Official Avalon Technical Support Thread

[JerimiahJohnson]

Anyone have any idea of a way to extend the fpga controller inside of an Avalon to accommodate additional modules?

Exactly what kind of cables are those anyways?? They look like IDE cables but they are not.

thanks in advance for any advice / answers

-JJ

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[ProfMac]

Anyone have any idea of a way to extend the fpga controller inside of an Avalon to accommodate additional modules?

Exactly what kind of cables are those anyways?? They look like IDE cables but they are not.

thanks in advance for any advice / answers

-JJ

No, I don't.  However, I am a fixin' to buy myself one when Avalon opens the order books.  I trust that they will provide the necessary instructions and interface.  I would require the same of a third party vendor as well.

[-ck]

try firmware 0703 from CKolivas, that helped me a lot

also, if even after updating firmware there is still the very same problems it implies it is a HW problem
what are all the symptoms? does LAN work? does WIFI work? everything works except the hashing itself - i.e. cgminer?

Yeah, firmware updated.
Connected Directly to USB

I plugged it into an Ubuntu machine and got this in dmesg:


Jul  7 12:29:39 ALOHABOY2 kernel: [188990.652065] usb 1-1: new high-speed USB device number 7 using ehci_hcd
Jul  7 12:29:39 ALOHABOY2 kernel: [188990.784453] usb 1-1: New USB device found, idVendor=0409, idProduct=005a
Jul  7 12:29:39 ALOHABOY2 kernel: [188990.784463] usb 1-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=0
Jul  7 12:29:39 ALOHABOY2 kernel: [188990.784909] hub 1-1:1.0: USB hub found
Jul  7 12:29:39 ALOHABOY2 kernel: [188990.785065] hub 1-1:1.0: 2 ports detected

/dev/ttyUSB* does not exist on this machine either

The new firmware removes the ttyUSB because it doesn't use it at all. Stop trying to install something that cgminer actively removes. Install my latest firmware 0703 and forget about ttyUSB. Problem solved.

[TheJamesFund]

try firmware 0703 from CKolivas, that helped me a lot

also, if even after updating firmware there is still the very same problems it implies it is a HW problem
what are all the symptoms? does LAN work? does WIFI work? everything works except the hashing itself - i.e. cgminer?

Yeah, firmware updated.
Connected Directly to USB

I plugged it into an Ubuntu machine and got this in dmesg:


Jul  7 12:29:39 ALOHABOY2 kernel: [188990.652065] usb 1-1: new high-speed USB device number 7 using ehci_hcd
Jul  7 12:29:39 ALOHABOY2 kernel: [188990.784453] usb 1-1: New USB device found, idVendor=0409, idProduct=005a
Jul  7 12:29:39 ALOHABOY2 kernel: [188990.784463] usb 1-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=0
Jul  7 12:29:39 ALOHABOY2 kernel: [188990.784909] hub 1-1:1.0: USB hub found
Jul  7 12:29:39 ALOHABOY2 kernel: [188990.785065] hub 1-1:1.0: 2 ports detected

/dev/ttyUSB* does not exist on this machine either

The new firmware removes the ttyUSB because it doesn't use it at all. Stop trying to install something that cgminer actively removes. Install my latest firmware 0703 and forget about ttyUSB. Problem solved.

Already tried that too>
I also posted here with several others who had similiar problems and also tried your firmware.
https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=140539.msg2705361#msg2705361

Tried ALL different firmware including firmware 0703 from CKolivas (yours)
Tried softboot/hardboot/new router/new service/new cables/new account/new internet/open firewall/check cables/direct usb (per avalon suggestion) and now offering reward for getting this thing up and going.

Email me at thejamesfund@aol.com or post message/hint. Will reward with BTC

[ewibit]

Tried ALL different firmware including firmware 0703 from CKolivas (yours)
Tried softboot/hardboot/new router/new service/new cables/new account/new internet/open firewall/check cables/direct usb (per avalon suggestion) and now offering reward for getting this thing up and going.

