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D-Link VPN Router => DSR-250 => Topic started by: oldsports on September 22, 2017, 08:17:06 PM

Title: Help to recover DSR-250
Post by: oldsports on September 22, 2017, 08:17:06 PM
Hi - I was given a DSR-250 router that I am trying to set up for a non-profit organization.  When I plug it in, the power light flashes on and off slowly and the LAN port I connected my computer to goes on and off.  It appears that the unit is constantly rebooting.  I tried resetting the unit using the Reset button on the back but there is no change in the unit's behavior.

At first, I thought that the Reset button was stuck but I can feel it engage and disengage when I press it.  I am wondering if the unit had a bad firmware flash.  Does anyone have any suggestions on what to try?  Is there a way to force a firmware update?  I downloaded the latest firmware so I have it available on the computer I am using to set it up as well as on a USB drive.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Help to recover DSR-250
Post by: GreenBay42 on September 25, 2017, 07:34:55 AM
I have seen recovery FAQs on the D-Link UK site but for other DSR products and I am not sure if the process is the same.

I would phone tech support to verify the unit is bad and maybe they do know the correct recovery process for the 250.
Title: Re: Help to recover DSR-250
Post by: FurryNutz on September 26, 2017, 02:28:05 PM
Link>Welcome! (http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=48135.0)


What browser are you using? I recommend using IE11 or FF. Don't use Chrome for any FW updates.

Check out the Router Recovery Process and see if that works, if not, you might contact D-Link support and ask for help and information regarding this...
Title: Re: Help to recover DSR-250
Post by: oldsports on September 27, 2017, 03:44:53 PM
Hi,

I cannot get to the router's web page - that is the root of my problem.  The firmware version noted on the bottom of the router is 1.01B56_WW and the hardware version is A1.  The router was donated to the non-profit org that I am helping out so I have no idea whether the firmware was updated from the original.  I am using Firefox to try to reach the router's web page.  I am located in North America (USA).

I found some information on the Web that says that the slow-blinking yellow power light means that the router is in recovery mode.  Apparently, it must be stuck in this mode.  I found a recovery process for the DSR-250N on D-Link's support page - does this work with the DSR-250 as well?  If not, can you point me to a place where I can see the DSR-250 recovery process?

I have sent a request to D-Link support - awaiting their response.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Help to recover DSR-250
Post by: FurryNutz on September 27, 2017, 03:50:00 PM
If the router is already in recovery mode, set up your PC for a static IP address of 192.168.0.49 and then open a web browser and try to access 192.168.0.1...

Try this, if this fails, I recommend phone contact with D-Link support and they should help you:
 Emergency Recovery Mode (http://forums.dlink.com/index.php?topic=44909.msg163599#msg163599)

Title: Re: Help to recover DSR-250
Post by: GreenBay42 on September 28, 2017, 06:36:38 AM
http://www.dlink.com/uk/en/support/faq/routers/wireless-routers/dsr-series/dsr_250n_recovery_process (http://www.dlink.com/uk/en/support/faq/routers/wireless-routers/dsr-series/dsr_250n_recovery_process)

USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. I am not sure the process is the same on the 250.

Did you receive the console cable?
Title: Re: Help to recover DSR-250
Post by: oldsports on September 28, 2017, 09:39:01 AM
Hi,

Yes, I have the console cable.  I had previously found the DSR-250N recovery process that you shared, but I did not want to try it since I have the DSR-250.  I am able to get the console to respond using the cable and the software mentioned in the process, but I am leery of flashing the firmware until I can get confirmation that the entire process works for the DSR-250.  I know that the firmware is shared between the two units, but not sure if the firmware memory locations are the same.  Thanks! 
Title: Re: Help to recover DSR-250
Post by: oldsports on September 28, 2017, 10:12:54 AM
Hello all,

I just spoke to D-Link tech support.  It turns out that the DSR-250 routers sold in my region (US) cannot do firmware upgrades through the console port.  This can be done in routers sold in other regions (i.e. UK).  The only way to upgrade the firmware is through the web GUI and since I cannot access it, the router is essentially bricked.

