Update – Debian on Agestar Firmware
Warning/Note: This is not an update to the existing firmware. This is for installing Debian. If you don’t know anything about Linux, this is not for you. This firmware DOES NOT contain web interface.
I haven’t looked again on Debian installer for Agestar, but I have built a new firmware for Debian on Agestar using the latest kernel patch (faster network). If you have installed Debian using the instruction in here, you can download zImage-20092008 to Agestar, and then do:
dd if=zImage-20092008 of=/dev/mtdblock1
If you haven’t installed Debian, then when following the instruction, but instead of using star.bin use star-20092008.bin. To make it clear, use zImage-20092008 to update existing installation, and star-20092008.bin for new installation (starting from the original Agestar firmware). If you made a mistake, then you need a serial port to unbrick your Agestar. NOTE: the web update method only works on agestar, other models can work by using serial port and latest patch for kernel source (2.6.29 or later).
If you are interested to make your own firmware, this is what you should do:
- Download armboot.bin and put it to a directory
- Download mergefile.c to the same directory as armboot.bin
- Compile mergefile.c (just do
cc mergefile.c -o mergefile) - Compile your kernel according to the instruction at http://tinyhack.com/2008/09/08/how-to-compile-kernel-for-agestar/ to create zImage, copy/move it to the same directory as armboot.bin
- Type
./mergefileto merge armboot.bin and zImage to star.bin.
You can use star.bin to flash (replace) original firmware. If you already installed Debian, and you want to update your kernel, you only need to build zImage and do dd if=newzImage of=/dev/mtdblock1.
Hi,
I disassembled the complete AGESTAR NAS-there is no extra Real Time Clock
or battery for such thing. I found a picture from starsemi with the function blocks of STR9100 which says the chip includes a Real Time Counter (not clock!). Maybe they use the X1205 driver because they have licensed parts of the intersil X1205 design. Could you try out if the X1205 driver is compatible to the internal RTCounter? Maybe it works?
Manuel
star-20092008.bin can flash to original firmware or not?
@Manuel: thank you for the information. I have tried using X1205 driver, and it didn’t work. From my disassembly of the kernel image, I think they modify the original x1205 driver.
@ss: yes, you can flash ss to original firmware.
Hello,
Can you recompile your kernel with XFS support?
I have the hardisk mounted on the nas formatted with xfs and full of movies. I have untarred (whithout deleting all the movies
) and configured your debian and flashed your firmware but after rebooting i can log on but i got Busybox.
Looking to your kernel config on /proc/config.gz I fond the XFS support is disabled
Hi,
I just compiled the image with XFS enabled for you (I didn’t test it,
but it should be fine, I just use the last configuration, enabled the
XFS and compiled it).
You can download it from:
http://tinyhack.com/agestar/zimage-30-08-2008-xfs
(md5 is 9c0771160853997ea093597d92e155)
Write zimage-30-08-2008-xfs to /dev/mtdblock1 (dd if=zimage-30-08-2008-xfs of=/dev/mtdblock1)
you can use USB flash disk or something to move the file to your
Agestar (in case you don’t have enough space because you use XFS on
all of your partitions).
Hi Yohanes.
Thanks for your firmware, I’m testing it on a fully top device.
I use star-20092008.bin firmware and I’ve a issue.
I want to test star.bin version (without latest network patch).
-Can I do “dd if=star.bin of=/dev/mtdblock1″ ?
Thanks.
@elbuit
You need to skip the first 128k,
dd if=star.bin of=/dev/mtdblock1 bs=128k skip=1
or:
- reinstall original firmware
- flash with the star.bin
hello again,
I was just wondering can you do this agestar hack only with NSB3AS1T, or could it be done with NSB3AHT as well? do they have different hardware or anything, I’ve got both units and they seem to be same except for the case.
@anacron:
it looks the same, but i can’t be sure without close up photo of the board. Can you provide one?
Something like this:
http://kildall.apana.org.au/~cjb/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/computer/nas-board.jpg
Well I think the firmware is compatible with the NSB3AS1T because the agestar original firmware is the same for the two devices http://www.agestar.com/english/support/firmware.html
Okay guys, I can confirm that this debian installation works with NSB3AHT as well, with no problems so far. I also took pictures from the unit, I’ll post them today as I have time.
Thanks for Fabiano about the tip that they use same firmware, that made me just try it.
