N66U B1 vs B2

[DrTeeth]

Why is the later B2 version apparently shipping with an earlier version of the CFE bootloader than the B1?
Apparently the B2 ships with 1.0.1.0 and the B1 with 1.0.1.2 (seen some reports of 1.0.1.3 in later models).

I am only asking as my N66U, which I have had for 6 months has started misbehaving on 2.4GHz - the transmitter only stays on for a few seconds at a time and Amazon has already sent out a replacement.

TIA

DrT

 

[Python46]

The RT-N66u that I got about a week ago from NewEgg is labeled B1 and has CFE 1.0.1.3 in it. It came with .274 firmware.
My question is, has anyone actually seen one labeled B2?
How can we tell which flash chip version we have?

 

[DrTeeth]

I hope mine is a B1 with the 1.0.1.3.

The B2s have actually started shipping and I got the info about the CFE from the posts of people who had got them. I'm very puzzled about this too..

DrT

 

[RMerlin]

The CFE has very little impact on the actual router functionality/reliability. I wouldn't worry too much about the CFE version tags themselves. Could be that revision B1 needed some additional fixes that weren't required for revision B2 perhaps, so the place manufacturing the B2 routers weren't using that newer revision.

They could also possibly be two parallel code branches rather than the same code branch.

 

[RMerlin]

How can we tell which flash chip version we have?

The System log would tell you for sure, early in the boot process when it initializes the flash.

 

[DrTeeth]

The System log would tell you for sure, early in the boot process when it initializes the flash.

Isn't it on the sticker on the base of the router?
http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showpost.php?p=70787&postcount=3

 

[RMerlin]

Isn't it on the sticker on the base of the router?
http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showpost.php?p=70787&postcount=3

The sticker will tell the HW revision, but if you want to be 100% sure about the flash chip, either syslog or dmesg will tell you.

 

[Python46]

Does the log fragment below tell you which flash chip I have? If so, which one is it?
TIA

Dec 31 16:00:06 kernel: Physically mapped flash: Found 1 x16 devices at 0x0 in 16-bit bank
Dec 31 16:00:06 kernel: Amd/Fujitsu Extended Query Table at 0x0040
Dec 31 16:00:06 kernel: Physically mapped flash: CFI does not contain boot bank location. Assuming top.
Dec 31 16:00:06 kernel: number of CFI chips: 1
Dec 31 16:00:06 kernel: cfi_cmdset_0002: Disabling erase-suspend-program due to code brokenness.
Dec 31 16:00:06 kernel: Flash device: 0x2000000 at 0x1c000000
Dec 31 16:00:06 kernel: Creating 5 MTD partitions on "Physically mapped flash":

 

[DrTeeth]

The sticker will tell the HW revision, but if you want to be 100% sure about the flash chip, either syslog or dmesg will tell you.

What line does one look for? Are the differences significant. It would be nice to have the CFE 1.0.1.3, so if I feel the need to dabble with DD-WRT, it will be easier. TBH, Merlin is where I am at and where I am staying.

DrT

 

[RMerlin]

Does the log fragment below tell you which flash chip I have? If so, which one is it?
TIA

Dec 31 16:00:06 kernel: Physically mapped flash: Found 1 x16 devices at 0x0 in 16-bit bank
Dec 31 16:00:06 kernel: Amd/Fujitsu Extended Query Table at 0x0040
Dec 31 16:00:06 kernel: Physically mapped flash: CFI does not contain boot bank location. Assuming top.
Dec 31 16:00:06 kernel: number of CFI chips: 1
Dec 31 16:00:06 kernel: cfi_cmdset_0002: Disabling erase-suspend-program due to code brokenness.
Dec 31 16:00:06 kernel: Flash device: 0x2000000 at 0x1c000000
Dec 31 16:00:06 kernel: Creating 5 MTD partitions on "Physically mapped flash":

This is the original chip.

The new one should have a reference to Spansion (either in syslog or dmesg - I'm not sure because I never had one in hands to confirm).

 

[Python46]

Thank You for the quick reply to my question. I also did a search for 'Spansion' and it didn't show in the entire log file.

 

[RogerSC]

What line does one look for? Are the differences significant. It would be nice to have the CFE 1.0.1.3, so if I feel the need to dabble with DD-WRT, it will be easier. TBH, Merlin is where I am at and where I am staying.

DrT

For RMerlin firmware, "Tools" in the admin web GUI also displays the CFE version.

 

[DrTeeth]

For RMerlin firmware, "Tools" in the admin web GUI also displays the CFE version.

Sorry, I know where to find that infoirmation. I was asking RMerlin (or intending to) what line in the log gives the information about the flash chip itself.

DrT