External Boot/Packages on Gargoyle - WR1043ND

[varma]

Hi all!

I'm a new user of WRT platforms.
I tried this version and I liked it very much.

Now I'd like to boot from a external pendrive to install packages as amule, transmission and ushare to have a sort of media server that I know need lot of memory to work well.

I read about block_extroot on openWRT wiki and I tried to install it on gargoyle without success.
Do I need to build my own image with this package included?
I tried to understand how to build an image but is needed a huge knowledge of linux packages.

Is there a way to add just the block-extroot necessary packages to a standard build for my tl-wr1043nd?

Thank you very much for the work you are doing.
These firmware are awesome.

Marco

[arteq]

Simply you need to remove plugin-usb-storage and cleaup after that:

Code: Select all

opkg remove plugin-gargoyle-usb-storage

uci del gargoyle.display.system_usb_storage
uci del gargoyle.scripts.system_usb_storage
uci del gargoyle.system.usb_storage
uci commit gargoyle
rm /etc/rc.d/S56usb_storage

Now, install block-mount, block-extroot

Code: Select all

opkg update
opkg install block-mount block-extroot

and setup fstab properly:

eg.

Code: Select all

fstab.automount=global
fstab.automount.from_fstab=1
fstab.automount.anon_mount=1
fstab.autoswap=global
fstab.autoswap.from_fstab=1
fstab.autoswap.anon_swap=0
fstab.@mount[0]=mount
fstab.@mount[0].options=rw,sync
fstab.@mount[0].enabled_fsck=0
fstab.@mount[0].enabled=1
fstab.@mount[0].fstype=auto
fstab.@mount[0].device=/dev/sda1
fstab.@mount[0].is_roots=1
fstab.@swap[0]=swap
fstab.@swap[0].device=/dev/sda2
fstab.@swap[0].enabled=0

reboot

[varma]

Thank you very much!

It looks to be easier than I expected!

And this won't compromise any usb drive functions such as Hdd sharing via GUI, ecc?

Thank you again!

[varma]

I don't know why but I'm not getting it working....


Every time I reboot the router freezes and I need to enter in failsafe mode and firstboot.

Maybe I need some more packages?
I tried to install block-hotplug too but it doesn't change anything.

Should I reboot some more times (e.g. after extroot pkg installation)?

Could a partitioned pendrive (3gb pkg, 0,5gb boot, 0,5gb swap - all primaries partitions) be a problem?

May I need to setup a sleep time in /etc/init.d/fstab as suggested on http://wiki.openwrt.org/doc/uci/fstab.

I tried quiet every combination of this parameters. Hope there aren't typos in the command you suggested.

Thank you everybody

Marco

[varma]

might be I fallen in this problem??

https://dev.openwrt.org/ticket/7433

# WARNING: this is an auto generated file, please use uci to set defined filesystems' > /etc/fstab

(that honestly I hardly understand)

Marco

[varma]

Let's try to summarize the procedure I followed without any positive results.

After recovering the router in failsafe mode,
I put my freshly formatted Pendrive. (3 Gb ext2 sda1, 512Mb ext2 sda2, 512Mb swap sda3)

I clean the not needed packages

Code: Select all

opkg remove plugin-gargoyle-usb-storage

uci del gargoyle.display.system_usb_storage
uci del gargoyle.scripts.system_usb_storage
uci del gargoyle.system.usb_storage
uci commit gargoyle
rm /etc/rc.d/S56usb_storage

I install the needed packages

Code: Select all

opkg update
opkg install block-hotplug block-extroot

I fix the bug on fstab (# echo....)

Code: Select all

vi /etc/init.d/fstab

and for double sure

Code: Select all

rm /etc/fstab
ln -s /tmp/fstab /etc/fstab

I modify the values (enable=1, is_rootfs=1, device=/dev/sda2, fstype=auto) with

Code: Select all

vi /etc/config/fstab

(is there any difference using uci or vi editor?)

then I start the fstab

Code: Select all

/etc/init.d/fstab enable

(is this good? should I use uci commit???)

finally I copy the files in my usb flashdrive

Code: Select all

      mount /dev/sda2 /mnt
      mkdir /tmp/root
      mount -o bind / /tmp/root
      cp /tmp/root/* /mnt -a
      umount /tmp/root
      umount /mnt

and REBOOT

the router starts rebooting
now is unreachable via webgui and ssh

so failsafe mode and start again!!

these have been my afternoon

please help me!
thanks

Marco

[varma]

I'm going to reflash the firmware to have a fresh installation.

What do you suggest for my configuration?
(TL WR-1043ND 1.4, where I'd like to install ushare, amule, transmission on a external FS in a pendriveand with an HDD shared, both on a USB HUB)

the tested version 1.3.9 or the newly introduced 1.3.10?

thank you for the help

please UP (I'm feeling lonely )


Marco (from Italy)

[varma]

Please UP

I would like just to know if the procedure I followed is right.


Thank you

Marco

[varma]

Hi.

Another fail.

Is there anybody so kind to write a clear HOWTO or a guide to set up this very useful function?

I'm still fighting to understand the right procedure, if is needed to copy the root folder, if there is still the bug in extroot, what packages do I really need in gargoyle that is not identical to OpenWRT, and so on.

Thank you everybody again!

Marco

[kjaergaard]

Hey and thanks for this nice firmware. I have a proposal, could somebody that knows how to install and mesh around with gargoyle firmware, make a video tutorial, for the newbie guys