Mesh/Flashing extender nodes

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Download the Image File For a Extender Node

The extender nodes that we currently support are:

Name Model No. OpenWRT Doc Firmware Image
Ubiquiti Nanostation M5 NSM5 OpenWRT Docs firmware: pre 2015 or 2015-2016
Ubiquiti Nanostation M2 NSM2 OpenWRT Docs firmware image
Ubiquiti Picostation 2 OpenWRT Docs firmware image
Ubiquiti Picostation M2 OpenWRT Docs
Ubiquiti Nanobeam M2 and M5 OpenWRT Docs
Ubiquiti Bullet M2 and M5 OpenWRT Docs

Flash the Extender Node

  • Configure your wired internet settings to use Manual IPv4 settings with IP: 192.168.1.10, subnet: 255.255.255.0, gateway: 0.0.0.0
  • Plug one Ethernet cable into your laptop on one end and into the "LAN" port of the power-over-ethernet power supply on the other end.
  • Plug another Ethernet cable into your antenna on one end and into the "POE" port of the power-over-ethernet power supply on the other end.
  • Push a pin into the reset hole and hold it.
  • With the pin held down, plug in the power to the power-over-ethernet power supply.
  • Watch the lights on the antenna - they will all flash together a few times, then they will flash up and down.
  • Once the lights on the antenna are flashing up and down, you can let go of the pin.

You should be able to ping the extender at 192.168.1.20.

 $ ping 192.168.1.20
 PING 192.168.1.20 (192.168.1.20) 56(84) bytes of data.
 64 bytes from 192.168.1.20: icmp_seq=1 ttl=64 time=1.54 ms
 64 bytes from 192.168.1.20: icmp_seq=2 ttl=64 time=0.826 ms

In your Linux terminal, type:

 git clone https://github.com/sudomesh/ubi-flasher
 cd ubi-flasher
 npm install
 ./flasher.js '<path to firmware>'

The terminal will tell you "The firmware has been successfully sent to the router. In a few seconds, the router should begin flashing its four status LEDs sweeping from left to right, then right to left (or up down, down up). This means that the router is flashing itself with the new firmware. Once the router goes back to having only the power LED lit, the router has been successfully flashed."

Wait until the antenna has only the power LED lit and you're done.

Nanostation M5

Firmware check failure

If you attempt to flash the extender and receive a 'Firmware check failed' error, then you have a version of the NSM5 that is protected from being flashed via the TFTP method. You will need to obtain a serial to USB interface (USB to UART TTL Module Serial Converter, 5 pin) and use it to flash the firmware.

  $ ./flasher.js openwrt-ar71xx-generic-ubnt-nano-m-squashfs-factory.bin
  Accessing http://192.168.1.20/login.cgi
  Connection timed out
  Sending openwrt-ar71xx-generic-ubnt-nano-m-squashfs-factory.bin to 192.168.1.20 using tftp put
  [Error: (Server) Firmware check failed]

TFTP Serial Output

When booting with the reset button held down on a Ubiquity NSM5, the following output is displayed.

 U-Boot 1.1.4-s958 (Jun 10 2015 - 10:56:20)                                                                                       
 
 DRAM:  64 MB                                                                                                                     
 Flash:  8 MB (0xc2, 0x20, 0x17)                                                                                                  
 Net:   AR8236                                                                                                                    
 eth0, eth1                                                                                                                       
 Board: Ubiquiti Networks AR9342 board (e855-22585.1122.0030)                                                                     
 Radio: 0777:e855                                                                                                                 
 Reset: Normal                                                                                                                    
 Hit any key to stop autoboot:  0                                                                                                 
 Setting default IP 192.168.1.20                                                                                                  
 Starting TFTP server...                                                                                                          
 Using eth0 (192.168.1.20), address: 0x81000000                                                                                   
 Will reset device configuration (Reset button active after 10 seconds).                                                          
 Erasing sector 123..126                                                                                                          
 
 First 0x7b last 0x7e sector size 0x10000                                                                                         
 .... done
 Waiting for connection: \                                                                                                        
 Receiving file from 192.168.1.10:49763                                                                                           
 Received 4325788 bytes                                                                                                           
 Firmware check failed! (1)

USB to Serial Connection

The following notes describe steps to interface with a Nanostation M5 (NSM5) via the serial interface. This may be necessary to manually load firmware onto the device if the web interface or TFTP methods of flashing the firmware become unavailable due to manufacturers disabling these methods of firmware flashing.

