[fbagnato]

Hello all,

I have an old D-Link DIR-300 that I am wanting to put Gargoyle on.

The first steps in Gargoyle for this router is to install RedBoot and it points to https://wiki.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/DIR300#Install_RedBoot

So I follow the instructions.....

1) I successfully get the RedBoot> prompt

2) I startup the tftpd64 (also tried tftpd32) program and point it to my C:\ root directory where I have placed the necessary files and select my LAN interface (which is set to IP 192.168.20.80 as directed by the instructions).

3) In putty I enter the load ap61.ram command which triggers a file transfer in tftpd64/32

4) The file transfer shows 99% progress then ends in ERR as per the following screenshot



Funny thing is if I ignore the error and proceed with:

5) In putty now typing "go" it seems to work (loads temporarily bootloader)

6) So I unplug the cable, change my LAN ip to 192.168.1.2, plug the cable back into a LAN port on the router and telnet to 192.168.1.1 port 9000

7) I am presented with a DD-WRT> prompt

Because of the 99% progress loading ap61.ram I am chicken to proceed in case the file hasn't fully loaded but maybe I am being over cautious? (I don't want to brick the router because of carelessness.)

Is there any reason why load ap61.ram reports an error transferring even though the go command and the DD-WRT> prompt appear? (I have tried to disable my firewall but same error)

As the DD-WRT> prompt appears can I be confident that the file did fully transfer and I am safe to continue with the next RedBoot install steps? ie. fis init, etc. etc.

Thanks for your time and hope someone can answer.

Regards,

fbagnato

[kernel-panic69]

I think the following two bits from the Wiki prior to the ap61.rom install steps are pretty clear, but that's just me:

[fbagnato]

Hello kernel-panic69,

Thanks for your reply.

From the wiki:

[kernel-panic69]

I didn't write the Wiki, and have no idea whether "deepak" / "Sash" meant an actual serial console or the telnet console, but you were greeted with the DD-WRT prompt, which I seem to think means "success"... but you didn't give us any indication which exact file(s) you used, from what DD-WRT revision, etc. and I am not about to make any further speculation.

[fbagnato]

Hello again kernel-panic69,

The files I used are as follows:

1) D-Link DIR-300 Firmware that is installed is "dir300_v1.04-tomi-1.1.2.bin"
2) ap61.ram and ap61.rom are from https://download1.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/downloads/v24/Atheros%20WiSoc/D-Link%20DIR300/
3) tftpd64 and tftpd32 are version v4.64 downloaded from [/url]https://pjo2.github.io/tftpd64/[/url]

In https://download1.dd-wrt.com/dd-wrtv2/downloads/v24/Atheros%20WiSoc/D-Link%20DIR300/ there is also a "tftpsrv.zip" file which contains a single "tftpsrv.exe".

I also downloaded that file and ran the "tftpsrv.exe" application then tried to do the "load ap61.ram" command but I couldn't get it to transfer the file.

First I tried the command:

[fbagnato]

Hello kernel-panic69,

Well I decided to ignore the ERR on Tftpd and proceed with the remaining RedBoot instructions and they worked fine.

I did some more searching about the error and found several posts relating to exactly the same problem with the D-Link DIR-300 / Tftpd error and it was recommended to ignore the error, so I did.

Sadly though I did however end up bricking the router.

I had to do the process manually from the DD-WRT process as the "Download Fon Flash (special version required)" link on the Gargoyle Wiki for the D-Link DIR-300 was dead and I couldn't find that version by Googling.

I think it was my mistake due to

1) Missing an instruction on the page https://www.gargoyle-router.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=393 (I think I missed the "fis create rootfs" instruction)

2) Using gargoyle_1.3.9-atheros-root.squashfs and gargoyle_1.3.9-atheros-vmlinux.lzma instead of gargoyle_1.0.14-atheros-root.squashfs and gargoyle_1.0.14-atheros-vmlinux.lzma that were specified in the instructions.

Carelessness on my part.

Serves me right for working on it at 5AM in the morning after a long night.

Regards,

fbagnato

[kernel-panic69]

I don't know if the current version of FonFlash for Windows works with current Windows versions, personally, but I found archives of pages related to the "dead link" you mentioned that seem a little "confusing":

https://web.archive.org/web/20121230210404/http://wiki-robin.meshroot.com:80/Howto/Install/D-link_DIR-300

https://web.archive.org/web/20121228031841/http://wiki-robin.meshroot.com:80/Howto/Install/Fon_Flash

Direct download link for current FonFlash:

https://www.gargoyle-router.com/downloads/fon-flash/fon-flash-windows.zip

Last commit for FonFlash was 11 years ago, so I "presume" it should work on Win10 (in compatibility mode, worst-case scenario) but you need certain extra bits installed, I'm guessing:

https://github.com/ericpaulbishop/gargoyle/tree/master/fon-flash

Maybe you'll be able to recover the device and proceed. I will say this, current release of Gargoyle may not run well, if at all on the DIR-300. It bootlooped a TL-WR1043ND v1 of mine that ended up with OpenWRT on it so it could be used as a travel router tethered via USB to my cell phone.

[fbagnato]

Hello kernel-panic69,

In hindsight maybe I should have asked you about FonFlash before proceeding the manual way.

Re: recovering the router I have tried to bring up the RedBoot and DD-WRT prompts but neither worked.

The router is recognising that I have a cable plugged into the WAN or LAN ports but no more than that.

I think I am out of options.

Regards,

fbagnato

[kernel-panic69]

Serial port access is probably your only option, if the bootloader is intact.