u-boot-nwsp2-classic experiments

[fvdw]

This evening I modified u-boot of the nwsp2 to load a kernel and rootfs from usb stick.
The usb stick has just one partition formatted in ext3 and it loads the kernel just reading the uImage file from the ext3 partition as a normal file.
(U-boot can mount ext2/ext3 partitions and load a kernel file from the partition, you can specify the name of the file.)
If no kernel (with the right name) is detected on the usb disk/stick it continues and tries to boot from hard disk as usual.

This makes preparation of a new hard disk much easier. No need for a PC running Linux anymore. Just put the new hard disk in the nwsp2 and put the usb stick and boot it up. It will run from usb disk and will give you ssh access. The root filesystem on the usb stick contains all tools you will need.
You can partition and format the hard-disk, as it is not in use by the system, transfer the necessary files to prepare the disk with firmware. When done shut it down and remove the usb plug and it should come up booting from hard disk assuming you have set it up right.

U-boot can be flashed on an original Lacie nwsp2 without opening the box using the program clunc and a tftp server running on another PC in the network. These two are needed to flash u-boot. After flashing u-boot you can put in the usb stick boot from it and proceed with the installation as explained above.

There is also a way without flashing u-boot to install fvdw-sl firmware on a original Lacie nwsp2 classic without opening the box or removing the hard disk....But that requires another PC running linux with the program "clunc", a tftp server, nfs server and a kernel and root files system for the nwsp2.
More for experienced users.
It is easier to flash u-boot using the clunc program to enable usb-boot. But flashing the boot loader is always with some risk, if it fails the box will become a brick.
More later.

[bozo29]

This is the biggest news since I registered on this forum. :applause :applause
I am very happy to hear that and I'm looking forward to seeing what's next.

Good Job.

When we receive complete instructions to rewrite the "U-Boot"?
This procedure is valid for both models (classic and lite)?

Thank you for all you do here.

Excellent work! :applause

[wd9895]

WoW !

Impressive news !

[fvdw]

@bozo

need some time more, it seems u-boot has some problems with scanning usb disk, that can delay of booting with several minutes when an usb disk is connected not meant for booting. Will try to solve that.
In principle the new u-boot is compiled for the classic. The source code I downloaded from Lacie doesn't contain yet support for the Lite. So I am not sure if it can be compiled for the Lite as well. But the Lite already has a bootloader with GPT support and I discovered it has also possibility to open a backdoor to let it use a different boot sequence. Meaning no reason to flash u-boot on the Lite but a smart trick to let it boot from usb. The new u-boot for the classic will also have this possibility (the old one doesn't has this unfortunate, so on the classic the only way is flashing it.)
To be continued.

[bozo29]

Thanks for the complete answer.

I have two NWSP2 (one classic and one lite).
When will be ready the new u-boot I will install on NWSP2-classic even if I do not need (I am not yet over 2.2TB HDD), but I will put to test.
I guess after I replace the u-boot I will be able to make MS-DOS partitions.
I mean, he will know to read MS-DOS partitions, not only GPT, right?

I have another question:
- there can be saved old u-boot, to do the reverse? . . just in case. . . .

[fvdw]

yes the new version of u-boot will be able to handle hard disk with ms-dos partition table and GPT.
Yes you save and write the old one back, but if the new one works there is no reason as the new one can do what the old one was capable off + more.
If the new one doesn't work then you have a problem....
But if you follow the procedure correctly then it will be ok, I have written now more then 90 times an u-boot to the flash memory. The good thing is that you have two nwsp's 2 that makes it much easier to do this. We can use one to write to the other, so no need for a PC running Linux. I am still optimizing the u-boot setup.

[bozo29]

I'll wait for you to finish the job and I will install the new u-boot on my nwsp2 classic.
Linux environment is not a problem for me, because I have Ubuntu live, Parted Magic and RIP Linux live, so I have more options.

:punk

[fvdw]

The new u-boot will be able to boot from usb, loading a kernel file image from partition 1 and using a root file system also present on partition 1 of the usb. This means you only need an usb stick formatted in ext3 with those files.

I discovered that Lacie has already code inside thier u-boot version to enable boot via usb and newer versions of u-boot might be already capable of booting an kernel image from usb, dependent if they kept the change in.
Unfortunate the way they implemented it makes that it will boot a kernel from usb but use the root file system on sda7.
What we want is running the nwsp2 completely from usb to be able to fiddle with the harddisk so using a filesystem present on the usb disk.

Anyhow initiating a reboot via usb is as follow (original Lacie implementation).
Power down the nwsp2
Press the power button to start it but hold it pressed until the red LED comes on
release the power button when the red led come s on, the red led will now start blinking, (if you wait too long with releasing it will abort the procedure)
when the red led starts blinking press again the power button and release it (you have 5 seconds to do this)
The red led will stops blinking after pressing and releasing the power button and now it will try to boot from usb.
If that fails it will try to boot from hard disk.
If you do something wrong with the buttons it will boot from hard disk.

We have two options,
(1) keep this method to initiate the boot via usb (of course adapt the boot commands to load file system from usb)
(2) let it always check if an usb disk is present with a kernel and if so try to boot it and if not boot from hard disk

Option 1 means compatible with original lacie
Option 2 has a disadvantage that it delays the boot process if a usb disk is connected without an image and root filesystem. Seems u-boot takes its time to discover that. The advantage would be that you can run the nwsp2 from usb stick instead of hard disk without the need to press and hold buttons or after power down.
In the new U-boot option 2 could also be activated later by setting an environment variable in u-boot

PS the usb boot should not only on nwsp2 but also on the big5 or internetspace en networkspace max and more lacie devices

[bozo29]

Is your firmware and you decide how it will be.

To me it seems o.k. both, but I would vote in addition to version 2.
This eliminates the complication of button pressing again and again and if you miss the second time you take it over again ..........

Option 2 has a disadvantage that it delays the boot process if a usb disk is connected without an image and root filesystem

O.K. Besides you and Joko, who actually work in this firmware, how often someone restarts the HDD? Probably very rare.

So my opinion is that version 2 is better, but again, it is an opinion and that.
I will be happy with either of the two versions you decide you like it better.

Anyway, after I bought the first nwsp2, I was disappointed with the original software and if I will not discover you, certainly would not be buying another one.

So, thank you.

[fvdw]

I will make a version which you change via linux userland. I could compile some tools that let you set environment variables in flash and that are used by u-boot. The default setting will be the button procedure but by setting an environment variable you can change this to always try to boot from usb before attempting the hard disk. And most probably we will have then also a way to do this on the Lite without flashing it as the bootloader of the Lite has a backdoor that we can use :mrgreen: