TFTP a file.img to router (de-brick)

English Network/Internet
1

I can’t seem to find the right command to “put” with TFTP the file.img onto my router.

I have a UART attached:
https://forums.opensuse.org/showthread.php/540028-cp210x-USB-to-UART-USB_UART-ttyS0-COM3
So, I know that the router is listening on port 192.168.1.1

This is the directions with WindBlows:
https://kb.netgear.com/19841/Reinstall-the-firmware-on-a-router-without-the-setup-CD-recovery-tool

I’ve tried many variations of:

tftp -v 192.168.1.1 put /path/file.img

from reading: https://superuser.com/questions/581812/put-file-with-tftp-client-in-linux

I can ping 192.168.1.1… I just can’t seem to get TFTP to send the file.

2

Your command is not what is described under link you mention. Compare carefully. And yes, each character counts.

If you are using the correct command, copy and paste here exact command invocation and full ouptut.

3

imWACC0@linux-ezt4:~> tftp
tftp> 192.168.1.1
?Invalid command
tftp> connect 192.168.1.1
Error: Address family for hostname not supported
192.168.1.1: unknown host
tftp> connect
(to) 192.168.1.1
Error: Address family for hostname not supported
192.168.1.1: unknown host
tftp> /run/media/imWACC0/USB/WNDR3700-V1.0.7.98NA/
?Invalid command
tftp> put /run/media/imWACC0/USB/WNDR3700-V1.0.7.98NA/37.img
No target machine specified.
tftp> -v 192.168.1.1 put /run/media/imWACC0/USB/WNDR3700-V1.0.7.98NA/37.img
?Invalid command
tftp> 192.168.1.1 put /run/media/imWACC0/USB/WNDR3700-V1.0.7.98NA/37.img
?Invalid command
tftp> tftp 192.168.1.1 put /run/media/imWACC0/USB/WNDR3700-V1.0.7.98NA/37.img
?Invalid command
tftp> put 192.168.1.1 /run/media/imWACC0/USB/WNDR3700-V1.0.7.98NA/37.img
No target machine specified.
tftp> put 192.168.1.1 /run/media/imWACC0/USB/WNDR3700-V1.0.7.98NA/37.img
No target machine specified.
tftp> 192.168.1.1 put /run/media/imWACC0/USB/WNDR3700-V1.0.7.98NA/37.img
?Invalid command
tftp> connect
**(to) **192.168.1.1
Error: Address family for hostname not supported
192.168.1.1: unknown host

4

What I have inputted is independent of what should be inputted. But there’s the text of input and output.

5

Hi
Have you confirmed the tftp server is running on the router and which port?


nmap 192.168.1.1
6

First use ‘cd’ to navigate to the place you saved the img file to. If downloaded from a browser, most likely ~/Downloads
Then replace ‘file.img’ in the command by the actual name of the .img file
Then, ( copy/paste entire command )


tftp -v 192.168.1.1 -c put file.img

You f.e. did not use the ‘-c’ option.

7

Yes I have.

I’m not trying to mkdir, why do I need ‘-c’? Also, in your example, there’s no dir listed on router.
If I understand you, I don’t open the TFTP program first… I just do CMD right from */run/media/imWACC0/USB/ *?

Dose anyone know if I need to “-m binary” for this?

8

Ok, I just got it done.

  1. I just do CMD right from */run/media/imWACC0/USB/ *?
  2. Dose anyone know if I need to “-m binary” for this?
  1. Yes, TFTP dose not understand path from root dir. CD to the folder that the file is in, then open TFTP
  2. I ass-u-me that is true, or at least that is what worked for me

As a side note, I did not need to use a password. Turn on Verbose and Binary Mode, 'put file.img’

9

P.S. open TFTP, in the correct dir, with '*tftp 192.168.1.1"

I don’t know why I was getting

tftp> connect 192.168.1.1
**Error: Address family for hostname not supported**
**192.168.1.1: unknown host**

Ok, this is weird, I just found this onDD-WRT Wiki however it dose not make much sense to me:

Linux: Most Linux distros either include a tftp client or have one available in their packages. This example uses atftp.
atftp --option “mode octet” --verbose -p -l code.bin 192.168.1.1
For OS X and Linux users I suggest opening a terminal window and entering the following commands.
tftp 192.168.1.1
binary
rexmt 1
timeout 60
trace
after all that type (but do not hit enter just yet)
put firmwarefile.bin
plug in router and immediately hit enter.

Now apply power to your router. The tftp client will continuously retry uploading the firmware until the router responds. Hopefully, the router will briefly awaken, allowing the firmware upgrade to be sent. About two minutes later, the router will reset and become operational with the new firmware.

After the PUT is complete the router will stop pinging for 2 or 3 minutes while the firmware is flashed… Don’t panic, this is normal. Once you start receiving pings again, the firmware has been flashed and you should be able to access the router again. You should reset to defaults before configuring the router again.

I’m going to add some stuff for the next person that’s looking to do this with Linux:
DD-WRT, open source router firmware, OpenWrt, Tomato, debrick, unbricking, router recovery, recover from a bad flash, get your router working again, power light blinks, flash dd-wrt firmware

10

Does you system where you are doing it have IPv4 address? What is output of “ip a”?

11

You may configure openSUSE with YaST -> tftp-server.