• skip to content

OpenWrt Wiki

User Tools

  • Register
  • Log In

Site Tools

  • Recent Changes
  • Media Manager
  • Sitemap
You are here: OpenWrt Wiki » Table of Hardware » TP-Link » TP-Link TL-WR542g

toh:tp-link:tl-wr542g
This wiki is read only and for archival purposes only. >>>>>>>>>> Please use the new OpenWrt wiki at https://openwrt.org/ <<<<<<<<<<

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Both sides previous revision Previous revision
Next revision
Previous revision
toh:tp-link:tl-wr542g [2012/11/17 12:18]
jow remove paid links
toh:tp-link:tl-wr542g [2016/08/14 21:27] (current)
xssa [Installation of VxKiller-Image]
Line 1: Line 1:
 +====== TP-Link TL-WR542g ======
  
 +This is a quite cheap 802.11g soho router. Due the small amount of flash and RAM it cannot be offically supported by OpenWrt.There is no way to flash PRODUCTION OpenWrt firmware through TP-Link'​s WEB directly, because of the limitation that it can accept only images less then 1179648 bytes long(hardcoded in firmware) so to get over this problem a vxkiller image (Backfire10.3 stripped heavily with MicroRedboot bootloader adapted for 2mb flash and 16mb ram) was developed by member xssa from forum
 +
 +any questions releated to debuging please refer to the forum
 +
 +https://​forum.openwrt.org/​viewtopic.php?​id=17252&​p
 +
 +
 +
 +===== Supported Versions =====
 +^ Version/​Model ^ Launch Date ^ S/N ^ OpenWrt Version Supported ^ Model Specific Notes ^
 +| v?   ​| ​ 20??​-?? ​ | - |  **not by any official firmware image** ​ | similar to [[toh/​tp-link/​wr340gd]] |
 +
 +
 +===== Hardware Highlights =====
 +^ CPU ^ Ram ^ Flash ^ USB ^ Serial ^ JTag ^
 +| Atheros AR2317 ​ |  16MiB  |  2MiB  |  No  |  Yes  |  No  |
 +
 +
 +
 +
 +
 +===== Installation =====
 +TP-Link'​s web interface has a hardcoded limitation that it only accepts images less then 1.179.648 Bytes long. So you cannot even use the entire space available for a OpenWrt build. But you can surpass this problem by flashing a special OpenWrt firmware image called "​VxKiller"​ developed by xssa first, and only then the actual firmware.
 +
 +
 +==== Installation of VxKiller-Image ====
 +"​VxKiller"​ is a heavily stripped OpenWrt Backfire 10.03 with MicroRedboot bootloader adapted for 2MiB flash and 16MiB RAM. There is
 +  * no working DHCP server
 +  * no wireless driver
 +  * no WebUI
 +  * no SSH daemon
 +  * no writable RootFS
 +on this image. Its only purpose is to fit into the specs that the TP-Link'​s web interfaces accepts.
 +
 +**''​Note:''​** This VxKiller was originally developed for the TP-LINK WR340G router which is the same hardware as the WR542G excluding the 16MB ram found in the wr542g
 +
 +  - download special OpenWrt Image "​VxKiller"​ by XSSA: http://​www.4shared.com/​folder/​cUkhCEJf/​vxkiller.html
 +  - upgrade your TL-WR542G with the "​wr340v5_linux.bin"​ (vxkiller) through TP-Link'​s web interface. After second reboot you can telnet 192.168.1.1 to VxKiller firmware
 +
 +
 +==== Installation of full OpenWrt build ====
 +|  **PREBUILT KERNEL AND ROOTFS MADE BY XSSA** ​ |
 +|  username:​root,​password:​ar2317 ​ |
 +
 +  - download Kernel (custom load address for kernel is 80033800) http://​www.4shared.com/​file/​QNM7HCW8/​openwrt-atheros-vmlinux.html
 +  - download RootFS (IP Address is 192.168.1.55 ​ logon with root/​ar2317) http://​www.4shared.com/​file/​RbLcfmY1/​rootsq.html
 +  - connect to the bootloader ([[doc:​techref:​bootloader:​RedBoot]]) and do <​code>​
 +fis init      ( Erases Flash rom )
 +ip_addr -h  ( ip of TFTP server )
 +load -r -v -b %{FREEMEMLO} openwrt-atheros-vmlinux.lzma ​      ( loads kernel to ram )
 +fis create -r 0x80033800 -e 0x80033800 vmlinux.bin.l7 ​       ( Write'​s kernel to flash custom load address for kernel is 80033800 current kernel is 2.6 )
 +fis free       ( calculate in hexadecimal base 16 next erase block by using bc bc in linux )  ​
