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#1 2010-07-22 21:13:41

jcard
Member
From: Portugal
Registered: 2008-09-21
Posts: 289

Alt-F-0.1B3 released

July, 22, 2010: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

What's new:

-Kernel, libraries and apps compiled for execution speed instead of
space saving (as a result, and because of lack of flash memory space,
uShare and Transmission are now packages)
-kernel 2.6.33.6
-Filesystem Maintenance web page
-Disk Partition/RAID creation web page
-improved DHCP support
-improved fun_plug for ffp users
-improved Alt-F packages installation and administration

-Available packages:
    -end-user packages with web administration page:
        -Transmission, Fuppes, MediaTomb, miniDLNA, uShare, Firefly,
     cups, hplip, samba-doc,
    -command-line tools:
        -dev-bundle, file, lsof, make, strace, nano, usbutils, unrar
        -mplayer, lame, ffmpeg, sane
    -networking:
        -avahi, netatalk (both untested)
    -filesystems:
    -ntfsprogs
    -databases:
        -sqlite, bdb, gdbm,
    -support libraries and tools:
    flac, expat, libdaemon, libdlna, libexif, libfuse, libid3tag, libmad,
    libogg, libpng, libtheora, libupnp, libusb, libvorbis, libxml2,
    readline, taglib, tiff, pcre

Known Issues:
    -Rev-A1 and rev-C1 hardware boards not yet supported

    -network link auto-negotiation doesn't work. As result Alt-F
     only works when the box is connected to Gbit switches/routers
     or network cards. 100/10Mbps switch or routers won't work.

    -ghostscrip/hplip can fail with an "Unable to get scanline 0/1" error,
     and cups does not noticies it, sending the print job to the printer,
     which prints a black page, wasting all your cartridge ink.
     After configure the printer in cups, DISCONECT THE PRINTER and print
     a test page. If in the State column of cups jobs web page, or using
     "lpstat -p" you see a  "Unable to get scanline 0/1" message,
     CANCEL THE PRINT JOB AND DON'T USE THAT PRINT CONFIGURATION.

    -big MTU (~>3712 bytes) cause a lot of "page allocation failure" error,
     which impairs network performance (NFS at least)

    -nfs generates a lot of "received packet spanning multiple descriptors"
     errors when MTU is not the same on both hosts!

    -partition sizes are not uniformly reported. Sometimes are binary based,
     others decimal based.

    -component RAID disks hotpluging/ejecting might not do the right thing,
     specially for raid0, JBD.

    -some web pages go back in browser history when an error is detected,
     instead of reloading the previous page. The user must refresh the page

    -The Disk Partitioning web page is not able to re-partition disks whose
     partitions that are not in increasing partition-start order, as the
     vendor's partition table are when configured for "standard disks".
     This only happens if the user whish to keep some partition in the
     middle of the disk unaltered. The solution is to re-partition the whole
     disk, loosing all it data.

http://sites.google.com/site/altfirmware/
http://code.google.com/p/alt-f/
http://groups.google.com/group/alt-f


Please consider discussing Alt-F at http://groups.google.com/group/alt-f/topics
Please consider filling Alt-F bugs at http://code.google.com/p/alt-f/issues/list

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#2 2010-07-26 01:19:03

nogi
Member
From: Heddesheim, Germany
Registered: 2010-03-31
Posts: 28

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

Nice piece of work again.

I downloaded the source repository and compiled the whole stuff with only minor problems.

Everything build O.K and  I could copy the new zImage and initfrds to my B1 box and start it without any problems.

The firmware build  also without errors BUT I could not download because
the loader did  rejected the image as not valid.

As my host system is a 64 bit system and that this could cause problems,I compiled the dns323-fw.c as 32 bit program, instead.

Comparing the hex dump of the ALT-F01B3.bin merged with dns323-fw (64bit)
and merged with dns323-fw (32bit) showed differences in the checksums.

