Pogoplug V3 OXNAS - USB 3.0 on mPCIe - Main thread

habibie,

Perhaps

Quote

MINI PCIE 52 Pin Notebook Network Card Flexible Ribbon Extender Extension Adapter

MINI PCIE 52 Pin Network Card Extension

mPCIE 52 Pin Network Card Extension

mPCIE Network Card Extension

Google terms:

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=MINI+PCIE+52+Pin+Network+Card+Extension&;*

gave me:

$12.99 extender (with 3 ribbons):

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-PCI-e-PCI-Express-52-pin-Card-Extender-Extension-Cable-FFC-Cable-NEW-/391334285464

or $11.80 extender (15 cm ribbon):

https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/PCI-Express-MINI-PCI-E-52-Pin-Notebook-Network-Card-Flexible-Ribbon-Extender-Extension-Adapter-Cable/1243552_32519974160.html

-bodhi
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bodhi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Google terms:
>
> https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=MINI+PCIE+52+Pin+Network+Card+Extension&;*
>
> gave me:
>
> $12.99 extender (with 3 ribbons):
>
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-PCI-e-PCI-Express-52-pin-Card-Extender-Extension-Cable-FFC-Cable-NEW-/391334285464
>
> or $11.80 extender (15 cm ribbon):
>
> https://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/PCI-Express-MINI-PCI-E-52-Pin-Notebook-Network-Card-Flexible-Ribbon-Extender-Extension-Adapter-Cable/1243552_32519974160.html
>
Bodhi, I guess this (see the whole list) beats yours by US 30¢ (if that matters).

> beats yours by US
> 30¢ (if that matters).

It does not matter cost wise, but in principal it does :) I wonder why this extension is not below $10? perhaps it is popular as a test tool.

-bodhi
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/30/2017 06:02PM by bodhi.

root@DebianPlug:~# ethtool -A eth0 rx off tx off
rx unmodified, ignoring
tx unmodified, ignoring
no pause parameters changed, aborting
root@DebianPlug:~#

The USB 3 card isn't plugged in so maybe that's why. The comparatively great faux card & ribbon deal Bodhi found is on my ToDo list, though it's going to take a while and there's not much I can do about it.

As an afterthought I have an extra breakout USB 3 box so the Pogoplug would be okay if it were in a safe and fire-resistant area for now, but spring cleaning too makes that rough. But if and when it works, I think it'll be revolutionary. And again (ever the broken record) maybe using one of the USB 3.0 slots for a swap stick might take Pogo to the next level for some things.

I spent a while tonight messing around with smb.conf and that was a good feeling I'd learned a few things from previous helps and Wiki

=========
-= Cloud 9 =-



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/31/2017 12:32AM by JoeyPogoPlugE02.

Joey,

Check flow control:

ethtool -a eth0

For completeness, also

uname -a
dmesg | grep -i flow
ethtool eth0

-bodhi
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bodhi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Joey,
>
> Check flow control:

root@DebianPlug:~# ethtool -a eth0
Pause parameters for eth0:
Autonegotiate:  on
RX:             off
TX:             off
RX negotiated:  off
TX negotiated:  off

root@DebianPlug:~# uname -a
Linux DebianPlug 4.4.48-oxnas-tld-1 #1 SMP PREEMPT Wed Feb 15 02:59:11 PST 2017 armv6l GNU/Linux
root@DebianPlug:~# dmesg | grep -i flow
[   29.700170] oxnas-gmac 40400000.ethernet eth0: Link is Up - 1Gbps/Full - flow control rx/tx
root@DebianPlug:~# ethtool eth0
Settings for eth0:
        Supported ports: [ TP AUI BNC MII FIBRE ]
        Supported link modes:   10baseT/Half 10baseT/Full
                                100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full
                                1000baseT/Half 1000baseT/Full
        Supported pause frame use: No
        Supports auto-negotiation: Yes
        Advertised link modes:  10baseT/Half 10baseT/Full
                                100baseT/Half 100baseT/Full
                                1000baseT/Half 1000baseT/Full
        Advertised pause frame use: No
        Advertised auto-negotiation: Yes
        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
        Speed: 1000Mb/s
        Duplex: Full
        Port: MII
        PHYAD: 0
        Transceiver: external
        Auto-negotiation: on
        Supports Wake-on: ug
        Wake-on: d
        Current message level: 0x0000003f (63)
                               drv probe link timer ifdown ifup
        Link detected: yes
root@DebianPlug:~#

