Belkin's New Router

[Waldemar Brodkorb]

Hi,
Quantum Scientific wrote,

> I am working on a project with the Belkin F5D8230-4 wireless router.  The 
> source is on Belkin's site, but I haven't attempted a compile yet since the 
> toolchain is missing.  Looking at some of the binary apps it says they were 
> compiled with "GCC: (GNU) 3.2.3 with Broadcom modifications)", but this 
> toolchain does not come with Belkin's source, and a Google search of 
> Broadcom.com for 'gpl' gives a .pdf and one NIC driver.  I presume the 
> Broadcom modifications have to do with making compatible, or optimizing for 
> their CPU and/or ethernet chips which are on the 8230.
> 
> Does anyone know whether this toolchain is available/needed?

Linksys provides toolchain and source for toolchain in there "GPL"
Code Center.
 
> I've been unable to get any basic info from Airgo and Askey about their pre-N 
> radio driver, for example is it capable of ad-hoc and WDS mode, will it 
> compile/work with kernel 2.6 (not just 2.4.20), is there a NetBSD version, 
> where is documentation on this and other Belkin hardware, etc.  Am I out of 
> luck?

Sure. Broadcom never release any good documentation or specification
for free and without NDA.
 
> I'd made some minor modifications to Belkin's firmware image, but the router 
> then refuses to accept the image, on CRC.  If I change just one byte, the 
> image is rejected by the web-based load.  When I asked Belkin they said: 
> "Unfortunately the Pre-N router is a closed system that does not contain 
> enough memory to handle the loading of special firmwares or applications. 
> Unfortunately we cannot assist you with your current request. 
> If you have any further questions or concerns feel free to call us at (800)
> 223-5546 x2263, Monday-Friday, 6am-5:30pm PST."
> 
> I can however load my custom firmware via tftp and it runs fine, although my 
> modifications to the router's IP and to the heartbeat URL are *overridden*.  
> The router is designed to ping heartbeat.belkin.com every 2 seconds or so...  
> it should check in with me, not them.  I suspect that these and other 
> features (bridging) actually reside in EEPROM (dnvram?), rather than in 
> flash.  I saw reference in the object code to dnvram as "default nvram", and 
> there are utilities besides nvram called nvserial (the EEPROM is a serial 
> device) and nv2cfg (a mystery).  Again, no input is forthcoming from Belkin.
> 
> I am now preparing both a uClibc toolchain and Linksys' compile environment 
> for grafting in Belkin's code to run further tests.  Any advice appreciated.

You could take a look at http://openwrt.org and use the experimental
buildroot, which is specially designed for linksys wrt54g/wrt54gs
and asus wl500g/gd and others. May be you could integrate support
for belkin...

bye
    Waldemar

-- 
Geek by nature. OpenBSD by choice.
http://openbsd-geek.de/