Can't flash u-boot on NSA 325 from arch - permission denied

[dtralara]

After trying (and failing) to install arch on my NSA325 version 2 with a new 4T HDD, I wanted to upgrade u-boot from the default one.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '
Marvell>> version
U-Boot 1.1.4 (Jul 18 2013 - 10:47:29) Marvell version: 3.5.9
')

I try to follow these instruction https://forum.doozan.com/read.php?3,12381 but I have permission problems for /dev/mtd devices even logged as root.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '
# flash_erase /dev/mtd0 0 4
flash_erase: error!: /dev/mtd0
error 13 (Permission denied)
# nandwrite /dev/mtd0 uboot.2017.07-tld-1.nsa325.mtd0.kwb
nandwrite: error!: /dev/mtd0
error 13 (Permission denied)
')
Is there's a way to change permission for these device files on my current linux system?

Is there another way to flash the uboot, that doesn't rely on a usb (since uboot doesn't seem to detect usb - at least during my numerous failed attempts to install arch)?

PS: Printing the "firmware environment variables" in the u-boot return this. Is there anything wrong here.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '
Marvell>> printenv
bootdelay=2
baudrate=115200
loads_echo=0
ipaddr=10.4.52.165
serverip=10.4.52.7
rootpath=/srv/ubuntu
netmask=255.255.255.0
nandEcc=1bit
MODEL_ID=AE03
PRODUCT_NAME=NSA-325v2
FEATURE_BIT=00
CONTRY_TYPE=FF
VENDOR_NAME=MitraStar Technology Corp.
run_diag=yes
ethaddr=10:7B:EF:88:07:6B
console=console=ttyS0,115200 mtdparts=nand_mtd:0xc0000@0(uboot)ro,0x7f00000@0x100000(root)
ethprime=egiga0
bootargs_root=root=/dev/nfs rw
bootargs_end=:::orion:eth0:none
image_name=uImage
standalone=fsload 0x2000000 $(image_name);setenv bootargs $(console) root=/dev/mtdblock0 rw ip=$(ipaddr):$(serverip)$(bootargs_end) $(mvPhoneConfig); bootm 0x2000000;
lcd0_enable=0
lcd0_params=640x480-16@60
ethmtu=1500
mvPhoneConfig=mv_phone_config=dev[0]:fxs,dev[1]:fxo
mvNetConfig=mv_net_config=(00:11:88:0f:62:81,0:1:2:3),mtu=1500
usb0Mode=host
yuk_ethaddr=00:00:00:EE:51:81
netretry=no
rcvrip=169.254.100.100
loadaddr=0x02000000
autoload=no
image_multi=yes
ethact=egiga0
arcNumber=4495
bootargs_stock=console=ttyS0,115200 mtdparts=nand_mtd:0x100000(uboot),0x80000(uboot_env),0x80000(key_store),0x80000(info),0xA00000(etc),0xA00000(kernel_1),0x2FC0000(rootfs1),0xA00000(kernel_2),0x2FC0000(rootfs2) root=/dev/nfs rw init=/init
bootargs_linux=console=ttyS0,115200 mtdparts=nand_mtd:0x100000(uboot),0x80000(uboot_env),0x80000(key_store),0x80000(info),0xA00000(etc),0xA00000(kernel_1),0x2FC0000(rootfs1),0xA00000(kernel_2),0x2FC0000(rootfs2) root=/dev/sda2 rw rootwait loglevel=8
bootcmd_linux=setenv bootargs $(bootargs_linux); ide reset; ext2load ide 0:1 $(loadaddr) /uImage; bootm $(loadaddr)
bootcmd_stock=setenv bootargs $(bootargs_stock); nand read.e $(loadaddr) $(kernel_addr) 0xA00000; bootm $(loadadr)
to_stock=setenv mainlineLinux no; setenv bootcmd \'run bootcmd_stock\'; saveenv; reset
to_linux=setenv mainlineLinux yes; setenv bootcmd \'run bootcmd_linux\'; saveenv; reset
bootcmd='run bootcmd_linux'
stdin=serial
stdout=serial
stderr=serial
mainlineLinux=yes
enaMonExt=no
enaCpuStream=no
enaWrAllo=no
pexMode=RC
disL2Cache=no
setL2CacheWT=yes
disL2Prefetch=yes
enaICPref=yes
enaDCPref=yes
sata_dma_mode=yes
netbsd_en=no
vxworks_en=no
disaMvPnp=no
enaAutoRecovery=yes
kernel_addr=0xc80000
pcieTune=no
pcieTune1=no
bootargs=console=ttyS0,115200 mtdparts=nand_mtd:0x100000(uboot),0x80000(uboot_env),0x80000(key_store),0x80000(info),0xA00000(etc),0xA00000(kernel_1),0x2FC0000(rootfs1),0xA00000(kernel_2),0x2FC0000(rootfs2) root=/dev/sda2 rw rootwait loglevel=8

Environment size: 2439/131068 bytes

')

[summers]

IIRC thats becuase when passed the mtd partitions to the linux command line, you passed the wrong name. This changed several years ago, IIRC you need something like orion_nand ... I dig some more when I get home, and see what I have on my NSA325 ...

