board-2.bin

Ben Greear greearb at candelatech.com
Tue May 21 00:02:47 PDT 2024 

On 5/20/24 23:20, david Atkins wrote:
> I do not have them working yet, they show up on latest build but do not work, I need to do another update as I have seen many changes go through.
> 
> David

Most likely, you need to get the board file(s) from Compex and then get it added to the board-2.bin file.
In my opinion, this is something that the ath12k folks should be taking care of.

Thanks,
Ben

> 
> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: pgupta at hindutool.com <pgupta at hindutool.com>
>> Sent: Monday, May 20, 2024 11:06 PM
>> To: david Atkins <david at 3adesign.co.uk>; ath12k at lists.infradead.org
>> Subject: RE: board-2.bin
>>
>> David,
>>    My three Compex wifi 7 modules are all Waikiki based.  Were you able to get
>> the ath12k driver and firmware to work with them?  If so how?
>> Are you using a custom kernel and custom board?
>>
>>
>> Prashant
>>
>>
>>
>> On Mon, 20 May 2024 18:53:49 +0000, david Atkins <david at 3adesign.co.uk>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>> Hi,
>>>>
>>>> We have sourced modules from Qualcomm direct "Hamilton" cards
>>>>
>>>> I also have 2x2 Hamilton equivalents and Waikiki from Codico, these
>>>> are 8devcies or compex modules
>>>>
>>>> They sell sample quantities easily online
>>>>
>>>>
>> https://www.codico.com/en/manufacturers/8devices?pim_brand=8devices#s
>>>> amples
>>>>
>>>> I have 3 setups running, 2 AMD (1 Hamilton 1 WKK) and Intel with
>>>> Hamilton
>>>>
>>>> We are comparing with Intel BE200 as another option
>>>>
>>>> David
>>>>
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> From: ath12k On Behalf Of
>>>>> pgupta at hindutool.com
>>>>> Sent: Monday, May 20, 2024 5:59 PM
>>>>> To: kvalo at kernel.org; ath12k at lists.infradead.org
>>>>> Subject: Re: board-2.bin
>>>>>
>>>>> Mr. Valo,
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you for responding to my email.
>>>>>
>>>>> I purchased a wifi 7 2.4Ghz, 5Ghz, and 6Ghz directly from compex:
>>>>>
>>>>> https://shop.compex.com.sg/products
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Pair of 6Ghz Wifi 7 (they are only sold as a pair)
>>>>>
>>>>> https://shop.compex.com.sg/product-page/wlw7000e6
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Pair of 2.4Ghz AND 5Ghz Wifi 7:
>>>>>
>>>>> https://shop.compex.com.sg/product-page/wlw7000e5
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> These are M.2 E-Key and 4x4 MIMO antenna modules, I am building 2
>>>>> routers using Dell R730xd machines. Because I have two 6GHz
>>>>> modules, one will go in each machine. I have some old Compex wifi 5
>>>>> modules that I will put in one of the servers, while the other
>>>>> server will house NEW 2.4, 5, and 6 Ghz Wifi 7 modules.
>>>>>
>>>>> There is no M.2 E-Key connectors on these machines (as it is
>>>>> generic older generation hardware), so I am using an M.2 E-Key to
>>>>> PCIe riser cable from ADT link to convert the M.2 E-Key to PCIe:
>>>>>
>>>>> https://www.adt.link/product/R15V4.html  (I will need three of
>>>>> these, one for each module)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> This will allow connection of the wifi module to the PCIe bus.  I
>>>>> specifically chose this machine because it has 3 x16 PCIe 3.0, and
>>>>> 3 x8 Pcie 3.0
>>>>>
>>>>> To maximize throughput, these modules need to be connected to a
>>>>> PCIe 3.0 bus per Compex
>>>>>
>>>>> Because these modules only need a x1 connection to the PCIe bus,
>>>>> all three
>>>>> x8 slots will be used for each of the 3 wifi modules.
>>>>>
>>>>> You can purchase a premade board and wifi module bundle from
>> Compex
>>>>> for around $1200, but used my own server hardware because I wanted
>>>>> to customize my WAN and LAN interfaces, and use all three modules
>>>>> in ONE machine (no pre-made board can do this from what I have
>>>>> researched), so I only purchased the modules only instead of a pre-made
>> board and modules.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have pictures of this evolving setup and there are specific
>>>>> reasons for choosing this machine.  Keep in mind these modules
>>>>> require an external 5V power supply which will be supplied by 5V
>>>>> SATA power connectors - I am still trying to figure this out, but
