Alix install

[kennith]

Hi

After a rediculous amount of searching for a system that can do quotas.
I think I have finally hit the jackpot. I have been in contact with all majour networking vendors, none had a clue what device could offer such a feature. - So firstly thankyou!

During my searching I purchased a alix system http://www.pcengines.ch/alix6e1.htm whith pfsense, however it turned out this cannot do quotas.

I have downloaded the latest alix/86 1.3 and written the image to a compact flash card. I have connected via telnet to the system, and get this.


No doubt it is an error at my end. I am new to this, However I assume the cryptic code being displayed isnt what is supposed to be. Needless to say I cant get a IP address, or communicate over network to the device in any manner.
Any ideas what I am doing wrong? -
Is this likely to work with my alix board anyway. Or am I just looking to casue more problems than it's worth.

[Hannibal]

check your connection details set in Grub

seems to be a wrong baud rate or something like that

or try and error and open a new serial connection checking out some other baud rates.

[kennith]

Thank you, it was indeed the serial connection speed.

I had it set to the default of 9600 in putty (my terminal client), changed this to 38400 and I'm up and running.




Another question.

Is it possible to reset the router to defaults via the terminal ? I have been playing with settings, - and as such keep entirely loosing network access to the unit. I can still communicate via terminal. However currently to reset to defaults I must take out the motherboard, then the flash card, reflash that, re-install it. Just to make simialr mistakes over and over. Ohh the joys of being novice...

[DoesItMatter]

Are you running Gargoyle on that unit?

Or pure OpenWRT?

If Gargoyle - open up the web GUI and backup the config file

Get 7-zip program and install it - great archiver

You can unzip the config file and see the directory structures
where all the configuration files are stored.

If you make a backup of the config before you do any changes,
i.e. right after a fresh flash, then you can always just read
the original config and re-type it in on the command line.

That would be your easiest method.

Also - check this thread: http://www.gargoyle-router.com/phpbb/vi ... ?f=7&t=980

See that info about button handler?

There is a command for the reset button, called "firstboot"

I have not run that myself, but that might be the command
that actually resets gargoyle config back to scratch.

I am NOT sure how to run that command though, or whether
or not you just type that in on the command line.

If you have some spare buttons on the ALIX, and can understand
that thread - program your own button to reset for you!

[kennith]

Thanks for the ideas Doesitmatter.

Are you running Gargoyle on that unit?

Yes, http://www.gargoyle-router.com/download ... 2-128k.img

Regarding firstboot - If I enter it into the command line I get this.

firstboot has already been run
jffs2 partition is mounted, only resetting files
MTD partition not found.

However it does not appear to reset anything, I guess I need to add more variables to the command.


Well I figured out why I kept loosing network acess to the router.
If the system is reset or rebooted whilst the wan cable is connected it stops all network accessability. So I must disconnect the wan cable before rebooting, and plug back in after it has booted. I guess it's trying to auto configure in some manner. - Again this is possibly due to my configuration. I am not currently connecting directly to the wan, but using a existing internal network with a cable modem router allready functioning. (asking for trouble no doubt)

Anyway more questions

1) This system will ultimately be used in remote environment where power will often disconnect. Currently if the system reboots(or looses power) the quota status is lost (I recall reading it saves to flash once per hr) It would be great if I can modify this to save say every 10 mins. (yes I apprecaite the constant writing to flash conundrum ) However high duty millions of write slc flash cards are very cheap. So if this even means it's lifecycle is reduced.. so be it. I guess there is a file located somewhere that details this time interval - if anyone knows where.. please may you point me in the right direction.


2)I also got this odd message pop up via telnet. I guess it's a crash/conflict of somesort - however everything appears to still be working..
A bit of research shows that it's possibly some memory address sharing conflict http://translate.google.co.uk/translate ... rmd%3Divns



It is suggested that this is fixed in r22615 release of wrt (no idea if anything I am saying will make sense to anyone)

I am using a Atheros AR5213A based - wireless card - currently connected to a iphone with wpa2 psk - appears to be working fine.