I burn star-20092008.bin in my Agestar. Network interface has not work.
Please help, what the syntax of the commands that write original firmware through uart. (i make interface com -> uart)
Hello. It wants to change its proshivku AgeStar, but I do not know Linex, as I have. Help please.
FW upgrade new NSB3AS1T faild with “you upload wrong file” on any!!! file (star.bin or NCB3AST V04R11 from agestar.com) from linux or windows. How can i reflash my box ?
PS: my board without UART pinout
Thanks.
Hello. I flash star-20092008.bin in my Agestar NCB3AST. Web interface has not work, but work telnet with username/password root/root on BusyBox. IP i see on my DHCP server. What flash original firmware or star-20092008.bin over telnet or this not possible? What flash original or star-20092008.bin firmware over UART-DEBUG? What start web server on BusyBox? Give me please any help! Thanx!
@Hammer_NN:
Can you send me the picture of the board of your nas?
@Alex
star-20092008.bin is for debian installation without for web interface. To restore, get your original firmware from http://www.tinyhack.com/agestar/oldfirmware.bin, unplug your harddisk from agestar, put on USB disk, plug the usb disk to your agestar.
telnet to your agestar:
mkdir /tmp/agestar
mount /dev/sda1 /tmp/agestar
cd /tmp/agestar
dd if=oldfirmware.bin of=/dev/mtdblock1
NOTE: I am not responsible if you make your NAS bricked. Please understand the commands before executing them.
Hello yohanes. I`m need solution how install and configure any torrent (with web interface) like transmission. I`m got some errors with debian preinstall and can not fix it. So i need solution for linux lamers or download debian preinstall with integrated worked ftp/torrent software. Can help?
2 question: how mount ext2/ext3 hdd over usb? My WinXp x64 can not worked with this device formatted to ext2/ext3
i make console on my agestar NSB3AS1T , but when power on and wait about 3 seconds i receive only one string “åm[]¿Y=9)‹¿ŸŸ5“33‘9ëåsm]¿Y=9)‹¿ŸŸ5“53‘9ëå[}e¿y!#3-1-!#‹ëå{=#)¿¹Ÿ‹¿ŸŸŸŸŸŸŸŸ”
i try any comm parameters,but nothing
My next attempt
What i can see is:
=========begin======================================
U-Boot code: 00000000 -> 0001AF60 BSS: -> 0001FED4
IRQ Stack: 00e6ff7c
FIQ Stack: 00e6ef7c
RAM Configuration:
Bank #0: 00000000 32 MB
Flash Manufacturer: ST
Flash: 8 MB
In: serial
Out: serial
Err: serial
PLL clock at 250MHz
CPU clock at 250MHz
AHB clock at 125MHz
APB clock at 62MHz
## Starting application at 0×01000000 …
Uncompressing Linux…………………………………………………….
……………………………………………… done, booting the kernel
=========end======================================
serial port 38400 8N1
Can’t see cursor (but local echo on).What’s wrong ?????Any help ?
Greetings yohanes!
I have followed your instruction on installing debian. But for some reason when I used your new firmeware on my NSD-100. The upgrade went perfectly fine. However, when I unplugged my NSD-100 to plug in my Hard Drive that I repartitioned. The status light of my NSD-100 never goes to ready. And it doesn’t seems to registered itself on DHCP as well.
Help!!!
Hello Hammer_NN
can you tell me how you’ve eliminated the problem?
because I did the same.
upps, you dit it. in your 2. post.
2 days ago successful reflash my NSB3AS1T from original site with new V01R03 7.61 Mb. Then try reflash with star-20092008.bin , no luck
, again failed with “you upload wrong file”
star-20092008.bin is for debian without webinterface.
i used the file http://www.tinyhack.com/agestar/oldfirmware.bin
but you can try, to setup a tftp server on your windows.
ist simple if you use “WinAgents TFTP Server 4″
if you use the default options.
only first start, and enable.
copy your bin file to
C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\All Users\Anwendungsdaten\WinAgents\TFTP Server 4\TFTPRoot
now you must look on the nas, to see wich network option are set.
printenv.
so you get some line like
ethaddr=00:aa:bb:cc:dd:10
ipaddr=192.168.10.2
serverip=192.168.10.3
netmask=255.255.0.0
now connect the nas direkt to your pc. an set your pc ip config
to the same range.
