This repository adds a build profile for OpenWRT firmware for the TP-Link TL-WPA8630P v2 to use all available flash memory and support all v2 devices. It irreversibly overwrites built-in device-specific stock partitions. After installing this image, reverting to stock firmware can only be done with a specially crafted firmware image, or restoring a full flash backup using an SPI flash programmer.
!!! DO NOT USE - CURRENTLY BEING TESTED - WILL BRICK YOUR DEVICE !!!
| Hardware Version |
|---|
Model: TL-WPA8630(CA) Ver: 2.0 |
Model: TL-WPA8630(EU) Ver: 2.0 |
Model: TL-WPA8630(US) Ver: 2.0 |
Model: TL-WPA8630P(AU) Ver: 2.0 |
Model: TL-WPA8630P(DE) Ver: 2.0 |
Model: TL-WPA8630P(EU) Ver: 2.0 |
Model: TL-WPA8630P(AU) Ver: 2.1 |
Model: TL-WPA8630P(EU) Ver: 2.1 |
Where to find this information:
- Hardware Version
- Where: On the barcode sticker on the back of the device.
- Example:
Model: TL-WPA8630P(EU) Ver: 2.0
See the Releases section for the latest builds.
These are built with the OpenWRT ImageBuilder using this Github workflow. You can see the build logs (including checksums) in the Actions section.
When new OpenWRT releases are made, you will need to get the latest build from here, or build it yourself following the Building section below. The official images have different partition layouts, and forcibly flashing them after flashing this image will brick your device.
7.8 Mb is available for OpenWRT using this image versus 5.9 Mb using the stock-compatible images (tl-wpa8630p-v2-int, tl-wpa8630p-v2.0-eu, etc).
The factory upgrade firmware contains these partitions:
| Partition |
|---|
partition-table |
soft-version |
support-list |
os-image |
file-system |
default-mac |
After installing, the device flash layout will look like:
| Partition | Base | Size |
|---|---|---|
factory-uboot |
0x00000 |
0x20000 |
fs-uboot |
0x20000 |
0x20000 |
os-image |
0x40000 |
... |
file-system |
... |
... |
soft-version |
0x7e0000 |
0x01000 |
partition-table |
0x7e1000 |
0x02000 |
support-list |
0x7e3000 |
0x01000 |
default-mac |
0x7e4000 |
0x00020 |
radio |
0x7f0000 |
0x10000 |
Only these original stock partitions will be preserved:
| Partition | Base | Size |
|---|---|---|
factory-uboot |
0x00000 |
0x20000 |
radio |
0x7f0000 |
0x10000 |
These partitions containing data unique to your device will be irretrievably overwritten:
| Partition |
|---|
default-mac |
pin |
device-id |
product-info |
!!! If you want to restore this device later, make sure you have a full memory backup using a flash programmer before proceeding !!!
The region-specific stock firmware contains a copy of the PLC firmware tuned to that device's Homeplug regulatory region (similar to Wi-Fi regulatory regions). After flashing this custom OpenWRT firmware to the router, the PLC in the user's device will continue to run the last PLC firmware flashed to it. In practice, you should not need to do anything with this and can carry on using the device.
If the user later wants to upgrade this firmware for whatever reason, it is their responsibility to get a copy of the stock TL-WPA8630P v2 firmware matching their region and extract the right region-specific PLC firmware and PIB from it.
Unfortunately, your devices original defaul-mac partition will need to be overwritten. A replacement one is included with the address 02:BC:DE:39:E8:32.
To set your own MAC address, edit the file gen_default_mac.sh before building, or after installation you can edit the info partition.
If you want to build the firmware yourself and change the default packages, checkout this repo and do the following:
makeBe careful when modifying the base image, as this device can only be unbricked by opening it up and using a flash programmer. Unless you are willing to do this, you should stick with the safe and tested images in the releases section of this repository, and add/remove packages from LuCI after installation.
Please use the Issues section to log any issues, questions or feedback you have on these images.
Feel free to fork this repository for other devices. This uses Github to build and distribute custom OpenWRT images with small changes. It has the following benefits:
- Uses ImageBuilder and official OpenWRT signed kernel
- Uses existing OpenWRT firmware Makefile recipes
- Automated building and file serving with GitHub (just add a new git tag to make a build)
- Public build logs (with checksums)
- Open-source patches compatible with upstream OpenWRT source
- User reproducible builds for people wary of random binaries from the internet
- Others can fork the repo if maintainer is no longer available
Patches for new devices should always be sent to OpenWRT for official support. For custom builds that aren't suitable there (e.g. custom partition layouts, hardware mods, etc), this approach is a good alternative.
- OpenWRT forum: jwmullally
- GitHub project: https://github.com/jwmullally/openwrt_wpa8630p_v2_fullmem