As my c programming knowledge is very limited i used the brute force method and replaced
all "ulong" variable type declarations by "uiint32_t"  (besides the "typedef unsigned long ulong;").

With this changes both the 64bit as well as the 32bit version calculate the same checksums.
and the Firmware uploader does not complain any more.

NoGi

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#3 2010-07-26 23:32:49

RoganDawes
Member
Registered: 2010-07-01
Posts: 44

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

Nice work, both of you.

If you are interested, I have a workable U-Boot based on the latest sources (only missing support for the flash chip, unfortunately). It even includes network support, which should make testing new versions of kernels and ramdisks a LOT more pleasant.

I'm trying to build support for the DNS323 into OpenWRT, which I believe should provide a lot of the functionality that you are creating for Alt-F already. For example, take a look at LUCI, and the various modules for configuring e.g. Samba.

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#4 2010-07-27 09:47:00

nogi
Member
From: Heddesheim, Germany
Registered: 2010-03-31
Posts: 28

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

RoganDawes wrote:

Nice work, both of you..

Give credit where credit is due.
I am just a simple user who is trying to use Alt-F with my OpenSuse 64bit.

RoganDawes wrote:

If you are interested, I have a workable U-Boot based on the latest sources (only missing support for the flash chip, unfortunately). It even includes network support, which should make testing new versions of kernels and ramdisks a LOT more pleasant..

You are talking about kernel 2.6.3[45] with the latest aufs and lzma patches, aren't  you?
Do I have to have a serial connection? ( which I do not have because I can not get hold of the needed plug an I'm Very reluctant to directly solder wires to the B1 board)

Or how else do you get it running? Copy to /root and reboot?

RoganDawes wrote:

I'm trying to build support for the DNS323 into OpenWRT, which I believe should provide a lot of the functionality that you are creating for Alt-F already. For example, take a look at LUCI, and the various modules for configuring e.g. Samba.

I thought OpenWRT is for (WLan) routers olny?

Norbert

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#5 2010-07-27 09:59:54

RoganDawes
Member
Registered: 2010-07-01
Posts: 44

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

nogi wrote:

RoganDawes wrote:

Nice work, both of you..

Give credit where credit is due.
I am just a simple user who is trying to use Alt-F with my OpenSuse 64bit.

:-)

nogi wrote:

RoganDawes wrote:

If you are interested, I have a workable U-Boot based on the latest sources (only missing support for the flash chip, unfortunately). It even includes network support, which should make testing new versions of kernels and ramdisks a LOT more pleasant..

You are talking about kernel 2.6.3[45] with the latest aufs and lzma patches, aren't  you?
Do I have to have a serial connection? ( which I do not have because I can not get hold of the needed plug an I'm Very reluctant to directly solder wires to the B1 board)

Or how else do you get it running? Copy to /root and reboot?

Yes, unfortunately, you do need to have a serial connection. Where are you based? I didn't find it all that difficult to get the connector. I got mine from RS Electronics (online) which has branches in a number of countries.

nogi wrote:

RoganDawes wrote:

I'm trying to build support for the DNS323 into OpenWRT, which I believe should provide a lot of the functionality that you are creating for Alt-F already. For example, take a look at LUCI, and the various modules for configuring e.g. Samba.

I thought OpenWRT is for (WLan) routers olny?

Norbert

OpenWRT was originally built for routers, but there is nothing that prevents you from using it on other devices too. In essence, all it really is is a build environment, which includes a LOT of additional packages. Keep in mind that a lot of routers these days include storage facilities via USB, and so OpenWRT has evolved to support things like Samba, print servers, etc, etc.

For example, I am currently using the USB port on my OpenWRT router to support a Samsung SCX-4300 MultiFunction Printer/Scanner/Copier, providing a network print server, as well as SANE support for the scanner to clients on the network. Not really what you would expect a router to be doing, but it was all (relatively) easy with OpenWRT. The pacages were all built, but I did need to edit a few config files, since there was no specific LuCI plugin for saned.

