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Mikrotik Router boards

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N7JYS
Mikrotik Router boards
I know a lot people who have had their share of struggels loading AREDN software onto the Mikrotik Routers no matter if its a hAP lite or a RBLHG-5HPnD-XL
the procedures are the same using a dumb switch and tinypxeserver to load the temp software in the rom of the router board then to proceed to upload the downloaded AREDN software from your computer to complete the process.

I have been away from AREDN for a few years but have been successful in the past with all procedures involved in uploading AREDN software and making
several nodes work. Recently I have decided to use AREDN again to bridge a repeater site running Allstar (VOIP) with free internet access from a local ham.

However it seems as though I have run into problems recently getting ARDEN software loaded and running on a Mikrotik LHG-5HP-XL. I can get as far as
loading the temp rd.elf file loaded into the rom of the router board. After uploading the AREDN software form the Web gui  I patiently await the installation and
it never successfully reboots with the software running. I have exhausted all my resources including my time into making  this work. I would appreciate any
and all help in getting this working. Please feel free to share your  failures and succcessus in what worked for you. Thanks

 
nc8q
nc8q's picture
rd.elf file loaded into the rom of the router board. After uploa
"rd.elf file loaded into the rom of the router board. After uploading the AREDN software form the Web gui  I patiently await the installation and
it never successfully reboots with the software running."

Hi, Eric:

The 'factory.bin' file gets renamed 'rb.elf'.

'rb.elf' gets uploaded into the node's RAM.

The node boots the .elf image and should be found at http://192.168.1.1

You may need to load 'http://192.168.1.1' from your web browser.

Next upload the 'sysupgrade.bin' file.

Continue with the install instructions.

https://docs.arednmesh.org/en/latest/_downloads/45c3c92b35d89f810b754d77...
https://docs.arednmesh.org/en/latest/arednGettingStarted/installing_firm...

I hope this helps,
Chuck
 
N7JYS
Mikrotik Router
Chuck, these are the files Im using from the AREDN download page.

https://downloads.arednmesh.org/afs/www/?version=3.25.2.0&target=ath79%2...

My understanding is the kenral file is the one I rename to rb.elf according to the download page and load into rom via tinypexeserver. Then after its loaded I proceed to http://192.168.1.1.
This brings up a web gui with the AREDN logo and a box to enter the second file (systemupgrade.) After this is done I am never  able to get it to successfully  reboot with a valid IP, and using local.mesh:8080 reaps no results either. There seem to be a loading error that I can not detect. Am I using the right file to load into rom as you said "The 'factory.bin' file gets renamed 'rb.elf'.? Just asking to see if I missed something   . I have seen a alterative method using putty accessing port 2222 and up loading the systemupgrade file via winscp and issuing the command systemupgrade -n (filename) from the tmp directory but get a file upload error. I seem to be hitting a brick wall and not understanding why. Not sure what Im missing.

 
nc8q
nc8q's picture
I am never able to get it to successfully reboot with a valid
As Orv mentioned, use the current stable release; 3.25.2.0.

" I am never  able to get it to successfully  reboot with a valid IP"

How are you determining the above statement?
IIRC, after uploading the 'sysupgrade' firmware,
the device will reboot and then be a DHCP server.
When that happens, your computer needs to drop its static address and
enable its DHCP client.

Semantics:
I think...
The factory.bin (rb.elf) file is stored into RAM not ROM/rom.
The sysupgrade.bin file is stored into 'FLASH' (eePROM).

73, Chuck
 
w6bi
w6bi's picture
Mikrotik first install
It turns out that the Mikrotik nightly builds won't install into RAM.  I discovered this yesterday. There's a fix coming for that in the 20250331 nightly build.  As a workaround, use the 3.25.2.0 production release.  Once that's installed (into RAM, then into flash), and configured, you can update to a nightly build if you wish (recommended)

73
Orv W6BI
N7JYS
Mikrotik first install
Orv, what I have notice and observed with several versions of ARDEN softare including the nightly build, I get the same results. Even though is says for initial install and system upgrades It stills fails. I can reload the factory mipbse file using netinstall and the mikrotik router board functions normally.  My hAP lite exhibits  the same behavior using windows 10  and tinypexeserver as well as my LHG 5HPnD-XL. If it wasn't mention in the beginning this is a first time install for the ARDEN software on these devises and it makes me wounder if the software is not being excepted as it thinks its a upgrade not a first time install like a factory.bin file. I would really like to get to the bottom of this as it's bugging me and I don't give up easy. Thoughts?
w6bi
w6bi's picture
Mikrotik first installs
Eric, I don't use tinypxe server much any more.  I find the Linux procedure for Mikrotik first installs much more reliable.  You might give that a shot.

Orv W6BI
N7JYS
Mikrotik First Installs
Orv, I get the same results using linux. The kernal fire loads fine and works.  When I go to install the sysupgrade.bin file is where is fails to work.
I have 3 Mikrotik LHG 5HPnD-xl's and they all fail.
K6CCC
K6CCC's picture
Confirm after loading the
Confirm after loading the upgrade file that you force your computer to request a new DHCP address.  This can be done simply by unplugging and then reconnecting the LAN connection to the computer or issuing a "ipconfig /renew" (without the quotes) in a Windows command prompt.

This is required because as long as the computer does not see the LAN connection drop (and it won't if you have a recommended dumb switch between the AREDN node and the computer), the computer will not attempt to obtain a new DHCP address - and therefore never get on the right LAN segment for the node.
 
K5RA
Dumb Switch for Mikrotik
I was working with a Mikrotik SXTsq 5ac last month using NetInstall to get it back to RouterOC.  Mikrotik instructions were pretty clear to make a direct connection from your PC to the node.
The "unplug the connection" trick is easier than cycling the network card from Windows Control Panel/Network & Sharing Center.
--  Tim  K5RA

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