like
ip: 192.168.10.100
netmask : 255.255.0.0
now start up your nas.
an type in
tftpboot 0×1020000 star-20092008.bin
now wait a litle bit.
and when upload is finished type
go 0×1020000
on the same way you can try different fw without flashing.
now it should boot up your image, if it without error so you can flash the original fw over the web interface.
http://www.agestar.com/english/support/firmware.html
and if ther some errors no problem it`s not flashed.
only reboot the nas ands all reset.
well if you brick your nas the way is the same.
i`ve bricke my withe a false firmware so that my nas do not boot up.
so i`ve tryed the way with the file
http://www.tinyhack.com/agestar/oldfirmware.bin
an reflash in the web interface so ive fixed the drive.
sorry for my bad englisch.
Hello all! Please help – Is “star-20092008.bin” compatible with my Agestar LB1 ? Can I try to use the firmware in my device without any problem? I do not know the chipset # in LB1…
The attempt with new firmware V01R03 7.61Mb from original site is failed with: “you upload wrong file”
Hello. First of all, thank you for your work, yohanes.
I’m thinking do i really need to install debian, so the only thing which is unclear to me right now is: does it support WakeOnLan?
Sorry, disregard the previous question — I have already found an answer.
But now I have another one.
Right now I’m trying to flash star-20092008.bin file. I cannot flash it through the web interface (since I’ve installed V01R03), but I can get root access via telnet with my original firmware.
So the question is — do I need to skip 128k when I run dd?
TIA.
Hello! I have a problem in uploading star-20092008.bin to my NSB3AHT with V01R03 FW. The mistake “you uploading wrong file” is constantly appearing . Could you be so kind to help me asap.
Colleagues!
Could anybody help me and send a copy of your printenv for working NCB3AHT?
my NCB is bricked
ARMBoot is available through the serial-cable, but:
- no ping to 192.168.10.2(3) (ipaddr) (and after changing too) => tftp isn’t available
- I’ve tried to upload oldfirmware.bin with loadb (kermit) to 0×1000000 – no results (try with 0×1020000 – will see… it takes ~ an hour….)
any ideas?
0×1020000:
….and no results again…
STR9100>go 0×1020000
## Application terminated, rc = 0×3a7d4
after ‘reboot’:
undefined instruction
pc : [] lr : []
sp : 0003a50c ip : 00000000 fp : 0003a524
r10: 00000c92 r9 : 0003a7d4 r8 : 00000000
r7 : 0003a52c r6 : 0003a7d4 r5 : 0003a530 r4 : 00000002
r3 : 12ea0000 r2 : 0003a530 r1 : 00000001 r0 : 00000000
Flags: nZCv IRQs off FIQs off Mode SVC_32
Resetting CPU …
### ERROR ### Please RESET the board ###
the problem was resolved….
you can have some difficulties w/tftp server… I tried several of them and only one worked acceptable….(opensource: tftpd32)
0. configure your network connection to 192.168.10.3/255.255.0.0
1. start TFTP-server
2. configure root folder for your TFTP server (Base folder in tftpd32 configuration)
3. put your Yohanes ‘oldfirmware.bin’ into this folder
3.1 I renamed this file to ‘bin’
4. Start your agestar w/reset button (and Control-C to abort any tries to bootup from network
5. type in serial console: tftpboot 0×1020000 bin (it will receive bin-file from TFTP)
6. type in serial console: go 0×1020000
7. enter to the web interface (192.168.16.1/255.255.255.0) for FW upgraed and upgrade it to current available FW for your device. For example v04r11 from http://www.agestar.com (AGE-V04R11.bin).
…so now it works and after reboot too.
Hi Yohanes,
I had a play around with ur firmware. As you mention the network speeds aren’t so good. Probably packet loss? I can see that you compiled with NAPI enabled so speeds should be at least as good as the original firmware.
If you have some time please can you look into the networking driver.
It seems to me that all the NAPI function calls are correct in the code you provided so therefore without doing any testing I can only assume that the correct IRQs are not being enabled/disabled correctly on network read/write.
There is some discussion regarding porting to OpenWRT here and also a link to info about the new networking api and how to correctly port drivers to it: http://forum.openwrt.org/viewtopic.php?id=18977&p=2
Cheers
Another possible cause of slow speeds is bad Ethernet autonegotiate. I haven’t looked at the code, but this is an area worth checking.
