[OpenWrt-Users] From WRT120N (unmodified) to TP-Link-TL-WR1043ND

[Harry Putnam]

I want to study the crap that is hitting my router from INTERNET, but
my sorry old WRT120N does not seem to have any provision for emailing
me the logs. It appears I have to stop what I'm doing, connect to the
WRT120N and open manually mail them.

My internet connection starts with a coax connected Direcpath modem,
then on thru the WRT120N router, and on to several pc's running
various windows, linux, solaris OSs, by ethernet or wl.

I want to setup an TL-WR1043ND v1.8 just to be able to install openwrt
on a well studied (for openwrt install) router to get the emailed logs
going.

So, the logs are my main purpose... I'm sure I will get more and more
interested in the onslaught... and will eventually try some more
sophisticated stuff.

Right now I'd like a nice safe openwrt install that does the log
mailing and doesn't take a computer whiz to install on the cited router.

It's been a very good while since I messed with owrt. However, I seem
to recall getting really confused just figuring out which image to use
and where (exactly) to find it.

I'm hoping some of the old hands here will be willing to provide URLS
that get me the goods with little or no confusion and is a stable
release.

[Aaron Z]

Post by Harry Putnam
Right now I'd like a nice safe openwrt install that does the log
mailing and doesn't take a computer whiz to install on the cited
router.

The stock firmware will supposedly email out logs per the screenshot on this article: http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-reviews/31653-tp-link-tl-wr1043nd-ultimate-wireless-n-gigabit-router-reviewed?start=2
Log page screenshot:
Loading Image...

Post by Harry Putnam
It's been a very good while since I messed with owrt. However, I
seem to recall getting really confused just figuring out which
image to use and where (exactly) to find it.
I'm hoping some of the old hands here will be willing to provide URLS
that get me the goods with little or no confusion and is a stable
release.

Not sure I am an "old hand", but I have installed OpenWRT on a half dozen 1043s.
The instructions on the Wiki are decent and reference the correct firmware: http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wr1043nd#installation
Essentially, download the http://downloads.openwrt.org/attitude_adjustment/12.09/ar71xx/generic/openwrt-ar71xx-generic-tl-wr1043nd-v1-squashfs-factory.bin file, go to "Firmware upgrade" on the current website, point it to the openwrt-ar71xx-generic-tl-wr1043nd-v1-squashfs-factory.bin file you downloaded and hit "upgrade"

In case the above links don't work:
Wiki page for the 1043:
http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wr1043nd#installation

Attitude Adjustment download link to flash from factory:
http://downloads.openwrt.org/attitude_adjustment/12.09/ar71xx/generic/openwrt-ar71xx-generic-tl-wr1043nd-v1-squashfs-factory.bin


Aaron Z

[Harry Putnam]

Post by Aaron Z

Post by Harry Putnam
Right now I'd like a nice safe openwrt install that does the log
mailing and doesn't take a computer whiz to install on the cited router.

The stock firmware will supposedly email out logs per the screenshot
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-reviews/31653-tp-link-tl-wr1043nd-ultimate-wireless-n-gigabit-router-reviewed?start=2
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/images/stories/wireless/tplink_tlwr1043nd/tplink_wr1043nd_log.jpg

Good to know and very useful links... thanks.

Now if I'm lucky maybe my old owrt installation on that router won't
have disabled or buggered up the factory OS.

I have'nt yet hooked into the network to check things out.

[Harry Putnam]

Post by Aaron Z
Essentially, download the
http://downloads.openwrt.org/attitude_adjustment/12.09/ar71xx/generic/openwrt-ar71xx-generic-tl-wr1043nd-v1-squashfs-factory.bin
file, go to "Firmware upgrade" on the current website, point it to the
openwrt-ar71xx-generic-tl-wr1043nd-v1-squashfs-factory.bin file you
downloaded and hit "upgrade"

Hey, that looks like, and is the same size as, the img I installed
nearly 2yr ago.

Have there been changes since Jan 2012? The file appears to be the
exact same size... or does that not mean it hasn't changed?

[Aaron Z]

Post by Harry Putnam
Hey, that looks like, and is the same size as, the img I installed
nearly 2yr ago.
Have there been changes since Jan 2012? The file appears to be the
exact same size... or does that not mean it hasn't changed?

The file date is 03-Apr-2013 08:15 so that is when it was last edited.
File sizes don't change much as there is a limited amount of space available.
If you are upgrading from an older version of OpenWRT, you want to use the sysupgrade file found at: http://downloads.openwrt.org/attitude_adjustment/12.09/ar71xx/generic/openwrt-ar71xx-generic-tl-wr1043nd-v1-squashfs-sysupgrade.bin

Aaron Z