Email me at thejamesfund@aol.com or post message/hint. Will reward with BTC

you don't know how much sleepless nights I had, how much troubles, how much emty kilometers etc. with batch 1 (nearly nobody can help because all was a new a world for all of us...)
If I knew a bit more of your specific troubles, perhaps I can help, because I have had nearly all troubles -> and solved it
(with blood sweat and tears )

[WinTame2012]

I've found that firmware 0703 from ckolivas have strange network configuration by default. With it when I unplug my Ethernet cable WiFi interface stops to respond to ping (ICMP) and to LUCI web admin page load requests. Mining seems still goes well (but it is blindfold). Firewall? Anybody else have spotted such a symptoms?

[ProfMac]

I've found that firmware 0703 from ckolivas have strange network configuration by default. With it when I unplug my Ethernet cable WiFi interface stops to respond to ping (ICMP) and to LUCI web admin page load requests. Mining seems still goes well (but it is blindfold). Firewall? Anybody else have spotted such a symptoms?

I have.  I assume it is some combination of firewall and routing.  I am going to see if the firmware will load onto a retail TP-LINK 703n, and if so, I will explore a little.

[ProfMac]

I want to take a retail TP-Link 703n and use it in an Avalon Batch #2 (1.52 controller board).

I will try this with a USB extender cable and the 703N outside the enclosure, so I will use the PCB antenna.

The retail 703n receives power from the micro USB connector.  I am assuming that I can connect the power adapter to this connector, and the USB extender cable back inside the Avalon. 

Does anyone know whether this will create a problem?  I have hear opinions both ways, but not from anyone that I think has read a schematic or done a test.

[one4many]

I want to take a retail TP-Link 703n and use it in an Avalon Batch #2 (1.52 controller board).

I will try this with a USB extender cable and the 703N outside the enclosure, so I will use the PCB antenna.

The retail 703n receives power from the micro USB connector.  I am assuming that I can connect the power adapter to this connector, and the USB extender cable back inside the Avalon. 

Does anyone know whether this will create a problem?  I have hear opinions both ways, but not from anyone that I think has read a schematic or done a test.

I guess you will run into memory problems, 64 MB RAM is needed as a minimum.
If you need a replacement for your existing one I would say safe the trouble and talk to the bitmine.ch guys. They are willing to sell you (a modified, ready to go) one if you ask nicely 

All the best!

  one4many

[pikeadz]

Should the LAN and WWAN have different IPs?  Two of my Avalons do, and the third has the same ip for the lan and wan.  All seem to work though.  Just wondering.

[ProfMac]

I want to take a retail TP-Link 703n and use it in an Avalon Batch #2 (1.52 controller board).

I will try this with a USB extender cable and the 703N outside the enclosure, so I will use the PCB antenna.

The retail 703n receives power from the micro USB connector.  I am assuming that I can connect the power adapter to this connector, and the USB extender cable back inside the Avalon. 

Does anyone know whether this will create a problem?  I have hear opinions both ways, but not from anyone that I think has read a schematic or done a test.

I guess you will run into memory problems, 64 MB RAM is needed as a minimum.
If you need a replacement for your existing one I would say safe the trouble and talk to the bitmine.ch guys. They are willing to sell you (a modified, ready to go) one if you ask nicely 

All the best!

  one4many

I thought that.  But when I look at the free mem numbers on status --> overview both the Avalon unit and the retail unit suggest about 29,100

[WinTame2012]

I want to take a retail TP-Link 703n and use it in an Avalon Batch #2 (1.52 controller board).

I will try this with a USB extender cable and the 703N outside the enclosure, so I will use the PCB antenna.

The retail 703n receives power from the micro USB connector.  I am assuming that I can connect the power adapter to this connector, and the USB extender cable back inside the Avalon. 

Does anyone know whether this will create a problem?  I have hear opinions both ways, but not from anyone that I think has read a schematic or done a test.

I guess you will run into memory problems, 64 MB RAM is needed as a minimum.
If you need a replacement for your existing one I would say safe the trouble and talk to the bitmine.ch guys. They are willing to sell you (a modified, ready to go) one if you ask nicely 

All the best!

  one4many

I thought that.  But when I look at the free mem numbers on status --> overview both the Avalon unit and the retail unit suggest about 29,100

I've read somewhere in the thread that 64 MB was used only in test units. Retail ones are shipped with standard 703n.

[WinTame2012]

I've found that firmware 0703 from ckolivas have strange network configuration by default. With it when I unplug my Ethernet cable WiFi interface stops to respond to ping (ICMP) and to LUCI web admin page load requests. Mining seems still goes well (but it is blindfold). Firewall? Anybody else have spotted such a symptoms?