One more thing, is there any chance u can compile an armel firmware instead of arm and post a link to the debian armel filesystem. So that Debian v6 and newer .debs can be used on the box?
@Z3r0
The network driver problem only happens on certain hardware. The network driver works perfectly fine on the agestar ncb3ast, and i got a very good speed.
I have looked at the thread at openwrt forum, and currently I am in contact with arteqw, and I am currently asking him to try out couple of things.
That’s great to hear.
This is the hardware I have: http://www.agestar.com/english/products/nsb3as1t.asp
I think it came with fw V04R09 for the NCB3AST. It’s currently running V04R11.
The retail box is marked as model NCB3AST and there’s another code XC4677.
The board is marked AS208 V1.5 and the unit was manufactured in June 2007.
It has a STAR STR9104 SoC,
EON EN29LV640H-90TCP (flash memory),
Samsung K4H561638H-UCC (ram),
JMicron JM20337 (looks like USB/IDE/SATA controller?),
and an IC IP101A (network controller).
Hello,
I’m recently brought an AgeStar LB2 Box. All nas box of ageStar seems almost similar. but i don’t want brick my device with an incompatible firmware.
Acctualy my device have the officiel V01R03 version directly from the agestar website.
So i think my device is ‘compatible’ with your fimware yohanes. but i’m not sure.
If someone can confirm it ?
I have my respsonse i try on my lb2 but its say “Wrong File” when i try to flash it.
i’m read all Post, Flash from V01R03 seems non working all people say “… WRONG file…” Maybe its a bug or a protection ??
I have look the firmware with an Hex editor and the begin of file look like different beetwen V01R03 (15 00 00 ea) and V04R11, star.bin, star20082009.bin (12 00 00 ea). This is maybe the reason Why the upgrade fail
Oh no, device using V01R03 firmware doesn’t look like using STar9100 no any reference in firmware file.
On The V01R03 Firmware :
bootcmd=firstbootbootdelay=0baudrate=38400ethaddr=00:aa:bb:cc:dd:10ipaddr=192.168.10.2serverip=192.168.10.3netmask=255.255.255.0cpu_clock=250
On The V04R11 Firmware :
bootdelaybootcmdfirstbootSTR9100>
@c4softwareon
Where did you get the firmware for LB2 box? the firmware update page only contains firmware for:
NSB3AS, NSB3AST, NSB3AS1T, NSB3AHT, and CFB3A
In fact when the original firmware of my LB2 box is V01R01 but i try to flash with the V01R03 for NSB3AS, NSB3AST, NSB3AS1T, NSB3AHT, and CFB3A. And its works ( So i think NSB3AS, NSB3AST, NSB3AS1T, NSB3AHT, and CFB3A and LB2 are really close).
I try to open my LB2 but right now i don’t find the way to open it (no screw, just plastic clipping i think)
Okay I find a way to open It so the chipset is the STR8132
Some Picture of the Board :
http://tinyurl.com/c4fjg8
On the Rj45 Connector GTX RL 043TC1 (maybe the Ethernet Chipset reference ?)
PCB Version AS260 V1.1
I found a way to list and acces to the data of the current firmware of my LB2 (via smb.conf in fact)
I list ls -R for the moment.
See the result Here : http://tinyurl.com/c4fjg8
file err.log
Ok i have get the telnet acces on the lb2 box. what next ?
uname -a
Linux NAS 2.6.16-star #812 Mon Nov 17 15:27:34 CST 2008 armv4l unknown
cat /proc/cpu-info
Processor : FA526id(wb) rev 1 (v4l)
BogoMIPS : 200.29
Features : swp half
CPU implementer : 0×66
CPU architecture: 4
CPU variant : 0×0
CPU part : 0×526
CPU revision : 1
Cache type : write-back
Cache clean : cp15 c7 ops
Cache lockdown : format B
Cache format : Harvard
I size : 8192
I assoc : 2
I line length : 16
I sets : 256
D size : 8192
D assoc : 2
D line length : 16
D sets : 256
Hardware : STAR STR8131
Revision : 0000
Serial : 0000000000000000
How get Root acces on Original Firmware :
- Format in XFS a drive With the Web interface
- On the web interface Create One user (create Also a Share) in my case “user”
- Unplug the Drive, and plug it to you computer (Running on linux).
