dslreports logo
 
    All Forums Hot Topics Gallery
spc
Search similar:


uniqs
6076
Mr Greek
join:2005-02-26
Australia

1 edit

Mr Greek

Member

Using Linksys WRT54GX firmware on F5D8230 pre-N

This topic deserves it's own discussion stream !!!
Any feedback from anyone ???
said by envagyok75:

linksys WRT54GX router and WPC54GX pcmcia network card is the same hardware like belkin f5d8230-4 router and f5d8010 pcmcia network card.

Driver and firmware states :

linksys WRT54GX router : 1.02.05 (1st Jul 2005)
belkin f5d8230-4 router : 1.00.06 or 1.01.03 (20th Sep 2004 and 10st Jan 2005 (The date at the webpage is not the exactly release date !!! ))

linksys WPC54GX network card : based on 1.5.0.86 airgo driver (9th jun 2005)
belkin f5d8010 network card : based on 1.2.0.80 airgo driver (20th Sep 2004 (The date at the webpage is not the exactly release date !!! ))

I can update the belkin pcmcia driver to 1.5.0.86 with copy 2 linksys .sys file rename to belkin .sys filename and move to system32 folder.

Saidly the router cannot flash with the good linksys firmware, but i see with hexeditor the belkin and the linksys firmware file is same, just the linksys is improved.
Can anyone telling me, how can i flash linksys firmware to belkin router, or someone can change linksys firmware file to pass belkin?

F.....g belkin when make firmware update ???

I buyed Dlink di-604 router to connect internet, and routing, and i use belkin router now as acces point, but then why spent a lot of many to belkin "router" ???
This topic deserves it's own discussion stream !!!
Any feedback from anyone ???

lilhurricane
Crunchin' For Cures
Numquam oblita
join:2003-01-11
Purple Zone

lilhurricane

Numquam oblita

For reference (as things are better to be in a more collected place for follow thru and troubleshooting

»F5D8230 preN : collecting V1.00.06 firmware issues

jsimmons
MVM
join:2000-04-24
Falls Church, VA

jsimmons to Mr Greek

MVM

to Mr Greek
>>> linksys WRT54GX router and WPC54GX pcmcia network card is the same hardware like belkin f5d8230-4 router and f5d8010 pcmcia network card.

Does someone know for a fact that the WRT54GX and F5D8230-4 are in fact the same hardware or follow an identical hardware reference design? I know they both use the Airgo MIMO radio module and chipset, but what about the rest of the circuit board - the ethernet chipset, etc. If their only real commonality is the Airgo chipset, then the firmwares may not be compatible.

I suppose one could do a detailed comparison of the firmware sources and make a reasonable determination.

Interesting thought, though.
cman2005
join:2005-02-26

cman2005 to Mr Greek

Member

to Mr Greek
Have you tried the obvious. what happens when you try to flash it??

alternatively trying something like this:
»Successfully upgraded F5D7230-4 to F5D7231-4

obviously this would change as the pre N firmware doesn't have LOAD at the first few chars.
SVG1
Premium Member
join:2005-05-21
Kasilof, AK

SVG1 to Mr Greek

Premium Member

to Mr Greek
I know its possible to flash a router to a diffrent model by the same manufacture . WRT54G > WRT54GS or F5D7230 > F5D7231 .

Flashing a belkin to a linksys i doubt is gonna happen . Their G routers do use the same chipset & the pre-n routers may as well but im certain this is about the only similarity .

jsimmons
MVM
join:2000-04-24
Falls Church, VA

jsimmons

MVM

said by SVG1:

I know its possible to flash a router to a diffrent model by the same manufacture . WRT54G > WRT54GS
Huh??? In the past, the WRT54G and WRT54GS had different chipsets on the circuit board. The Speedboost capability found in the WRT54GS chipset cannot be enabled on a WRT54G simply with a firmware change.

I've heard rumors that the latest WRT54G hardware revision has the same hardware as the GS, but can't confirm that. Some discussion may be found here: »www.linksysinfo.org/modu ··· ic&t=169
SVG1
Premium Member
join:2005-05-21
Kasilof, AK

3 edits

SVG1

Premium Member

Version 2 & up G & GS models use the same chipset.

