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Rocket M5 Flashing issues

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KG6SII
KG6SII's picture
Rocket M5 Flashing issues

AREDN Experts,

I'm getting errors when trying to flash 3.22.1.0 onto a Ubiquity Rocket M5 and Ubiquity NanoStation M5:

  • On both of my Windows 10 computers:  “Connect Request Failed”
  • On my old Windows XP computer:  “Firmware check failed” or it just sits forever

Things I’ve tried so far to fix this:

  • Used a cable tester on all my cables, found 1 cable with a bad connection on pin 8, stopped using that cable
  • Got a 10/100 switch
  • Got a PoE injector from Amazon (non-Ubiquity brand, this is last in line after the 10/100 switch, before the radio)
  • Tried loading all available firmware files (-m, -xw, etc., unplugging everything in between each attempt, re-doing the radio reset sequence)
  • Pings now report fine:  4/4, 0% loss, 0ms
  • The radios have an old Ubiquity AirOS loaded on them (v6.3.6 XW). See existing firmware settings, attached, for the Rocket.

Any help is appreciated.

File Attachment: 
KG7GDB
You can’t load AREDN from Ubiquiti AirOS anymore
In the past, it was possible to directly load AREDN firmware from AirOS upgrade window, but it is no longer possible. 
On Windows, you need to use the tftp method as referred to above to transfer the Rocket XW factory firmware directly from a PC. 

Follow the directions carefully and it will work. 
Good Luck. 
-Brett, KG7GDB 
KG6SII
KG6SII's picture
Thanks, tried all that
Thanks, gents. I've already followed all the AREDN checklists and docs to the Tee, and still nothing is working.  I'm not trying to load from AirOS, just providing that in case it helps with information that could resolve the issue.  I'm using TFTP in Windows with no luck.
WA7NE
TFTP From Windows to M5
Hi Glenn.  I understand the frustration.   Like you, I followed the docs and was using TFTP from Windows 10.   I then tried PumpKIN as the TFTP server and that worked instantly.  Good luck.  Wayne / WA7NE
KG6SII
KG6SII's picture
PumpKIN
Thanks, Wayne.  I downloaded & tried PumpKIN and now I'm getting an error "Transmission of <file> is timed out" and "Transfer of <file> was aborted".
Argh.
 
KG6SII
KG6SII's picture
Actual CMD session results
I bought a second PoE injector and a new set of Cat 6 shielded cables and still am getting the same error message "connect request failed". See session data:

Microsoft Windows [Version 10.0.19043.1645]
(c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

C:\Users\glenn>cd documents

C:\Users\glenn\Documents>cd ham and radio

C:\Users\glenn\Documents\HAM and Radio>cd aredn

C:\Users\glenn\Documents\HAM and Radio\AREDN>cd rocket m5

C:\Users\glenn\Documents\HAM and Radio\AREDN\Rocket M5>cd factory

C:\Users\glenn\Documents\HAM and Radio\AREDN\Rocket M5\factory>dir
 Volume in drive C is OS
 Volume Serial Number is 2E03-5FBD

 Directory of C:\Users\glenn\Documents\HAM and Radio\AREDN\Rocket M5\factory

04/17/2022  06:36 PM    <DIR>          .
04/17/2022  06:36 PM    <DIR>          ..
04/17/2022  06:35 PM         6,685,084 aredn-3.22.1.0-ar71xx-generic-ubnt-rocket-m-squashfs-factory.bin
04/17/2022  06:35 PM         6,685,084 aredn-3.22.1.0-ar71xx-generic-ubnt-rocket-m-ti-squashfs-factory.bin
04/17/2022  06:35 PM         6,685,084 aredn-3.22.1.0-ar71xx-generic-ubnt-rocket-m-xw-squashfs-factory.bin
04/17/2022  06:36 PM         6,488,476 aredn-3.22.1.0-ath79-generic-ubnt_rocket-m-squashfs-factory.bin
04/11/2022  04:32 PM         6,488,476 rocket-factory-m.bin
04/11/2022  04:31 PM         6,685,084 rocket-factory-xw.bin
               6 File(s)     39,717,288 bytes
               2 Dir(s)  684,447,780,864 bytes free

