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hAP ac lite will not deliver DHCP address and no access after initial reboot

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N0KFO
N0KFO's picture
hAP ac lite will not deliver DHCP address and no access after initial reboot

Hello all,
I am having an issue with the MicroTik hAP ac lite … I don’t think the DHCP service is working correctly when I get the AREDN f/w uploaded and basically configured. And what I mean by basically configured is that I have only changed the node name to reflect my call and qth (example – ‘NOCALL-107-71-96’ to ‘N0KFO-107-71-96-Osteen’) and set the password, (also checked the setup  area for DHCP and all looks well there) then saved the changes … when it reboots, I don’t have access to it because my laptop never gets a DHCP delivered address. I have done the setup several times to no avail. I haven't found any way to get to the switch after the reboot ... I have reconfigured my ethernet i/f with an IP address in the DHCP range and no go ... I wonder if there is an app that could get control ....

A few days ago, I was able to get it configured and rebooted successfully several times, so I decided to flash the f/w on an SXTsq 5 that I also am setting up for my site. I was also able to get through the initial setup and then when it rebooted, I lost access to it as well … and about the same time, I lost access to the hAP ac lite …Since then, I have been just concentrating on the hAP ac lite …
After the first time I lost access to the hAP, I couldn’t even reflash it with the AREDN f/w with tinyPXE until I downloaded Netinstall and the factory code from MicroTik … then I had success flashing with the AREDN f/w (several times now) but still have an issue getting to the hAP via DHCP after the initial setup and reboot.

I am using an HP laptop several years old running Win 10 and don’t have any wild setup for networking … Just the built in wireless and Ethernet on board … I have tried working with the wireless i/f disabled and also enabled … doesn’t make a difference … but I figured it would be better to have it disabled so I am only dealing with 1 ethernet i/f.

I am going to try downloading the nightly code and see If it makes a difference… I have been using the “aredn-3.22.6.0-ar71xx-mikrotik-vmlinux-initramfs” renamed as rb.elf that I downloaded a few days ago (that’s how long I have been pulling my hair out … hihi) … I have the documentation printed from the AREDN website for installation on MicroTIK devices and that is what I am using …

I am getting to the point of frustration now and really would like to get these things configured for field day so we can share the MS Access Database file for N3FJP logging software. That’s the whole point of this particular exercise … Once that is done with, I will concentrate on building up a few nodes to use locally and hopefully join the rest of the mesh network for the future.
Wonder if anyone can point me in a direction that helps …
Thanx,
AllaN0KFO

K6CCC
K6CCC's picture
when it reboots, I don’t have

when it reboots, I don’t have access to it because my laptop never gets a DHCP delivered address.

Most likely because your computer is not requesting a new address.  First of all, your computer needs to be set to DHCP (not a static address that you likely used during initial flash).  Your computer will not automatically request a new address unless one of four things happen.  1)  The interface disconnects and reconnects (in other words, you unplug the LAN cable, wait a few seconds and plug it back in).  2)  Half the DHCP lease time expires.  3)  You manually tell the PC to get a new address.  4)  Changing the computer to DHCP if the computer was set to a static address.   The solutions are:  for #1, unplug the LAN cable for a short while and plug it back in.  For #2, wait a while (may be hours).  For #3, open a command prompt and type:  ipconfig /release    Wait for that to complete and then:  ipconfig /renew    Wait for that to complete.  ANd lastly for #4, change the network settings from static to DHCP.