Bedtime in JoeyLand; g 'night :-)

=========
-= Cloud 9 =-

Upon boot, flow control is on:

[   29.700170] oxnas-gmac 40400000.ethernet eth0: Link is Up - 1Gbps/Full - flow control rx/tx

Flow control now is set to off (it will stay off permanently).

root@DebianPlug:~# ethtool -a eth0
Pause parameters for eth0:
Autonegotiate:  on
RX:             off
TX:             off
RX negotiated:  off
TX negotiated:  off

All good :)

-bodhi
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bodhi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> > beats yours by US
> > 30¢ (if that matters).
>
> It does not matter cost wise, but in principal it
> does :) I wonder why this extension is not below $
> 10? perhaps it is popular as a test tool.
>
If you ask me, the package should reasonably cost no more than $2 + free S/H. This is why I never bothered to place an order to work on this project.

habibie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> If you ask me, the package should reasonably cost
> no more than $2 + free S/H. This is why I never bo
> thered to place an order to work on this project.

Three ribbons at $13 is still a good deal, maybe not a great one. Consider three lengths of ribbon first of all, you'll make sure to have exactly how much you need (assuming that's enough lol) - in my case have enough for a 2nd PogoPro and an extra for future needs.

The half-height card - the first one can go in proper and the 2nd ribbon can be hot glued in place (or thereabouts). One left over for future needs.

* I've also got an AC 750 wireless router that would make a great pair to a Pogoplug that could dish up some high end wireless lovin'
** and maybe a faster router too but it's Au or something (?)

=========
-= Cloud 9 =-

Joey,

> The half-height card - the first one can go in pro
> per and the 2nd ribbon can be hot glued in place (
> or thereabouts). One left over for future needs.

Here is your next task :) think about how you'd route the ribbon out of the box and being able to put the box back together, do we have to cut a rectangular hole on the side wall or top wall?

-bodhi
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bodhi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Here is your next task :) think about how you'd ro
> ute the ribbon out of the box and being able to pu
> t the box back together, do we have to cut a rect
> angular hole on the side wall or top wall?

It'll look better than this (attached)!

See the 2-port addon? If that were removed and all that's left is the 20-pin receptacle, I'd like to see mine under the USB 2 plug on the less populated face. That's for starters, but there's time. But also I'm serious, if I see ribbon locally for $1 I'd hot glue it in place, or some other mildly risky maneuver.

=========
-= Cloud 9 =-

JoeyPogoPlugE02 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> bodhi Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Here is your next task :) think about how you'd
> ro
> > ute the ribbon out of the box and being able to
> pu
> > t the box back together, do we have to cut a re
> ct
> > angular hole on the side wall or top wall?
>
> It'll look better than this (attached)!
>
> See the 2-port addon? If that were removed and all
> that's left is the 20-pin receptacle, I'd like to
> see mine under the USB 2 plug on the less populat
> ed face. That's for starters, but there's time. Bu
> t also I'm serious, if I see ribbon locally for $1
> I'd hot glue it in place, or some other mildly ris
> ky maneuver.

Amazon has this same ribbon/adapter combo (used) for $8!

-bodhi
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bodhi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Amazon has this same ribbon/adapter combo (used) f
> or $8!

I've been resisting Amazon but is worse comes to worse I'll have to go there. As-is I'm planning on padding a camera battery order with that from eBay just to get it over with. The pennies are slow and this may take a while.

Did you get good speeds on yours bodhi or has it been tested on the Pogo yet?

=========
-= Cloud 9 =-

Joey,

> Did you get good speeds on yours bodhi or has it b
> een tested on the Pogo yet?

We know it works for Kirkwood iConnect. But we don't have the XHCI driver for OXNAS. It would be quite time consuming for me to figure out how to adapt the mainline driver for OXNAS, so I'd say you should use this card for your Thin Client, PC,...

-bodhi
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bodhi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> We know it works for Kirkwood iConnect. But we do
> n't have the XHCI driver for OXNAS. It would be qu
> ite time consuming for me to figure out how to ada
> pt the mainline driver for OXNAS, so I'd say you s
> hould use this card for your Thin Client, PC,...