So, I think that OpenWRT would make a very nice, mature, platform for the DNS323 as well.

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#6 2010-07-31 02:52:47

jcard
Member
From: Portugal
Registered: 2008-09-21
Posts: 289

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

nogi wrote:

The firmware build  also without errors BUT I could not download because
the loader did  rejected the image as not valid.

As my host system is a 64 bit system and that this could cause problems,I compiled the dns323-fw.c as 32 bit program, instead.

NoGi

Thanks for the report.
Can you please try the attached patch, compile dns323-fw.c as a 64 bit program and try it?

On the host:

Code:

./dns323-fw -s Alt-F-0.1B3.bin
product_id=1;
custom_id=2;
model_id=3;
sub_id=4;
NewVersion=5
Reserved (hex)=0000000
Reserved (ascii)=
Next_offset=0

signature is "FrodoII"
kernel has uboot format
kernel checksum OK
kernel has 1563284 bytes
kernel saved OK
initramfs has uboot format
initramfs checksum OK
initramfs has 6356997 bytes
initramfs saved OK
defaults checksum OK
defaults has 0 bytes
defaults saved OK

Thanks,
Joao


Attachments:
Attachment Icon dns323-fw.c.patch, Size: 767 bytes, Downloads: 555

Please consider discussing Alt-F at http://groups.google.com/group/alt-f/topics
Please consider filling Alt-F bugs at http://code.google.com/p/alt-f/issues/list

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#7 2010-07-31 09:26:51

nogi
Member
From: Heddesheim, Germany
Registered: 2010-03-31
Posts: 28

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

jcard wrote:

nogi wrote:

As my host system is a 64 bit system and that this could cause problems,I compiled the dns323-fw.c as 32 bit program, instead.

Thanks for the report.
Can you please try the attached patch, compile dns323-fw.c as a 64 bit program and try it?

Works perfectly!. Thanks!

NoGi

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#8 2010-08-03 05:12:41

Alex Edelev
New member
Registered: 2010-08-03
Posts: 4

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

Thank you for execelent work!
How can I set proxy settings  for wget (http_proxy variable) to download ffp or ipkg?
May be you will add this to web interface?

Alex

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#9 2010-08-04 02:42:16

jcard
Member
From: Portugal
Registered: 2008-09-21
Posts: 289

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

Alex Edelev wrote:

Thank you for execelent work!
How can I set proxy settings  for wget (http_proxy variable) to download ffp or ipkg?
May be you will add this to web interface?

Alex

Good point. I will add that configuration for 0.1B4

Meanwhile, you can try to edit /usr/www/cgi-bin/common.sh and add at the top
1

Code:

export http_proxy=your_proxy_server

or if you need to specify a proxy server port, 2

Code:

export http_proxy=your_proxy_server:your_proxy_port

or if you need to authenticate to the proxy server 3

Code:

export http_proxy=your_proxy_username:your_proxy_password@your_proxy_server:your_proxy_port

If you need to authenticate to the proxy server and 3 above doesn't work, use 1 or 2 and create /etc/wgetrc and add yours credentials:

Code:

proxy=on
proxy-user=your_proxy_username
proxy-password=your_proxy_password

In the box, you can use the "vim" and (micro) "emacs"  editors. If you don't know how to use them, you have to use a unix compatible ms-windows editor, like notepad++.

The above solution is untested, as I'm away from my box (for the next two or three weeks)

Please report back if it did/did not work.

Thanks,
Joao


Please consider discussing Alt-F at http://groups.google.com/group/alt-f/topics
Please consider filling Alt-F bugs at http://code.google.com/p/alt-f/issues/list

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#10 2010-08-04 12:00:00

Alex Edelev
New member
Registered: 2010-08-03
Posts: 4

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

I add  "export http_proxy=your_proxy_server" line at the top of /usr/www/cgi-bin/common.sh
It works until I reboot DNS323. After reboot the changes in /usr/www/cgi-bin/common.sh are lost.
For any case I press "SaveSettings" button in "Settings Management" page but it does not help.
How can I save changes in any file that is not stored on hard disks (/mnt/sda2 or /mnt/sdb2)?
For example, in /etc/wgetrc?

