Posted: Sat Aug 08, 2009 14:22 Post subject: ASUS WL-500W: Can't clear nvram via serial console
Thanks to all who have posted debrick help for this ASUS router. It has provided me plenty to try prior to making this post.
I have followed Peacock thread and the ASUS specific posts to debrick this router. I have no Ethernet communication with the router no matter what I do. I never get any ping response. This was weeks of work and reading posts. Frustrated, I walked away from it for 2 weeks.
I purchased the hardware to add serial connectivity. I have successfully added a serial port to the router and I now have a serial console communication. YEA!
I thought this would be a simple solution now by just clearing nvram and starting over. No such luck.
I *still* cannot clear the nvram. Here is what I get when the router boots (notice the garbled data in the “Build Date” line, not sure what this means.)
CFE version 1.0.37 for BCM947XX (32bit,SP,LE)
Build Date: ¥| 7¤ë 26 16:41:16 CST 2007 (root@localhost.localdomain)
Copyright (C) 2000,2001,2002,2003 Broadcom Corporation.
Initializing Arena
Initializing Devices.
et0: Broadcom BCM47xx 10/100 Mbps Ethernet Controller 3.90.23.0
rndis0: Broadcom USB RNDIS Network Adapter (P-t-P)
et1: Broadcom BCM47xx 10/100 Mbps Ethernet Controller 3.90.23.0
CPU type 0x29006: 264MHz
Total memory: 33554432 Kbytes
Total memory used by CFE: 0x80800000 - 0x8089B840 (636992)
Initialized Data: 0x808319B0 - 0x80834090 (9952)
BSS Area: 0x80834090 - 0x80835840 (6064)
Local Heap: 0x80835840 - 0x80899840 (409600)
Stack Area: 0x80899840 - 0x8089B840 (8192)
Text (code) segment: 0x80800000 - 0x808319B0 (203184)
Boot area (physical): 0x0089C000 - 0x008DC000
Relocation Factor: I:00000000 - D:00000000
Device eth0: hwaddr 00-1D-60-9F-21-BD, ipaddr 192.168.2.1, mask 255.255.255.0
gateway not set, nameserver not set
Null Rescue Flag.
Hello!! Enter Rescue Mode: (by Force)
Reading :: TFTP Server.
Failed.: Timeout occurred
Reading :: TFTP Server.
Failed.: Timeout occurred
Reading :: TFTP Server.
Failed.: Timeout occurred
Reading :: TFTP Server.
Failed.: Timeout occurred
Reading :: TFTP Server.
Failed.: Timeout occurred
Reading :: TFTP Server.
Failed.: Timeout occurred
Reading :: TFTP Server.
Failed.: Timeout occurred
Reading :: TFTP Server.
Failed.: Interrupted (I issued Ctrl-C here)
CFE> ping 192.168.2.10 (192.168.2.10 is my PC – 192.168.2.1 SHOULD be the router)
PANIC: out of memory!
PANIC: out of memory!
PANIC: out of memory!
192.168.2.10 (192.168.2.10) is not responding (seq=0)
192.168.2.10 (192.168.2.10): 1 packets sent, 0 received
*** command status = 1
CFE> PANIC: out of memory!
PANIC: out of memory!
^C
CFE>
I have never been able to ping the router from my PC. I got excited and tried again when I saw the “Reading :: TFTP Server.”. Nothing. I tried TFTP’ing “clear_nvram.trx” via ethernet to the router while it was looking for a TFTP server. I tried both IP addresses 192.168.2.1 (reported by the router via serial during boot) and the default 192.168.1.1. TFTP just times out.
So, I issue a serial reboot command and tried erasing nvram via CFE.
CFE> nvram erase
PANIC: out of memory!
*** command status = -5
CFE>
So, then I tried getting additional information that would help someone guide me further (notice the garbled data at the top again). Also notice the default IPaddress is NOT the IPaddress reported during boot despite the many hard resets I have done.
After the router has been powered up for a while the reboots start looking like this.
CFE version 1.0.37 for BCM947XX (32bit,SP,LE)
Build Date: ¥| 7¤ë 26 16:41:16 CST 2007 (root@localhost.localdomain)
Copyright (C) 2000,2001,2002,2003 Broadcom Corporation.
Initializing Arena
Initializing Devices.
et0: Broadcom BCM47xx 10/100 Mbps Ethernet Controller 3.90.23.0
rndis0: Broadcom USB RNDIS Network Adapter (P-t-P)
et1: Broadcom BCM47xx 10/100 Mbps Ethernet Controller 3.90.23.0
CPU type 0x29006: 264MHz
Total memory: 33554432 Kbytes
Total memory used by CFE: 0x80800000 - 0x8089B840 (636992)
Initialized Data: 0x808319B0 - 0x80834090 (9952)
BSS Area: 0x80834090 - 0x80835840 (6064)
Local Heap: 0x80835840 - 0x80899840 (409600)
Stack Area: 0x80899840 - 0x8089B840 (8192)
Text (code) segment: 0x80800000 - 0x808319B0 (203184)
Boot area (physical): 0x0089C000 - 0x008DC000
Relocation Factor: I:00000000 - D:00000000
Device eth0: hwaddr 00-1D-60-9F-21-BD, ipaddr 192.168.2.1, mask 255.255.255.0
gateway not set, nameserver not set
Null Rescue Flag.
Reading :: TFTP Server.
Failed.: Timeout occurred
Loader:raw Filesys:raw Dev:flash0.os File: Options:(null)
Loading: PANIC: out of memory!
Failed.
Could not load flash0.os:: File not found
CFE>
I would like to back up the CFE, but I have not been able to find instructions on how to do it without Ethernet connectivity. The only communication I have with the router is serial CFE console. I’m afraid to try the “erase all” (nvram and cfe, etc) without more experienced input first.
Any ideas what I should try next?
I never knew I had to QUICKLY hit Ctrl-C. I got a blank prompt and followed your instructions.
NVRAM was cleared and to my SHOCK DD-WRT firmware started and is working fine! I was expecting to have to reflash firmware, but it is working!
I can now access the router via wired and wireless!
I almost afraid to touch it. I have build 11296M NEWD Eko (01/01/09) mega loaded and running. This was the recommended version for this ASUS a few months ago. I got into trouble right after this flash.
Should I reflash to be safe, or let it be and call it a success?
You should reflash to 11650. 11296 is likely fine but it never got tested as much as 11650 did. Most people are reporting successes with the recommended new builds (like 12548) on the wl500w, so you should be able to be upgraded.
Pock's thread should be required reading for anyone with a WL500W. It is linked and marked at the top of the wiki install page for that router...second link down. _________________ SIG:
I'm trying to teach you to fish, not give you a fish. If you just want a fish, wait for a fisherman who hands them out. I'm more of a fishing instructor.
LOM: "If you show that you have not bothered to read the forum announcements or to follow the advices in them then the level of help available for you will drop substantially, also known as Murrkf's law.."