The belkin 7230-4 can be upgraded to HSM with a simple firmware change . They all use the same broadcom bcm4712 chipset .
envagyok75
join:2005-04-23

envagyok75 to Mr Greek

Member

to Mr Greek
»openwrt.org/TableOfHardware

belkin
F5D8230-4

Broadcom 4704 @ 300MHz
4MB
16MB
Airgo mini-PCI
BCM5325

linksys
WRT54GX
1.0
Broadcom 4704 @ 300MHz
4MB
16MB
Airgo mini-PCI
BCM5325

cman2005
join:2005-02-26

cman2005

Member

Does anyone have any pictures of the inside of the linksys one then we could compare as there are pictures of the inside of the belkin one on the net.
Kaloz9
join:2005-07-08
Hungary

Kaloz9 to jsimmons

Member

to jsimmons
They never had different chipsets. You can enable "SpeedBooster" if You set the boardtype value to the same as the GS version of Your hardware.
Kaloz9

Kaloz9 to Mr Greek

Member

to Mr Greek
IMHO You can flash the linksys firmware onto it using tftp

eg.:

1. turn router off
2. type "tftp -i 192.168.2.1 PUT WRT54GX_1.02.06_USA"
3. turn router on and press return imemdiately

on Linux, You can use the docs on our page at OpenWrt.org

If I can get a pre-N router, I will get the wireless to work, too (OpenWrt runs fine on these routers, just without wireless support).

Imew
Mr Greek
join:2005-02-26
Australia

Mr Greek

Member

said by Kaloz9:

.... If I can get a pre-N router, I will get the wireless to work, too (OpenWrt runs fine on these routers, just without wireless support).

Imew
Can you please explain what yo mean when you say "just without wireless support"
envagyok75
join:2005-04-23

envagyok75 to Kaloz9

Member

to Kaloz9
Without linux how can i tftp ?

mozerd
Light Will Pierce The Darkness
MVM
join:2004-04-23
Nepean, ON

mozerd

MVM

said by envagyok75:

Without linux how can i tftp ?
Under Windows XP you can run tftp ... here is how ... open a CMD windows ... Start/Run/cmd
Now in the CMD window type
tftp /?
and this will show you all the switches that can be enabled.
envagyok75
join:2005-04-23

1 edit

envagyok75

Member

Always "Timeout occured" My router ip is 192.168.0.5, and with this ip i always can managing. I write to command prompt : TFTP -i 192.168.0.5 PUT WRT54GX_1.02.06_USA

Maybe, when i want load firmware at boot state, must set up special ip adress for computer ?

Now my comp. id is 192.168.0.2

mozerd
Light Will Pierce The Darkness
MVM
join:2004-04-23
Nepean, ON

mozerd

MVM

Make sure that the WRT54GX_1.02.06_USA file is in the same directory from which you are issuing the tftp command otherwise it will time out because it can not find the file.

for example: When you have a CMD window open … change directories to something like C:\tempBIN

then copy the WRT54GX_1.02.06_USA file into this directory ... then issue your tftp command from within that directory.
Mr Greek
join:2005-02-26
Australia

Mr Greek

Member

Hi David:

I decided to give it a go as well.
I followed your instructions, but I too am getting "Timeout Occurred" errors

Any other suggestions???

mozerd
Light Will Pierce The Darkness
MVM
join:2004-04-23
Nepean, ON

mozerd

MVM

This string is important:
type "tftp -i 192.168.2.1 PUT WRT54GX_1.02.06_USA"

the default IP address for the F5D8230-4 router is 192.168.2.1
if you are not using the default IP address then I suggest that you hard reset to get back to the default. Then that should work

BTW, this operation of attempting to merge a 'foreign' firmware is not something I would undertake as it could brick your device ... however if the motherboards are the same [linksys and belkin -- True MIMO] on the belkin and linksys units then this should work ... unless belkin have implemented something in the bootstrap that discourages tftp ... I personally do not think they have but it is possible. So be aware that you could lose the device.
Mr Greek
join:2005-02-26
Australia

Mr Greek

Member

David:

I "live on the edge man", that's why I do this type of thing at 3:48am instead of sleeping

THANKS FOR THE WARNING - much appreciated.

For what it's worth, I use 192.168.0.1.
I will try 192.168.2.1 and see if it changes things.
Mr Greek

1 edit

Mr Greek to mozerd

Member

to mozerd
OK, the change to 192.168.2.1 appears to have allowed me to proceed !!!