Ah yes - try this old post: https://archlinuxarm.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=14424&p=63494

[dtralara]

Thank you.

I fail to modify the kernel arguments

From linux, I can't seem to find relevant options for fw_setenv
$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '
# fw_printenv
Warning: Bad CRC, using default environment
bootcmd=run distro_bootcmd
bootdelay=2
baudrate=115200
arch=sandbox
cpu=sandbox
board=sandbox
board_name=sandbox
stdin=serial,cros-ec-keyb,usbkbd
stdout=serial,vidconsole
stderr=serial,vidconsole
ethaddr=00:00:11:22:33:44
eth1addr=00:00:11:22:33:45
eth3addr=00:00:11:22:33:46
eth5addr=00:00:11:22:33:47
ipaddr=1.2.3.4
bootm_size=0x10000000
kernel_addr_r=0x1000000
fdt_addr_r=0xc00000
ramdisk_addr_r=0x2000000
scriptaddr=0x1000
pxefile_addr_r=0x2000
')

I found something from the u-boot prompt, I tried to modify this
$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '
setenv bootargs=console=ttyS0,115200 mtdparts=orion_mtd:0x100000(uboot),0x80000(uboot_env),0x80000(key_store),0x80000(info),0xA00000(etc),0xA00000(kernel_1),0x2FC0000(rootfs1),0xA00000(kernel_2),0x2FC0000(rootfs2) root=/dev/sda2 rw rootwait loglevel=8
')

But it doesn't seem to have an effect:
$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '
mtdinfo /dev/mtd0
libmtd: error!: cannot open "/dev/mtd0"
error 13 (Permission denied)
libmtd: error!: cannot open "/dev/mtd0"
error 13 (Permission denied)
mtd0
Name: uboot
Type: nand
Eraseblock size: 131072 bytes, 128.0 KiB
Amount of eraseblocks: 8 (1048576 bytes, 1024.0 KiB)
Minimum input/output unit size: 2048 bytes
Sub-page size: 512 bytes
OOB size: 64 bytes
Character device major/minor: 90:0
Bad blocks are allowed: true
Device is writable: false
')

What I'm missing?

[summers]

need to use $this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'mtdparts=mtdparts=orion_nand:')

Rather than $this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'mtdparts=orion_mtd:')

[dtralara]

I'm still confused, I can't make it work for some reason.

I interrupt boot and get the Marvell u-boot prompt, sett all the variables mentioning mtd, and then run the boot sequence.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '
Marvell>> setenv bootargs=console=ttyS0,115200 mtdparts=mtdparts=orion_nand:0x100000(uboot),0x80000(uboot_env),0x80000(key_store),0x80000(info),0xA00000(etc),0xA00000(kernel_1),0x2FC0000(rootfs1),0xA00000(kernel_2),0x2FC0000(rootfs2) root=/dev/sda2 rw rootwait loglevel=8

Marvell>> setenv bootargs_stock=console=ttyS0,115200 mtdparts=mtdparts=orion_nand:0x100000(uboot),0x80000(uboot_env),0x80000(key_store),0x80000(info),0xA00000(etc),0xA00000(kernel_1),0x2FC0000(rootfs1),0xA00000(kernel_2),0x2FC0000(rootfs2) root=/dev/nfs rw init=/init

Marvell>> setenv bootargs_linux=console=ttyS0,115200 mtdparts=mtdparts=orion_nand:0x100000(uboot),0x80000(uboot_env),0x80000(key_store),0x80000(info),0xA00000(etc),0xA00000(kernel_1),0x2FC0000(rootfs1),0xA00000(kernel_2),0x2FC0000(rootfs2) root=/dev/sda2 rw rootwait loglevel=8

Marvell>> setenv console=console=ttyS0,115200 mtdparts=mtdparts=orion_nand:0xc0000@0(uboot)ro,0x7f00000@0x100000(root)

