NETGEAR DG834G v4

WARNING: Do not confuse the DG834G v4 with versions v1 and v2, v3 or DG834GT!

Also note that the Wifi chip for this router is the Broadcom BCM4318 chip and not the atheros.

Router DG834v4 (same model, but without wifi) has the same firmware.

Router DG834GBv4 is interchangeable with this, but installation instructions does not apply because of differences in original OEM firmware.

NOTE:

• There is NO support for the ADSL modem currently!
• USB layout is unknown.

1. → downloads
2. → Install OpenWrt

Download OpenWrt:

1. Download the latest OpenWrt for the brcm63xx chipset from https://downloads.openwrt.org/chaos_calmer/15.05/brcm63xx/generic/ I used openwrt-15.05-brcm63xx-generic-96348GW-10-generic-squashfs-cfe.bin.

Download the source code from netgear:

1. http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2649/~/netgear-open-source-code-for-programmers-%28gpl%29 (eg: http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GPL/DG834GV4_V5.01.16_src.zip ). This is needed for the makeImage script.

Download the original firmware:

1. Download the original firmware from http://downloadcenter.netgear.com/other/ (or build from the source code)

Generate the .img file (which can be used for upgrading through the OEM web interface):

1. Get the makeImage binary, which is available in the source code provided by netgear (see above). makeImage does the following:
   1. copies the first 64 KiB (65536 bytes) from the start of the original image (DG834GV4_V5.01.16.img). This copies the the bootloader or CFE?
   2. copies the entire filesystem file (the openwrt .bin file)
   3. copies about 96 bytes from the end of the original image.
   4. padding with null bytes to an 8KiB boundary.
2. combine OpenWrt and the original firmware:
   1. ./makeImage my-DG834Gv4-firmware.img netgear/DG834Gv4_V5.01.16.img openwrt-15.05-brcm63xx-generic-96348GW-10-generic-squashfs-cfe.bin

Preparing the router to upload the firmware:

• Power down DG834Gv4 and disconnect the DC plug from the rear of the unit.
• Wait 5-10 seconds.
• Switch on the DC adapter at the mains switch.
• With the reset button pressed, plug the DC adapter plug into the rear of the DG834Gv4.
• Wait 5-10 seconds and not release the reset button.
• The power button starts to blink green and red alternatively.

If you have linux installed:

1. Compile NFTP utility:nftp.c (more info in: http://wilmer.gaa.st/834root/wiki/nftp)
2. ./nftp -u eth0 miOpenWrt_DG834Gv4.img

If you only have windows installed, the procedure is as follows:

• Download ftp://downloads.netgear.com/files/dg834_recovery_utility.zip and unzip.
• Follow the instructions in the document DG834 Recovery Procedure.pdf for upload the firmware miOpenWrt_DG834Gv4.img

Note: dg834_recovery_utility.zip only works on windows 32bit

Please check out the article flash.layout. It contains an example and a couple of explanations.

The instructions below are for Broadcom devices and only serve as an example. Don't leave them in place if they do not apply to a particular device!

This section deals with how you install OpenWrt from a device freshly opened. Plus the steps required such as reset to factory defaults if the device has already been configured

Note: Reset router to factory defaults if it has been previously configured.

• Browse to http://192.168.1.1/Upgrade.asp
• Upload .bin file to router
• Wait for it to reboot
• Telnet to 192.168.1.1 and set a root password, or browse to http://192.168.1.1 if LuCI is installed.

If you want to upgrade using TFTP you follow these steps (as an alternative to the above install process).

→ generic.sysupgrade

If you have already installed OpenWrt and like to reflash for e.g. upgrading to a new OpenWrt version you can upgrade using the mtd command line tool. It is important that you put the firmware image into the ramdisk (/tmp) before you start flashing.

• Browse to http://192.168.1.1/cgi-bin/luci/mini/system/upgrade/ LuCI Upgrade URL
• Upload image file for sysupgrade to LuCI
• Wait for reboot

• Login as root via SSH on 192.168.1.1
• Use the following commands to upgrade.

cd /tmp/
wget http://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/trunk/XXX/xxx.abc
sysupgrade /tmp/xxx.abc

• If sysupgrade does not support this router, use the following commands.

cd /tmp/
wget http://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/trunk/XXX/xxx.abc
mtd write /tmp/xxx.abc linux && reboot

→ Basic configuration After flashing, proceed with this.
Set up your Internet connection, configure wireless, configure USB port, etc.

The default network configuration is:

Numbers 0-3 are Ports 1-4 as labeled on the unit, number 4 is the Internet (WAN) on the unit, 5 is the internal connection to the router itself. Don't be fooled: Port 1 on the unit is number 3 when configuring VLANs. vlan0 = eth0.0, vlan1 = eth0.1 and so on.

→ failsafe_and_factory_reset

→ hardware.button on howto use and configure the hardware button(s).

The Netgear DG834G V4 has only one button:

Model Number

Photo of front of the casing

Photo of back of the casing

Note: This will void your warranty!

Main photo of PCB

Back photo of PCB

→ port.serial general information about the serial port, serial port cable, etc.

Serial console is J521. Settings are: 115200, 8, n, 1

How to connect to the Serial Port of this specific device:

NOTE: R521, R522 and R523 are missing on the DG834Gv4, (it could be 1 kiloohm).

Photo of PCB and resistors unpopulated:

→ port.jtag general information about the JTAG port, JTAG cable, etc.

How to connect to the JTAG Port of this specific device:

Netgear DG834 comes with standard 12-pin JTAG interface. The JTAG port is J201.

Example of use:

Photo of PCB with connector

→ generic.debrick

1. you could read about bootloader in general

1. as a beginner, you really should inform yourself about soldering in general and then obtain some practical experience!

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