View Full Version : StarOS v1.13.2b8-3759 ready for testing
Changes between v1.13.2b7 and v1.13.2b8:
Update: Atheros updates, including addition of Inter-BSS relay support.
Fixed: Client (layer-3) bridging now functions as expected with PCI Wireless devices such as Prism 2.5, or Atheros.
The Atheros release is work in progress and only intended as a preview. Please provide feedback as the cards tested, stability and performance. Only PCI adapters are supported.
Future releases will require a special key upgrade to unlock the Atheros support which can be obtained through your selected reseller, or online via www.license-keys.com
Atheros cards tested: D-Link DWL-AB520, DWL-AG520, DWL-G520
Any and all comments are welcome.
[ DOWNLOAD URL FOR SERVER EDITION CORRECTED NOV 7, 2003 ]
DESKTOP SYSTEMS
Desktop Server Edition:
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strs-1.13.2b8-3759.iso
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strs-1.13.2b8-3759.bin
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strs-1.13.2b8-3759.raw
Desktop Router Edition:
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strr-1.13.2b8-3759.iso
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strr-1.13.2b8-3759.bin
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strr-1.13.2b8-3759.raw
SPECIAL PURPOSE SYSTEMS
Soekris Router Edition:
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strrs-1.13.2b8-3759.iso
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strrs-1.13.2b8-3759.bin
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strrs-1.13.2b8-3759.raw
WRAP Router Edition:
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strrw-1.13.2b8-3759.iso
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strrw-1.13.2b8-3759.bin
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strrw-1.13.2b8-3759.raw
Routerboard Router Edition:
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strrb-1.13.2b8-3759.iso
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strrb-1.13.2b8-3759.bin
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/strrb-1.13.2b8-3759.raw
CPE SYSTEMS
SBC CPE Edition:
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/cpe-1.13.2b8-3759.iso
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/cpe-1.13.2b8-3759.bin
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/cpe-1.13.2b8-3759.raw
Desktop CPE Edition:
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/cpev-1.13.2b8-3759.iso
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/cpev-1.13.2b8-3759.bin
http://www.star-os.com/downloads/oem-vnc/cpev-1.13.2b8-3759.raw
georgew
11-06-2003, 07:00 PM
On an asus P5A motherboard, running Server, upon software initiated reboot, the machine presents a login prompt, and then prints "Drive unmounted, rebooting..." and freezes. Reboots were working under 1.13.2b6.
The difference in hardware config is I removed a 4 port ethernet board, and replaced it with a DWL-G520.
What chipset is your motherboard?
On an asus P5A motherboard, running Server, upon software initiated reboot, the machine presents a login prompt, and then prints "Drive unmounted, rebooting..." and freezes. Reboots were working under 1.13.2b6.
The difference in hardware config is I removed a 4 port ethernet board, and replaced it with a DWL-G520.
georgew
11-06-2003, 07:13 PM
Oh, and the turbo g mode, only has channel 6... Does it use the whole band?
georgew
11-06-2003, 07:15 PM
What chipset is your motherboard?
ALI...
From yahoo...
ALi® M1541 Aladdin V AGPset to Support up to 100MHz System Bus
ALi® M1543 Super I/O Controller
Oh, looks like I have a busmaster pci 2.1 bus, rather than 2.2... bad?
<update>
The problem is that you can't put an atheros card in a 2.1 bus and expect the machine to reboot. the 2.2 bus is a requirement. 2.2 started shipping in '97. but it seems that 2.1 was still shipping untill at least 2000, so there are some fairly recent 2.1 systems still out there... for that matter 2.1 *may* still be shipping in some sbc chipsets that came out prior to 2000.
lonnie
11-06-2003, 08:13 PM
Looks like you'll have to spring for a newer unit. Turbo G takes the whole band, so be nice with it. It don't even want to provide support for it, but we have to.
Paulus
11-07-2003, 04:44 AM
Which speeds use the whole band ?
Is it only 108 mbps or also the lower speeds ?
Only the G108 mode uses a good chunk of the band and have to be on channel 6. The regular 'G' modes can be used with any channel.
kishvet
11-07-2003, 06:54 AM
Is the server edition stuck at 3750 or is it at 3759 also? Thanks.
This round of Atheros testing has been very good, and has solved many of the previous problems.
We have uncovered one thing that can cause your system to stop responding, and that is having the Atheros card in client mode, with the rate setting set to 'AUTO'. If you specify a rate > 0, you will not have any problems.
There does not seem to be any problems having the Auto rate selection set while acting as an Access Point.
The next release will require a key to activate the Atheros support. The license-keys.com website will be updated in the next day or two with a new key type. Pricing for the Atheros update is still being considered and will be posted by Lonnie when the time comes.
It was just brought to our attention that the download URL is incorrect. It is v3759 as well.
Is the server edition stuck at 3750 or is it at 3759 also? Thanks.
bwbboot
11-07-2003, 07:31 AM
Did some more testing with my WRAP Board.
Firmware update from strrw-1.13.2b6-3718 works fine.