Alex

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#11 2010-08-04 17:01:04

jcard
Member
From: Portugal
Registered: 2008-09-21
Posts: 289

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

Alex Edelev wrote:

I add  "export http_proxy=your_proxy_server" line at the top of /usr/www/cgi-bin/common.sh
It works until I reboot DNS323. After reboot the changes in /usr/www/cgi-bin/common.sh are lost.
For any case I press "SaveSettings" button in "Settings Management" page but it does not help.
How can I save changes in any file that is not stored on hard disks (/mnt/sda2 or /mnt/sdb2)?
For example, in /etc/wgetrc?

Alex

The solution I post is a temporary hack, and will not survive a reboot.
The "save settings" only saves on flash a selected set of configuration files.

Until 0.1B4 you have to live with it as it is now.
You can't even edit /mnt/sda2/alt-f/usr/www/cgi-bin/common.sh because it does not exists, it is uncompressed "on-the-fly".

However, AFTER you install the first Alt-F package (the ipkg package), existing files living under /Alt-F/ overlay any files found under /
So, copy /usr/www/cgi-bin/common.sh to /Alt-F/usr/www/cgi-bin/common.sh and edit it. The changes will stay on disk (on the partition where you installed the Alt-F packages) and will survive a reboot:

Code:

if aufs.sh -n; then
   mkdir -p /Alt-F/usr/www/cgi-bin/
   cp /usr/www/cgi-bin/common.sh /Alt-F/usr/www/cgi-bin/
   aufs.sh -r
fi

and edit /usr/www/cgi-bin/common.sh (yes, no typo)

Again, untested. Tell us if it worked.

Last edited by jcard (2010-08-04 22:03:28)


Please consider discussing Alt-F at http://groups.google.com/group/alt-f/topics
Please consider filling Alt-F bugs at http://code.google.com/p/alt-f/issues/list

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#12 2010-08-05 11:32:33

Alex Edelev
New member
Registered: 2010-08-03
Posts: 4

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

This hack seems to be not optimal solution for me.
So I am waiting for 0.1B4.
Many thanks for your work again.

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#13 2010-08-17 11:53:49

kentsu
Member
Registered: 2008-02-12
Posts: 11

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

RoganDawes wrote:

I got mine from RS Electronics (online) which has branches in a number of countries.

Have you got part ID or direct link perhaps?

Thanks

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#14 2010-08-17 12:07:08

RoganDawes
Member
Registered: 2010-07-01
Posts: 44

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

kentsu wrote:

RoganDawes wrote:

I got mine from RS Electronics (online) which has branches in a number of countries.

Have you got part ID or direct link perhaps?

Thanks

See http://dns323.randomhacking.net/

You need to get the plastic shell as well as the pins to go inside the shell. I had to buy a minimum of 5 shells, and about 100 pins, but they were not particularly expensive, and you'll probably kill a few pins figuring out how best to crimp/solder them on.

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#15 2010-08-17 18:43:16

Alex Edelev
New member
Registered: 2010-08-03
Posts: 4

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

I can not reinstall ipkg because http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1555717/DNS-323 … kgs/stable is not available (error 404).

Last edited by Alex Edelev (2010-08-18 16:09:16)

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#16 2010-09-11 00:28:58

gazsiazasz
Member
Registered: 2010-09-11
Posts: 9

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

please repair the "network link auto-negotiation" error
i have a 10/100 sw  smile

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#17 2010-09-11 06:19:30

DarKnight
New member
Registered: 2010-09-11
Posts: 1

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

Thanks for all your hard work jcard. Would you say that with you beta3 firmware flashed into the box will have more free memory compare to the stock firmware?