I have.  I assume it is some combination of firewall and routing.  I am going to see if the firmware will load onto a retail TP-LINK 703n, and if so, I will explore a little.

Any news on this?

[ProfMac]

I've found that firmware 0703 from ckolivas have strange network configuration by default. With it when I unplug my Ethernet cable WiFi interface stops to respond to ping (ICMP) and to LUCI web admin page load requests. Mining seems still goes well (but it is blindfold). Firewall? Anybody else have spotted such a symptoms?

I have.  I assume it is some combination of firewall and routing.  I am going to see if the firmware will load onto a retail TP-LINK 703n, and if so, I will explore a little.

Any news on this?

I'm up and running.  I connect through the WiFi, and I stay connected without issues.  A laptop can connect through the Avalon, then the Avalon's WiFi, and out to the internet.

I will de-identify and publish a configuration file later.

[ProfMac]

I am troubleshooting an Avalon Batch #2.  The fans spin up and shut down as in a working unit. 

The blue led lights up on the TP-Link 703n for about 1 second, then goes dark.  On the working unit, that light blinks several times at about 1 Hz, then stays steady-on.

When I depress & hold the reset switch and power up the unit, the blue light stays on about 1 second, then goes dark.  On the working unit, it flashes at about 2 Hz.

My preliminary diagnosis is that the 703n does have power but does not boot up correctly.

[tarui]

is it ok to flip the fans at the front so that it exhausts air out instead of blowing air in and then adding intake fans at the back of the casing?

since the psu at the back of the casing is facing down and sucks air from within the case.

are there enough molex cables left in the miner to power these fans?  (getting my avalon soon)

[ProfMac]

is it ok to flip the fans at the front so that it exhausts air out instead of blowing air in and then adding intake fans at the back of the casing?

since the psu at the back of the casing is facing down and sucks air from within the case.

are there enough molex cables left in the miner to power these fans?  (getting my avalon soon)

The avalon people have said no.  They incorporate the air pressure from inside the case to keep the airflow high through the power supply.
I would be concerned that temp1, temp2, and temp3 would also not have the expected pattern to present to the control software.

[tarui]

is it ok to flip the fans at the front so that it exhausts air out instead of blowing air in and then adding intake fans at the back of the casing?

since the psu at the back of the casing is facing down and sucks air from within the case.

are there enough molex cables left in the miner to power these fans?  (getting my avalon soon)

The avalon people have said no.  They incorporate the air pressure from inside the case to keep the airflow high through the power supply.
I would be concerned that temp1, temp2, and temp3 would also not have the expected pattern to present to the control software.

is it possible then to flip the PSU upside down and cut a hole at the top for the psu to intake air?

[fhh]

is it ok to flip the fans at the front so that it exhausts air out instead of blowing air in and then adding intake fans at the back of the casing?

since the psu at the back of the casing is facing down and sucks air from within the case.

are there enough molex cables left in the miner to power these fans?  (getting my avalon soon)

The avalon people have said no.  They incorporate the air pressure from inside the case to keep the airflow high through the power supply.
I would be concerned that temp1, temp2, and temp3 would also not have the expected pattern to present to the control software.

is it possible then to flip the PSU upside down and cut a hole at the top for the psu to intake air?

Simply put the psu outside

[JerimiahJohnson]

is it ok to flip the fans at the front so that it exhausts air out instead of blowing air in and then adding intake fans at the back of the casing?

since the psu at the back of the casing is facing down and sucks air from within the case.

are there enough molex cables left in the miner to power these fans?  (getting my avalon soon)

The avalon people have said no.  They incorporate the air pressure from inside the case to keep the airflow high through the power supply.
I would be concerned that temp1, temp2, and temp3 would also not have the expected pattern to present to the control software.

is it possible then to flip the PSU upside down and cut a hole at the top for the psu to intake air?

Simply put the psu outside

the batch 1 avalons that I have - the ones I have upgraded to 4 modules myself and upgraded the PSU's I have always just ran the cables out the back and kept the PSU outside the case. Its practical, allows for more psu choices and also improves airflow.


Also I am curious if anyone has had any luck overclocking batch 1 avalons?

-JJ