My horoscope says you know more than you're letting on.- j/k :-)

-edited- I can imagine since Kirkwood already had USB 3.0 working on Pogo 4 it's natively right on or real close. So no harm done, and again two Pogo Pros here with updated kernel and usable for various tasks I'm more familiar with in the future.

And I hope you at least give me credit for bringing up mpcie (if I did) for small devices.

Maybe I'm waxing philosophical now, but there's usually something learned or a step forward in endeavors like this. Even the fact so many of my devices weren't outputting proper 5v. So since then even my eCigarette charging has been much better with proper power :-)
Also I really do need the pennies instead of $13 for ribbon I'm never use, put it toward batteries for a nice camera I inherited from that dear one of mine.

'till next time... thanks for sharing what you have, man.

=========
-= Cloud 9 =-



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/10/2017 10:09PM by JoeyPogoPlugE02.

Joey,

> And I hope you at least give me credit for bringin
> g up mpcie (if I did) for small devices.

Thanks to you, we know that card works for Kirkwood iConnect box. It means that it also works for other Kirkwood boxes with mPCIe (if such exists). And I think it has a very high probability to work for other SoC boxes.

Unfortunately, this type of interface is usually used in a net/laptop. Not many small boards have this. Normally they just use built-in Wifi.

-bodhi
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bodhi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks to you, we know that card works for Kirkwoo
> d iConnect box. It means that it also works for ot
> her Kirkwood boxes with mPCIe (if such exists). An
> d I think it has a very high probability to work f
> or other SoC boxes.
>

According to my data the following Kirkwood based devices have a mPCIe slot:

• Iomega iConnect
• LaCie LaPlug
• D-Link DIR-665

All of them are using the mPCIe for wireless, the D-Link is a wireless router.

Ray

Try A38z ClearFog.

Thanks for info Ray and habibie!


LaCie LaPlug: underpowered

A38z ClearFog : powerful but too new, so expensive.

Iomega iConnect and D-Link DIR-665: might be best bang for the buck if you can get these for a used price on eBay. But both will have logistic problem (i.e. no room inside).

-bodhi
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bodhi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks for info Ray and habibie!
>
>
> LaCie LaPlug: underpowered
>
> A38z ClearFog : powerful but too new, so expensive
> .
>
> Iomega iConnect and D-Link DIR-665: might be best
> bang for the buck if you can get these for a used
> price on eBay. But both will have logistic problem
> (i.e. no room inside).

Actually the best bang for the buck is most likely this Globalscale Dreamplug. No mPCIe, but it does have eSATA, SD, microSD, 2 x USB 2.0, 2x GigE, WiFi, Bluetooth and 512MB RAM. And its supported by the stock Debian installer!

Ray



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/11/2017 11:56PM by rayknight.

> Actually the best bang for the buck is most likely
> Globalscale-DreamPlug

Perhaps, it is probably the best cost/performance ratio for Kirkwood plugs currently (edged over the HP T5325 a little). But we are discussing USB 3.0 on mPCIe card capable boxes here :)

-bodhi
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bodhi Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> A38z ClearFog : powerful but too new, so expensive.
>
You are right. ATM, it is beyond my reach. I am hoping more and more companies will come out with such a similar device, to include mPCIe, SATA, and USB3, with a powerful CPU and more RAM for less bucks. Anyway, I started digging more about this item since I found it on OpenWRT site. You may be interested to read more on its wiki doc which has some information about its uboot supports booting with either PCIe and/or MSATA.

rayknight Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> Actually the best bang for the buck is most likely
> this [url=https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=
> &esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEw
> iG_JW5jp7TAhUGNiYKHcKPDuEQFgglMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2
> Fwww.ebay.com%2Fitm%2FGlobalscale-DreamPlug-036000
> 291452-GHz-Class-Linux-Server-10-units-for-100-00-
> %2F122428029167&usg=AFQjCNEZn8VU6nG49IRKHqxHaTT5KP
> ZoQg&sig2=v6Es1Ew-cVt1cDMewG1m_w]Globalscale Dream
> plug[/url]. No mPCIe, but it does have eSATA, SD,
> microSD, 2 x USB 2.0, 2x GigE, WiFi, Bluetooth and
> 512MB RAM. And its supported by the stock Debian
> installer!
>
> Ray

This looks too good to be true. Does anyone see or know something wrong with this as I am thinking of getting a couple for my project.

This device was the original hardware for which FreedomBox was originally targeted. It also originally shipped with an earlier version of Debian. If the unit is still running the original firmware the U-Boot will need to be replaced, so you'll need serial access.