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
D:\aaa>tftp -i 192.168.2.1 PUT WRT54GX_1.02.06_USA
Transfer successful: 3581867 bytes in 11 seconds, 325624 bytes/s
D:\aaa>

But I DON'T SEE ANY NEW firmware via a web browser, just my old belkin screen !!!!
Any suggestions ?

mozerd
Light Will Pierce The Darkness
MVM
join:2004-04-23
Nepean, ON

mozerd

MVM

said by Mr Greek:

OK, the change to 192.168.2.1 appears to have allowed me to proceed !!!

tftp -i 192.168.2.1 PUT WRT54GX_1.02.06_USA
Transfer successful: 3581867 bytes in 11 seconds, 325624 bytes/s
OK, the finale step is to hard reset again. Good Luck
Mr Greek
join:2005-02-26
Australia

Mr Greek

Member

I have Hard Resetted about five times.
No success with respect to a new linksys firmware version.
All I get is belkin version 1.01.03 with factory defaults after my rest attempts !!!

Any other suggestions???

mozerd
Light Will Pierce The Darkness
MVM
join:2004-04-23
Nepean, ON

mozerd

MVM

OK try this link
»192.168.2.1/index_static.htm

From what you're describing belkin have placed a stealth block on the firmware which leads you to belive that you've succeeded with the tftp but in fact failed. The link I have provided above [htm] is one used by linksys ... let us know what happens ...
Mr Greek
join:2005-02-26
Australia

Mr Greek

Member

nothing happens with this link:
»192.168.2.1/index_static.htm

Any other suggestions ?

Please note that I own a big hammer, some chisels and a drill as well - any suggestions on how I could use these as well to upgrade the firmware??? (more than happy to give these tools a go as well!!!)

I'm going to sleep now.
Mr Greek

Mr Greek to mozerd

Member

to mozerd
David:

Just so that everything is crystal clear, can you write down "step-by-step" how you would have done the tftp firmware update and also include in these steps when you expected to see the hard reset(s).

Also, can you please decribe how you perform a hard reset ( I am pretty sure I did perform hard resets because I've lost all my router settings )

When I wake up I'll give it another go.

Regards.
envagyok75
join:2005-04-23

envagyok75

Member

After a hard reset i can tftp firmware succesfull,but after that no change stay the old belkin firmware.
I try reset, hard reset,power switch off/on, but no result.
Always come the old firmware back.
Is any trick to change linksys firmware to accept belkin router via web upgrade ?
cman2005
join:2005-02-26

cman2005 to Mr Greek

Member

to Mr Greek
You might need to change something like the first four or eight bytes in a hex edit to match the belkin one. I have looked at the EU linksys one and they are 00 2F 08 07 AB A7 36 00

the belkin one is 00 2F 01 02 E7 2F 2F 00

look at this link as this may give you some help:

»Successfully upgraded F5D7230-4 to F5D7231-4
SVG1
Premium Member
join:2005-05-21
Kasilof, AK

SVG1 to Mr Greek

Premium Member

to Mr Greek
said by envagyok75:

Saidly the router cannot flash with the good linksys firmware, but i see with hexeditor the belkin and the linksys firmware file is same, just the linksys is improved.
Can anyone telling me, how can i flash linksys firmware to belkin router, or someone can change linksys firmware file to pass belkin?

F.....g belkin when make firmware update ???

I compared the linksys & belkin firmware with a hex editor. Hundreds of bytes would need to be changed .
The 2 firmwares are not even close to being similar . There is not a single matching string .

Your more likely to brick your router than getting the linksys firmware to load . From what i can tell you would gain nothing with this firmware .
envagyok75
join:2005-04-23

envagyok75

Member

My friend linux specialist, and he extract the belkin and linksys bin file to visible filesystem, and he say :
1.: linksys's wireless part newer, but same structure and files. (newer kernel modules)

2.: linksys has something new modul "zebra" (maybe proxy)and snmpd

3.: web interface is different

4.: PPoe and ppdp is newer in linksys

5.: He say look like bothwritten to same hardware, but he cannot say 100% sure, because he has no linksys and belkin router.

At Dlink, when you make false firmware update, then you can flash a new one, because before start the firmware, is some loader at not writeable area named "adam", and when you f...k your firmware update, you can emergency upload the original one.
I don't know this is possible with belkin or not.
cman2005
join:2005-02-26

cman2005

Member

This guy on this page says hes done it see this:

»Success with WRT54GX firmware on belkin Pre-N!

and it seems I was almost right its just the first 4 bytes.