 +load -r -v -b %{FREEMEMLO} openwrt-atheros-root.squashfs ​    ( loads kernel to ram )
 +fis create -l 0x130000 rootfs ​        ( Write'​s to flash Default erase block addrees for xssa image )
 +reset  ( Restart'​s router )
 +</​code>​
 +  - optionally do:<​code>​
 +fis load -l vmlinux.bin.l7 ​    ( for loading kernel from flash to ram  )
 +exec      ( for executing kernel from ram ) 
 +</​code>​
 +
 +
 +===== WPA SUPPLICANT =====
 +-> cf. [[doc:​howto:​wireless.overview]] and [[doc:​howto:​wireless.utilities]]
 +
 +  * **Only Routed Client Mode works with the rootfs and kernel given here as dhcp server(dnsmasq) and firewall is not included in this build to save space**
 +  * **Remember:​Client Bridge is not supported by atheros chipset by default due to the driver'​s limitation** ​
 +
 +Okay the rootfs and kernel you flashed to your router does not have opkg package system nor does it have wpa-supplicant preinstalled but there is another way to put wpa supplicant in the current build in the form of a binary
 +
 +**Instructions are**
 +
 +Download the wpa supplicant binary from this link 
 +http://​www.4shared.com/​file/​yBT313LX/​wpa_supplicant.html
 +
 +after this put this binary on any available
 +ftp/http server, then download it to the /tmp directory onto your
 +openwrt, add executable rights to it, and move it to the /usr/sbin
 +(in windows use radienftp it is quite easy to setup)
 +
 +**Instruction : ** (in openwrt busybox issue following commands)
 +
 +#cd /tmp
 +
 +#wget ftp://​user:​pass@server_ip/​wpa_supplicant
 +
 +#chmod +x wpa_supplicant (make it executable)
 +
 +#mv wpa_supplicant /usr/sbin
 +
 +after this just configure cd /​etc/​config/​wireless with the ssid of the router u wan to connect followed by the password
 +
 +the corrrect syntax for wpa-psk ​
 +config '​wifi-iface'​
 +        option '​device'​ '​wifi0'​
 +        option '​network'​ '​wan'​
 +        option '​mode'​ '​sta'​
 +        option '​key'​ '​*********'​
 +        option '​txpower'​ '​19'​
 +        option '​ssid'​ '​**********'​
 +        option '​encryption'​ ''​ (encryption you chosse psk,psk1)
 +
 +
 +**THIS METHOD WAS GIVEN BY XSSA THIS IS HIS BINARY** ​
 +
 +
 +
 +
 +
 +
 +
 +
 +
 +
 +
 +
 +
 +
 +
 +
 +
 +
 +===== Hardware =====
 +==== Info ====
 +| **Architecture:​** MIPS 4KEc V6.4 | 
 +| **Vendor:** Atheros | 
 +| **Bootloader:​** TPLINK proprietary after vxkiller (MICRO REDBOOT) | 
 +| **System-On-Chip** Atheros AR2317 ​ | 
 +| **CPU/​Speed** 200 Mhz | 
 +| **Flash-Chip** Cfeon f16-100HIP SPI | 
 +| **Flash size** 2 MiB | 
 +| **RAM-chip** ​ EtronTech EM639165TS-6G |
 +| **RAM:** 16 MiB | 
 +| **Wireless:​** Atheros AR2317 802.11b/g (integrated) ​ | 
 +| **Ethernet:​** Marvell 88E6060 switch |
 +| **USB:** no | 
 +| **Serial** [[#​Serial|Yes]] | 
 +| **JTAG:** No |
 +
 +==== Photos ====
 +Model Number
 +
 +//Front://
 +
 +**Photo of front of the casing**
 +
 +//Back://
 +
 +**Photo of back of the casing**
 +
 +==== Opening the case ====
 +**Note:** This will void your warranty!
 +
 +  *To remove the cover do a/b/c
 +
 +//Main PCB//
 +
 +**Photo of PCB**
 +
 +==== Serial ====
 +There is an unsoldered 4 pin connector near the reset button. (Where the black, red, blue wires plugged on the picture.) The pinout is: 1: 3.3V (closest the the reset button) 2: GND 3: RX 4:TX
 +
 +Baud: 38400, 8n1
 +
 +===== To revert back to Vxworks =====
 +Connect your router to your pc by ethernet cable, asign static IP to your PC - 192.168.1.10 netmask 255.255.255.0
 +try to
 +ping 192.168.1.1
 +telnet 192.168.1.1
 +
 +
 +<​code>​
 +=== IMPORTANT ============================
 +  Use '​passwd'​ to set your login password
 +  this will disable telnet and enable SSH
 +------------------------------------------
 +
 +
 +BusyBox v1.15.3 (2010-04-26 19:06:00 EEST) built-in shell (ash)
 +Enter '​help'​ for a list of built-in commands.