Modify :
File SMB.conf, Add to the “sh_user” share section :
root preexec = echo pts/0 >> /etc/securetty;/usr/sbin/telnetd
- Replug the Drive, to your NAS.
- In your PC connect you to you nas with smbclient :
smbclient //IP_OF_NAS/sh_user -U user
Right now you have one telnet daemon with root acces on your nas.
telnet IP_OF_NAS
login: root
Hi! I have same problem as Sergey on my NSB3AS1T! Im attempt update star-20092008.bin on my device and i get “you uploading wrong file”! What is wrong??
Hi Yohanes!
Thanks huge for Debian! But I have one question…in some devices (for example Emprex NSD-100) installed 64Mb of RAM and more. I have NSB3AHT, and it have only 32Mb. I have changed the memory chip to 64Mb, but no result…Debian has shown only 32Mb…What`s wrong? May be bootloader…? Need help….
———–
Sorry for my bad english…
Hi,
The current patch doesn’t support memory size configuration. I am preparing the
patch for 2.6.29, but if you are impatient, you can use the 2.6.28
patch at:
http://tinyhack.com/agestar/patch-2.6.28-str9104-v3.bz2
http://tinyhack.com/agestar/config-2.6.28
Any solution for me you think yohanes ?
Hi c4software,
I am not really sure that my firmware will work on your hardware. If you can install a serial port to the box, then may be you can help me test the firmware, because there is a possibility of the device being bricked (but can be restored using serial port).
Hi yohanes; on my device no any Serial Port… to bad. You think i can add an Serial Port on the box ?
I have acctualy acces on the box like i said before but not with an serial acces.
With the telnet acces i can do anything ?
@c4software
On all of the device that i know of, you need to add your own serial port. Unfortunately, i haven’t found anyone doing it for agestar lb2, so you have to find out yourself where to solder the serial port.
Once you reflashed the firmware with Debian/other Linux, the telnet access will depend on the new firmware.
I acctually have an telnet acces on the original LB2 firmware, no way to use this acces to try something ?
Hi Yohanes,
That’s great news that you’ve fixed the networking.
Is it possible for you to make a firmware with armel support so that we can use debian 6.0?
Also would you mind putting a new firmware image with the working networking code for your debian installation (with XFS support compiled in too)? Cheers!
Thank you!
Hi c4sotware,
STR8132 has a build-in serial port. Look at IMGP1523.JPG from the images you post: counting the pins on the bottom of the main IC (STR8132) from left to right, pin 5 is RX, pin 6 is TX. You can find a similar device here: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.20383
Hi someguy,
ouch add an Serial Port directly on the main chip. I just have to connect the pin 5 and 6 to an serial port ?
you need a TTL to 232 adapter. You can get it from ebay or build one all by yourself.
Thanks i will looking in that way.
Wow nice, im able to playing with Debian with an chroot.
@c4software
If you don’t need to use the feature in kernel 2.6, then you can just use chroot for using Debian.
Hi yohanes, i’m playing with my box with Debian. A lot of things works fine, but after update debian i loose the acces to the debian all applications using network say network is down. maybe due of thhe chroot ? Really Strange. I think also i need more swap for debian. i will looking in that way.
hi yohanes, i tried uploading your firmware following your instruction. i was able to get to the part where the web uploader says firmware upload failed. i restarted the unit and i can see that it is connecting as a dhcp client to my router. my problem is i cannot seem to telnet or ssh to it. i can still use it as a usb drive though. is my unit bricked? it is an agestar NSB3AS1T.
thanks.
@ breynded
if it still request for DHCP then I think it is not bricked. I will guide you through email, and will write a new post for others that experience problems like you.
Hi, don’t know if you got it, but below we can find more documentation and the datasheet of STR81xx and the STR91xx:
http://www.cnusers.org/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=32&func=select&id=41
I’m still trying to find the str8100-lsdk, which the documentation above references.
Hi yohannes,
I have a not so unique problem with uploading star.bin to Agestar NSB3AS. The web uploader says it’s a wrong file. I really really want to throw away the built in torrent-like crap from this little thingy. Please help me! Is there a solution for my problem? May be your NCB3AST has a different firmware and star.bin is based on that? Than it might be possible to create a NSB3AS compatible bin..
Thank you
and I’m amazed of your great work!