Last edited by DarKnight (2010-09-11 06:19:58)

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#18 2010-09-13 00:03:01

haim
Member
Registered: 2010-01-13
Posts: 83

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

Ok, apology in advance for being a thicko, but I'm having some trouble and not sure I've understood the instructions:

DNS 323 b type

I have ffp set up.  So I've down loaded the alt-f tar and fun_plug.  Renamed fun_plug to alt-f.sh and copied them both to /mnt/HD_a2/
chmoded the .sh file and ran that.  The tar was unpacked leaving alt-f directory with a readme and rootfs.arm.cpio-sq.lzma

But there was no log file and looks like the script says there should be one somewhere.

I've since tried running it again, nothing seemed to happen, no error, no log file.

Tried rebooting (from command line).

I've also tried putting the .sh file in my ffp/start directory and rebooting from command line.

Not sure how to see if its going.  Have tried going to the ip address of the box but just get the usual dlink web pages.

I'm missing something I guess, can anyone lend a hand ?

cheers

Haim

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#19 2010-09-13 05:05:29

jcard
Member
From: Portugal
Registered: 2008-09-21
Posts: 289

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

Alex Edelev wrote:

I can not reinstall ipkg because http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1555717/DNS-323 … kgs/stable is not available (error 404).

If you tried that on a browser, you should append  index.html to the URL.
Try

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1555717/DNS-323 … index.html

(ipkg does not expect the index.html part)


Please consider discussing Alt-F at http://groups.google.com/group/alt-f/topics
Please consider filling Alt-F bugs at http://code.google.com/p/alt-f/issues/list

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#20 2010-09-13 05:11:48

jcard
Member
From: Portugal
Registered: 2008-09-21
Posts: 289

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

gazsiazasz wrote:

please repair the "network link auto-negotiation" error
i have a 10/100 sw  smile

That doesn't depends on me, its a kernel bug.

The last kernel where 100Mbps works, for the dns323, is 2.6.26.8; for 2.6.27.53 and latter it does not works anymore.
I think it is related with MII versus PHYLIB and driver changing from version 1.3 to 1.4.
2.6.27 introduced lots of modifications to the marvel driver, and 2.6.27 itself was a mess (53 fixes!)

I have to make a bug report.


Please consider discussing Alt-F at http://groups.google.com/group/alt-f/topics
Please consider filling Alt-F bugs at http://code.google.com/p/alt-f/issues/list

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#21 2010-09-13 05:24:29

jcard
Member
From: Portugal
Registered: 2008-09-21
Posts: 289

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

DarKnight wrote:

Thanks for all your hard work jcard. Would you say that with you beta3 firmware flashed into the box will have more free memory compare to the stock firmware?

Yes, I think so.
Alt-F uses squashfs with lzma to compress the /usr hierarchy and decompress it on the fly, on demand; the uncompressed /usr tree is about 17MB, and squashfs-lzma compresses it to only 5.7MB, a 11MB saving.
The sock firmware also uses squashfs, but compressed with gz, less efficient.
Also, the http web server only runs on demand on Alt-F, while in the stock firmware it is always running (I think to remember that it uses 4MB, not sure); the same for ftp, ssh,...

Unfortunately the back-ported squashfs-lzma patch makes the 2.6.35.4 kernel unstable, and Alt-F-0.1B5 (wait one/two more week(s) for it) will not be shipped with it.
We have to wait until Phillip Lougher, the squashfs author, manage to merge it into the main kernel.


