Install u-boot on NSA320 - how to set fw_env.config

I'm trying to flash the latest U-Boot on my NSA-320. I got to step c and I get a bad block error when I try to execute "fw_printenv > current_envs.txt". In step 8 the "Device offset" was "0x0000", so I changed it to "0xc0000" as directed. When I changed it back to "0x0000" the "fw_printenv > current_envs.txt" command works fine.

I'm afraid to reboot now! What do I do?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/01/2018 04:18PM by bodhi.

Meddle,

> I'm trying to flash the latest U-Boot on my
> NSA-320. I got to step c and I get a bad block
> error when I try to execute "fw_printenv >
> current_envs.txt". In step 8 the "Device offset"
> was "0x0000", so I changed it to "0xc0000" as
> directed. When I changed it back to "0x0000" the
> "fw_printenv > current_envs.txt" command works
> fine.
>
> I'm afraid to reboot now! What do I do?

Basically, the 0xc0000 address is only meaningful after you flashed the new u-boot default envs image in step 8.

Before that, the envs are still in the old location

#/dev/mtd1		0x0000		0x20000		0x20000			4

With new u-boot, the envs are in location

/dev/mtd0 0xc0000 0x20000 0x20000

If you are not sure, post the log of terminal session (every commands and output) when you did this.

-bodhi
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Thank you. That makes sense now.

Now I am down to this command: "fw_setenv mtdparts 'xxxxxxxxx'"
I can't find what to set mtdparts to.


Original env:

root@secondary:/i-data/4c772ad9/sec# ./tools/fw_printenv
bootargs=console=ttyS0,115200 mtdparts=nand_mtd:0x100000(uboot),0x80000(uboot_env),0x80000(key_store),0x80000(info),0xA00000(etc),0xA00000(kernel_1),0x2FC0000(rootfs1),0xA00000(kernel_2),0x2FC0000(rootfs2) root=/dev/nfs rw init=/init
bootcmd=nand read.e 0x2000000 $(kernel_addr) 0xA00000; bootm 0x2000000
bootdelay=2
baudrate=115200
loads_echo=0
eth1addr=00:19:CB:00:51:82
ipaddr=10.4.50.165
serverip=10.4.50.5
rootpath=/mnt/ARM_FS/
netmask=255.255.255.0
nandEcc=1bit
kernel_addr=480000
MODEL_ID=DD01
PRODUCT_NAME=NSA-320
FEATURE_BIT=00
CONTRY_TYPE=FF
VENDOR_NAME=ZyXEL Communications Corp.
run_diag=yes
ethaddr=FC:F5:28:30:61:1B

Current:

root@secondary:/i-data/4c772ad9/sec# ./tools/fw_printenv
bootcmd_exec=run load_uimage; if run load_initrd; then if run load_dtb; then bootm $load_uimage_addr $load_initrd_addr $load_dtb_addr; else bootm $load_uimage_addr $load_ini                                                trd_addr; fi; else if run load_dtb; then bootm $load_uimage_addr - $load_dtb_addr; else bootm $load_uimage_addr; fi; fi
bootcmd=run bootcmd_uenv; run scan_disk; run set_bootargs; run bootcmd_exec
bootcmd_uenv=run uenv_load; if test $uenv_loaded -eq 1; then run uenv_import; fi
bootdelay=10
bootdev=usb
device=0:1
devices=usb ide mmc
disks=0 1 2 3
ethact=egiga0
if_netconsole=ping $serverip
ipaddr=192.168.0.231
led_error=orange blinking
led_exit=green off
led_init=green blinking
dtb_file=/boot/dts/kirkwood-pogo_e02.dtb
load_dtb_addr=0x1c00000
load_initrd_addr=0x1100000
load_uimage_addr=0x800000
load_dtb=echo loading DTB $dtb_file ...; load $bootdev $device $load_dtb_addr $dtb_file
load_initrd=echo loading uInitrd ...; load $bootdev $device $load_initrd_addr /boot/uInitrd
load_uimage=echo loading uImage ...; load $bootdev $device $load_uimage_addr /boot/uImage
mainlineLinux=yes
mtdids=nand0=orion_nand
mtdparts=mtdparts=orion_nand:1M(u-boot),4M(uImage),32M(rootfs),-(data)
partition=nand0,2
preboot_nc=run if_netconsole start_netconsole
scan_disk=echo running scan_disk ...; scan_done=0; setenv scan_usb "usb start";  setenv scan_ide "ide reset";  setenv scan_mmc "mmc rescan"; for dev in $devices; do if test                                                 $scan_done -eq 0; then echo Scan device $dev; run scan_$dev; for disknum in $disks; do if test $scan_done -eq 0; then echo device $dev $disknum:1; if load $dev $disknum:1 $l                                                oad_uimage_addr /boot/uImage 1; then scan_done=1; echo Found bootable drive on $dev $disknum; setenv device $disknum:1; setenv bootdev $dev; fi; fi; done; fi; done
serverip=192.168.0.220
set_bootargs=setenv bootargs console=ttyS0,115200 root=LABEL=rootfs rootdelay=10 $mtdparts $custom_params
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_addr=0x810000
uenv_import=echo importing envs ...; env import -t $uenv_addr $filesize
uenv_init_devices=setenv init_usb "usb start";  setenv init_ide "ide reset";  setenv init_mmc "mmc rescan"; for devtype in $devices; do run init_$devtype; done;
uenv_load=run uenv_init_devices; setenv uenv_loaded 0; for devtype in $devices;  do for disknum in 0; do run uenv_read_disk; done; done;
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
uenv_read=echo loading envs from $devtype $disknum ...; if load $devtype $disknum:1 $uenv_addr /boot/uEnv.txt; then setenv uenv_loaded 1; fi
usb_ready_retry=15
arcNumber=3956
ethaddr=FC:F5:28:30:61:1B

