Nslu2 Hack – Farlock.org

openWrt non-standard module compiling

admin — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 09:10:52 +0000

Now I want to use an easycap DC60 device also on my NSLU2 with openwrt, so similar for sheevaplug i’ve to compile the module.

All the operations described here are executed on a standard i686 linux pc (debian).

Download openwrt 8.09.2 and default config file:

cd /usr/src/nslu2/test
svn checkout svn://svn.openwrt.org/openwrt/branches/8.09 8.09.2
wget http://downloads.openwrt.org/kamikaze/8.09.2/ixp4xx/ixp4xx.config

go into 8.09.2 directory and

make menuconfig

now choose “Load an alternate config file and select ixp4xx.config” just downloaded, then

make V=99

When all done we have all things necessary.

In this example we try to compile easycap driver, but you can adapt it to any external modules:

cd /usr/src
wget “http://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/easycapdc60/easycap_dc60.0.7.1.tar.gz?use_mirror=netcologne”
cd easycap_dc60.0.7.1
make clean

Edit src/MakeFile (vi src/Makefile) and replace KERNELDIR line with this:

KERNELDIR ?= /usr/src/nslu2/test/8.09.2/build_dir/toolchain-armeb_gcc4.1.2/linux-2.6.26.8/

we need to make a symbolic link to resolve an issue:

ln -s /usr/src/nslu2/test/8.09.2/build_dir/toolchain-armeb_gcc4.1.2/linux-2.6.26.8/include/config/video/usbvideo.h /usr/src/nslu2/test/8.09.2/build_dir/linux-ixp4xx_generic/linux-2.6.26.8/include/config/video

and now compile it:

make clean
make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=/usr/src/nslu2/test/8.09.2/build_dir/armeb/OpenWrt-SDK-ixp4xx-for-Linux-i686/staging_dir/toolchain-armeb_gcc4.1.2/bin/armeb-linux-uclibc-

All done!

scp 192.168.1.220:/usr/src/easycap_dc60.0.7.1/src/easycap.ko /lib/modules/`uname -r`/kernel/drivers/media/video
depmod -a

try to insmod it and enjoy

With new version of easycap 0.8.3 there is some difference, when you have unzipped easycap source edit install.sh and just before the line:

make 1>>${WORKDIR}/make.out 2>>${WORKDIR}/make.err

insert an exit 0, so the script will terminate there. Now we can launch the script with KERNELDIR as parameter:

./install.sh /usr/src/nslu2/test/8.09.2/build_dir/toolchain-armeb_gcc4.1.2/linux-2.6.26.8/

now some needed steps:

cd /usr/src/nslu2/test/8.09.2/build_dir/toolchain-armeb_gcc4.1.2/linux-2.6.26.8

check in .config that MODVERSIONS is disabled and BIG_ENDIAN is enabled!

# make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=/usr/src/nslu2/test/8.09.2/build_dir/armeb/OpenWrt-SDK-ixp4xx-for-Linux-i686/staging_dir/toolchain-armeb_gcc4.1.2/bin/armeb-linux-uclibc- prepare
# make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=/usr/src/nslu2/test/8.09.2/build_dir/armeb/OpenWrt-SDK-ixp4xx-for-Linux-i686/staging_dir/toolchain-armeb_gcc4.1.2/bin/armeb-linux-uclibc- scripts/mod/

and then make it:

cd /usr/src/easycap_dc60.0.8.3
make ARCH=arm CROSS_COMPILE=/usr/src/nslu2/test/8.09.2/build_dir/armeb/OpenWrt-SDK-ixp4xx-for-Linux-i686/staging_dir/toolchain-armeb_gcc4.1.2/bin/armeb-linux-uclibc-

now in src/easycap.ko we have the module for our NSLU2!

Attached here you can find the already compiled module for openwrt kamikaze 8.09.2

easycap.ko

Huawei E220 – NSLU2 OpenWrt

admin — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:07:39 +0000

#ipkg install http://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/ixp4xx/packages/huaweiaktbbo_1_armeb.ipk

VPN Client with NSLU2 and OpenWrt

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:33:47 +0000

Login again in your hacked nslu2
Install needed package:

# ipkg install ppp openvpn chat openntpd

# ipkg install http://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/ixp4xx/packages/hwclock_2.13.0.1-2_armeb.ipk

And let configure them:

# vi /etc/ntpd.conf

server 193.204.114.232
server 193.204.114.233
server ntp1.inrim.it # or a ntp server near you
server ntp2.inrim.it # or another ntp server near you
listen on *

# /etc/init.d/ntpd disable

# /etc/init.d/ntpd start

We use a bridge configuration for network, edit /etc/config/network and add this line in eth0 section:

option type ‘bridge’

Copy gprsd.sh in /usr/scripts
Copy gprsd in /etc/default and edit it
Copy custom-user-startup into /etc/init.d/