Please consider discussing Alt-F at http://groups.google.com/group/alt-f/topics
Please consider filling Alt-F bugs at http://code.google.com/p/alt-f/issues/list

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#22 2010-09-13 05:38:57

jcard
Member
From: Portugal
Registered: 2008-09-21
Posts: 289

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

haim wrote:

Ok, apology in advance for being a thicko, but I'm having some trouble and not sure I've understood the instructions:

DNS 323 b type

I have ffp set up.  So I've down loaded the alt-f tar and fun_plug.  Renamed fun_plug to alt-f.sh and copied them both to /mnt/HD_a2/
chmoded the .sh file and ran that.  The tar was unpacked leaving alt-f directory with a readme and rootfs.arm.cpio-sq.lzma

you should find the following files:

alt-f/
alt-f/README.USE
alt-f/rootfs.arm.cpio-sq.lzma
alt-f/zImage
alt-f/reloaded-2.6.6-arm2.ko
alt-f/reloaded-2.6.12.6-arm1-fonz.ko
alt-f/reloaded-2.6.12.6-arm1.ko
alt-f/README.INSTALL

But there was no log file and looks like the script says there should be one somewhere.

It should be at /mnt/HD_a2/altf-reload.log
See if it is at /tmp/altf-reload.log

You seem to be doing the right think...
Does the box reboot? or does control returns to the command line after you run the script?
Have you tried to download it all again?
Have you edited the fun_plug script with a ms-windows editor?

I've since tried running it again, nothing seemed to happen, no error, no log file.

Tried rebooting (from command line).

I've also tried putting the .sh file in my ffp/start directory and rebooting from command line.

Not sure how to see if its going.  Have tried going to the ip address of the box but just get the usual dlink web pages.

I'm missing something I guess, can anyone lend a hand ?

cheers

Haim

Last edited by jcard (2010-09-13 05:45:36)


Please consider discussing Alt-F at http://groups.google.com/group/alt-f/topics
Please consider filling Alt-F bugs at http://code.google.com/p/alt-f/issues/list

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#23 2010-09-13 13:28:29

haim
Member
Registered: 2010-01-13
Posts: 83

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

Thanks for the quick reply Jcard.

I must be doing something wrong with the .tar as I can see it has all those components in the file from my ubuntu machine, but when I copy them over and run the script then it doesn't seem to pull all of them out.  I'm just copying over using the smb network connection, anything special I should do there?  I presume there can't be different permissions for the files inside the tar.

Anyway, now I've been a muppet and tried to get it going as an ffp .sh in the ffp/start directory, this was dumb as now it doens't reboot, so can't log on any more, that was smart smile

I guess my only option is to take out the hard disk, plug it in to some desktop / usb enclosure and remove the script, then it should boot normally again.

Once I get that sorted I concentrate on ensuring the .tar is extracting properly, perhaps do it by hand to make sure its working first.

Looking forward to the new version too, was wondering if you were leaving it as doesn't seem to be any commits on the alt-f code site.

Thanks again.

Hamish

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#24 2010-09-13 17:11:16

gazsiazasz
Member
Registered: 2010-09-11
Posts: 9

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

jcard wrote:

gazsiazasz wrote:

please repair the "network link auto-negotiation" error
i have a 10/100 sw  smile

That doesn't depends on me, its a kernel bug.

The last kernel where 100Mbps works, for the dns323, is 2.6.26.8; for 2.6.27.53 and latter it does not works anymore.
I think it is related with MII versus PHYLIB and driver changing from version 1.3 to 1.4.
2.6.27 introduced lots of modifications to the marvel driver, and 2.6.27 itself was a mess (53 fixes!)

I have to make a bug report.

Okok smile but the dns323 with debian squeeze 2.6.32 kernel worked with my sw 2weeks ago.
And one week ago with the latest update (2.6.32-5?) begins dont working on 10/100

sorry for my bad english

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#25 2010-09-13 20:19:16

haim
Member
Registered: 2010-01-13
Posts: 83

Re: Alt-F-0.1B3 released

Haha, sorry to jump the gun folks.   Tried another reboot and the magical 'once' only setting has worked a treat.  Back into standard firmware.  Also noted that this time the .tar has extracted all the files. 

Have tried running from the terminal, but it just turns off ssh (kicks me off) and then no other difference I can see.

I'll play around a bit more and see if I can work it out smile  First the kids need to get off to bed though.....harder to work out!

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