>>>>> these WiFi 7 modules do come with power connectors soldered onto
>>>>> the board unlike the previous generation where you had to solder on
>> power contacts yourself.
>>>>>
>>>>> If you are interested, I can take pictures for you so that you can
>>>>> see first hand how the setup looks.  I can guarantee the cables
>>>>> work since I am able to detect the wireless modules via lspci and
>>>>> lshw commands as it successfully connects to.. and is powered by...
>>>>> the PCIe bus.  I just cannot get the firmware
>>>>> (board-2.bin) to load.
>>>>>
>>>>> Interestingly, I had brief success with the firmware loading on
>>>>> Ubuntu 23.10, during some trials, but it was one time and I have
>>>>> been unable to recreate this.  I'm not sure what I did to get it to work.
>>>>>
>>>>> One final note, this router is using a server platform as it will
>>>>> house 3 wifi modules (2.4/5/6 wifi 7), a 2x 100GBe ethernet LAN, 4x
>>>>> 10GB LAN (for a separate subnet), 2x 10GB WAN inputs, and 100GB
>>>>> Inifinband connectivity to an Inifiniband switch.  It will also
>>>>> house VMs for reverse proxy and VPN so it had 2x Xeon E5-26790 V4
>>>>> and 128GB DDR4 ECC RAM.  This unit is completely modular and any
>>>>> part can be upgraded at any time. This is why I went with this
>>>>> setup.  All of this is contained in one machine, no separate access
>>>>> point - the wifi is built into the router just like a residential
>>>>> router.  The antennas will be connected directly to the server via
>>>>> u.fl to SMA connectors for each card (each card having 4 antennas for a
>> total of 12 antennas connected to the machine).
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> A few more points, the .zst files appear to be some sort of new
>>>>> compression technology that the stock Ubuntu 24.04 ships with.  The
>>>>> files are in this format by default in the WCN directory under
>>>>> /lib/firmware/ath12k.  There are NO .bin files.
>>>>>
>>>>> Also Interestingly, the ath12k driver is also in this format
>>>>> "ath12k.ko.zst" in the modules section and decompressing it to the
>>>>> .ko extension seems to disable the driver. This is confirmed using
>> "modinfo ath12k"
>>>>>
>>>>> Again, sorry for the long winded description.  I work as an
>>>>> Emergency room physician by trade, so I am not always near my
>>>>> machines and can only work on this project in my free time.  This
>> wireless module is the last hurdle.
>>>>>
>>>>> All of this is very confusing compared to the ath10k which seemed
>>>>> so much more straightforward.
>>>>>
>>>>> All the best, and thank you so much for your reply.  I can forward
>>>>> the contacts from compex that I spoke with if you so desire.
>>>>>
>>>>> I wanted to respond to your email as I am grateful you have taken
>>>>> time out of your schedule to reply to my message. I do have some
>>>>> questions regarding the specifics of rebuilding the kernel, but
>>>>> will address that in  a separate email so that noobs like me won't have to
>> go through this.
>>>>>
>>>>> I have been following your github every since ath10k a few years
>>>>> back, and your firmware was instrumental in helping me get my home
>>>>> wired/wifi router project off the ground.  My current wifi router
>>>>> is actually a desktop using mini-pcie wifi modules attached directly to the
>> desktop PCIe bus.
>>>>>
>>>>> Prashant Gupta MD/MPH
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Mon, 20 May 2024 12:54:18 +0300, Kalle Valo wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>> "pgupta at hindutool.com" writes:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I have been reading through the various posts, and while I
>>>>>>>> found someone who reported the exact same problem, I was
>>>>>>>> unable to find a response from anyone who could present a
>>>>>>>> solution
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I have a Compex WLW7000E6
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Any recommendations from where it would be easiest to order such
>>>>> board?
>>>>>>> I'm based in Europe and would like to get one.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Is the board otherwise plug&play to an M.2 E-key slot or does it
>>>>>>> need something special?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> and am using the latest kernel version 6.8.0-31-generic