C:\Users\glenn\Documents\HAM and Radio\AREDN\Rocket M5\factory>ping 192.168.1.20

Pinging 192.168.1.20 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.1.20: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.20: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.20: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.20: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.20:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms

C:\Users\glenn\Documents\HAM and Radio\AREDN\Rocket M5\factory>tftp -i 192.168.1.20 put aredn-3.22.1.0-ar71xx-generic-ubnt-rocket-m-xw-squashfs-factory.bin
 Connect request failed

C:\Users\glenn\Documents\HAM and Radio\AREDN\Rocket M5\factory>ping 192.168.1.20

Pinging 192.168.1.20 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.1.20: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.20: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.20: bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.20: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.20:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 3ms, Average = 1ms

C:\Users\glenn\Documents\HAM and Radio\AREDN\Rocket M5\factory>tftp -i 192.168.1.20 put aredn-3.22.1.0-ar71xx-generic-ubnt-rocket-m-xw-squashfs-factory.bin
 Connect request failed

C:\Users\glenn\Documents\HAM and Radio\AREDN\Rocket M5\factory>ping 192.168.1.20

Pinging 192.168.1.20 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.1.20: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.20: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.20: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.20: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.20:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 1ms, Average = 0ms

C:\Users\glenn\Documents\HAM and Radio\AREDN\Rocket M5\factory>
KG6SII
KG6SII's picture
Linux on a flash drive?
Since Windows is failing me, is it possible to flash a Ubiquiti radio with Linux on a flash drive?  I want to try Linux but don't want to buy a dedicated computer or partition my PC's HD.
nc8q
nc8q's picture
Linux: On a bootable 'live' installation CD/USB media
"I want to try Linux but "

You can use a 'live install' CD/USB media to boot and try out linux without writing anything to a HD/SSD.

I hope this helps,
Chuck

 
K6CCC
K6CCC's picture
Nodes in TFTP mode?
No where in your procedure did you indicate that you put the Ubiquiti nodes into TFTP mode.
 
KG6SII
KG6SII's picture
Action before Windows 10 TFTP Error Message

K6CCC and NC8Q,

Please see atatched for actions taken imemdiately before the TFTP error message and TFTP command.

Thank you

K6CCC
K6CCC's picture
aredn-3.22.1.0-ar71xx-generic

aredn-3.22.1.0-ar71xx-generic-ubnt-rocket-m-xw-squashfs-factory.bin

It's been a while since I have flashed a Ubiquiti device to AREDN, but I do remember that changing the name to something far simplier and putting it into a easy directory name improved the reliability. i.e put d:\ubnt.bin seemed to work far more reliably...
 
KG6SII
KG6SII's picture
Tried shorter filenames, no spaces (still no luck)
I appreciate the tip.  I gave it a shot, moved the .bin file to C:\ and used shortened .bin filenames without any spaces. Still no luck.
Could I be misinterpreting the expected double reboot after issuing the TFTP command?  I take a "reboot" to mean that all 4 signal LED's flash in unison.  The LED indication that I see is as follows:
1) before TFTP command, 1/3 & 2/4 cycling as described
2) after issuing TFTP command, 1/3 or 2/4 stay solid (frozen) for about 35 seconds
3) all 1/3,2/4 LED's go out for 1-2 seconds
4) 1/3 & 2/4 cycling again
5) every so often, the cycling 1/3,2/4 stops and the 1/3,2/4 freeze (with no TFTP commands being issued). Seems to be a cycle.

here's the commands & results from some of my trials just now:
C:\Users\glenn>cd\