@Snaker
thank you very much for your info
@Retrocelli
I am still working on a new firmware file
Dear yohanes,
Thanks for the answer, I’m waiting for the new firmware…
I just left my notes home, but as I remember, the NSB3AS’s controller is a STR8132.
Again, thanks a lot for your effort.
dear yohanes,
is there an easy way to make a new firmware for the str8132 (agestar nsb3as) that I can boot the debian from the hdd? just asking…
Hi yohannes,
Does the new firmware file solve the problem with reflashing through the web updater on NSB3AHT. When are you going to finish it?
c4software, yohanes,
Excuse me, whether but I and have not understood probably work debian in age star lb2?
Yohanes:
The site above also has the LSDK, toolchain, updated this week!!!
Hope it helps to easy our advance with this interesting platform.
Rgds,
@Retrocelli:
I have made some progress, and currently am able to make a firmware for str8132 that loads via tftp into RAM (Still gathering and validating information about the flash that my device uses…), and from that firmware I can chroot into the Debian available here. I’ll keep you informed.
@Yohanes:
Can you describe how to pass from the firmware initrd to Debian root in the boot process, so /sbin/initrd already run from Debian, instead of running chroot and initial script by hand? Send me an e-mail, if you prefer.
Thanks.
@Snaker
In my case i chroot device too, i have install debian on my usb hard drive (with the yohannes method) i gain root access on the firmware of my lb2, with my procedure describe here :
http://tinyhack.com/2008/09/20/update-debian-on-agestar-firmware/#comment-42587
and after mount the system on the usb drive, i chroot it. but i have a lot of probleme with network. If you have an solution… I’m really interesed by your solution too.
I’m using a serial console and a custom image made with the lsdk 6.8.2 ( http://www.cnusers.org/index.php?option=com_remository&Itemid=32&func=select&id=41 ).
I have to boot and break into uboot, and make a tftp of the bootpImage.8132 made with the toolchain above.
This way, the firmware loads in ram, and I get access to the linux in the device, following a chroot.
After that, I just run a couple of commands to bring network and ssh up (/etc/init.d/hostname start; /etc/init.d/networking restart; /etc/init.d/sshd start).
Drop me a message:
snaker0001 * yahoo.com.br
Nice, you have added by yourseld the serial port ? mine (the lb2) don’t have it.
Yes, I have added it. You can get the pins from the documentation to add on your device. On mine, the board already have the pin holes, so I just soldered and got it running. Please note that you have to use an RS232-TTL adapter too.
We have started a group to discuss str8132 customization:
http://groups.google.com/group/dealextreme-nas-?hl=en
Please feel free to join us!!!
Nice Thanks for the link
Nice Thanks for the link.
And i see the only way acctualy to get Debian working i have to add an serail port .
I have ordered a second unit to play with… Will start to test web firmware update next week. Rgds.
I’m intereseted to test it. but i see on your google board, u don’t have exactly the same device than me. but if the processor is the same i think its can be work
Snaker, O-o nsb31st too str8132 !
The device I have (WLX-652), has only 4MB flash. If we can get something working on it, I’m pretty sure that it will work on other str8132 based devices.
Hmmm pics of my str8132 based device is here :
http://c4software.another-team.com/lb2/
i’m sure all device with str8132 are very similar.
Dear Snaker,
Just read your comment. You made my day
Hi.
I bought AgeStar NSB3AST (STR8132 chip) recently and decided to put Debian on it.
First I tried to flash the star-20092008.bin through the web interface. This was unsuccessful because the firmware was V01R03, and I got an error message.
After that I got access to box via telnet, and tried to flash the star-20092008.bin via telnet:
“dd if = star-20092008.bin of = /dev/mtdblock1″
Thus, I make bricked my device
After that I made usb-com-uart converter and connected it to my brick.