Ray

feas,

> This looks too good to be true. Does anyone see or
> know something wrong with this as I am thinking of
> getting a couple for my project.

The Dreamplugs have been discontinued for a long time ago, so the price is comparable to other plugs such as Pogo V4 and E02. It's a real deal (I got them, but have been too busy to start working on new u-boot and kernel). One things to watch for is the temperature. We might or might not need to do mods to make sure it won't overheat. But by looking at the box, I think it is quite easy to fix that if it is indeed a problem as reported.

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habibie,

>You may be inter
> ested to read more on its a38x:clearfog wiki which has some information about its uboot
> supports booting with either PCIe and/or MSATA.

Thanks! I actually have come across these info before. This box is a close cousin of the NAS326 which I have relased supported kernel and rootfs.

Quote

Linux Kernel 4.10.9 MVEBU package and Debian rootfs for Zyxel NAS326 and all other MVEBU Armada NAS in Linux mainline (armada-xp, armada-39x, armada-38x, armada-37x). If you try this kernel and rootfs with MVEBU Armada NAS please report your finding so it can be added to list of support boxes.

The stock Marvell u-boot for this is 2013. It would take some efforts to bring it to 2017 mainline. Besides, the NAS326 kwboot is still a problem to be solved.

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Thanks Ray and bodhi.

Has anyone tried updating the PCIe card's firmware?

I have a similar Mini-PCIe card that was giving me all sorts of hell on a Acer Chromebook C710. Since I threw 12Gb of ram into that laptop and I had stopped using said laptop; I was planning on turning the laptop into a NAS. For the longest time I thought my drives were faulty as the whole system would throw errors causing all the USB hard drives I had attached to the dang thing disappear after a few minutes of heavy sustained read-writes cycles. I kept testing the drives with other computers and I determined it wasn't the drive. But I didn't know what else it was, so I shelved the project until now.

Yesterday I dusted the project off and did more digging. I found out that this chip has interchangeable firmware and it could be upgraded. I had to make a bootable Windows USB drive and use a different laptop's PCI slot to flash it. But boy it was night and day, no more errors!

I came across this thread during all my research, I thought I'd share my results, I hope this helps out someone here.

I got the flashing instructions from http://pete.akeo.ie/2011/10/flashing-necrenesas-usb-30.html

I had to get the utility for flashing the dang card from https://web.archive.org/web/20130818195755/http://www.station-drivers.com:80/page/renesas.htm since the latest flashing utility wasn't detecting the card and the old one was missing from the latest site. (Download the one at the bottom of the page labled "Flash pour Firmwares sous Ms-Dos/Windows/Linux")

And finally got the latest driver from http://www.station-drivers.com/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=353&func=select&id=437&lang=en (Firmware 2.0.2.6 worked for me)


This is what my card looked like from lspci

 02:00.0 USB controller: Renesas Technology Corp. uPD720202 USB 3.0 Host Controller (rev 02)

EDIT: I got my card from Amazon, it was sold as "Syba 19-Pin USB 3.0 Header Mini PCI-Express Card with Female USB 3.0 Cable SD-MPE20142 " and the link for that http://a.co/2fzGtx8

EDIT2: For 5v power I connected ONLY the 5 volt rail and the ground beside it, on the FDD plug to a 5v 4a wall-wart plug I had laying around, works good. I don't see why you couldn't also take the 5v from a USB port.



Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 03/01/2018 02:02PM by ShapeShifter499.

ShapeShifter499,

Thanks for the info!

Which box are you running with with card? is it the Pogo V3?

The Kirkwood boxes has no problem with it. I've tested in on the iConnect.

https://forum.doozan.com/read.php?8,30937,33335#msg-33335

00:01.0 PCI bridge: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88F6281 [Kirkwood] ARM SoC (rev 02)
01:00.0 USB controller: Renesas Technology Corp. uPD720202 USB 3.0 Host Controller (rev 02)

If a FW update solved the problem with the OXNAS box, then I think it is quite good news!

Update: NVM, I saw you're running it in a laptop :) still it's worth a try for the OXNAS.

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/01/2018 06:17PM by bodhi.

Anyone want to get a SD-MPE20142 to try can order from newegg with APCFEBSUBCI promo code. Final $17.59 with Newegg Premier free shipping.