How to flash a DNS320 with a Serialcable ?

[Andreas Marsch]

Hello

I am searching a Tutorial to flash a DNS320 with the serial console.
I have read something in this Forum and some other webpages.
I have found here in the forum how to split the originalfirmware, i have done this.
But now have 4 files (kernel, sqimage, initramfs and defaults) and i don't know how do i
flash the files on the NAS. The Connection from my PC to the NAS with serialcable is OK.
I don't know the commands to flash the files.
A flash over the webinf is not possible, there is something damaged (The "Apply" Button is greyed out.)

Thankyou

[João Cardoso]

On Thursday, July 31, 2014 8:59:37 AM UTC+1, Andreas Marsch wrote:

Hello

I am searching a Tutorial to flash a DNS320 with the serial console.
I have read something in this Forum and some other webpages.

Jamie Lentin's page is very detailed, look at
http://jamie.lentin.co.uk/devices/dlink-dns325/keeping-original-firmware/
 
But be careful, bricking the box at this level is the easiest thing to do.

I have found here in the forum how to split the originalfirmware, i have done this.
But now have 4 files (kernel, sqimage, initramfs and defaults) and i don't know how do i
flash the files on the NAS.

The Alt-F scrip that flashes fw is /usr/www/cgi-bin/firmware2_proc.cgi, using the nand_flash function. It uses linux commands from the mtd-utils package, which is pre-installed under Alt-F for the dns320/325.

I don't know the u-boot commands, but I think that Jamie Lentin's page covers that. Be warned that Jamie covers several methods, using the wrong one... well, you know.

The Connection from my PC to the NAS with serialcable is OK.
I don't know the commands to flash the files.

 

A flash over the webinf is not possible,

What is your box model and hardware revision? Look at the box bottom label.
 

there is something damaged (The "Apply" Button is greyed out.)

Are you already running Alt-F?
If you are, I would appreciate if you could help me to determine what is wrong. Can you post a screen-shot of that page? I don't remember seeing any "Apply" button. Do you mean the FlashIt button?

Thankyou

[Andreas Marsch]

Am Freitag, 1. August 2014 13:43:43 UTC+2 schrieb João Cardoso:

On Thursday, July 31, 2014 8:59:37 AM UTC+1, Andreas Marsch wrote:

Hello

I am searching a Tutorial to flash a DNS320 with the serial console.
I have read something in this Forum and some other webpages.

Jamie Lentin's page is very detailed, look at
http://jamie.lentin.co.uk/devices/dlink-dns325/keeping-original-firmware/

I know this page and have read it.
 

 
But be careful, bricking the box at this level is the easiest thing to do.

That my Problem, i won't to test and damage the NAS.
 

I have found here in the forum how to split the originalfirmware, i have done this.
But now have 4 files (kernel, sqimage, initramfs and defaults) and i don't know how do i
flash the files on the NAS.

The Alt-F scrip that flashes fw is /usr/www/cgi-bin/firmware2_proc.cgi, using the nand_flash function. It uses linux commands from the mtd-utils package, which is pre-installed under Alt-F for the dns320/325.

I don't know the u-boot commands, but I think that Jamie Lentin's page covers that. Be warned that Jamie covers several methods, using the wrong one... well, you know.

I need the u-boot commands.
 

The Connection from my PC to the NAS with serialcable is OK.
I don't know the commands to flash the files.

 

A flash over the webinf is not possible,

What is your box model and hardware revision? Look at the box bottom label.

The Box is a DNS320 Rev.A1.

there is something damaged (The "Apply" Button is greyed out.)

The "Apply" Button is in the Original-Firmware. Sorry for misunderstanding !!!
 

Are you already running Alt-F?
If you are, I would appreciate if you could help me to determine what is wrong. Can you post a screen-shot of that page? I don't remember seeing any "Apply" button. Do you mean the FlashIt button?

I can't flash the NAS in the Original-Webif because the Button is greyout. Now i wan't to reflash the Original-Firmware (splitted or not ? ).
I hope then is the the "Apply" OK and I can flash the Alt-F Firmware without Risk.
 

Thankyou

[João Cardoso]

Sorry, I don't understand. You say that you want to *reflash* the original firmware, but you are in the original firmware. So you want to reflash it because the "Apply" button is grayed out, right? You never flashed other firmware right?

So that is a question to put in the D-Link forum or help desk. You are running the vendor's firmware and can't flash or upgrade the vendor's firmware.

 

(splitted or not ? ).

Not split.
The Alt-F fw should be accepted by the D-link firmware upgrade page exactly as you downloaded it; the D-Link fw uses to be zipped, so you have to unzip it first.
 

I hope then is the the "Apply" OK and I can flash the Alt-F Firmware without Risk.

Just check if you can flash the vendor's firmware, i.e., download it, unzip it, upload to the box -- is the Apply button still grayed out? It's a D-link problem.

Download the Alt-F firmware, upload it to the box -- is the Apply button grayed out? If it is, you probably had a download error, clear you browser cache and download it again. If even after doing this the Apply button is grayed out, tell us what is your current fw version, as reported in the vendor's upgrade page (not on the box bottom label -- as you might have flashed a new vendor fw)
 

 

Thankyou

[Andreas Marsch]

Sorry, I don't understand. You say that you want to *reflash* the original firmware, but you are in the original firmware.

