Quick Note 29
How to recover a router that will not boot
Contents
1 Introduction ... 3
1.1 Version ... 3
2 All 4000-Series routers (including IR2110B modems) Cirrusboot ... 3
2.1 Cirrus boot a TA2020B modem ... 10
3 WR41 and WR41v2 – IMX boot ... 11
4 DR64xx MK 1 – Centillium boot ... 16
5 WR44 – TESLA boot ... 18
Page | 3
1
INTRODUCTION
Sometimes a Digi Transport router fails to boot up. This often attributed to a damaged bootloader. Depending on the router model, there is recovery process which will restore the router to a working state.
*NOTE: The file numbers used here are examples only. They were what we used to create this document and the ones you use for your particular router may be different.
1.1
Version
Status
1.0 Draft
2.0 Updated and rebranded 2.1 Clean-up and Links update
1.2
Select a recovery method
Look at the Model Type in the following table and determine the appropriate recovery method
Model Type Recovery Method Section
All Sarian 4000 series Cirrus Boot 2 IR2110B, TA2020B* Cirrus Boot 2, 2.1
WR41 and WR41v2 IMX Boot 3
DR64xx MK 1 Centillium Boot 4
WR44 Tesla Boot 5
Page | 4 The following devices can use Cirrus boot firmware.
HR4110, ER4110, MR4110 routers and IR2110B, TA2020B* modems
*NOTE
The TA2020B router has NO Ethernet port so you need to set up FlashWriter to use the Serial cable only.
In the following example an ER4110 that will not boot will be recovered The recovery process is as follows:
Navigate to the flashwriter firmware section of the Digi website via this link http://transport.digi.com/firmware/flashwriter/
Then select the firmware version for your particular model (ER4110)
Normally you will choose the latest version (5129 here – you can choose older versions if required) http://transport.digi.com/firmware/flashwriter/5129/4000/ER4110/
Extract the two files from the zip file
ER4110-5129.all ER4110-5129.ini
This is the content of the .ini file:
115200,n,8,1 scan,
Amend the .ini file by inserting an extra line (cirrusboot,) beforethe scan – as shown
115200,n,8,1
cirrusboot,
scan,
Next, navigate to the ftp firmware section of the Digi website via this link http:// http://transport.digi.com/firmware/5129/4000/ER4110/
Page | 5 s602v21M.rom
and rename its file name and extension as follows: s602v21M.rom – rename it to ER4110-5129.sbios
You now have three files which represent the Cirrusboot firmware ER4110-5129.all
ER4110-5129.ini ER4110-5129.sbios
To continue, you will need to have FlashWriter installed on your computer. You can download the latest version from here.
http://ftp1.digi.com/support/firmware/flashwriter.msi Once installed, proceed as follows:
Close any software such as HyperTerminal that may be using the serial port Power off the router
Make a note of the serial number and revision from the bottom of the router. eg 012345/4403a Connect the serial cable to the router
Connect the router to the LAN port of your PC
Open FlashWriter, click "Advanced > Set remote TFTP IP address"
Enter an IP address from your own subnet that the router can use temporarily, click OK Set the "Communications port number" to your serial port number
Ensure only "Use event driven mode" & "Use TFTP" are enabled Click Load, at the warning click Yes then OK
Locate the folder that you extracted earlier and select the .all file eg: HR4110-5123.all Click OK on the FlashWriter window that tells you to power up the router
Use a pen to hold in the reset button on the bottom of the router, whilst this is held in, power on the router
FlashWriter will start loading a boot image, you can now let go of the reset button
When prompted for the serial number, enter the number you noted earlier but without any leading zeros, ie 012345 becomes 12345, click OK
When prompted for the hardware revision number, enter the number you noted earlier eg 4403a, click OK
FlashWriter will continue and load a new image and factory default config files
FlashWriter will reboot the router when done and report "Device upgraded successfully" Close FlashWriter.
You need to ensure that you have selected the correct COM port for your PC to connect to the serial port of the router. My PC uses COM 1 yours may be different.
Page | 6 Make sure that you have ticked the following two boxes:
Use event driven mode Use TFTP
Then under “Advanced”
Set remote TFTP IP address
This needs to be a value that is on the SAME subnet as the PC it is connected to. (My PC is on the 10.1.x.x subnet, your may not be)
Page | 7 Click LOAD
Follow the on-screen instructions….
Page | 8 This is what you should see..
Page | 9 Enter the serial number of the router (6 digits) when prompted
Enter the hardware revision number when prompted……
Page | 10 ………..And completes successfully
2.1
Cirrus boot a TA2020B modem
The TA2020B has NOEthernet port.The Cirrus boot procedure is the same except you will use the Serial connection only And you must un-tick all the boxes in the Flashwriter menu...
