Legacy Open Mesh: How Do I Re-Flash Access Point Firmware Using macOS?
Question
How do I re-flash my Legacy Open Mesh access point firmware using macOS?
Environment
- Datto Access Points
- Legacy Open Mesh
Answer
Firmware is the software on the access point that makes it run. In some cases, your access point may need to have its firmware "flashed". "Flashing" the firmware simply means you're re-installing or updating the firmware on the access point.
Re-flashing the firmware may be needed due to the access point running outdated firmware or technical problems with the access point.
Follow the steps below to re-flash. Ensure that you re-pair the access point with your CloudTrax network after re-flashing.
Requirements
- A computer with a physical Ethernet port.
- A network cable to connect the access point to the Ethernet port.
Firmware Flashing Steps
Step 1: Download and save the flash utility
Download the desired firmware version from Access Point Firmware Downloads.
For macOS, you will need to download the ap51-flash utility, and a signed firmware binary file for the access point model you wish to flash.
Step 2: Determine your Ethernet adapter's BSD Device Name.
Go to your Apple Menu -> About This Mac -> System Report... -> Network and find your Ethernet adapter in the list. Note the "BSD Device Name". It should start with "en", such as en0.
Figure 1: Find Ethernet adapter
Step 3: Open terminal window
The flash utility is a console application, so must be run in a terminal window. Please launch the terminal window for your Linux distribution.
Step 4: Navigate to the downloads folder
With the terminal open, you will need to go to the Downloads directory.
Type cd Downloads then press Enter to go to the Downloads directory. If you downloaded the flash utility elsewhere, you'll need to go there instead.
Step 5: Adjust permissions
The flash utility must be made executable. To do so, type sudo chmod +x ap51-flash-osx then press Enter. You may be prompted for your root password to make this change, please enter it if prompted.
Step 6: Execute flash utility to flash firmware
To run the flash utility, type sudo ./ap51-flash-osx en# firmware.bin then press Enter.
en# should be the BSD Device Name found in Step 2, and firmware.bin is the binary file your downloaded in Step 1.
Step 7: Connect your access point
Connect your Open-Mesh access point to the Ethernet adapter and power it on. If it was already powered on, power-cycle it by removing the power and plugging it back in.
Step 8: Completing the flash
The output of the flash utility should look similar to below. If after 10 seconds you don't see this, try power cycling your access point and check that the Ethernet adapter you selected is correct.
| [ac:86:74:02:23:f8]: type 'OM2P router' detected [ac:86:74:02:23:f8]: OM2P router: tftp client asks for 'fwupgrade.cfg', ser fwupgrade.cfg portion of: embedded image (1 blocks) ... [ac:86:74:02:23:f8]: OM2P router: tftp client asks for 'kernel', serving ke portion of: embedded image (1861 blocks) ... [ac:86:74:02:23:f8]: OM2P router: tftp client asks for 'rootfs', serving ro portion of: embedded image (4097 blocks) ... [ac:86:74:02:23:f8]: OM2P router: image successfully transmitted - writing to flash ... [ac:86:74:02:23:f8]: OM2P router: flash complete. Device ready to unplug. |
The process typically takes 3 - 5 minutes. You should see a message stating "flash complete. Device ready to unplug".
Step 9: Flash additional access points.
The flash utility will not exit on its own. You can either plug in another access point to start the process again, or hit "Ctrl+C" to exit the console and flash utility.
Step 10: Re-pair the access point.
After flashing and connecting your access point back to your local network, it may need to be "paired" with your CloudTrax network again. An alert may show up advising you to re-pair the access point once it comes back online.
