USRobotics USR5461
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| = Preparing to Flash = | = Preparing to Flash = | ||
| - | This document is written assuming your USR5461 router is running | + | This document is written assuming your USR5461 router is running OEM (USR) firmware, and your PC is running a Microsoft Windows XP or later. |
| - | + | It is expected that Linux users and those already running DD-WRT firmware on USR5461 can adapt these instructions to their situation. | |
| - | + | Please, read and understand all instructions in this section and whichever flashing method you will use before starting the entire procedure. | |
| - | + | 1. Create a new folder on your computer Desktop and name it '''usr5461'''. Download/save the desired DD-WRT firmware image file to '''Desktop\usr5461'''. | |
| - | + | In our example this is '''dd-wrt.v24_micro_generic.bin'''. | |
| - | + | ||
| - | + | 2. Connect your PC to a LAN port of the router with an Ethernet cable. | |
| + | |||
| + | DISCONNECT ALL OTHER ROUTER CLIENTS (WIRELESS AND/OR WIRED). | ||
| - | -IP Address: '''192.168.2. | + | Do not flash the router over a wireless connection! |
| + | |||
| + | 3. Make sure you know the current LAN IP address of the router; it may still be the USR firmware default IP address - 192.168.2.1 or may have been changed. | ||
| + | |||
| + | In our example we will use USR default IP address 192.168.2.1 . | ||
| + | |||
| + | 4. Your PC LAN interface/adapter will need a static IP address on the same LAN (192.168.2.x) to reliably transfer DD-WRT firmware image onto the router. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Windows XP: '''Start - Control Panel - Network Connections'''; double-click on '''Local Area Connection''' icon: | ||
| + | In '''Local Area Connection Properties''' window, double-click on '''Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)''', and set the following static IP address for your PC: | ||
| + | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
| + | IP Address: '''192.168.2.101''' | ||
| + | |||
| + | Subnet Mask: '''255.255.255.0''' | ||
| + | |||
| + | Default Gateway: '''192.168.2.1''' | ||
| + | |||
| + | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ||
| = Performing the Flash = | = Performing the Flash = | ||
Revision as of 23:18, 30 June 2010
Contents |
Installing DD-WRT on a US Robotics USR5461
Introduction
The major hardware features of this router are listed in this table. As of now, the Reset button on this router is not recognized by DD-WRT firmware. Therefore, in place of the so-called "30/30/30 reset" which requires a fully functioning Reset button, other steps will be taken.
DD-WRT versions
USR5461 has only 2MB of NVRAM which contains 128 KB compressed Boot Loader (CFE). The rest of it (1870 KB) contains OEM (US Robotics) firmware. Therefore, you have to choose either DD-WRT micro builds (file size about 1700 KB) or DD-WRT micro-plus builds (file size less than 1870 KB) for installation on USR5461.
See the Firmware Recommendations for the latest recommended builds:
http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=52043
Note: In the example bellow we will use the recommended Brain Slayer's 13525 build:
dd-wrt.v24_micro_generic.bin - 1,769,472 B - 12/28/2009
Download link:
Preparing to Flash
This document is written assuming your USR5461 router is running OEM (USR) firmware, and your PC is running a Microsoft Windows XP or later.
It is expected that Linux users and those already running DD-WRT firmware on USR5461 can adapt these instructions to their situation.
Please, read and understand all instructions in this section and whichever flashing method you will use before starting the entire procedure.
1. Create a new folder on your computer Desktop and name it usr5461. Download/save the desired DD-WRT firmware image file to Desktop\usr5461.
In our example this is dd-wrt.v24_micro_generic.bin.
2. Connect your PC to a LAN port of the router with an Ethernet cable.
DISCONNECT ALL OTHER ROUTER CLIENTS (WIRELESS AND/OR WIRED).
Do not flash the router over a wireless connection!
3. Make sure you know the current LAN IP address of the router; it may still be the USR firmware default IP address - 192.168.2.1 or may have been changed.
In our example we will use USR default IP address 192.168.2.1 .
4. Your PC LAN interface/adapter will need a static IP address on the same LAN (192.168.2.x) to reliably transfer DD-WRT firmware image onto the router.
Windows XP: Start - Control Panel - Network Connections; double-click on Local Area Connection icon: In Local Area Connection Properties window, double-click on Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), and set the following static IP address for your PC:
IP Address: 192.168.2.101
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.2.1
Performing the Flash
Use one of the firmware loading methods listed below.
Method 1: tftp
Windows tftp command-line tool has no provisions for user authentication. Therefore, you need direct access to the router in order to tftp-transfer on it the new firmware image.
1. Start your Internet browser. Enter the CURRENT LAN IP address of the router ('http://192.168.2.1' in our example) in browser's location/address line; you will be prompted to enter "User name" and "Password" in order to log in the router. After entering this information, the USR firmware's Web UI will open:
- Go to Security configuration page: in Router Login section CLEAR User name and Password settings. Click on Save button at the bottom of the page.
- Go to Device configuration page: in Reboot section click on Reboot button to restart/reboot the router in order for the changes to be implemented. Wait until router control lights stabilize. Close your Internet browser.
2. Restart your Internet browser. Check you can access the router at 'http://192.168.2.1' WITHOUT AUTHENTICATION ("User name" and "Password") – the USR firmware's Web UI should open. Close your Internet browser.
3. Open a "Command Prompt" window (Start - All Programs – Accessories – Command Prompt):
- Resize the window to cover the right half of your PC display;
- ENTER the following commands:
>cd desktop\usr5461
>dir
........
Bellow the "dir" command check the presence of the DD-WRT firmware image file (1,814,528 dd-wrt.v24-14583_NEWD_micro-plus.bin in our example).
