Hi,
I'm a HAM radio operator and priviledged to be able to help with the construction of the HAMNET in South Tyrol - Italy.
For those who not know, HAMNET is a WiFi based network for HAM radio. We use it as a backbone service for packet radio, APRS, and much more.
Now to my problem:
We have received for free about 40 Alvarion Subscriber Units that are no longer in use. But they don't use standart WiFi (even if they use a standart WiFi chipset).
And without a Router Unit we can't use these devices. My colleagues had the idea to remove the Alvarion hardware and use the enclosure (with 5,6GHz patch antenna) for Mikrotik hardware.
BUT the Alvarion hardware is really high quality and, in my opinion it would be a shame not to use it (it would be cheaper too).
So i thought about using OpenWRT, wich brings me to you.
I myself am not a Linux Guru and search some advice and help from you.
But first a bit technical data one the Device:
Model: SU-A-5.4-3-1D-VL
Processor: PowerPC MPC603e (Chip = Processor + PCIBridge = MPC8245)
SDRAM: 2x MT48LC2M32B2 (2x 64MBit)
Flash: JS28F640J3D (64Mbit)
Ethernet MAC: DP83816
and a CPLD
WiFi Chipset: Atheros
Now to my questions:
I have found binaries of OpenWRT for PowerPC processors, but none for the PowerPC 6xx series. Can I use another one or do i need to compile my own?
I don't know the boot loader of the device but i get this output at boot:
POST...
Memory test : passed
Ethernet MAC register test : passed
Ethernet PHY register test : passed
Ethernet interrupt test : passed
PlLightning BSP running on: 8245 AP/BreezeACCESS VL Board
Boot Based on Version: 1.0.14
Creation date: Feb 23 2003, 07:27:03
3
2
1
0
auto-booting...
boot device : tffs=0,0
unit number : 0
processor number : 0
host name : host
file name : S4_0_24.bz
inet on ethernet (e) : 10.0.0.1:ffffff00
host inet (h) : 10.0.0.253
user (u) : vx
ftp password (pw) : vx
flags (f) : 0x0
target name (tn) : breezeVL
other (o) : dp
Attaching to TFFS... done.
Check for file: /fl/FileName.txt
Regular Boot. Loading Main Version.
Loading /fl/S4_0_24.bz...inflate read: 0xd58e9
inflated O.K.
Starting at 0x20000...
Read Radio Configuration.
Please check the ethernet cable!
Base address = 88010000, irq 1
Init Function Table for Device: ar5212
DeviceID=FF13
macRev=56
phyRev=41
Radio Chip Rev=C6
wlan0 revisions: mac 5.6 phy 4.1 analog 3.6 eeprom 4.6
Set wlan0 radio frequency 5500
Initialized CHANNEL = 5500
BreezeACCESS-VL SU Is Starting........
System is powered-up...
WRN: The last reset was caused by : Unknown Reason.
Select Access Level
===================
1 - Read-Only
2 - Installer
3 - Administrator
>>>
SPCL: [*** Startup #00411 ***]
MSG: Searching a Wireless Network...Does anyone recognize this boot loader?
AND where does the boot loader end and the system begin? Or more precise:
Is this
boot device : tffs=0,0
unit number : 0
processor number : 0
host name : host
file name : S4_0_24.bz
inet on ethernet (e) : 10.0.0.1:ffffff00
host inet (h) : 10.0.0.253
user (u) : vx
ftp password (pw) : vx
flags (f) : 0x0
target name (tn) : breezeVL
other (o) : dpstill part of the boot laoder (this is a TFTP client with which I could load new firmware) or already part of the firmware.
In the second case I would only have one flash attempt and if that doesn't work I would need to use the JTAG interface (which I have never done and no idea how to do, I haven't even a working JTAG interface).
I realize that I'm probably asking a bit much, but if anyone is able and willing o help it would be appreciated very much as it would be a shame if that hardware would go to waste.
Cheers and greetings from South Tyrol,
Simon