Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2021 3:45 Post subject: DD-WRT on D-Link DIR-615 hw E3 E4 - 2021 tips
* i will update these tips as i go along of my experience *
i did some basic reading, but i am also new to this. while the info is available, i found the biggest issues is tracking it down in one place. so below i have compiled some of the issues and tips.
this update did not go smoothly. the first attempt to use flash via dlink webgui.
44715 dir615e4-factory-to-ddwrt-firmware.bin bricked access and i had to use the "emergency dlink firmware update"
1. Plug the Ethernet cable that connects your computer, that was plugged into one of the LAN ports,
2. Setup your PC with static IP - ex: 192.168.0.2 (different from 192.168.0.1)
3. Make sure the PC has the new firmware
4. Unplug the power
5. Hold the reset button for 3~5 seconds and re plug the power WITHOUT RELEASING THE RESET BUTTON.
6.Open a web browser to 192.168.0.1 and then you should see EMERGENCY FLASHING page then click browse/upload locate the file and click UPLOAD FIRMWARE NOW
i used Firefox 13 Portable Edition and it worked.
the next problem was finding the right STOCK dlink firmware to get the router running again. i got lots of wrong HW ver. for some reason a RU version (from Russian dlink site worked) E4 5.10RU (you will have to work this out for your router version)
success, after i was able to boot back in stock DLINK gui.
next problem... and a problem i feel is unclear on the DDWRT website for a new user is which firmware to use?????
after researching, i also discovered there are issues with older routers having newer DDWRT firmware flashed first time not working (as per my first issue)
so you will need to start off with a older version stock firmware to DDWRT.bin
once that works you can try flash newer "WebUpgrade" firmware from DDWRT gui.
i dont know how to figure out which is the best or correct version firmware.
hope this helps, i will update this with if any new info comes up.
once you have the version of ddwrt running using command line flashing for newer versions is most stable
Method 3: Flashing with Command Line
https://wiki.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Installation
(just enable the telnet in admin settings)
on the the dir615 e4 i am able to run r47381 -09 08 21
Joined: 16 Nov 2015 Posts: 6436 Location: UK, London, just across the river..
Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2021 9:00 Post subject: Re: ddwrt on dlink dir-615 hw E3 E4 - 2021 tips firmware
tgvrfcedx wrote:
* i will update these tips as i go along of my experience *
i did some basic reading, but i am also new to this. while the info is available, i found the biggest issues is tracking it down in one place. so below i have compiled some of the issues and tips.
this update did not go smoothly. the first attempt to use flash via dlink webgui.
44715 dir615e4-factory-to-ddwrt-firmware.bin bricked access and i had to use the "emergency dlink firmware update"
1. Plug the Ethernet cable that connects your computer, that was plugged into one of the LAN ports,
2. Setup your PC with static IP - ex: 192.168.0.2 (different from 192.168.0.1)
3. Make sure the PC has the new firmware
4. Unplug the power
5. Hold the reset button for 3~5 seconds and re plug the power WITHOUT RELEASING THE RESET BUTTON.
6.Open a web browser to 192.168.0.1 and then you should see EMERGENCY FLASHING page then click browse/upload locate the file and click UPLOAD FIRMWARE NOW
i used Firefox 13 Portable Edition and it worked.
the next problem was finding the right STOCK dlink firmware to get the router running again. i got lots of wrong HW ver. for some reason a RU version (from Russian dlink site worked) E4 5.10RU (you will have to work this out for your router version)
success, after i was able to boot back in stock DLINK gui.
next problem... and a problem i feel is unclear on the DDWRT website for a new user is which firmware to use?????
after researching, i also discovered there are issues with older routers having newer DDWRT firmware flashed first time not working (as per my first issue)
so you will need to start off with a older version stock firmware to DDWRT.bin
once that works you can try flash newer "WebUpgrade" firmware from DDWRT gui.
i dont know how to figure out which is the best or correct version firmware.
hope this helps, i will update this with if any new info comes up.
yep DIR-615 is very old router...in fact very few reports around..if anybody uses those at all...those are 4MB flash size routers very week performance and only for basic needs... almost obsolete, nowadays...
there is a lots to read and spend time on research before try, always pays back...
