ab-solution.sh: line 4306: can't create /jffs/.ash_tmp:Read-only file system

[jtonky]

Hello, first time user of Merlin,
ASUS RT-N66U H/W Ver B1
running RT-AC66U_380.65_4 OK
Noted download site says to use 66U for B1 however the hardware disagree's and wont take it
Enable JFFS custom scripts and configs and SSH ETC, reboot
Formatted USB 2.0 device EXT 2. Tried 3 of such devices and tried EXT 3.
Used GPARTED Live, Merlin command line its self, https://www.partitionwizard.com/ which is the easiest.

admin@RT-AC66U-1368:/tmp/home/root# df
Filesystem 1K-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on
/dev/root 22912 22912 0 100% /
tmpfs 119764 588 119176 0% /tmp
devfs 119764 0 119764 0% /dev
/dev/sdb5 954964 150 905509 0% /tmp/mnt/sdb5​

Run

"curl -O ab-solution.info/releases/latest/ab-solution.sh && sh ab-solution.sh"​

as instructed
Downloads and executes sh ab-solution.sh
Choose your colour theme, 1
This is the problem I have, its like its ignoring the USB. The USB has a red light so i can see when its being operated, it stays steady on so no activity on the USB.

Set new theme: [1-6 e=Exit] 1

reading services state
cp: can't create '/jffs/.ash_tmp': Read-only file system
ab-solution.sh: line 4306: can't create /jffs/.ash_tmp: Read-only file system
ab-solution.sh: line 4306: can't create /jffs/.ash_tmp: Read-only file system
ab-solution.sh: line 4306: can't create /jffs/.ash_history: Read-only file system
ab-solution.sh: line 4306: can't create /jffs/.ash_tmp: Read-only file system
cat: can't open '/jffs/.ash_tmp': No such file or directory
tee: /jffs/.ash_history: Read-only file system
starting UI​

Goes to

This is AB-Solution 3.8 by thelonelycoder
--------------------------------------------------
Welcome to AB-Solution The Ad Blocking Solution
--------------------------------------------------
i install AB-Solution
e exit AB-Solution

Choose i


Install Info:
This will install, update or re-install
AB-Solution, depending on your selection and
the previous state of the installation
-------------------------------------------------

Continue? [1=Yes e=Exit]​

Choose 1

checking your routers firmware
Asuswrt-Merlin detected, continuing...

checking firmware capability: dos2unix
dos2unix is available, continuing...

checking internet access with Level 3 DNS
209.244.0.3 responded, continuing...

running a basic router check
- /jffs/ needs a reboot
-------------------------------------------------

performing a basic check of your router's settings
Check not passed!

changes were made that require the router to reboot.
These are necessary for AB-Solution to work afterwards.

You have to enter the curl install command again
to continue with the install after reboot due to the
temporary volatile storage location.
-------------------------------------------------

Continue? [1=Yes e=Exit]​

Says "- /jffs/ needs a reboot" Press 1 to continue, a reboot happens but i am in a loop now. Cant get it to work. Interestingly if i take the USB device out router it makes no difference. The installer does not seem to want to install to the USB, what i am missing? i have googled the heck out of this and no joy!

Can anyone help please I am missing something?

 

[thelonelycoder]

Please use the AB-Solution thread for AB related questions and suggestions.
Thanks

Your routers /jffs/ partion appears to not be formatted properly.

In the router WebUI, go to Administration/System, tick "Format JFFS partition at next boot", Apply it and reboot the router.
Once rebooted, make sure the "Enable JFFS custom scripts and configs" is set to Yes on the same page.
Then try to install AB again.

 

[jtonky]

Please use the AB-Solution thread for AB related questions and suggestions.
Thanks

Your routers /jffs/ partion appears to not be formatted properly.

In the router WebUI, go to Administration/System, tick "Format JFFS partition at next boot", Apply it and reboot the router.
Once rebooted, make sure the "Enable JFFS custom scripts and configs" is set to Yes on the same page.
Then try to install AB again.

Thanks, yes I looked on the AB-Solution thread but I agree it sounds like something Merlin is not doing rather than the AB-Solution installation.
I have tried setting "Format JFFS partition at next boot" and "Enable JFFS custom scripts and configs" to No.
"Format JFFS partition at next boot", Yes, reboot
"Format JFFS partition at next boot", No, reboot
"Enable JFFS custom scripts and configs", Yes, reboot, test, fail
"Enable JFFS custom scripts and configs", Still Yes, reboot, test, fail
"Enable JFFS custom scripts and configs", Still Yes, reboot, test, fail
"Enable JFFS custom scripts and configs", Still Yes, reboot, test, fail

Is there anything i can do at command line to check the format of the partition?

