R7000P Firmware update failing, including via tftp

[kb1ooo]

Hi,

I seemed to have corrupted my firmware during an update.  I have tried the tftp method with my wired mac, and the firmware appears to upload properly but the router is still not working. Steps I took:

1. Download the R7000P-v1.3.1.64_10.1.36 firmware.

2. Unzip to get R7000P-v1.3.1.64_10.1.36.chk file.

3. Set my mac up for static ip ethernet (IP: 192.168.1.10, netmask: 255.255.255.0, gateway: 192.168.1.1)

4. Turn off router, wait 10 seconds, turn on and wait for flashing orange.

5. Use tftp to upload the firmware:

$ tftp 192.168.1.1
tftp> put R7000P-v1.3.1.64_10.1.36.chk
Sent 49379763 bytes in 45.9 seconds
tftp> quit

I waited and the light never turned orange.  Rebooted, same thing.  Tried a second time, still not working. Any help greatly appreciated.

Thanks, 

Marc

[antinode · Accepted solution]

   First, thanks for the concise, thorough problem report.  As such,
it's a rare treat around here.

> $ tftp 192.168.1.1
> tftp> put R7000P-v1.3.1.64_10.1.36.chk

   Ooh.  So close.  You might reasonably expect a Unix-Unix transfer to
default to "binary", as with many plain FTP client programs, but you
might be wrong:

      mba$ man tftp
      [...]
           ascii    Shorthand for mode ascii.
     
           binary   Shorthand for mode binary.
      [...]
           mode transfer-mode
                    Set the mode for transfers; transfer-mode may be one of
                    ascii or binary.  The default is ascii.
      [...]

      https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/m-p/1622096#M102004

[antinode · Accepted solution]

   First, thanks for the concise, thorough problem report.  As such,
it's a rare treat around here.

> $ tftp 192.168.1.1
> tftp> put R7000P-v1.3.1.64_10.1.36.chk

   Ooh.  So close.  You might reasonably expect a Unix-Unix transfer to
default to "binary", as with many plain FTP client programs, but you
might be wrong:

      mba$ man tftp
      [...]
           ascii    Shorthand for mode ascii.
     
           binary   Shorthand for mode binary.
      [...]
           mode transfer-mode
                    Set the mode for transfers; transfer-mode may be one of
                    ascii or binary.  The default is ascii.
      [...]

      https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/m-p/1622096#M102004

[myersw]

This is a nice writeup on doing tftp with a MAC takes you step by step. Have used it with my MAC so know it works. Written for r7000, but all the Netgear routers support tftp the same way. 

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Nighthawk-WiFi-Routers/How-to-unbrick-the-Nighthawk-R7000-using-OS-...

[kb1ooo]

---

@antinode wrote:

   First, thanks for the concise, thorough problem report.  As such,
it's a rare treat around here.

> $ tftp 192.168.1.1
> tftp> put R7000P-v1.3.1.64_10.1.36.chk

   Ooh.  So close.  You might reasonably expect a Unix-Unix transfer to
default to "binary", as with many plain FTP client programs, but you
might be wrong:

      mba$ man tftp
      [...]
           ascii    Shorthand for mode ascii.
     
           binary   Shorthand for mode binary.
      [...]
           mode transfer-mode
                    Set the mode for transfers; transfer-mode may be one of
                    ascii or binary.  The default is ascii.
      [...]

      https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/m-p/1622096#M102004

---

Indeed, thanks so much @antinode.  Switched to binary and the firmware updated properly.  Thanks again!

[kb1ooo]

---

@myersw wrote:

This is a nice writeup on doing tftp with a MAC takes you step by step. Have used it with my MAC so know it works. Written for r7000, but all the Netgear routers support tftp the same way. 

https://community.netgear.com/t5/Nighthawk-WiFi-Routers/How-to-unbrick-the-Nighthawk-R7000-using-OS-...

---

Thanks @myersw , I was missing the binary mode on tftp which that guide highlights.