so once you read those carefully... try updating via CLI for first flash try an older build...than move to the more resent if they are flashable...as they may excite the 4MB size limit.. _________________ Atheros
TP-Link WR740Nv1 ---DD-WRT 55630 WAP
TP-Link WR1043NDv2 -DD-WRT 55723 Gateway/DoT,Forced DNS,Ad-Block,Firewall,x4VLAN,VPN
TP-Link WR1043NDv2 -Gargoyle OS 1.15.x AP,DNS,QoS,Quotas
Qualcomm-Atheros
Netgear XR500 --DD-WRT 55779 Gateway/DoH,Forced DNS,AP Isolation,4VLAN,Ad-Block,Firewall,Vanilla
Netgear R7800 --DD-WRT 55819 Gateway/DoT,AD-Block,Forced DNS,AP&Net Isolation,x3VLAN,Firewall,Vanilla
Netgear R9000 --DD-WRT 55779 Gateway/DoT,AD-Block,AP Isolation,Firewall,Forced DNS,x2VLAN,Vanilla
Broadcom
Netgear R7000 --DD-WRT 55460 Gateway/SmartDNS/DoH,AD-Block,Firewall,Forced DNS,x3VLAN,VPN
NOT USING 5Ghz ANYWHERE
------------------------------------------------------
Stubby DNS over TLS I DNSCrypt v2 by mac913
but which link explain which firmware to use? i have already seen most of those link. my point was the info was not all in one place. so i made this post with a summary
Because the rest of the factory-to-ddwrt.bin files are too large and will brick your router. These devices are only 4MB flash; you cannot flash a ~7MB file to a 4MB flash chip.
tgvrfcedx wrote:
but which link explain which firmware to use? i have already seen most of those link. my point was the info was not all in one place. so i made this post with a summary
Welcome to the nuances of DD-WRT. Users have tried to put all the information in one place in the Wiki, but this is a tedious and cumbersome task. Thank you for your efforts; perhaps this thread may be linked in the wiki for future reference The general rule of thumb is to not use the router database; instead, look in the forum and read the build release threads. No one in the community can force anyone to report successful flashes; we must rely on users doing their due diligence in supporting the rest of the community.
Wow you have brought up my memories of the 615E3 I had. I loved it and it was such a work horse for me years ago, but it just could not handle and was being demoted to other uses... the last version I think I upgraded to was in 2019, and I think I first flashed it back in 2011.
I still have my old notes on it that I could pull out if you have some specific questions...
On this computer I have a few notes that could be useful
Code:
gpio
0 Blue WPS light
1 Pwr Light Amber
6 Pwr Light Green
7 Globe Amber
13 green 1
14 green 2
15 green 3
16 green 4
17 Globe Green
33 green wireless
Code:
1. Download the firmware. There will be two files, "dir615[revision]-factory-to-ddwrt-firmware.bin" and
"dir615[revision]-firmware.bin". You only need the dir615[revision]-factory-to-ddwrt-firmware.bin file.
2. Find out your magic hardware code. It is probably AP99-AR7240-RT-091105-01, but if you want to
double-check, go to http://wrpd.dlink.com.tw/router/firmware/query.asp?model=DIR-615_Ex_Default
and download the firmware there. Look at the very end, and you'll see the code.
3. Edit the very end of the dd-wrt firmware file to match that code. You might need a "hex editor" to edit
this file; Use vim or shed
4. Connect to the DIR-615 using an Ethernet cable.
5. Open http://192.168.0.1/
-- The D-link's default login details are user "admin", password is blank.
6. Tools -> Firmware
7. Click "browse" button -> select the "dir615[edition]-factory-to-ddwrt-firmware.bin" file -> click
"Upload" button.
8. Wait 2 or 3 minutes for the DIR-615 to flash and do the update. You will see a status page that
shows you the progress as it happens. After the flash & update is done, the router will reboot to
dd-wrt, and the IP address will have changed to 192.168.1.1. There is no need to reset.
Because the rest of the factory-to-ddwrt.bin files are too large and will brick your router. These devices are only 4MB flash; you cannot flash a ~7MB file to a 4MB flash chip.
makes sense, so how can one know that the changes on each beta\firmware ver. is there a page i missed?
my first try was a D-Link DIR-615-C1, went much more hassle free. Firmware: DD-WRT v3.0-r44715 std (11/03/20) no issues, working well hesitant to update further incase issues. no issues i know of atm.
d33b0_n4p41m wrote:
tgvrfcedx wrote:
but which link explain which firmware to use? i have already seen most of those link. my point was the info was not all in one place. so i made this post with a summary
Welcome to the nuances of DD-WRT. Users have tried to put all the information in one place in the Wiki, but this is a tedious and cumbersome task. Thank you for your efforts; perhaps this thread may be linked in the wiki for future reference The general rule of thumb is to not use the router database; instead, look in the forum and read the build release threads. No one in the community can force anyone to report successful flashes; we must rely on users doing their due diligence in supporting the rest of the community.
even tho these routers are old, they are cheap and work very well when you want to use external antennas, and bridge over long distance. so i hope this info can make life easy for the next guy.
i did find the a E4 version there is an issue with the wifi led not working.
thanks, i was able to do the flash direct from the dlink gui with no file mods. only issue is the wifi light does not flash when active.
may i ask what made the unit redundant for you? what limited its use?
