You are here

Home » Forums » Hardware » Network Switches

Trouble loading firmware - did I buy the wrong unit?

11 posts / 0 new
Log in or register to post comments
Last post
Wed, 12/07/2022 - 00:13
#1
VE7NZ
Trouble loading firmware - did I buy the wrong unit?

I am getting errors (bad block or bad packet - i forget exactly now what it said) in the UI on PXE Server when trying to flash the factory firmware to the Microtik unit i bought.  I bought this one and am wondering if it is actually not compatible... https://solimedia.net/product/hap-ac-lite-tower/.  Part Number RB952Ui-5ac2nD-TC.  If someone could let me know, or what the errors are about, I would appreciate it. The unit connects to PXE but the firmware install does not successfully complete. Thx, 73, Adrian VE7NZ 

Top
Wed, 12/07/2022 - 07:51
nc8q
nc8q's picture
hap-ac-lite: RB952Ui-5ac2nD-TC
Hi, Adrian:

I believe that is an AREDN compatible device.
Recent models are in the 'TC' case.
My earlier model was in a lighter color case and 'desktop' style instead of 'tower'.

Error messages are helpful and, when shared, should be an exact quote.

I suggest to try another cable between the computer and the hAP.
Else, a bad ethernet connector on the computer...try another computer.
Else a defective hAP.


73, Chuck

 
Top
Wed, 12/07/2022 - 14:07
w6bi
w6bi's picture
Also...
It's helpful to put a dumb Ethernet switch between the PC and the node.  It keeps the network port on the Windows PC active while the node is rebooting.
73
Orv W6BI
 
Top
Wed, 12/07/2022 - 16:32
VE7NZ
Error messages

Thanks for the replies.  Still having trouble, here's what I know:

1. Configuration through "dumb switch" per instructions + IP address and PXE server setup all per instructions and seem OK.  RFCxxx=1 etc done as well.
2. Cable is good.
3. Unit is apparently compatible.
4. I am using rb.elf (after renaming) from source file "factory" from this site for hAP AC Lite (952Ui-5ac2nD).
5. I click "online" on PXE Server.
6. I plug Ethernet cable into the acLite Port 1 (Internet) and push the reset pin and hold while applying power.
But then after a short while I get the screenshot attached.  I have held the reset button for several minutes (not sure how long it should take).  I have also tried a second hap acLite (I have two, new in the box) with the same result.



It would seem like a corrupt firmware file but i have redownloaded and tried from scratch.

Thx. Adrian. VE7NZ
 

Image Attachments: 
Top
Wed, 12/07/2022 - 17:04
VE7NZ
Tiny PXE Server
It may be that the copy of Tiny PXE Server I got from a fellow ham is not working properly. Can anyone post a zip somewhere for me to download or email me?  I can be rached by my callsign @arrl.net (I think i need to then give you my actual email for a file attachment).  The reboot.pro site is no longer hosting the file (it shows zero bytes) and I can't find it anywhere.
Top
Wed, 12/07/2022 - 18:03
(Reply to #5)
nc8q
nc8q's picture
Tiny PXE Server:

https://arednmesh.readthedocs.io/en/latest/arednGettingStarted/installing_firmware.html#mikrotik-first-install-process
...
"PXE Boot: Windows Procedure
You will need to install and configure a PXE Server on your Windows computer.
The example below uses Tiny PXE which can be downloaded from erwan.labalec.fr."
...
-----

"Can anyone post a zip somewhere for me to download or email me?"

http://labalec.fr/erwan/?page_id=958
...
« Voila ».
Download here
...
-----
here = http://erwan.labalec.fr/tinypxeserver/pxesrv.zip

73, Chuck

Top
Thu, 12/08/2022 - 10:32
(Reply to #6)
VE7NZ
Thx Chuck. I downloaded that
Thx Chuck. I downloaded that copy but had the same issue per the screenshots above.  A fellow ham flashed his TC unit last night without issue. We will get together on the phone and go through it as something is "unique" on my end and not sure what it is yet.
Top
Thu, 12/08/2022 - 19:46
VE7NZ
I just spent time with a
I just spent time with a fellow ham who has flashed the same device successfully and he cannot see anything (watching my screen) that i am doing wrong.  I am also uploading the start of the UI in PXE server in case this is helpful.  I cannot seem to ping the device at 192.168.1.1 or 88.1.  I am not sure if that should be possible. I am also not able to connect to the factory-shipped UI at either of those addresses.  I have two of them and it seems odd that both are unreachable.  My next thought is to try to install/restore the microtik factory firmware to test the aforementioned steps prior to trying the aredn f/w.  
Image Attachments: 
Top
Thu, 12/08/2022 - 19:54
VE7NZ
Product number
One more thing. My friend, who was successful flashing his unit, has the part number RB952.1-5AC2ND-TC-US and mine is RB9521U1-5ac2nD-TC.  Is there a difference that is the cause of my problems?  (TC denotes tower configuration...which should be irrelevant to the firmware).  So the only other difference is "U" vs "." 
Top
Sun, 12/11/2022 - 05:05
(Reply to #9)
nc8q
nc8q's picture
My hAP identifies as 
MikroTik RouterBOARD 952Ui-5ac2nD

I've seen others post RB952U1-5ac2nD and you posted RB952.1-5AC2ND-TC-US.
Following Mikrotik convention that I have seen there would be some non-US versions as
RB952U1-5AC2ND-TC-INTL.

Perhaps we should check the Mikrotik web site and insure that the wireless hardware has not changed.
https://mikrotik.com/product/RB952Ui-5ac2nD
No *.1* nor *U1* versions mentioned.

73, Chuck nc8q
Top
Thu, 12/29/2022 - 19:39
(Reply to #10)
VE7NZ
Problem resolved
I got it working. Turns out it was how i had installed PXE server.  For some reason it seems some files didn't extract.  I redid it and the error went away and i was able to flash the 952 board no problem.  Thx all for pitching in with ideas.
Top

Theme by Danetsoft and Danang Probo Sayekti inspired by Maksimer