How can you enable the extra 16MBytes of SDRAM in 500gx to provide 32MBytes?

My wl-500gx has turned up today. I've flashed the firmware with Oleg’s 1.9.2.7-3b firmware and have telnet'ed into the device and had a good poke around.

Unfortunately only 16MBytes of SRAM seems to be available but there is 32MBytes of physical memory on the board (I opened the case to check, there goes my warrantee!)

How can I enable the other 16MBytes of memory?

I also noticed that there seem to be 2 additional USB ports that have a PCB header socket. Has anyone tried using these internal USB ports?

Please type the following in the telnet session

Code:

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nvram get sdram_init

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I need this info in order to provide you correct numbers.

The result of :- nvram get sdram_init is
0x2000

These commands should do the trick for you.

Code:

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nvram set sdram_init=0x2008
nvram set sdram_ncdl=0x0000
nvram commit
reboot

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That did the trick, thanks. The free command now shows 17000 free!

Out of interest why doesn't the linux kernel probe how much memory is available for this platform whilst booting?

linux probes whole memory. the command which you've entered modifies sdram controller configuration, which is used on the early stage of boot process before sdram is becomes accessible for storing things like linux kernel.

@Oleg

Could you give me the setting for this 64Mbit DDR chip please ?

sdram_config=0x0062
sdram_refresh=0x0000
sdram_ncdl=0xfd0008
sdram_init=0x000b

Quote:

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Originally Posted by maxx

@Oleg

Could you give me the setting for this 64Mbit DDR chip please ?

sdram_config=0x0062
sdram_refresh=0x0000
sdram_ncdl=0xfd0008
sdram_init=0x000b

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64 Mbit is 8 MByte. You mean 128Mbit?
According to config it looks like this unit has one 16-bit DDR chip only. Is this wrt54g v.2.2? If the answer is yes, then there is no way to enable 32MB - you should physically have 2 chips.

It's a 128Mbit chip, just a typo. And you are right it is the V2.2 with a single HY5DU281622ET chip (2M x 16 x 4 Banks).

But I wonder why they use the 128Mbit Version when there is no chance to use it all as there is also a 64Mbit Version .

Thank you

Quote:

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Originally Posted by maxx

It's a 128Mbit chip, just a typo. And you are right it is the V2.2 with a single HY5DU281622ET chip (2M x 16 x 4 Banks).

But I wonder why they use the 128Mbit Version when there is no chance to use it all as there is also a 64Mbit Version .

Thank you

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128 MBit = 16MByte and it's used completely. 64Mbit gives 8Mbyte only and this is not enough. There was some wrt54g revisions which were equipped with two 128 Mbit SDR chips, so it was possible to activate extra memory. Your unit does not have unused memory.

I also have a WL500g. Can this one be upgraded from 16 to 32MByte ?

sdram_init is 0x0419

Thank you !

No, only wl500g DELUXE (wl500gx) are upgradable. They've 32MB physically, while all wl500g boxes not.

hi i want also upgrade my wl500gx

i type the following in the telnet session
Code:
nvram get sdram_init


The result of :- nvram get sdram_init is
0x2008

what i have do do now?

It should be enabled. What does 'free' show?

oh it looks like you are right,
it show`s total 30140
used 13760
free 16380

big thx
i don`t know when i enabled but i am happy now:)

I think this was an issue with early models, later ones comes with 32MB enabled from start.

It is possible to upgrade to (atleast) 64MB.... but it takes some soldering.

@ CountZero,
this sounds good.
is there a howto to do this?
and does it bring more performance?

this is sort of a howto... http://wl500g.info/showthread.php?t=4609

you can run more things without swap...

@ CountZero,
big thx but it`s to hard todo for me

hi.
furst sorry for may bad english.
and second i read this article and type "nvram get sdram_init" in telnet.
the result was "0x000A".
my router is asus wl-520gu.
can I enable more that 16MBytes of memory?