Systems works with 1 or 2 atheros mini-pci cards. But freezes when using prism (senao) mixed or only prism mini-pci cards at the Network Part during boot.
Bjorn.
lonnie
11-07-2003, 07:42 AM
Sounds like a problem with the Senao since it does not boot if that card is in the system, either alone or mixed. What is the revision on the WRAP board? Is it first gen or second? Do you see anything on the serial console that might lead us to a place to begin looking?
We only have some dlink prism2.5 mPCI and they have been fine. Looks like we will have to be getting our hands on the varoius cards out there so we can do some testing.
You guys are welcome to send us some of the various cards and we will trade for licenses. Please check first, since I don't need 100 of something for testing. :)
bobbyc
11-07-2003, 07:55 AM
Any early thoughts on the atheros 802.11b performance? Would you choose that before a prism 2.5 radio for AP?
Bob C
vaioxp
11-07-2003, 08:04 AM
Proxim a/b/g PCI card Part # 8482-WD
Still no luck here with this release. I tried both the router and server editions.
System boots with the atheros card and gets through Loading, System configuration, Sytem Extensions but freezes right after Networking appears.
I have tried three different computers. They all work with Star-OS as long as the Atheros card is not inserted. I have tried various Bios settings and disabling everything that is not needed. Nothing seems to help. All of the computers work with both linux and windows with the Atheros card inserted.
Duane
lonnie
11-07-2003, 08:10 AM
Any early thoughts on the atheros 802.11b performance? Would you choose that before a prism 2.5 radio for AP?
Bob C
We still REALLY like Orinco cards. I expect that in 6 months we will have the Atheros driver so good that it will become our first choice. Right now I would use Orinoco for major systems. I might choose the 200 mW Senao just for the extra power if I did not want to use an amp.
lonnie
11-07-2003, 08:12 AM
Proxim a/b/g PCI card Part # 8482-WD
Still no luck here with this release.
Duane
We will have to get a couple of those cards. Anybody point me to a cheap source, or better yet send me a couple in return for licenses.
bobbyc
11-07-2003, 08:23 AM
We still REALLY like Orinco cards. I expect that in 6 months we will have the Atheros driver so good that it will become our first choice. Right now I would use Orinoco for major systems. I might choose the 200 mW Senao just for the extra power if I did not want to use an amp.
Reason I ask is because I'm thinking of tower mounting some 100mw (+/-2dB) on some of our towers where I'm using 200mw senaos right now with 50-60' of cable.
The Engenius/Senao branded atheros card has pretty nice RX figures.
Bob C
kishvet
11-07-2003, 09:06 AM
How many do you want?
georgew
11-07-2003, 09:51 AM
There is nothing that we can do about this but be aware... If you want to upgrade to an atheros card in the future, you need to be aware that there may be a problem with your pci bus.
The problem is that you can't put an atheros card in a 2.1 bus and expect the machine to reboot or to transfer data through the atheros. The 2.2 bus is an absolute requirement. 2.2 started shipping in '97. but it seems that 2.1 was still shipping untill at least 2000, so there are some fairly recent 2.1 systems still out there... for that matter 2.1 *may* still be shipping in some sbc chipsets that came out prior to 2000... I have some SBC samples that I'm pretty sure are 2.1, and I got them only last year. They were really slow boards at a high price, so nothing worth reporting on, except to warn people to be sure new purchases are 2.2 if they want a migration path to atheros.
lonnie
11-07-2003, 11:10 AM
I have accepted a couple of the Proxim cards. They should be here next week. Now we need some Senao 200 mW for testing.
bobbyc
11-07-2003, 12:48 PM
Lonnie are you talking about 200mw pcmcia or minipci? I can loan you a pcmcia senao 200mw as well as a zcomax 200mw.
I would love to send you a zcomax 200mw so you can look into what is described here:
http://forums.star-os.com/viewtopic.php?t=1200
Back on topic; if I were you guys I wouldn't even allow 108g... if it takes up the whole band people are just going to abuse it and self interfere as well as interfere with others... and from what I've read on google etc .g doesn't do well outdoors.
What do others think?
Bob C
G actually does great outdoors. The OFDM modulation gives it some NLOS properties... It likes bounces better.
Doesn't 108 (turbo) just take up a couple of channels - versus the whole band?
Yes, G takes a very wide channel 6, which is why it's in the middle of the band. Channel 1, and 11 should still be usable, though may have some interference from the G108 card.
bwbboot
11-07-2003, 03:19 PM
Sounds like a problem with the Senao since it does not boot if that card is in the system, either alone or mixed. What is the revision on the WRAP board? Is it first gen or second? Do you see anything on the serial console that might lead us to a place to begin looking?
We only have some dlink prism2.5 mPCI and they have been fine. Looks like we will have to be getting our hands on the varoius cards out there so we can do some testing.
You guys are welcome to send us some of the various cards and we will trade for licenses. Please check first, since I don't need 100 of something for testing. :)
The cards i have are the Senao NL-2511MP. They work great up to version StarOS v1.13.2b6-3718.
I only have 2 here, but if atheros is stable, i could migrate and ship you these for testing.
Board revision is 1B.
Bjorn.