>>>>>>>> (ubuntu
>>>>>>>> 24.04
>>>>>>>> LTS)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> BTW in general we don't support distro kernels:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> https://linux-regtracking.leemhuis.info/post/frequent-reasons-wh
>>>>>>> y-lin
>>>>>>> ux-kernel-bug-reports-are-ignored/#your-kernel-was-apparently-bu
>>>>>>> ilt-b y-a-linux-distributor-or-hardware-vendor
>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Despite having the requisite files in
>>>>> /lib/firmware/ath12k/QCN9274/hw2.0:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 8241152 May 19 23:47 amss.bin
>>>>>>>> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 2821564 May 20 00:03 amss.bin.zst
>>>>>>>> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root 382856 May 20 00:03 board-2.bin
>>>>>>>> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root   21517 May 20 00:03 board-2.bin.zst
>>>>>>>> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root  421888 May 19 23:47 m3.bin
>>>>>>>> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root  139662 May 20 00:03 m3.bin.zst
>>>>>>>> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root   10699 May 20 00:03 Notice.txt.zst
>>>>>>>> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root   24310 May 19 23:47 regdb.bin
>>>>>>>> -rw-r--r-- 1 root root    3187 May 19 23:47 regdb.bin.zst
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> I continue to receive the following errors:
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> [    5.885930] ath12k_pci 0000:83:00.0: BAR 0 [mem
>>>>>>>> 0xc8000000-0xc81fffff 64bit]: assigned [    5.886287]
>>>>>>>> ath12k_pci
>>>>>>>> 0000:83:00.0: MSI vectors: 16 [    5.886294] ath12k_pci
>>>>>>>> 0000:83:00.0: Hardware name: qcn9274 hw2.0 [    6.745247]
>>>>>>>> ath12k_pci 0000:83:00.0: memory type 10 not supported [
>>>>>>>> 6.750101] ath12k_pci 0000:83:00.0: chip_id 0x0 chip_family 0xb
>>>>>>>> board_id 0xff soc_id 0x401a2200 [    6.750110] ath12k_pci
>>>>>>>> 0000:83:00.0: fw_version 0x10098b57 fw_build_timestamp
>>>>>>>> 2022-09-19
>>>>>>>> 18:18 fw_build_id
>>>>>>>> QC_IMAGE_VERSION_STRING=WLAN.WBE.1.0-02903-
>>>>> QCAHKSWPL_SILICONZ-1
>>>>>>>> [    6.761065] ath12k_pci 0000:83:00.0: failed to fetch board
>>>>>>>> data for
>>>>>>>> bus=pci,qmi-chip-id=0,qmi-board-id=255 from
>>>>>>>> ath12k/QCN9274/hw2.0/board-2.bin [    6.761212] ath12k_pci
>>>>>>>> 0000:83:00.0: failed to fetch board-2.bin or board.bin from
>>>>>>>> QCN9274/hw2.0 [    6.761247] ath12k_pci 0000:83:00.0: qmi
>>>>>>>> failed to load bdf:
>>>>>>>> [    6.761250] ath12k_pci 0000:83:00.0: qmi failed to load
>>>>>>>> board data file:-2
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> This means that board-2.bin is missing the board file for your device.
>>>>>>> For AP devices like QCN9274 board files handling is difficult,
>>>>>>> usually Device Tree is the only way to get automatic board file
>>>>>>> loading
>>>>> working.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Did you get any software with your the board? Do you know if the
>>>>>>> board is calibrated or not?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Can you run:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> find /lib/firmware/ath12k/ -type f | xargs md5sum
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Also read:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/users/drivers/ath12k/bugrepo
>>>>>>> rt
>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> but he zst files were copied over from the WCN7850 directory.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I do not know what these zst files are. And don't copy anything
>>>>>>> from
>>>>>>> WCN7850 directory, the files are not compatible. The best is to
>>>>>>> run 'make install' within ath12k-firmware.git repository,
>>>>>>> manually fixing files will end up into problems.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> --
>>>>>>> https://patchwork.kernel.org/project/linux-wireless/list/
>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> https://wireless.wiki.kernel.org/en/developers/documentation/sub
>>>>>>> mitti
>>>>>>> ngpatches


-- 
Ben Greear <greearb at candelatech.com>
Candela Technologies Inc  http://www.candelatech.com

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