By the way, here is pinout, determined experimentally:
Pin 1 –> TX NAS (data from NAS)
Pin 2 –> RX NAS (data to NAS)
Pin 6 –> GND
Serial settings: 38400 8n1
Here is HyperTerminal output:
———————-
U-Boot 1.1.4 (May 23 2008 – 15:31:39)
U-Boot code: 00000000 -> 0001AF60 BSS: -> 0001FED4
IRQ Stack: 00e6ff7c
FIQ Stack: 00e6ef7c
RAM Configuration:
Bank #0: 00000000 32 MB
Flash Manufacturer: ST
Flash: 8 MB
In: serial
Out: serial
Err: serial
PLL clock at 250MHz
CPU clock at 250MHz
AHB clock at 125MHz
APB clock at 62MHz
## Starting application at 0×01000000 …
data abort
pc : [] lr : []
sp : 00e6db84 ip : ffffffff fp : 01000070
r10: 00e6dcee r9 : 00e6ddee r8 : 00e6ffdc
r7 : 00e6ddee r6 : 00000002 r5 : 00e6dca4 r4 : 01000000
r3 : 78000000 r2 : 00000001 r1 : 10000031 r0 : 30000000
Flags: nZCv IRQs off FIQs off Mode SVC_32
Resetting CPU …
————————
and so on in a circle.
Then I tried to turn on the device with the reset button pressed, and tried to load “oldfirmware.bin”:
———————
U-Boot 1.1.4 (May 23 2008 – 15:31:39)
U-Boot code: 00000000 -> 0001AF60 BSS: -> 0001FED4
IRQ Stack: 00e6ff7c
FIQ Stack: 00e6ef7c
RAM Configuration:
Bank #0: 00000000 32 MB
Flash Manufacturer: ST
Flash: 8 MB
In: serial
Out: serial
Err: serial
PLL clock at 250MHz
CPU clock at 250MHz
AHB clock at 125MHz
APB clock at 62MHz
Star Equuleus # tftpboot 0×1020000 oldfirmware.bin
Check Link Status .Up
TFTP from server 192.168.10.3; our IP address is 192.168.10.2
Filename ‘oldfirmware.bin’.
Load address: 0×1020000
Loading: #################################################################
…
############################
done
Bytes transferred = 8126464 (7c0000 hex)
Star Equuleus # go 0×1020000
## Starting application at 0×01020000 …
———————-
Device hangs, terminal does not respond, network interface did not work.
After that I spent a lot of experiments with the bin-files, trying to revive the device.
What I have achieved is described below.
The original firmware V01R03 from AgeStar I cut from top to 256kbytes using WinHex and tried to load instead of “oldfirmware.bin”:
————————
U-Boot 1.1.4 (May 23 2008 – 15:31:39)
U-Boot code: 00000000 -> 0001AF60 BSS: -> 0001FED4
IRQ Stack: 00e6ff7c
FIQ Stack: 00e6ef7c
RAM Configuration:
Bank #0: 00000000 32 MB
Flash Manufacturer: ST
Flash: 8 MB
In: serial
Out: serial
Err: serial
PLL clock at 250MHz
CPU clock at 250MHz
AHB clock at 125MHz
APB clock at 62MHz
Star Equuleus # tftpboot 0×1020000 age1.bin
Check Link Status ..Up
TFTP from server 192.168.10.3; our IP address is 192.168.10.2
Filename ‘age1.bin’.
Load address: 0×1020000
Loading: #################################################################
…
############################
done
Bytes transferred = 8126464 (7c0000 hex)
Star Equuleus # go 0×1020000
## Starting application at 0×01020000 …
Uncompressing Linux…………………………………………………….
……………………………………………… done, booting the kernel.
———————–
Device hangs
Some progress appeared – Linux kernel tries to boot, then hangs. Internal red LED blinks, network interface is dead, terminal does not respond.
Do anyone have any ideas what to do next?
@Rostislav
For STR8132, please take a look at:
http://groups.google.com/group/dealextreme-nas-?hl=en
Yohanes, thanks.
But it’s too late
Seems that I fully bricked my box.
I have used bootpimage.8132, and loaded Debian successfully. After that I downloaded zImage-20092008 and entered command:
“dd if=zImage-20092008 of=/dev/mtdblock1″
Got an error, and system does not produce any output to serial console after reboot. System doesn’t boot even when reset button pressed during turning on.
I think I’ll go and buy another box, more expensive and faster.
@Rostilav
Can you still boot with bootpimage.8132 tftp procedure?
If you can, your device is not lost. Let me know your e-mail.
@Rostislav
Nevermind, now I had read again and realized that you have lost your serial console… Only a JTAG interface can recover your uboot partition, if it’s your problem.
@Snaker
rost-80 (at) yandex.ru
I would like to talk with you about the possibility of recovering of the box.