 +
 +  _______ ​                    ​________ ​       __
 +|       ​|.-----.-----.-----.| ​ |  |  |.----.| ​ |_
 +|   ​- ​  ​|| ​ _  |  -__|     ​|| ​ |  |  ||   ​_|| ​  _|
 +|_______|| ​  ​__|_____|__|__||________||__| ​ |____|
 +          |__| W I R E L E S S   F R E E D O M
 +Backfire (10.03, r20974) --------------------------
 +  * 1/3 shot Kahlua ​   In a shot glass, layer Kahlua
 +  * 1/3 shot Bailey'​s ​ on the bottom, then Bailey'​s,​
 +  * 1/3 shot Vodka     then Vodka.
 +---------------------------------------------------
 +root@OpenWrt:/#​ vxrestore
 +3+0 records in
 +3+0 records out
 +2048+0 records in
 +2048+0 records out
 +Unlocking radio ...
 +Writing from /​tmp/​radio.rom to radio ...
 +Unlocking board ...
 +Writing from /​tmp/​mac.rom to board ...
 +All eeprom stuff is done!
 +
 +Now for reverting back to VxWorks you need to:
 + 1) prepare raw VxWorks image from correct firmware update image
 +    by truncating first 20 bytes of it's header
 +    Be CAREFULL - choosing wrong image will brick your device!!!
 +2) put raw image into working TFTP server directory, say vxworks.raw
 +3) restart your unit with pressed RESET key for !!!LESS then 5 sec!!!
 +   be carefull, do not let to start this linux again because
 +   it will revert board eeprom to linux version on restart
 +4) telnet to 192.168.1.1:​9000
 +5) in RedBoot prompt do
 +RedBoot> ^C
 +RedBoot> ip_address -h 192.168.1.10 ​                                                             ​
 +IP: 192.168.1.1,​ Default server: 192.168.1.10
 +RedBoot> load -r -b %{FREEMEMLO} vxworks.raw
 +Using default protocol (TFTP)
 +Raw file loaded 0x80033800-0x8010e587,​ assumed entry at 0x80033800
 +RedBoot> fis write -b %{FREEMEMLO} -l 0x120000 -f 0xbfc00000
 +* CAUTION * about to program FLASH
 + at 0xbfc00000..0xbfd1ffff from 0x80033800 - continue (y/n)? y        ​
 +carefully wait here about a one-two minute for complition
 +... Erase from 0xbfc00000-0xbfd20000:​ ..
 +... Program from 0x80033800-0x80153800 at 0xbfc00000: ​
 +RedBoot>​reset
 +        enjoy old days of VxWorks ​
 +</​code>​
 +
 +
 +
 +
 +===== SD/MMC CARD MODD WIP gpio  =====
 +**It** is possible to implement a sd/mmc card modd on this router as it has a spi flash chip and hence uses spi bus the limitation of space can be overcome by this modd. A special kernel and rootfs containing the neccessary package required for openwrt to boot and opkg package system followed by the kernel modules required for SD/MMC modd (mod-mmc, kmod-mmc-over-gpio,​ kmod-mmc-spi,​ kmod-spi-bitbang,​ and kmod-spi-gpio) so that a sd/mmc card can be mounted. after this all other kernel modules and packages can be downloaded to the memory card 
 +
 +see the following post where similar setup has been done on same hardware
 +
 +https://​forum.openwrt.org/​viewtopic.php?​id=25368 (sd/mmc mod of 512mb on a usrobotic router with only 2mb flash)
 +
 +http://​tinyhack.com/​2010/​04/​04/​d-link-dir-300-serial-port-and-sd-mod/​ (sd/mmc mod on a d-link dir-300 based on atheros ar2317 processor the same onw used in this router)
 +
 +**Remember**
 +a total of  4 gpio pins are required for sd card modd
 +Standard SD Card pinout
 +sd card pinout
 +
 +    * Pin 2  (Data In/MOSI)
 +    * Pin 7 (Data Out/MISO)
 +    * Pin 5 in SD Card (CLK)
 +    * Pin 1 in SD Card (Chip Select)
 +
 +Anyone who found gpio pins or have any info regarding this modd for this router post in the forum
 +https://​forum.openwrt.org/​viewtopic.php?​id=17252&​p=8
 +
 +
 +
 +===== Tags =====
 +{{tag>​2Flash}}

Page Tools

  • Show page
  • Old revisions
  • Backlinks
  • Rename Page
  • Back to top
Except where otherwise noted, content on this wiki is licensed under the following license: CC Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
CC Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported Donate Powered by PHP Valid HTML5 Valid CSS Driven by DokuWiki