 

[thelonelycoder]

What does it say in Tools/Sysinfo under "Internal Storage", jffs should be listed there.
Also, the df command should return something like this for the jffs partition, /dev/mtdblock4:

Filesystem           1K-blocks      Used Available Use% Mounted on
/dev/root                31744     31744         0 100% /
devtmpfs                127748         0    127748   0% /dev
tmpfs                   127852       532    127320   0% /tmp
/dev/mtdblock4           64256      1764     62492   3% /jffs

Use df -T, this shows the Filetype used.

 

[thelonelycoder]

And the syslog will surely have relevant error messages. Look through it.

 

[john9527]

ASUS RT-N66U H/W Ver B1
running RT-AC66U_380.65_4 OK
Noted download site says to use 66U for B1 however the hardware disagree's and wont take it

Can you provide additional info on this? It says you have an N66 but are running firmware for an AC66? That isn't going to work too well.

 

[thelonelycoder]

Can you provide additional info on this? It says you have an N66 but are running firmware for an AC66? That isn't going to work too well.

Missed that bit, good lord...

 

[jtonky]

What does it say in Tools/Sysinfo under "Internal Storage", jffs should be listed there.
Also, the df command should return something like this for the jffs partition, /dev/mtdblock4:

Filesystem           1K-blocks      Used Available Use% Mounted on
/dev/root                31744     31744         0 100% /
devtmpfs                127748         0    127748   0% /dev
tmpfs                   127852       532    127320   0% /tmp
/dev/mtdblock4           64256      1764     62492   3% /jffs

Use df -T, this shows the Filetype used.

Thanks, had a look and JFFS is shown as unmounted

Internal Storage
NVRAM usage 49022 / 65536 bytes
JFFS Unmounted

DF command output
admin@RT-AC66U-1368:/tmp/home/root# df
Filesystem 1K-blocks Used Available Use% Mounted on
/dev/root 22912 22912 0 100% /
tmpfs 119764 612 119152 1% /tmp
devfs 119764 0 119764 0% /dev
/dev/sda1 7568570 18014398509424725 7235071 100% /tmp/mnt/ESD-USB

 

[jtonky]

Can you provide additional info on this? It says you have an N66 but are running firmware for an AC66? That isn't going to work too well.

good point well made. The AC firmware was the only one that worked
"Invalid Firmware Upload, Firmware upgrade unsuccessful." etc.
Now i know a bit more about recovering the device and just let it be for an hour etc... ill try and get it back into the recovery mode as it would never take Merlin "as is". As you say perhaps this is why /jffs/ is not working! i will try this now and this may take some time eh!

 

[thelonelycoder]

good point well made. The AC firmware was the only one that worked
"Invalid Firmware Upload, Firmware upgrade unsuccessful." etc.
Now i know a bit more about recovering the device and just let it be for an hour etc... ill try and get it back into the recovery mode as it would never take Merlin "as is". As you say perhaps this is why /jffs/ is not working! i will try this now and this may take some time eh!

In recovery mode, you can only install original Asus firmware. Install the latest Asus firmware, then use the WebUI to install the latest AsusWRT-Merlin firmware.

 

[RMerlin]

The RT-N66U has 32 MB of flash, and the RT-AC66U has 128 MB. Running the wrong firmware is a really bad idea.

 

[jtonky]

good point well made. The AC firmware was the only one that worked
"Invalid Firmware Upload, Firmware upgrade unsuccessful." etc.
Now i know a bit more about recovering the device and just let it be for an hour etc... ill try and get it back into the recovery mode as it would never take Merlin "as is". As you say perhaps this is why /jffs/ is not working! i will try this now and this may take some time eh!

Well that took a good time, but goo news. i got it into the recovery, the one where you go to 192.168.1.1 but can never quite work out how you got there. gives you to choice to upload the RT-N66U_380.65_4.trx or reboot to clear the nvram. used chrome as ie never seems to work. uploaded ok. left it an hour and its now working. now have a formatted /jffs/ and its all now working with AB-Solution installed OK! thanks all!