Dec 31  1969 mtd2
> crw------- 1 root root 90, 5 Dec 31  1969 mtd2ro
> crw------- 1 root root 90, 6 Dec 31  1969 mtd3
> crw------- 1 root root 90, 7 Dec 31  1969 mtd3ro
> crw------- 1 root root 90, 8 Dec 31  1969 mtd4
> crw------- 1 root root 90, 9 Dec 31  1969 mtd4ro
> root@debian:/dev# 
> 
>

I meant the backup mtds themselves (not the devices). Did you extract them from my backup tarball pogoplug_v4_mtd_original.tar.bz2 in this thread:
http://forum.doozan.com/read.php?3,16789,16789#msg-16789

-bodhi
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Hi Bodhi, i checked what you mentioned and decided to extract again the tar.gz2 file, below the mtd sizes:

root@ubuntu:/media/d4rk50u1/rootfs/tmp# ls
mtd0  mtd1  mtd2  mtd3  mtd4
root@ubuntu:/media/d4rk50u1/rootfs/tmp# ls -lh mtd*
-rwxrwxrwx 1 nobody nogroup 2.1M Feb 10  2012 mtd0
-rwxrwxrwx 1 nobody nogroup 3.1M Feb 10  2012 mtd1
-rwxrwxrwx 1 nobody nogroup 3.1M Feb 10  2012 mtd2
-rwxrwxrwx 1 nobody nogroup 8.3M Feb 10  2012 mtd3
-rwxrwxrwx 1 nobody nogroup 116M Feb 10  2012 mtd4
root@ubuntu:/media/d4rk50u1/rootfs/tmp#

FelipeC

FelipeC Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hi Bodhi, i checked what you mentioned and decided
> to extract again the tar.gz2 file, below the mtd
> sizes:
>
>

> root@ubuntu:/media/d4rk50u1/rootfs/tmp# ls
> mtd0  mtd1  mtd2  mtd3  mtd4
> root@ubuntu:/media/d4rk50u1/rootfs/tmp# ls -lh
> mtd*
> -rwxrwxrwx 1 nobody nogroup 2.1M Feb 10  2012
> mtd0
> -rwxrwxrwx 1 nobody nogroup 3.1M Feb 10  2012
> mtd1
> -rwxrwxrwx 1 nobody nogroup 3.1M Feb 10  2012
> mtd2
> -rwxrwxrwx 1 nobody nogroup 8.3M Feb 10  2012
> mtd3
> -rwxrwxrwx 1 nobody nogroup 116M Feb 10  2012
> mtd4
> root@ubuntu:/media/d4rk50u1/rootfs/tmp# 
>

It is strange. The mtd0 image that you used is the one I uploaded. This mtd0 file contains OOB data, therefore it is 2.1M. So if you followed the instruction it should have worked.

Could you do the steps again and before nandwrite, check the version and the command options? for example,

nandwrite --version
nandwrite --help

And pls post the entire log here (or pastebin if it is too big).

-bodhi
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Bodhi, im just writing to say thank you!!!
I finally manage to restore it!!!
this is amazing!

for any reference im writing below all the sources i used in my whole expedition to a full restore:

1. Create rootfs :
http://forum.doozan.com/read.php?2,12096
Specifically go to :

Updated 02 Sept 2014:

Rootfs Debian-3.16.0-kirkwood-tld-2 was uploaded. This rootfs is to keep in sync with kernel Linux-3.16.0-kirkwood-tld-2 (and its new features).

2. Go for the UART booting. It seems complicated because of the serial stuff but at the end. when the connection is fully working, everything goes ok
http://forum.doozan.com/read.php?3,18153,18200


3. Restore mtd images to original state (using recently created rootfs debian):
http://forum.doozan.com/read.php?3,16789,16789#msg-16789
the images should be placed somewhere inside rootfs (i must clarify i got lost here and loose a lot of time) i placed them on the Media folder .

don't forget to update the ethaddr and cesvcid variables. It can be done after image flashing, no worries.

i think that's mostly all.

again
thanks Bodhi for your guidance. I really apreciate it. Im going to try to go for the samba enabling now :)!!!

FelipeC

FelipeC,

Cool! Glad it worked out well for you.

-bodhi
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Hi,
I bought pogoplug pro yesterday. I tried everything but i couldn’t find any way to turn on SSH option under security setting. I already contacted pogoplug customer support but they send me link of their site but there is nothing for SSH. So please help me to enable SSH.

Thanks,
Ram

Ram Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Hi,
> I bought pogoplug pro yesterday. I tried
> everything but i couldn’t find any way to turn
> on SSH option under security setting. I already
> contacted pogoplug customer support but they send
> me link of their site but there is nothing for
> SSH. So please help me to enable SSH.
>
> Thanks,
> Ram

Hi Ram,

Pogoplug.com is no longer usable. And the SSH option has been removed. Quite a few users have report this in the forum. I don't recall anybody has been successful gaining SSH access with the usual tricks.

The easiest way to get access is to connect serial console. And then modify the stock OS settings to enable SSH.

Another option is to prepare a special HDD drive with Debian to boot directly into that.

-bodhi
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/04/2016 03:47PM by bodhi.

Pogoplug.com still works fine (at least for me). But devices that have never been activated before can no longer enable ssh via the web site. Interestingly, whenever you log in there now a message pops up stating that they are shutting down their cloud service on September 28th. Then clicking on "More Details" brings up this blog post:

http://blog.pogoplug.com/pogoplug-cloud-is-shutting-down-3511/

This quote is curious:

Quote

We are making this change to refocus our efforts on the core products that make Pogoplug great: our award-winning hardware devices and our Pogoplug Remote Access software. The future of Pogoplug is in the private cloud—a cloud in your home that you can see and touch. This is the foundation of what makes Pogoplug successful and we are excited to return to our roots and get back to what we do best: delivering best-in-class private cloud solutions that make the hard drives in your home accessible from anywhere.

That sounds encouraging that they are not abandoning their hardware as we've all been assuming. Maybe they will release more devices in the future (hopefully not a step backwards like V4).

I think they already have this private cloud software-only product. But I have not seen the new hardware.

-bodhi
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Hi Bodhi, you mention a way to get SSH access is to create a special HDD with Debian and boot straight into it. I was assuming I'd need a serial connection to enable SSH on my "new" Pogoplug Pro, but if it's possible to boot debian without first having SSH enabled, I'd be interested in exploring that route. Could you point me toward how to do that (if it's indeed possible)?

cdlenfert,

Yes, it is possible to boot Debian without touching stock software in NAND (Open the box and connect a SATA HDD to the hidden port inside). Unfortunately, there is no one-page tutorial for this.

However, you can take a look at this post from shv:

http://forum.doozan.com/read.php?3,16017,17297#msg-17297

It is more like a summary of steps than tutorial. And the link in that post are all dead. If you want to proceed after reading the summary then I can ask shv if it is possible to make the tarball available again.

-bodhi
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