# /etc/init.d/custom-user-startup enable

run # crontab -e and add

*/3 * * * * /usr/script/gprsd.sh checkrunning &

copy chat and peers directory into /etc/ppp
Copy openvpn into /etc
Edit /etc/default/openvpn, add “ENABLED=1” and change config file
Edit /etc/init.d/openvpn, add “ENABLED=0” and this to start () function:

if [ “$ENABLED” != “1” ] ; then
echo “$BIN disabled, check $DEFAULT”
exit 0
fi

run #/etc/init.d/openvpn enable
bla bla bla (nice in openvpn.conf)

Configure OpenWrt on Nslu2

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:46:26 +0000

Point a browser to your new nslu2 IP (in my case 10.1.20.26) and set a new password.
Set your time zone (with web interface is easier )
Login into your nslu2 with ssh (user root, password whichever password you set previously)
Disable Web interface (we don’t need it ):

# /etc/init.d/webif disable

# /etc/init.d/httpd disable

Change the hostname:

# vi /etc/config/system and edit the “option hostname” line

Fresh our installation:

# ipkg update && ipkg upgrade

Install kernel modules for usb support:

# ipkg install kmod-usb2 kmod-usb-storage kmod-usb-ohci kmod-usb-serial

Install kernel modules for some cellular (Motorola, Samsung,…):

# ipkg install kmod-usb-acm

Install kernel modules for some USB modem (Huawei E220):

# ipkg install kmod-usb-serial-option

Install any other kernel modules for (almost) all serial converter (such usb modem):

# ipkg install kmod-usb-serial-visor kmod-usb-serial-sierrawireless kmod-usb-serial-pl2303 kmod-usb-serial-mct kmod-usb-serial-ftdi kmod-usb-serial-belkin kmod-usb-serial-airprime

Install kernel modules for usb disk:

# ipkg install kmod-nls-cp1250 kmod-nls-utf8 kmod-nls-base kmod-fs-vfat

Install useful package:

# ipkg install usbutils pciutils minicom ntpclient

Add this line into start() function of /etc/init.d/boot:

echo 0 > /sys/class/leds/status/brightness
echo 0 > /sys/class/leds/ready/brightness

Install OpenWrt on Nslu2

admin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:05:22 +0000

Download latest version of openwrt binaries from http://www.slug-firmware.net/ (or http://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/ixp4xx/openwrt-ixp4xx-squashfs.img for development version)
Install UpSlug2 (utility to upgrade the firmware of a LinkSys NSLU2 via the network), into Debian-based system, simply type “apt-get install upslug2”
Put Nslu2 in upgrade mode (hold-on the reset switch, turn-on the nslu2, wait 10 seconds until “Ready/Status” led blink alternatively red/green, release reset switch)
Connect network cable
On command line type: upslug2 – you should receive an output similar to this one:

etch:~/nslu2/709# upslug2
NSLU2 00:14:bf:70:dc:86 Product ID: 1 Protocol ID: 0 Firmware Version: R23V63 [0x2363]

Now upload the downloaded image:

etch:~/nslu2/709# upslug2 -i openwrt-kamikaze-7.09-nslu2.bin

The ouput should end with:

Rebooting… done

Now, if you have a DHCP server enabled on your network, Nslu2 take IP address from it.

Nslu2 RS232 – Adding serial connector

admin — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:10:50 +0000

Adding a serial port to our nslu2 is very easy. You can solder a Male or a Female DB9 serial connector, remember, if you use a male connector (such a normal pc) you can plug any kind of serial device and you it as a console port (with a correct cable); if you use a female connector you can plug that port directly into another computer and use only as console.

NSLU2 has one serial port with TTL signal-level (3.3V), for more information read this.

I don’t want to see anything outside the nslu2 (only the connector itself) so i’ve looked for a microchip that doesn’t need anything else than RX-TX and power supply.

So i found MAX3233 (datasheet), it’s fantastic! You need only one 0.1uF capacitor for spurious power supply (really, i don’t use it ).

Here is the tipical schematic of MAX3233 from www.maxim-ic.com:

As you can see we can have up to two serial port, and no need of external capacitor.

Starting opening our nslu2 and looking near battery. You can see four unused hole, this one is RS232 pins (looking image 1).

The first one (near battery) is 3.3 V, the second one is RX, third is TX and fourth is GND. Take 4 piece of cable and:

– connect pin 1 of nslu2 to pins 5-9-10 of MAX3233;

– pin 2 with pin 1 of MAX3233;

– pin 3 with pin 3 of MAX3233;

– pin 4 with pin 18 of MAX3233;

Now you can solder also the serial connector, pin 5 is ground so connect it with pin 18 of MAX3233.

Assuming that you are using a male connector you have to solder pin 3 of DB9 with pin 19 of MAX3233 and pin 2 of DB9 to pin 20 of MAX3233. If you use a female connector (only for console) simply invert pins 2 and 3 onto DB9 connector.