Notes from installing OpenWRT on the NSLU2...
This version of OpenWRT appears to have annoyed both the OpenWRT and NSLU2-Linux communities. The OpenWRT community asks "Why install OpenWRT on a device with no radio?" and the NSLU2-Linux community doesn't like yet another OS for the hardware. In any case, there are a few packages unique to the OpenWRT/NSLU2 implementation, one of which (Icecast) I wanted to try out. (It'll help as a test station for playing with LiquidSoap.)
Repurposing any device is risky and is done at your own risk. You cannot hold me responsible if the end result of your efforts is a "bricked" NSLU2.
I'm not sure but I think that if you're installing for the first time, you can just upload the new image via the Linksys web upgrade interface. Please let me know if this does or doesn't work. If you want to following in my footsteps (I'm not saying it works yet):
1) Download the image from www.slug-firmware.net. Be sure you're getting the version that you want/need!
2) If you're using a U-3 thumbdrive for storage, be sure to stick it in a Windows box, run the U-3 interface, and use the settings option to uninstall the U-3 software and format the thumbdrive. For certain project, such as "Icecast on the NSLU2", the additional memory isn't required. Note: I don't believe that NSLU2 OpenWRT is able to employ the thumbdrive as a boot device. At best, you'll be able to add storage and/or add swap memory.
3) Move the zip file (that you just downloaded) into a working directory and unzip it (don't need to be root).
4) As I'm installing OpenWRT over an Unslung install, I'll need to use the Upslug2 method.
5) In your working directory, run "svn co http://svn.nslu2-linux.org/svnroot/upslug2/trunk upslug2" to download the source code for Upslug2.
6) cd into the upslug2 folder
7) run "autoreconf -i"
8) run "./configure"
9) run "make"
10) run (as root) "make install"
11) cd back into your working directory
12) push the NSLU2 into upgrade mode, either via the power-cycle-with-a-paperclip mode or (as I did) via the upgrade option in Unslung. Once the top LED is flashing red+green, it is in upgrade mode.
13) check to see if upslug2 can "see" the NSLU2 by running "/usr/local/sbin/upslug2" with no arguments. It should return something like:
[root@localhost work1]# /usr/local/sbin/upslug2 LKG7F9788 00:0f:66:7f:97:88 Product ID: 65535 Protocol ID:65535 Firmware Version: RFFVFF [0xFFFF]
14) Push the new image to the NSLU2 by running '/usr/local/sbin/upslug2 --image="openwrt-nslu2-2.6-squashfs.bin"' It should look something like:
[root@localhost work1]# /usr/local/sbin/upslug2 --image="openwrt-nslu2-2.6-squashfs.bin"
LKG7F9788 00:0f:66:7f:97:88 Product ID: 65535 Protocol ID:65535 Firmware Version: RFFVFF [0xFFFF]
Upgrading LKG7F9788 00:0f:66:7f:97:88
. original flash contents * packet timed out
! being erased - erased
u being upgraded U upgraded
v being verified V verified
Display:
<status> <address completed>+<bytes transmitted but not completed>
Status:
* timeout occurred + sequence error detected
7fffff+000000 ...VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV
Rebooting... done
The line (above) with 7fffff in it is the status line. What's above is what you hope to end up with (all V's).
15) After a couple minutes, the upload will finish and the NSLU2 will automatically reboot.
16) Point a browser at 192.168.1.77 (the default IP for this sort of thing). You should now be able to access the web interface. (For some reason, my top LED is remains amber-colored).
17) Click on a few things in the web interface. The NSLU2 should ask you to set the root password.
18) The web-based ipkg manager appears to not be working so ssh into the box and run "ipkg update". Once that finishes, you can go back to the web interface and see what packages are available. (Note: you still won't be able to install via the web interface but you can see the list.)
19) Install whatever packages you want via "ipkg install packagename"