DNS-323 Setup

DNS-323 Setup November 22, 2010

Filed under: DNS-323 — daveharris @ 12:09 pm

This is a list of steps and resources used to set up my Dlink DNS-323 RevB

Phase 1: Upgrade firmware

Alternatively, use the custom alt-f firmware.

Phase 2: Correctly format 4k drives

Western Digital 4k sector drives (EARS) are not correctly formatted by the DNS-323, and the partitions must be setup manually to align with the cylinder boundaries.

Phase 3: FFP

Phase 3.1: Standard FFP

Install Fonz Fun_plug (FFP) and enable ssh. Then setup additional packages and install bash, dnsmasq, screen, sudo and vim ffp packages

Advantage: Installs ssh, telnet, bash and other useful tools

Disadvantage: Files stored on / ramdisk so have to replace modified config files each reboot. Also there is still git package

Phase 3.2: Optware

Install optware which allows many more packages to be installed, which allows git installation

Disadvantage: Still have to workaround ramdisk issues and fragments package management – some built-in, some in ffp, some in optware

Phase 4: Debian chroot

Phase 4.1: Debian Etch

Download and install Debian Etch chroot.

Follow the upgrade path:

Upgrade via apt-get to Debian Lenny.
Install samba, using the standard smb.conf as a base.
Create standard user account, lockdown ssh access

Advantage: No more ramdisk issues, more control over package management and running a real linux distro

Disadvantage: Running an old version of Debian (stable) which is arm, not the newer armel architecture

Phase 5: Alt-f Replacement Firmware

Debian Squeeze (debian-testing) is available only in the newer ‘armel’ architecture, not in the older ‘arm’ architecture. The default firmware is arm and therefore cannot run squeeze. Alt-f is an alternative custom firmware which is running on the ‘armel’ architecture as well as supporting some things that the default does not, such as ext4. It can be run ontop of the default firmware, but that has the same problems ramdisk problems as before. It an replace the default firmware by flashing the device but that seems a little dangerous and with limited benefit. This may be required is Lenny is no longer supported.