Linksys WRT54G2 v1.0

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Revision as of 17:35, 11 February 2009

Process developed by Eko
Wiki created by Doramius

Linksys WRT54G2 Flash Instructions

A big thanks to Eko for making this available.

1 Things to know about WRT54G2
2 Software Tools Required
3 Flash Process
4 Notes
5 Troubleshooting
6 Credits
7 Links

Things to know about WRT54G2

Unlike classic WRT54 versions, It is not possible to upgrade directly via stock Linksys web interface. WRT54G2 runs vxworks-based firmware and requires a special procedure outlined below. (Once dd-wrt is installed, other dd-wrt versions can be flashed from the web interface, as usual).

Supported firmware versions: It is possible to flash either Micro or Micro-plus or micro-plus_ssh versions. For description of Micro features, see this feature matrix.

Software Tools Required

Linksys tftp.exe. You must use Linksys tftp because normal tftp cannot authenticate with a password
Download the dd-wrt firmware itself from this download folder.
- Use micro or micro-plus or micro-plus_ssh version. NB: Mini is not the same as micro. Mini versions are not compatible and may brick the router.
- Which build to use ? The original instructions used 10709 dd-wrt.v24-10709_NEWD_micro.bin, but some people reported that 11536 dd-wrt.v24-11536_NEWD_micro-plus_ssh.bin worked for them when other versions did not work.
- Version must be marked as NEWD, not VINT (some images do not have the NEWD/VINT distinction-- these are NEWD).
Download vxworksprep VxWorksPrep-G2V1 and vxworkskiller VxWorksKiller-G2V1

Flash Process

install Linksys tftp.exe, set your PC to static IP, 192.168.1.10.
Reset the router to defaults on the Linksys Admin page, and let it reboot or manually reboot it after it is finished.
Set your computer to a static IP address of 192.168.1.10 and 255.255.255.0 for a mask and plug Ethernet cable into LAN port of the G2v1 unit. You can connect to any port labeled 1-4, just not the Internet port.
Close all browser windows. Start the Linksys's tftp.exe utility, set IP to 192.168.1.1 and browse to the VxWorksPrep-G2V1.bin file; enter password = admin, and click Upgrade. Wait 60 seconds for it to reboot on its own. If it does not, then power cycle the router manually. Important: even if your tftp is not working properly, do not resort to upload via web interface. Yes, you can upload vxworksprep via Linksys web interface, but you will stuck on the next step (vxworkskiller) which only works with tftp. See TFTP troubleshooting below.
DO NOT open any browser windows. Again, start Linksys's tftp.exe utility and browse to the VxWorksKiller-G2V1.bin file; enter password = admin, and click Upgrade. Wait 2 min for it to reboot on its own. If it does not, then power cycle the router manually. Note: normal tftp doesn't work, this step requires a tftp utility supporting password authentication.
Tftp the DD-WRT firmware to the router, using "dd-wrt.v24-10709_NEWD_micro.bin or dd-wrt.v24-10709_NEWD_micro-plus.bin" (or latest version) from the folder where you got these instructions; after successful tftp, wait 3 min for the router to finish writing new nvram defaults, etc... It should reboot on it's own at least two times, so give it the 3 min and then open a browser and type 192.168.1.1 in the address field. If it does not reboot on its own, wait another 1 min, and then power cycle it.
When it finishes booting....do a hard reset (30/30/30) on the unit....let it boot again, and configure.
Do not forget to set your computer back to automatically obtaining DHCP and DNS.

Notes

It may be necessary to completely close and reopen the browser, it sometimes will return

to a management screen, if you only refresh the browser after upgrading. Just close the browser and try again.

WARNING: It is currently not possible to restore Linksys firmware after DD-WRT has been flashed. The only possibility is a full JTAG backup.

Troubleshooting

Forum

See this forum thread for more information about dd-wrt on WRT54G2, discussion of problems etc.

TFTP troubleshooting

Linux users can use this tool: http://www.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/downloads/others/tornado/Linux_Linksys_Tftp/linksys-tftp.tar.bz2
Linksys tftp.exe and tftp2.exe seem to have a problem working through Vista. Several users have complained of connection problems using Vista. However, tftp.exe and tftp2.exe seem to work well in XP. Try using another tftp program that allows a password or set the password to blank and use the Vista command line tftp program.
Empty password workaround to use standard tftp: If you cannot use Linksys tftp and must use standard tftp that does not take password, there is a workaround from Eko: Login to the linksys and set the password to be empty (no characters at all). Save and exit the router. Then you can uses command line tftp without password.

Firmware uploaded but something doesn't work

In particular, if you get cgi errors after installation of dd-wrt, try a 30/30/30 hard reset. Try instructions from the "peacock thread".

Unbricking WRT54G2

If your router is bricked, follow instruction by Shawn360:

You need to make a jtag cable or buy one from eBay jtag cable Linksys. You have to install a simple pin header like this. Soldering is not hard, but if you don't want to solder you can use something like Wire Glue from http://www.wireglue.us/, the cheapest of these type of glues. Just put it on let it dry no soldering.
Then use Tjtagv2 program to unbrick your router. EJTAG De-Brick tool: http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=22655
Use Tjtagv2 to upload WRT54G2 "wholeflash" image from here

Reportin a bug in dd-wrt

If you found some bug in dd-wrt:

Check it is not already reported here
Report the bug here

Credits

Tornado and redhawk0 for their help.
Thx to Ick & gfunk911 for donating routers.

Links

Forum Reference: http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=40142&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Retrieved from "http://forum.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Linksys_WRT54G2_v1.0"

Category: Linksys

 # install Linksys tftp.exe, set your PC to static IP, 192.168.1.10.
 # Reset the router to defaults on the Linksys Admin page, and let it reboot or manually reboot it after it is finished.
-# Set your computer to a static IP address of 192.168.1.10 and 255.255.255.0 for a mask and plug Ethernet cable into LAN port of the G2v1 unit (any port labeled 1-4, ''not'' the Internet port).
+# Set your computer to a static IP address of 192.168.1.10 and 255.255.255.0 for a mask and plug Ethernet cable into LAN port of the G2v1 unit. You can connect to any port labeled 1-4, just ''not'' the Internet port.
 # Close all browser windows. Start the Linksys's tftp.exe utility, set IP to 192.168.1.1 and browse to the '''VxWorksPrep-G2V1.bin''' file; enter password = admin, and click Upgrade. Wait 60 seconds for it to reboot on its own. If it does not, then power cycle the router manually. ''Important: even if your tftp is not working properly, do not resort to upload via web interface. Yes, you can upload vxworksprep via Linksys web interface, but you will stuck on the next step (vxworkskiller) which only works with tftp''. See TFTP troubleshooting below.
 # DO NOT open any browser windows. Again, start Linksys's tftp.exe utility and browse to the '''VxWorksKiller-G2V1.bin''' file; enter password = admin, and click Upgrade. Wait 2 min for it to reboot on its own. If it does not, then power cycle the router manually. Note: normal tftp doesn't work, this step requires a tftp utility supporting password authentication.