View source for RUT9xx Bootloader Upgrade

==Summary==

A Bootloader is a program that loads the operating system or some other system software for the router after completion of the power-on self-tests; it is the loader for the operating system itself. 

This article is a guide on how to upgrade RUT9xx router's bootloader.

==Checking your Bootloader version==

You can find your Bootloader version in the '''Firmware''' section under the '''System''' tab; in short: '''System->Firmware'''. You'll find the Bootloader version under '''Current Firmware Information''', just below Kernel version:

[[Image:Configuration examples bootloader how to find.PNG]]

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==When should you upgrade==

The current Bootloader version for standard RUT9xx Firmwares is '''3.0.1'''. If your current Bootloader version is older than '''3.0.1''', it is highly advised that you upgrade it. 

If your Bootloader version is '''1.0.0''' or newer, you will have to use the WebUI Bootloader; the image file name should look like this: '''uboot_for_tlt_rut9xx_3.0.1_'''webui'''.bin'''

If your Bootloader version is older than '''1.0.0''', the image file name should be '''uboot_for_tlt_rut9xx_3.0.1.bin''' (without '''webui''')
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==Upgrade==

===Set up a static IP address for your PC===
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Bootloader can be upgraded from the '''Bootloader menu'''. When the '''Bootloader menu''' becomes accessible, the router will not be working in its regular state, i.e., all regular services will be disabled, including DHCP, that is why you will first need to setup a '''Static IP address''' on your PC to be able to reach the router. 

The router's default address is '''192.168.1.1''', therefore your PC's IP address should be in the first sub-net as well, for example: 192.168.1.'''2'''. The last number can be any number in the range of '''2 - 254''', i.e., '''192.168.1.2 - 192.168.1.254'''. Your PC's IP can't be the same as the router's (192.168.1.1), it can't be '''192.168.1.255''' and '''192.168.1.0''' as well.

A short guide on how to set up a static IP address will be presented bellow.

====Windows 10====
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To set up a static IP address on your PC using Windows 10, you must first go to the '''Ethernet Settings''' menu. In order to reach the '''Ethernet Settings''' window, enter "'''Change Ethernet Settings'''" in the Windows search field located next to '''Start''' in the bottom left corner of the screen and press '''Enter''':


[[Image:Configuration examples bootloader windows ethernet.PNG]]
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When in the '''Ethernet Settings''' window, click '''Change adapter options''' located under "'''Related settings'''":


[[Image:Configuration examples bootloader windows change adapter options.PNG]]
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When in the '''Network connections''' window, right-click on the Network connection associated with your Ethernet adapter and click '''Properties''':


[[Image:Configuration examples bootloader windows network connections new.PNG]]
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Next, click on '''Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)''':


[[Image:Configuration examples bootloader windows network connections ipv4.PNG]]
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Check '''Use the following IP address''' and enter a static IP for your PC (e.g., '''192.168.1.2'''); netmask - '''255.255.255.0'''; gateway - '''192.168.1.1''':


[[Image:Configuration examples bootloader windows network connections static ip.PNG]]
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To undo these changes, go back to the '''Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)''' window and check '''Obtain an IP address automatically'''.

====Linux====
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To set up a Static IP on a Linux OS, open the '''Terminal''' app and enter the '''ifconfig''' command. The '''ifconfig''' command provides information on network interfaces. Find the '''Ethernet''' interface and memorize its name, which should be located on the left side of the table:


[[Image:Configuration examples bootloader linux ifconfig.png]]
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Next, enter this command into the terminal:

 sudo ifconfig '''if_name''' '''ip_addr''' up
Replace '''if_name''' with the name of your Ethernet interface and '''ip_addr''' with the IP address that you want. Following from the example above the full command would look like this:

 sudo ifconfig eth0 192.168.1.2 up
[[Image:Configuration examples bootloader linux static ip.png]]
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After this you PC's IP address should have been changed. To check, enter the '''ifconfig''' command again and check to see if the Ethernet interface has the IP that you assigned:


[[Image:Configuration examples bootloader linux ifconfig check.png]]
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To undo the changes use these two commands one after the other:

 sudo dhclient '''eth0''' -r
 sudo dhclient '''eth0'''

Replace '''eth0''' with the name of your Ethernet interface.

===Bootloader menu===
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Next, unplug the router's '''Power Supply Unit (PSU)''' and leave only one LAN Ethernet port plugged in (for your computer). The other LAN ports and the WAN Ethernet port have to remain unplugged for the duration of the following procedure. 

Press and hold the '''Reset''' button. Plug the Power Supply back in while holding the '''Reset''' button. After plugging in the Power Supply, hold the '''Reset''' button for 3-4 sec. After this, all Ethernet port LEDs should start blinking. 

Now you can enter the Bootloader menu. Open your web browser and enter your router's IP address into the URl field and add '''/uboot.html''' at the end ('''192.168.1.1/uboot.html'''). This may not work if have connected to the router's WebUI at least once before, since the URL's path may be cached. To solve this problem you can clear the browser's cache or, more simply, open the browser in a mode that doesn't cache browsing information. On '''Google Chrome''' it's called '''Incognito''' and can be reached by pressing '''ctrl+shift+n'''; on '''Mozilla Firefox''' it's called '''Private Browsing''' and can be reached by pressing '''ctrl+shift+p'''; on '''Microsoft Edge''' and '''Internet Explorer''' it's '''InPrivate''', can be reached by pressing '''ctrl+shift+p'''.

Upload the Bootloader image and click '''Update U-Boot''':


[[Image:Configuration examples bootloader uboot menu.PNG]]
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After this you should be greeted with a window such as this:


[[Image:Configuration examples bootloader uboot menu update in progress.PNG]]

This means that the upgrade has started and you can close the browser window. The update itself takes only a few seconds but the router will restart afterwards. The entire process before the router becomes reachable again will take 2-3 minutes


'''IMPORTANT NOTE''': don't forget to change back your PC's IP address because it might cause problems when connecting to other devices or no internet access if you haven't specified any DNS servers manually.

===Firmware menu===
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You can also update the router's Firmware this way if needed. Instead of /uboot.html, the path for Firmware is /index.html. You will find a guide on how to upgrade your Firmware to a newer version via the Bootloader menu '''[[RUT9xx Firmware via The Bootloader Menu|here]]'''.