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/01/2018 06:24PM by meddle.

2 more setenvs and you're done.

fw_setenv mtdparts 'mtdparts=orion_nand:0x100000(uboot),0x80000(stock_uboot_env),0x80000(key_store),0x80000(info),0xA00000(etc),0xA00000(kernel_1),0x2FC0000(rootfs1),0xA00000(kernel_2),0x2FC0000(rootfs2)'
fw_setenv dtb_file '/boot/dts/kirkwood-nsa325.dtb'

-bodhi
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thank you

Thanks to your question, I can see it is a little bit hard to find info to finish uboot installation. Will beef up the instruction next uboot release.

-bodhi
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Well, If I were a little smarter...

I rebooted the NSA320 and it didn't come back. I followed the netconsole instructions but I get no response and no ping on the IP address. Waiting for my serial cable to come now - I lost mine or lent it out.

Booting with the default envs using uEnv.txt loading capability using uboot.2016.05-tld-1.environment (the content of the default envs in text format) in u-boot envs tarball uboot.2016.05-tld-1.environment.bodhi.tar



1. Copy the default envs in text format to the rootfs on USB. Assuming the USB rootfs is mounted on another Linux box as /media/sdb1 (If the SD is used for rootfs, then the drive letter will be /dev/mmcblk0p1).

Become root and copy the default envs to uEnv.txt:

su
cp -a uboot.2016.05-tld-1.environment /media/sdb1/boot/uEnv.txt

2. Modify the uEnv.txt for NSA320 to replace the 2 envs devices and dtb_file as following:

devices=usb ide
dtb_file=/boot/dts/kirkwood-nsa320.dtb

Note: The devices env above indicates that u-boot will attempt to boot with the USB first, if it is not present then it will try HDD.

3. and then sync and unmount the USB

sync
umount /media/sdb1

4. Plug in this USB rootfs to the NSA320, and power up. Look for the box dynamic IP and log in with SSH.

-bodhi
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/02/2018 07:24PM by bodhi.

Meddle,

I've just realized I had a typo previously :) sorry about that.

Please follow the instruction to reset the envs above using uEnv.txt and try booting.

-bodhi
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bodhi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've just realized I had a typo previously :)
> sorry about that.
>

No worries. I actually noticed that one then made another of my own...

My usb/serial cable (www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QT7LQ88/) arrived and I was able to fix it, install, and update Debian to 4.15. this cable worked perfectly and already had the correct jumpers.

Question:. To create a 'backup' rootfs file after upgrading, Would this work?

tar -cvzf myrootfs.tgz rootfs/

meddle,

> My usb/serial cable
> (www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00QT7LQ88/)
> arrived and I was able to fix it, install, and
> update Debian to 4.15. this cable worked
> perfectly and already had the correct jumpers.
>

Glad you got it working!

> Question:. To create a 'backup' rootfs file after
> upgrading, Would this work?
>

> tar -cvzf myrootfs.tgz rootfs/
>

Here is the post where I talked about this subject:
https://forum.doozan.com/read.php?2,12096,24034#msg-24034

It's the same idea, but I used bz2 to get a better compression. gzip is faster, though.

-bodhi
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