Firmware recovery

If your Opengear device has become uncontactable due to corrupt firmware, this article will help you recover it.

Before attempting recovery, follow these preliminary steps to ensure that it is not uncontactable because of faulty configuration:

• Power on the Opengear device, ensure the power LED illuminates
• Wait 5 minutes
• Press the ERASE button twice within 2 seconds
• Wait 5 minutes
• Check whether the Opengear device responds at its default IP address of 192.168.0.1

If your Opengear device is not responding, proceed with recovery.  The high-level steps are:

1. Install DHCP and TFTP servers on a PC or laptop
2. Download Opengear device firmware
3. Connect the Opengear device directly to a PC or laptop via wired Ethernet
4. Configure the DHCP and TFTP servers
5. Boot the Opengear device in u-boot recovery mode
6. Wait for the Opengear device to network boot from the DHCP/TFTP server
7. Upgrade the Opengear device for permanent recovery

1. Install DHCP and TFTP servers

If you are using a Windows PC or laptop, we recommend the tftp32/tftp64 all-in-one TFTP and DHCP server – download it here (standard edition, zip).

If you are using a Linux PC or laptop, install the servers using your distribution's package management tools, e.g.:

apt-get install isc-dhcp-server atftpd

2. Download firmware

Download the latest release firmware for your Opengear device at from the Opengear downloads site current release directory.

Due to RAM constraints, some Opengear models also require a separate recovery image.  Check the Opengear downloads site recovery image directory and if a recovery image is listed for your Opengear model, download it.

3. Connect the network directly

Connect the Opengear's primary Ethernet port (usually labeled NET1) via an Ethernet patch cable directly to a wired Ethernet port on the laptop or PC.

On the laptop or PC, disable all other wired and wireless network connections besides the one connected to your Opengear device.

Configure the single enabled network connection with the following settings:

• Static configuration mode ("Use the following IP address", do not obtain settings automatically)
• IP address: 192.168.0.100
• Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

Other settings may be left blank.

4. Configure DHCP & TFTP servers

Ensure all firewall and antivirus software on the PC or laptop is configured to allow TFTP and DHCP via the enabled interface. If unsure, disable all firewall and antivirus software.

Ensure any other DHCP services are not running, e.g. on Windows click Start -> Programs  -> Administrative Tools  ->  Services and if the DHCP Server (not DHCP Client) is running, right click and stop it.

Windows instructions:

• Unzip the tftp32/64 zipfile
• Ensure the firmware images and the tftp32/64 executable are all the same directory, e.g. Downloads
• Either:
• Rename the recovery image to: image.bin
• Or, if you do not have recovery image:
• Rename the release image to: image.bin
• Launch the tftp32/64 executable
• Click Settings
• Click the GLOBAL tab
• Check TFTP Server
• Check DHCP Server
• Click the TFTP tab, and set:
• Base Directory: .
• Bind TFTP to this address: 192.168.0.100
• Click the DHCP tab, and set:
• IP pool start address: 192.168.0.200
• Size of pool: 1
• Boot File: image.bin
• Bind DHCP to this address: 192.168.0.100
• Click OK

Linux instructions:

• Copy the firmware image(s) into your TFTP server's base directory, e.g. /tftpboot or /srv/tftp
• Either:
• Rename the recovery image to: image.bin
• Or, if you do not have recovery image:
• Rename the release image to: image.bin
• (Re)start the TFTP server, e.g.:

service atftpd restart

• Edit your DHCP server configuration file, e.g. /etc/dhcp/dhcpd.conf
• Add a subnet definition for the single enabled interface, e.g.:

subnet 192.168.0.0 netmask 255.255.255.0 {
    range dynamic-bootp 192.168.0.200;
    filename "image.bin";
}

• (Re)start the DHCP server, e.g.:

service isc-dhcp-server restart

5. Boot in recovery mode

• Remove power from the Opengear device
• Press and hold the ERASE button using a paperclip or similar object
• Reapply power to the Opengear device, continuing to hold ERASE
• Continue to hold ERASE for 5 seconds then release

6. Network boot

• The Opengear device obtains a DHCP address then TFTP loads image.bin into RAM
• The Opengear device boots from the image in RAM
• To monitor progress, watch the server logs or the Opengear device's local serial console
• This may step is usually complete within 5 minutes, but may take longer

7. Make recovery permanent

• Some recovery images disable HTTPS, so first try browsing to http://192.168.0.200
• If there is no response, browse to https://192.168.0.200
• If the Opengear device still does not respond:
• Press the ERASE button twice within 2 seconds
• Return to step 5
• If this continues to fail, contact support to request an RMA
• Login if prompted
• Click System -> Firmware -> Browse and select the release image
• Set Firmware Options: -i
• Click Apply
• The Opengear device loads the good firmware and reboots automatically
• Recovery is complete