Order a USB to Serial Converter

USB to serial converter devices exist at a cost of $4 - $8 online, with much lower pricing and longer delivery times if ordered from China. Search for "USB to UART TTL", including "5 pin" in the search. Make sure the specifications do not mention anything other than 3.3 volts.

Connecting to Serial

You will need to connect the following pins from the converter to the pins on the device.

  • Ground (GND)
  • Serial Out (Transmit / TX)
  • Serial In (Receive / RX)

Begin by connecting the Ground of the converter to the Ground of the device. Next connect the Transmit/TX of the converter to the Receive/RX of the device, then connect the Receive/RX of the converter to the Transmit/TX of the device.

KEDSUM® CP2102 Module STC Download Cable USB 2.0 to TTL 6PIN Serial Converter For STC

Ubiquiti Nanostation NSM5 - Serial pins with connections

Serial Communications Program

You need to install a serial communication program. Linux users can use Minicom.

 sudo apt-get install minicom

By default the Minicom program will attempt to use /dev/tty8, and will also attempt to initialize the device (expecting a modem) by default.

 $ minicom
 minicom: cannot open /dev/tty8: Permission denied

Run the program so that it starts the program on the USB converter that is connected by adding `-D /dev/ttyUSB0`, and specify that it should skip initialization by adding `-o`.

You can also specify from the command line that it use the baud rate and '8N1' settings specified below by including `-b 115200 -8`.

 sudo minicom -D /dev/ttyUSB0 -o -b 115200 -8

In Minicom, CTRL-A to get settings, then Press O, to access settings

Go to Serial Port Setup, use these settings:

  • Set the serial device (should be /dev/tty/USB0)
  • Baud Rate (Bits Per Second): 115200
  • Settings '8N1' (short hand for 8 bits, no parity, 1 stop bit)
  • Turn off hardware and software flow control

Reboot the device, and it will let you drop into a command line. You will then have to figure out how to enable the network from the boot loader (Uboot or Redboot) and transfer the firmware to the device to flash it.

Interupting Boot

The device will not detect the key you press unless Minicom is configured properly.

  • To access the Help screen, Press CTRL-A, then press Z.
  • To access the configuration/settings, press CTRL-A, then press O.

From the configuration window, select to view the 'Serial port setup'

 $ sudo minicom -D /dev/ttyUSB0 -o -b 115200 -8
 Welcome to minicom 2.7
 
 OPTIONS: I18n 
 Compiled on Jan  1 2014, 17:13:19.
 Port /dev/ttyUSB0, 21:47:56
 
 Press CTRL-A Z for help on special keys
 
             +-----[configuration]------+
             | Filenames and paths      |
             | File transfer protocols  |
             | Serial port setup        |
             | Modem and dialing        |
             | Screen and keyboard      |
             | Save setup as dfl        |
             | Save setup as..          |
             | Exit                     |
             +--------------------------+
 
 +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
 | A -    Serial Device      : /dev/ttyUSB0                              |
 | B - Lockfile Location     : /var/lock                                 |
 | C -   Callin Program      :                                           |
 | D -  Callout Program      :                                           |
 | E -    Bps/Par/Bits       : 115200 8N1                                |
 | F - Hardware Flow Control : Yes                                       |
 | G - Software Flow Control : No                                        |
 |                                                                       |
 |    Change which setting?                                              |
 +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

By default the Hardware Flow Control will be enabled. Press 'F' to disable Hardware Flow Control. Press ENTER to exit the Serial port setup window, and then select EXIT to go back to the program.

At this point plug in the Ethernet cable to the 'Main' Ethernet port, with the other end connected to the 'POE' port on the Power Over Ethernet adapter that came with the device. As the device boots up, you'll see output similar to the following.

You'll need to make sure to press a key before it boots the default image.

 U-Boot 1.1.4-s958 (Jun 10 2015 - 10:56:20)
 
 DRAM:  64 MB
 Flash:  8 MB (0xc2, 0x20, 0x17)
 Net:   AR8236
 eth0, eth1
 Board: Ubiquiti Networks AR9342 board (e855-22585.1122.0030)
 Radio: 0777:e855
 Reset: Normal
 Hit any key to stop autoboot:  0
 Hit any key to stop autoboot:  0 
 ar7240> 

This will cause the U-Boot bootloader to drop into a command line.

Transfering file to U-Boot over Serial

U-Boot supports two protocols for transfering files: kermit or y-modem. Minicom does not support the kermit protocol, however it does support the y-modem protocol.