Wildlion wrote:
Wow you have brought up my memories of the 615E3 I had. I loved it and it was such a work horse for me years ago, but it just could not handle and was being demoted to other uses... the last version I think I upgraded to was in 2019, and I think I first flashed it back in 2011.
I still have my old notes on it that I could pull out if you have some specific questions...
On this computer I have a few notes that could be useful
Code:
gpio
0 Blue WPS light
1 Pwr Light Amber
6 Pwr Light Green
7 Globe Amber
13 green 1
14 green 2
15 green 3
16 green 4
17 Globe Green
33 green wireless
Code:
1. Download the firmware. There will be two files, "dir615[revision]-factory-to-ddwrt-firmware.bin" and
"dir615[revision]-firmware.bin". You only need the dir615[revision]-factory-to-ddwrt-firmware.bin file.
2. Find out your magic hardware code. It is probably AP99-AR7240-RT-091105-01, but if you want to
double-check, go to http://wrpd.dlink.com.tw/router/firmware/query.asp?model=DIR-615_Ex_Default
and download the firmware there. Look at the very end, and you'll see the code.
3. Edit the very end of the dd-wrt firmware file to match that code. You might need a "hex editor" to edit
this file; Use vim or shed
4. Connect to the DIR-615 using an Ethernet cable.
5. Open http://192.168.0.1/
-- The D-link's default login details are user "admin", password is blank.
6. Tools -> Firmware
7. Click "browse" button -> select the "dir615[edition]-factory-to-ddwrt-firmware.bin" file -> click
"Upload" button.
8. Wait 2 or 3 minutes for the DIR-615 to flash and do the update. You will see a status page that
shows you the progress as it happens. After the flash & update is done, the router will reboot to
dd-wrt, and the IP address will have changed to 192.168.1.1. There is no need to reset.
I see this is going to be a quote-fest. Let me save you the trouble. Everything so far, is already known. This is just a redundant thread. Changes in firmware can be found in one of two places; here in the forum in the build release threads, or on the bugtracker link.
tgvrfcedx wrote:
makes sense, so how can one know that the changes on each beta\firmware ver. is there a page i missed?
<snip>
even tho these routers are old, they are cheap and work very well when you want to use external antennas, and bridge over long distance. so i hope this info can make life easy for the next guy.
i did find the a E4 version there is an issue with the wifi led not working.
yes, the information is around. but not all in one place for issues faced.
Changes in firmware can be found in one of two places; here in the forum in the build release threads, or on the bugtracker link.
which is the build release threads?
and bugtracker link.
i think these should be more easy to find. thanks
d33b0_n4p41m wrote:
I see this is going to be a quote-fest. Let me save you the trouble. Everything so far, is already known. This is just a redundant thread. Changes in firmware can be found in one of two places; here in the forum in the build release threads, or on the bugtracker link.
tgvrfcedx wrote:
makes sense, so how can one know that the changes on each beta\firmware ver. is there a page i missed?
<snip>
even tho these routers are old, they are cheap and work very well when you want to use external antennas, and bridge over long distance. so i hope this info can make life easy for the next guy.
i did find the a E4 version there is an issue with the wifi led not working.
Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 14217 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Sun Sep 12, 2021 5:48 Post subject:
I'm sorry that we can't merge all the threads on specific devices into one thread in this forum because it's phpBB v2.x.x and does not have that functionality (Do you REALLY want to spend hours reading through 200 pages?). I'm sorry that the "Bugtracker" link in the header of every page on this forum doesn't reach out to you and smacks you in the forehead (Look up and to your left!) I'm sorry that there are more threads in the forum than just the "New Build" threads (Gave you key words to look for!). I am sorry that the forum search function is a little cumbersome and not user-friendly. You are going to have to adapt and learn how to use this forum just like everyone else has. For now, you will have this "one spot"... _________________ "Life is but a fleeting moment, a vapor that vanishes quickly; All is vanity"
Contribute To DD-WRT Pogo - A minimal level of ability is expected and needed... DD-WRT Releases 2023 (PolitePol)
DD-WRT Releases 2023 (RSS Everything)
----------------------
Linux User #377467 counter.li.org / linuxcounter.net
rather than be passive aggressive in your response you could take a new users experience on board rather than attack them. the fact i had to goto 50 forums posts to answer a few question. that COMMON answers or links should be in the wiki page making a better and easier community experience for everyone not just experts.
responses like yours are why communities like this stagnate and new users shy away because EXPECTED conformity.
The general rule of thumb is to not use the router database; instead, look in the forum and read the build release threads. No one in the community can force anyone to report successful flashes; we must rely on users doing their due diligence in supporting the rest of the community.