Page | 11
3
WR41 AND WR41V2 –
IMX BOOT
In the following example a WR41 that will not boot will be recovered The recovery process is as follows:
Navigate to the flashwriter firmware section of the Digi website via this link http://transport.digi.com/firmware/flashwriter/
Then select the firmware version for your particular model (WR-41)
Normally you will choose the latest version. (But you can choose older versions if required. Here we used 5123)
http://ftp1.digi.com/support/firmware/sarian/flashwriter/5123/WR41/ Extract the two files from the zip file
WR41-5123.all WR41-5123.ini This is the .ini file
115200,n,8,1 setwanmodule, gensshkey, scan, time3,
Amend the .ini file by inserting an extra line (imxboot,) beforethe scan – as shown
115200,n,8,1 imxboot, setwanmodule, gensshkey, scan, time3,
Page | 12 Next, navigate to the ftp firmware section of the Digi website via this link
http://transport.digi.com/firmware/ftp/5123/WR41/ Extract the .rom file
s595v36M.rom
and rename its file name and extension as follows: s595v36M.rom – rename it to WR41-5123.sbios
You now have three files which represent the IMXboot firmware
WR41-5123.all WR41-5123.ini WR41-5123.sbios
You will need to have FlashWriter installed on your computer. You can download the latest version from here.
http://ftp1.digi.com/support/firmware/flashwriter.msi Once installed, proceed as follows:
Attach the Ethernet AND the Serial cable and then in FlashWriter select the appropriate COM port.
Click “LOAD” and select the .ALL file to load Follow the onscreen instructions
Page | 13
Page | 14
Momentarily power off the router
Page | 15
Enter the router’s hardware revision number.
NOTE that when doing IMX BOOT you use the COM(n) setting NOT (ETH)
Page | 16
4
DR64XX MK 1 –
CENTILLIUM BOOT
In the following example a DR6410 Mk I with Option module that will not boot will be recovered The recovery process is as follows:
Navigate to the FlashWriter firmware section of the Digi website via this link http://transport.digi.com/firmware/flashwriter/
Then select the firmware version for your particular model.
Normally you will choose the latest version (5129 here – you can choose older versions if required) http://transport.digi.com/firmware/flashwriter/5129/6000/DR64x0_MK_I_HSDPA_Option/
Extract the two files
DR64x0_MK_I_HSDPA_OPTION-5129.all DR64x0_MK_I_HSDPA_OPTION-5129.ini
1) Open FlashWriter
2) Connect a serial cable and a LAN cable
3) Select the .ALL file that you just extracted in the previous steps 4) Hold down the reset switch _while inserting the power
5) Continue to hold the reset switch down until you see the "flash blocks" loading firmware, then release the reset switch and let the router continue to boot as normal.
Page | 18
5
WR44 –
TESLA BOOT
In the following example a WR44 that will not boot will be recovered The recovery process is as follows:
Navigate to the FlashWriter firmware section of the Digi website via this link Get the .all file and .ini file for the router from the standard FlashWriter files. http://ftp1.digi.com/support/firmware/transport/flashwriter/5131/WR44/ Extract the two files from the zip file
WR44-5131.all WR44-5131.ini This is the .ini file
115200,n,8,1 setwanmodule, gensshkey,
sendcommand,del config.da0, scan,
Amend the .ini file by inserting an extra line (teslaboot,) beforethe scan – as shown
115200,n,8,1 teslaboot, setwanmodule, gensshkey, sendcommand,del config.da0, scan,
Page | 19 Next, navigate to the ftp firmware section of the Digi website via this link
http://ftp1.digi.com/support/firmware/transport/ftp/5131/WR44/ Extract the .rom file
s607v39M.rom
and rename its file name and extension as follows: s607v39M.rom – rename it to WR44-5131.sbios
You now have three files which represent the Teslaboot firmware
You will need to have FlashWriter installed on your computer. You can download the latest version from here.
http://ftp1.digi.com/support/firmware/flashwriter.msi Once installed, proceed as follows:
Attach the Ethernet AND the Serial cable and then in FlashWriter select the appropriate COM port.
Click “LOAD” and select the .ALL file to load Follow the onscreen instructions
Page | 20
Select the W-WAN module when prompted...
Click OK and follow the on screen instructions
Page | 22 You will be prompted to enter the six digit router serial number
Page | 23 The new firmware is loading now...
Page | 24
6
ERRORS AND HOW TO IDENTIFY THEM – WR44 TESLA BOOT
Some times when you may encounter an error like this...
In which case, it is possible that you have a hardware problem. The following procedure can help to identify where the problem is.
Turn the router upside down (easier that way) connect a serial cable to the router's ASY 0 port and open up Teraterm or hyperterminal.
Now, _hold in the reset button and then _insert the power connector. All the LEDs should light steady. Now look at the output of the serial port. You should see one of two things:
Page | 25 A stream of data 4 digits wide running continuously Vertically down the screen (This is Good)
It shows that your serial cable is OK
Page | 26 A stream of garbage running Horizontally across the screen (This is Bad)