I was told to try to get a replacement via warranty, but there are two issues with that.  First, the router was donated to the non-profit so there is no proof-of-sale.  Second, I imagine that the router is several years old so that it is probably out of warranty anyway.  It was a donation so the non-profit did not lose any money but it would have been nice to get it working for them.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Help to recover DSR-250
Post by: FurryNutz on September 28, 2017, 10:20:45 AM
Did you happen to ask them if there was any way to reset the router or log in PW back to default from the console cable connection?

Hello all,

I just spoke to D-Link tech support.  It turns out that the DSR-250 routers sold in my region (US) cannot do firmware upgrades through the console port.  This can be done in routers sold in other regions (i.e. UK).  The only way to upgrade the firmware is through the web GUI and since I cannot access it, the router is essentially bricked.

I was told to try to get a replacement via warranty, but there are two issues with that.  First, the router was donated to the non-profit so there is no proof-of-sale.  Second, I imagine that the router is several years old so that it is probably out of warranty anyway.  It was a donation so the non-profit did not lose any money but it would have been nice to get it working for them.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Help to recover DSR-250
Post by: oldsports on September 29, 2017, 09:22:43 AM
Hi,

I don't think changing the password will help because I cannot get to the web GUI to use it.  I did not think to ask if the router could be reset through the console - I will follow up on that.  I will let you know what they say.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Help to recover DSR-250
Post by: oldsports on October 10, 2017, 05:33:41 PM
All,

I have solved my problem!  As I mentioned in my earlier post, the D-Link support tech on the phone told me that I could not perform a firmware flash on my US region DSR-250 using the console port.  He e-mailed me a process to return the unit to D-Link for replacement, but my unit is well beyond the warranty period so that was going to be a dead end.  The e-mail was sent from "help@dlink.com" so I figured I would send an e-mail back to that address explaining my problem to see if I could get a different answer.  I received a response from a different support tech who e-mailed me a process to flash the firmware using the console port.  The process was almost exactly the same as the one for the DSR-250N that GreenBay42 shared.  There is one command line that was slightly different between the two processes; I followed the process that the D-Link tech sent me and it worked!!  I was able to flash the DSR-250_A1_FW_2.11_WW firmware and I was able to reach the web GUI to set it up.

I would be happy to post the process (it is a PDF file) but I don't know how to add an attachment to my post.

Thanks for all of the replies!
Title: Re: Help to recover DSR-250
Post by: FurryNutz on October 11, 2017, 10:27:57 AM
Good to hear. Are you cable to copy and paste the text from the PDF here? Sometimes just highlighting the text and copy and paste from the PDF may work.
It would be good to get this information here for future users.

All,

I have solved my problem!  As I mentioned in my earlier post, the D-Link support tech on the phone told me that I could not perform a firmware flash on my US region DSR-250 using the console port.  He e-mailed me a process to return the unit to D-Link for replacement, but my unit is well beyond the warranty period so that was going to be a dead end.  The e-mail was sent from "help@dlink.com" so I figured I would send an e-mail back to that address explaining my problem to see if I could get a different answer.  I received a response from a different support tech who e-mailed me a process to flash the firmware using the console port.  The process was almost exactly the same as the one for the DSR-250N that GreenBay42 shared.  There is one command line that was slightly different between the two processes; I followed the process that the D-Link tech sent me and it worked!!  I was able to flash the DSR-250_A1_FW_2.11_WW firmware and I was able to reach the web GUI to set it up.

I would be happy to post the process (it is a PDF file) but I don't know how to add an attachment to my post.

Thanks for all of the replies!
Title: Re: Help to recover DSR-250
Post by: oldsports on October 11, 2017, 07:05:20 PM
Hi,

Here is the procedure:

[Topology]
DUT (LAN 192.168.10.1)----TFTP server(192.168.10.100)
|----------------------Console port PC(115200/8/n/1)
 
[procedure]
o Connect to console port. the serial port setting is 115200/8/n/1.
o Power ON the DUT.
o Quick press any key to go to U-boot prompt.
o Run a TFTP server on your host.