4. Type in the following command but DO NOT PRESS ENTER key on your PC keyboard:
>tftp –i 192.168.2.1 put dd-wrt.v24-14583_newd_micro-plus.bin
5. Open a second "Command Prompt" window:
- Resize it to cover the left half of your PC display;
- Type in the following command and press ENTER key on your PC keyboard - you will see continuous error messages:
>ping –t –w 60 192.168.2.1
Destination host unreachable.
Destination host unreachable.
......
6. Plug the power supply connector back into the router:
- Click on the right "Command Prompt" window to make it active;
- Now, observe the left "Command Prompt" window – as soon as you see the first successful ping replay from the router, press ENTER key on your PC keyboard to start the tftp-transfer of DD-WRT firmware image to the router:
>ping –t –w 60 192.168.2.1
Destination host unreachable.
......
Destination host unreachable.
Replay from 192.168.2.1: bites=32 time=3ms TTL=100
......
- Now, observe the right "Command Prompt" window - after a wile you should see tftp-message for successful file transfer:
>tftp –i 192.168.2.1 put dd-wrt.v24-14583_newd_micro-plus.bin
Transfer successful: 1814528 bytes in 8 seconds, 232451 bytes/s
Note: The timing in this step is crucial for its success. If you see instead "Request timed out" tftp-message, repeat Step 4, 5 and 6.
7. DD-WRT firmware installation starts automatically - WAIT 5 MINUTES for the installation to complete!
8. CYCLE THE POWER to the router (unplug the power supply connector from the router, wait 30 seconds and then plug it back). The router will restart/reboot with the new DD_WRT firmware. WAIT until router's control lights stabilize.
9. Proceed to "After the Flash" below.
Note: You can also flash back an original USR firmware for USR5461 router as described in this method. Just use the appropriate resources:
1. Download the LATEST FINAL USR firmware build for USR5461 router from US Robotics Web page [1] .
Currently this is: "USR5461-v.3.93.35.0.8.usr - 1.8 MB - 10-25-06". Save the file to Desktop\USR5461. RENAME it to USR5461-v3_93_35_08.usr (the original file has too many dots in its name - Windows tftp command-line utility cannot open it).
2. Use the current LAN IP address of the router and the renamed USR firmware image file in the steps above.
Method 2: the factory firmware's web User Interface
It is possible to install DD-WRT firmware onto an original USR5461 router, as an upgrade, by using the Upgrade option in USR firmware's Web GUI. The trick is to make DD-WRT firmware image file look like an USR firmware image file, such that the original USR firmware on USR5461 would accept it when asked to perform an upgrade with this file. This can be realized by:
- Creating a new (custom) "USR" firmware image file by adding a special, 28-byte header "USR0…" to DD-WRT firmware image file;
- Giving the new file ".usr" name extension.
1. Download the header file usr5461_hdr.bin from http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/download.php?id=6958 ; save it at Desktop\usr5461 on your PC.
2. Open a Command Prompt window (Start – All Programs – Accessories – Command Prompt) and ENTER the following commands:
>cd desktop\usr5461
>dir
......
>copy /b usr5461_hdr.bin + dd-wrt.v24-14583_newd_micro-plus.bin
usr-14583_newd_micro-plus.usr
......
>dir
......
The "copy" command performs a binary ("/b") copy of the USR header and ("+") the DD-WRT firmware image file to make a single custom "USR" firmware image file.
Bellow the last "dir" command, double-check that the new file is exactly 28 bytes longer than the original DD-WRT firmware image file. In our example, it refers to:
1,814,556 usr-14583_newd_micro-plus.usr
1,814,528 dd-wrt.v24-14583_NEWD_micro-plus.bin
3. Start your Internet browser. Enter the CURRENT LAN IP address of the router ("http://192.168.2.1" in our example) in browser's location/address line. You will be prompted to enter "User name" and "Password" in order to log in the router. After entering this information, the USR firmware's Web UI will open:
- In Upgrade Router configuration section click on Browse button; find and select the new file created in Step 2 (usr-14583_newd_micro-plus.usr in our example);
- Click on "Upgrade" button and WAIT FOR THE UPGRADE TO COMPLETE - an "Upgrade Router" window will open with the message: "The router has been upgraded". Close your Internet browser.
4. CYCLE THE POWER to the router (unplug the power supply connector from the router, wait 30 seconds and then plug it back). The router will reboot with the new DD_WRT firmware. WAIT until router's control lights stabilize.
5. Proceed to "After the Flash" bellow.
After the Flash
1. Start your Internet browser. Enter the CURRENT LAN IP address of the router ('http://192.168.2.1' in our example) in browser's location/address line. You will be prompted to enter "User name" and "Password" in order to log in the router. Leave "User name" field blank and type admin in "Password" field. After entering this information, the new DD-WRT Web UI should open.
2. Input and SAVE all necessary settings (general and advanced) – click on "Save" button at the bottom of each configuration page you have changed. You DO NOT CLICK on "Apply Settings" button (next to "Save" button)!
3. Apply/implement the total of the settings to the router - click on "Administration" tab, and then on "Commands" tab: - Type the following commands in the text field:
nvram commit
reboot
- Click on "Run Commands" button to submit the commands.
- The router will restart/reboot with the new DD-WRT firmware. WAIT until router's control lights stabilize. Log in again to the router (Step 1) and check its settings.
4. Enjoy!
For More Information
The steps above were gathered from various threads in the dd-wrt forums. These threads in particular contain much helpful information:
[USR 5461]
Thank you to all who contributed. (SiliconWarrior, modervador, many others whose forum posts must not escape recognition.)