Another device that uses the STR8132 SOC is the Vox N1 (http://www.amazon.com/Network-Attached-Ethernet-External-DriveEnclosure/dp/B001L1I7C0). I’ve accessed the device via telnet using the tips provided on this site, and have made mtdblock dumps. Interestingly, mtdblock3 contains a squashfs root partition. I’m currently working on editing the scripts in /etc to have the device chroot to harddisk during boot time.
@daklan i’m really interesting you have try to chroot your device on mine i have a lot of problem with the network not you ?
@c4software: so far i haven’t had any problems. What I have done so far is to decompress the squashfs rootfs, copy the contents to the hard drive, and test this rootfs by running chroot. Networking works as it should, most probably because the network driver was compiled in the kernel (which resides in /dev/mtdblock1). There are no loadable modules in the rootfs of this device, as far as I can tell. I’ll be testing debian on this device as soon as I have the time to play with it again.
Hi. I recently bought a NSB3AS firmware producer is the same as for NSB3AS1T. I would like to know if I fit your instructions for flashing my NAS?
FAQ NSB3AS / NSB3AST on Russian. Debian, chroot, transmission
http://forum.ru-board.com/topic.cgi?forum=88&topic=5552
http://forum.ixbt.com/topic.cgi?id=11:40700#0
hi, i followed the instructions and was able to ssh to my box. but it seems it did not load debian since after logging in i get:
BusyBox v1.10.4 (2008-07-20 00:43:02 ICT) built-in shell (ash)
Enter ‘help’ for a list of built-in commands.
#
what did i do wrong?
thanks
hi,
i rechecked and reinstalled debian base package and was finally able to ssh into it. now my problem is i always get perl errors about my locale not being set properly. i can live with this though. my question now is, what bittorrent client to install. i will be trying to install transmission and access via webgui.
@breynded
for locale problem:
# dpkg-reconfigure locales
i am not using bittorrent anymore, you can try to look at what people are using with their NSLU2.
Hey there. I killed my Agestar NSB3AST with uploading mtdblock3.bin
Serial connection works, but device hangs on “booting the kernel”.
I was trying to tftp original firmware (without first 256k), everything the same. Then I downloaded star-20092008.bin, cut 128k, and still nothing happens (just “booting the kernel” and then hangs).
Any ideas?
@eXpressionist
NSB3AST uses STR8132
read this
http://groups.google.com/group/dealextreme-nas-/web/unbrick-agestar-nsb3ast
and read the groups in general
@yohanes
I read this, communicate with Rostislav. Trying everything except of LPT programmator – it’s so difficult for me to unsolder flash (btw, I don’t have a good solder).
@yohanes
It’s you who make a star-xxx.bin? I found bootpImage.8132, it works on my device (loads debian from usb flash). But when I enter cat /proc/mtd I see
dev: size erasesize name
mtd0: 003f0000 00010000 “ALL”
mtd1: 00040000 00010000 “ARMBOOT”
mtd2: 00100000 00010000 “Linux Kernel”
mtd3: 002a0000 00010000 “MTD Disk1″
mtd4: 00010000 00010000 “MTD Disk2″
But I need
dev: size erasesize name
mtd0: 00040000 00010000 “Bootloader”
mtd1: 007a0000 00010000 “HI,Kernel & Ramdisk”
mtd2: 00010000 00010000 “configure”
mtd3: 005c0000 00010000 “squashfs”
mtd4: 00800000 00010000 “STR8131 SPI”
Can you help me? I need just replace mtd3 in device with my original file, which I can put on the usb stick.
btw, if someone have an account on cnusers.org – please help me to download some sources for STR8132.
mailto expressioned gmail.com
@yohanes
Have you tried putting Snake OS on the ncb3ast? If so, how did you do it? It wont let you install via the web interface
Thanks
-=t=-
@ Turrican
SnakeOS directly incompatible with NCB3AST (STR9100). It even incompatible with NSB3AST (STR8132, just the same like in Dealextreme-nas).
For your device Debian – best choice. But you can find a way to compile programs for this chip and put them in through unsquashfs/squashfs, then dd in mtdblock3.bin. See links in Sallaxer’s comment.
thanks for the clarification, I’ll give Debian a shot
-=t=-
Some English translation of @Sallaxer FAQ NSB3AS / NSB3AST (how to flash custom firmware)
http://code.google.com/p/nsb3ast/wiki/howto