Set the environment variables (Bootloader)
==========================================
# setenv ipaddr <device's Ip in the subnet of Host> (ex: setenv ipaddr 192.168.10.1)
# setenv serverip <Host IP> (ex: setenv serverip 192.168.10.100 )
# setenv ethact octeth0 (this will set all tftp transfers on LAN ports)

Booting the board from Flash: (DSR-250 A4, DSR-250 A2, DSR-250 A1, DSR-150 A1 and DSR-150N A2)
==================================================================================
#setenv firm_flash 'erase 0x10080000 +0x1d20000;cp.b $(loadaddr) 0x10080000 0x1d20000'
#setenv boot_firm 'cp.b 0x10080000 $(loadaddr) 500000;go 0x4000200'
#setenv bootcmd 'run boot_firm'
#saveenv

TFTP the image and flash it (For all DSR-1000N/500N/250N/150N series)
=====================================================================
# tftp $(loadaddr) <path of firmware image> (ex: tftp $(loadaddr) DSR-250_A1_FW_2.11_WW)
# run firm_flash
# run boot_firm

*for the DSR-250 A4, after completion, you need to restore the factory defaults by HW button.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Help to recover DSR-250
Post by: oldsports on October 12, 2017, 09:01:24 PM
Hi,

Well, I thought all of my problems were solved!  As I mentioned in my last post, I was able to flash the firmware using the console port and access the web GUI to set up the router.  When I installed the router, I noticed that the lights on the WAN port did not light up when I plugged in the Internet connection.  I connected a computer to a LAN port; it received an IP address from the router but there was no Internet access - not surprising since the WAN lights did not come on.  I flashed the firmware again, this time using the application on the web GUI (versus the console port).  After the flash, the WAN port is still inoperable.  I do not see any settings in the web GUI that would prevent the WAN from operating.

Any ideas to try?  Do you think flashing the firmware to a previous version will help?  Right now 2.11_WW is installed.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Help to recover DSR-250
Post by: GreenBay42 on October 13, 2017, 06:50:40 AM
3.11 Build 101H is available - http://support.dlink.com/ProductInfo.aspx?m=DSR-250 (http://support.dlink.com/ProductInfo.aspx?m=DSR-250). Make sure you read the instructions in the release notes. Depending on the h/w revision you have you may need to install 2 firmware files (both included in the ZIP file).

EDIT: Just install the firmware file labeled "common" in the ZIP file. The release notes do not mention rev A1 for some reason. If you have issues updating that firmware let me know.

If you connect a computer to the WAN port do you get a link light? If not, the port may be dead.

Try a different cable.
Title: Re: Help to recover DSR-250
Post by: oldsports on October 13, 2017, 10:08:12 AM
GreenBay42,

Thanks for the response.  I did see Build 101H on D-Link's site.  Like you, I saw that the release notes did not mention hardware version A1 which is why I did not flash it.  I will give it a try and let you know what happens.

When I connect a computer to the WAN port the lights do not come on.  My first thought was that the port may be dead but I am hoping that something else is the problem.  It would be a shame to find out that the WAN port is dead after all of the work I put into getting the firmware updated!  Hopefully, the research I did on flashing the firmware via the console will help someone else.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Help to recover DSR-250
Post by: GreenBay42 on October 13, 2017, 10:59:48 AM
After looking in the database for released firmware, looks like 2.11 is the latest firmware for revision A1. Must have been a typo. I will have the support site corrected.

Got word from a tech the 3.11B101H "common" firmware does work with rev A1. I will send a request to update the release notes so you can try it.

Unfortunately if you have connected multiple devices to the WAN port (trying different cables) and you aren't getting a link light, that port is most likely dead. Definitely a shame after all the time you spent on it.