Marvell>> boot
')



Although the kernel seems to pass

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '
dmesg | grep "Kernel command line"
[ 0.000000] Kernel command line: console=ttyS0,115200=mtdparts=mtdparts=orion_nand:0x100000(uboot),0x80000(uboot_env),0x80000(key_store),0x80000(info),0xA00000(etc),0xA00000(kernel_1),0x2FC0000(rootfs1),0xA00000(kernel_2),0x2FC0000(rootfs2) root=/dev/sda2 rw rootwait loglevel=8
')


I still have the permission problem...
$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '
mtdinfo /dev/mtd0 ⏎
libmtd: error!: cannot open "/dev/mtd0"
error 13 (Permission denied)
libmtd: error!: cannot open "/dev/mtd0"
error 13 (Permission denied)
mtd0
Name: uboot
Type: nand
Eraseblock size: 131072 bytes, 128.0 KiB
Amount of eraseblocks: 8 (1048576 bytes, 1024.0 KiB)
Minimum input/output unit size: 2048 bytes
Sub-page size: 512 bytes
OOB size: 64 bytes
Character device major/minor: 90:0
Bad blocks are allowed: true
Device is writable: false
')

[summers]

Ah you are setting it in bootargs, trick is in the line passed to the kernel you just need the mtdparts=orion_nand bit. In the usual set up that is expanded from the env variable mtdparts. So what's usual is that the variable mtdparts is set to mtdparts=orion_nand...

Let me read your environment variables more carefully. You can always check what has been passed in dmesg ...

As you are writing direct into bootargs, then I think you want.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'setenv bootargs_linux=console=ttyS0,115200 mtdparts=orion_nand:0x100000(uboot),0x80000(uboot_env),0x80000(key_store),0x80000(info),0xA00000(etc),0xA00000(kernel_1),0x2FC0000(rootfs1),0xA00000(kernel_2),0x2FC0000(rootfs2) root=/dev/sda2 rw rootwait loglevel=8')

The the bootcmd will copy that into bootargs.

[dtralara]

Frustrating.
The kernel option seems to be passed correctly.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '
dmesg | grep boot
[ 0.000000] Kernel command line: console=ttyS0,115200=mtdparts=orion_nand:0x100000(uboot),0x80000(uboot_env),0x80000(key_store),0x80000(info),0xA00000(etc),0xA00000(kernel_1),0x2FC0000(rootfs1),0xA00000(kernel_2),0x2FC0000(rootfs2) root=/dev/sda2 rw rootwait loglevel=8
[ 7.267100] 0x000000000000-0x000000100000 : "uboot"
[ 7.272401] 0x000000100000-0x000000180000 : "uboot_env"
')

Isn't it the case?

But I still have the same privilege problem

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '
Device is writable: false
')

Is this supposed to happen with this linux kernel?

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '
Linux alarm 4.4.227-1-ARCH #1 PREEMPT Sat Jun 13 04:13:48 UTC 2020 armv5tel GNU/Linux
')

Sorry and thanks for your patience.

[summers]

problem is you have $this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'console=ttyS0,115200=mtdparts=orion_nand:') when what you need is $this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', 'console=ttyS0,115200 mtdparts=orion_nand:') - so need to remove the extra "=" ...

[dtralara]

Thanks.
The correct setenv call was this one

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '
setenv bootargs_linux console=ttyS0,115200 mtdparts=orion_nand:0x100000(uboot),0x80000(uboot_env),0x80000(key_store),0x80000(info),0xA00000(etc),0xA00000(kernel_1),0x2FC0000(rootfs1),0xA00000(kernel_2),0x2FC0000(rootfs2) root=/dev/sda2 rw rootwait loglevel=8
')

And then it worked
$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '
#flash_erase /dev/mtd0 0 4
Erasing 128 Kibyte @ 60000 -- 100 % complete
# nandwrite /dev/mtd0 uboot.2017.07-tld-1.nsa325.mtd0.kwb
Writing data to block 0 at offset 0x0
Writing data to block 1 at offset 0x20000
Writing data to block 2 at offset 0x40000
Writing data to block 3 at offset 0x60000
')

$this->bbcode_second_pass_code('', '
U-Boot 2017.07-tld-1 (Sep 05 2017 - 00:42:03 -0700)
ZyXEL NSA325 2-Bay Power Media Server

SoC: Kirkwood 88F6282_A1
DRAM: 512 MiB
WARNING: Caches not enabled
NAND: 128 MiB
*** Warning - bad CRC, using default environment
')

Thanks again.