 
N0KFO
N0KFO's picture
I would like to update the
I would like to update the forum on the status of my issue ... I have been working on and off the past couple days on this problem and FINALLY (out of the blue), it works and I get the hAP configured and it survives a few reboots ... seems solid ... so then I go to work on the SXTsq5 and (lo and behold), that one works as well ... so I get the node and router hooked together and configured as I think they should be ... and decide to work on the other pair.
I am working now on the second SXTsq5 now and not having good luck with it ... I am following the 'Mikrotikk first install checklist' to the letter as I have done from the beginning ... and cross-referencing with the documentation. I can get the PXE configured, go online and then power the SXT up while holding the reset button until about 10 seconds or so after I get the 'DO Read xxxxxxxx ' message in the log of the pxe server and shut down the pxe server ... then a minute or 2 later, I see the lights flash on the SXT and the blue power and the green status light are on ... blue is steady and green is flashing randomly. I try to ping the SXT (192.168.1.1) and all I get is 'host unreachable' message from the ping request ... If I can't ping it, I can't connect to it ... Anyway, I have done the same steps many times with the same result ... I am running out of ideas ... 
Hopefully, someone out there has had this issue, resolved it and can let me know how I can do the same ...
I would appreciate it very much ...
Thanx,
AllaN0KFO
nc8q
nc8q's picture
You may be too quick.

Hi, AllaN0KFO:
After loading the .bin file and booting, wait a few minutes.
If loading firmware on a Mikrotik hAP, have no WAN connection and wait up to 16 minutes.

Just because the LEDs stop blinking, may not indicate the firmware load has finished.

I hope this helps,
Chuck

 

N0KFO
N0KFO's picture
Update as of 06-18-2022
Chuck,
I am not getting past the loading of the .elf file ... And what really bugs me is that I have done this same procedure on another 'pair' already ... and they seem to be 'working as advertised' ... Is there any tool that I can use that I can hook up to any of these devices when this happens and actually 'see' what they are configured with regarding network addresses, etc.?
I have also just assumed that I have a bad SXT and have requested a replacement from Flytec Computers (Amazon) down in Miami.... (That's where this equipment came from) In the meantime, I am trying to get ahold of them to see if they could help me since that is what the manufacturer says to do before calling them (Mikrotik) for support .... However; they (flytec) are not answering their phones .... (Not 'Online Sales', 'the Sales Team', 'RMA' or even the operator).. Once I choose a phone menu item, it seems like I am sent off into oblivion ... without so much as even a gentle voice to guide me to stay on the line .... I have waited for up to 30 minutes with dead silence on the other end before hanging up ... 
Instead of having a 'quick and dirty' network for field day and something that will show the local club what AREDN is capable of, this has become a major project that has me cleary frustrated.
Thanx for reaching out, though ...
AllaN0KFO
nc8q
nc8q's picture
I am not getting past the loading of the .elf file .

Hi, AllaN0KFO:
Let us do one thing at a time and work our way through the installation of AREDN on a Mikrotik RB952Ui-5ac2nD
(aka 'hAP')
Confirm that you are following the installation instructions here:
https://arednmesh.readthedocs.io/en/latest/arednGettingStarted/installing_firmware.html#mikrotik-first-install-process
Confirm the operating system on your host system (Windows, MacIntosh, Linux, BSD, Spark, OS/2,...)
Did you see 'TFTPd: DoReadFile: rb.elf' displayed as described in the documentation?
(Get local time)
You terminated the PXE program on your host computer.
Your host computer's ethernet port still has the static address 192.168.1.100.
You moved the ethernet cable from port 1 to port 2 or 3 or 4.
(5 to 16 minutes have elapsed)
"You should be able to ping the node at 192.168.1.1."
Did we get this far - error free?

Chuck

 

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N0KFO
N0KFO's picture
Chuck,
Chuck,
I appreciate your timely responses .... I feel I must apologize, though ... I probably should have started another thread with the issue I am now having. If you reference post number 3 above, I posted that I had the issue resolved and was trying to configure the second pair (pair being a hAP ac lite and SXTsq 5 ac node) ... 
I  am waiting on a replacement for the 2nd SXT from Flytec Computers in Miami... I am hoping to get some support from their technician in the meantime and maybe I can get the one I have here that I am going to return workin with his help .... ( I don't think it is really broken, but I can't access it with their code and I can't get the AREDN code to upload and configure ...) ... 
The story on this one is that I can't get the firmware to load and configure on the second SXT .... The first one went off without a hitch and is working on the bench as we speak .... 
I will wait on their tech support and if that does not work, I will wait for a replacement that should be here in the next couple days ... 
Anyway, again, I thank you for your timely responses and I will keep the forum updated ...
Thanx,
AllaN0KFO

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