C:\>dir
 Volume in drive C is OS
 Volume Serial Number is 2E03-5FBD

 Directory of C:\

11/18/2015  12:00 PM    <DIR>          Apps
04/17/2022  06:35 PM         6,685,084 ar71xx-rocket-m.bin
04/17/2022  06:35 PM         6,685,084 aredn-3.22.1.0-ar71xx-generic-ubnt-rocket-m-ti-squashfs-factory.bin
04/17/2022  06:36 PM         6,488,476 ath79-rocket-m.bin
01/11/2017  11:29 PM    <DIR>          delete me
11/18/2015  01:44 PM    <DIR>          DELL
05/09/2020  05:10 AM    <DIR>          Downloads
11/18/2015  11:02 AM    <DIR>          Drivers
09/14/2020  09:36 PM    <DIR>          Intel
01/15/2017  06:18 PM    <DIR>          My Music
03/18/2022  07:56 PM    <DIR>          My-Installs
12/07/2019  02:14 AM    <DIR>          PerfLogs
04/21/2022  08:19 PM    <DIR>          Program Files
04/11/2022  07:30 PM    <DIR>          Program Files (x86)
06/12/2021  06:02 PM    <DIR>          Python27
11/21/2021  01:25 AM    <DIR>          RMS Express
04/17/2022  06:35 PM         6,685,084 rocket-m-xw.bin
09/14/2020  09:16 PM    <DIR>          Users
04/17/2022  07:16 AM    <DIR>          Windows
11/21/2021  02:26 AM    <DIR>          WSJT
               4 File(s)     26,543,728 bytes
              16 Dir(s)  683,426,467,840 bytes free

C:\>ping 192.168.1.20

Pinging 192.168.1.20 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.1.20: bytes=32 time=1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.20: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.20: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128
Reply from 192.168.1.20: bytes=32 time<1ms TTL=128

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.20:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 1ms, Average = 0ms

C:\>tftp -i 192.168.1.20 put rocket-m-xw.bin
 Connect request failed

C:\>tftp -i 192.168.1.20 put c:\rocket-m-xw.bin
 Connect request failed

C:\>tftp -i 192.168.1.20 put ath79-rocket-m.bin
 Connect request failed

C:\>tftp -i 192.168.1.20 put ar71xx-rocket-m.bin
 Connect request failed

C:\>tftp -i 192.168.1.20 put c:\ar71xx-rocket-m.bin
 Connect request failed

C:\>tftp -i 192.168.1.20 put rocket-m-xw.bin
 Connect request failed

C:\>ping 192.168.1.1

Pinging 192.168.1.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 192.168.1.102: Destination host unreachable.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.1:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 1, Lost = 3 (75% loss),

C:\>ping 192.168.1.1

Pinging 192.168.1.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.1:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\>ping 192.168.1.1

Pinging 192.168.1.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.1:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\>tftp -i 192.168.1.20 put rocket-m-xw.bin
 Connect request failed

C:\>ping 192.168.1.1

Pinging 192.168.1.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.1:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\>ping 192.168.1.1

Pinging 192.168.1.1 with 32 bytes of data:
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.
Request timed out.

Ping statistics for 192.168.1.1:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 4 (100% loss),

C:\>tftp -i 192.168.1.20 put rocket-m-xw.bin
 Connect request failed

 
nc8q
nc8q's picture
Connect request failed

1) before TFTP command, 1/3 & 2/4 cycling as described
2) after issuing TFTP command, 1/3 or 2/4 stay solid (frozen) for about 35 seconds
3) all 1/3,2/4 LED's go out for 1-2 seconds
4) 1/3 & 2/4 cycling again
5) every so often, the cycling 1/3,2/4 stops and the 1/3,2/4 freeze (with no TFTP commands being issued).
Seems to be a cycle.

a) C:\>tftp -i 192.168.1.20 put rocket-m-xw.bin
Connect request failed

-----

Hi, Glenn:

All seems as expected until 2).
-----

a) Indicates an aberration in the install response.
Maybe try a different computer?
-----

I am not a Windows user and cannot assist further.

73, Chuck
 

KG6SII
KG6SII's picture
Thank you
OK, so I got TFTP to work, finally, after about 20 hours trying.  The issue was a combination of things: (1) I'm using a third-party malware software, so I had to turn that off completely, (2) i then had to allow TFTP.exe through my firewall within Windows 10.  Then it worked the first time.

This was the nanoStation.  I'll try the Rocket next.

Thanks for helping
HB9XCL
Same problem, same solution!

I run into the same issue with a Rocket M5. Now I tried the same way as you: turning off the antivirus and the Win10 firewall, and - voilà - it worked the first time. Great!
Funny thing is that I've already flashed several Rockets, same model, same age - and they all worked without this. Just this one refused to be flashed. Strange.

Many thanks for the help!

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