That's right. I have buyed the NAS on eBay some days before and I don't have a bill. I hope I can solve the problem without D-Link Support.
 

So you want to reflash it because the "Apply" button is grayed out, right? You never flashed other firmware right?

Yes, I never flashed ANY firmware. The "Apply" button is grayed out from the time of delivery.

 

So that is a question to put in the D-Link forum or help desk. You are running the vendor's firmware and can't flash or upgrade the vendor's firmware.

 

(splitted or not ? ).

Not split.
The Alt-F fw should be accepted by the D-link firmware upgrade page exactly as you downloaded it;

 

I have split the D-Link firmware in hope i can upload over u-boot commands.
 

the D-Link fw uses to be zipped, so you have to unzip it first.

I have unzipped the D-Link Firmware. Thats not the Problem. Sorry.

 

I hope then is the the "Apply" OK and I can flash the Alt-F Firmware without Risk.

Just check if you can flash the vendor's firmware, i.e., download it, unzip it, upload to the box -- is the Apply button still grayed out? It's a D-link problem.

Without a bill it's my problem. I hope I can solve the problem without D-Link Support and also it's a good research object I mean.
 

Download the Alt-F firmware, upload it to the box -- is the Apply button grayed out? If it is, you probably had a download error, clear you browser cache and download it again. If even after doing this the Apply button is grayed out, tell us what is your current fw version, as reported in the vendor's upgrade page (not on the box bottom label -- as you might have flashed a new vendor fw)

The problem is not the Alt-F firmware or a wrong firmware download. I hoped to find here a specialist for D-Link NAS's and serialflashing.

The current fw version is 2.02. The newest Beta-fw on the D-Link Board is 2.05b08.

[João Cardoso]

You should start stating your sittuation cleary first, that would save a lot of time. Just saying that "I'm on D-link fw xx.yy on box MM hardware rev-rr and ..." would be enough.

Anyway, your request is now made. I can't give you the u-boot commands because I don't have such box and the small details can made the difference.

But you have another chances.
Fist, I would try flashing an older D-Link fw (or at least go to the point to see if the Apply button is not grayed). I would try them all (for the correct board, of course).
Your second choice is to follow Jamie's Lentin tutorial botting from a USB pen or through the network -- that does not flash fw, it just load the fw in memory and executes it, so it's safe). If that succeeds, you can then flash using the loaded firmware webUI.
Your third choice is to install ffp and the ffp mtd-utils package, if it exists. Then, using those package utilities I could guide you to flash alt-F.

The issue using u-boot commands is that sometimes D-Link "customizes" u-boot to their own needs, so the general commands might fail.

u-boot itself has good documentation, although sometimes not up to date, see http://www.denx.de/wiki/DULG/Manual. But I'm afraid that it will not help you.

[Andreas Marsch]

OK. Thank you for your Help.
I'll test and will then report on my result.

[Andreas Marsch]

After some reading, now i have test to flash via u-boot commands.
I have brick the device.
Now when i turn on the NAS the blue LED is blinking, thats all.
No serial console or any other things.

[João Cardoso]

On Wednesday, August 13, 2014 10:43:31 AM UTC+1, Andreas Marsch wrote:

After some reading, now i have test to flash via u-boot commands.
I have brick the device.

I'm sorry to hear that.

That's very easy to make irrecoverable mistakes at this level -- a single typing error and you don't have a second opportunity, you are done.

 

Now when i turn on the NAS the blue LED is blinking, thats all.

You don't see u-boot messages anymore? The power led fast blinking means (I think) that u-boot has starting executing code.

 

No serial console or any other things.

What have you exactly done? Have you wrote down the command sequence that you used? Followed a guide you found somewhere? Where?

That is important to know so others don't make the same mistake. That's learning.

 

[Andreas Marsch]

Am Mittwoch, 13. August 2014 16:41:49 UTC+2 schrieb João Cardoso:

 

You don't see u-boot messages anymore? The power led fast blinking means (I think) that u-boot has starting executing code.

I don't see any u-boot message. I have tested some different Baudrates.
Maybe just no data are output via serial port, but the u-boot is running, i don't know.
The power led is blinking approximately 1 time per second. who flash the led has started, I don't know.
No rotation on the fan or harddisk.

What have you exactly done? Have you wrote down the command sequence that you used? Followed a guide you found somewhere? Where?

That is important to know so others don't make the same mistake. That's learning.

Sorry i don't write down the command sequence. the last command was "protect off" and then the device was hanging.
i wan't to reboot the device but no data over serial.
i don't have a guide SORRY !!!

 

[Sergej sss]

четверг, 14 августа 2014 г., 12:51:32 UTC+4 пользователь Andreas Marsch написал:

- you have right serial cable (3.3 V)   ?
- any symbols displayed first ?  and next no out ?

May by console cable error - try reconnect it from DNS and computer, next reconnect power to DNS.
If no out from uboot - short RX and TX and type - it test you cable.

If cable ok, but no out from uboot - it very bad, but no fatal :) - try search in www "kwboot" and use it.
May be it help