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  1. Ubiquiti Help Center
  2. UISP
  3. UISP Wired
  4. EdgeRouter
  5. EdgeRouter Troubleshooting

EdgeRouter - TFTP Recovery

Overview

In this article we will provide the necessary steps to recover different EdgeRouter models. This process will completely restore the factory default settings and erases all custom configuration.

NOTES & REQUIREMENTS:
Applicable to EdgeOS firmware v1.10.10 andv2.0.4+ on all EdgeRouter models. Please see the Related Articles below for more information.
 
Devices and products used in this article:
  • ER-X-SFP / ER-X / EP-R6 / ER-10X (e50)
  • ERLite-3 / ERPoE-5 (e100)
  • ERPro-8 / ER-8 / EP-R8 (e200)
  • ER-4 / ER-6P / ER-12 / ER-12P (e300)
  • ER-8-XG (e1000)
  • Ubiquiti Device Discovery Tool

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Recovery Using a Third-Party TFTP Client
  3. Using the Reset Button
  4. Related Articles

Introduction

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In rare cases when an EdgeRouter becomes unresponsive, these instructions may be used to recover the EdgeRouter back to its default state. This is typically not the first step in troubleshooting issues, but rather a last resort recovery method.

The TFTP Recovery feature works by using the reset button and by using a TFTP client on a workstation. Pressing the reset button on the EdgeRouter will enable the TFTP recovery mode by running a TFTP server on the EdgeRouter. Afterwards, the recovery image can be uploaded from the TFTP client. 

During the recovery process, the EdgeRouter will install the EdgeOS firmware version that is listed in the name of the recovery image. Currently, there are two available recovery image versions:

  • v2.0.6 Recovery image for v2.0.x branch (installs v2.0.6 EdgeOS firmware release during the recovery process).
  • v1.10.10 Recovery image for v1.10.x branch (installs v1.10.10 EdgeOS firmware release during the recovery process).
ATTENTION: This TFTP Recovery feature only works for EdgeRouters that are running an updated EdgeOS bootloader version that is included in EdgeOS starting from the v2.0.4 and v1.10.10 EdgeOS firmware releases.See our How to Update the Bootloader article for more information. 
 
It is also possible to use the manual TFTP Recovery feature if your EdgeRouter is running an older EdgeOS bootloader version. This method requires you to connect to the EdgeRouter using a console cable. See our Manual TFTP Recovery article for more information.

The EdgeRouter recovery images for use with the TFTP Recovery feature are available below.

v2.0.6

v1.10.10

Recovery Using a Third-Party TFTP Client

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In this section, a TFTP client is set up on a workstation to allow the recovery image to be uploaded to the EdgeRouter.

topology2.png

Connecting an Ethernet cable from the eth0 port on the EdgeRouter to a Desktop computer or the local LAN network.

1. Download the relevant firmware recovery file from one of the EdgeMAX download links below:

v2.0.6

v1.10.10

2. Connect the EdgeRouter's eth0 port to your local LAN network or directly to your computer. Expand the options below:

Connected to local LAN network

When running in the TFTP Recovery mode, The EdgeRouter will try to obtain an address using DHCP by default and fallback to the 192.168.1.20 address if no DHCP server is found.

 

NOTE:Use the Ubiquiti Device Discovery Tool to easy discover the EdgeRouter on the local LAN network. See the How to Access the EdgeRouter article for more information.

Connected directly to your computer

Assign a static IP address to your computer's network interface, for example 192.168.1.10/24. See the Beginners Guide to EdgeRouter article for more information.

3. Follow the Reset steps below to enter TFTP recovery mode on the EdgeRouter.

4. Run a TFTP client application and upload (put) the recovery image to the EdgeRouter.

 Windows Client

In this example we are using Tftpd32 as the TFTP client using the following settings:

Host: 192.168.1.20
Port: 69
Local File: <image-path>.img.signed
Remote File: <blank>
Block Size: Default

applelogo.png  macOS Client

Open a new Terminal window and use the following TFTP client commands:

tftp
tftp> connect 192.168.1.20
tftp> binary
tftp> put <image-name>.img.signed
NOTE:The IP address will be different than 192.168.1.20 if an address was obtained using DHCP. Use the Ubiquiti Device Discovery Tool to easily find the EdgeRouter's IP address.

5. Wait for the recovery process to complete by looking at the port LED status pattern. See the Reset steps below.

Using the Reset Button

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The TFTP recovery mode on the EdgeRouter can be initiated by pressing the reset button using the following two methods:

  • Runtime Reset Press the reset button while the device is running.
  • Power On Reset Press the reset button while powering on the device by plugging in the power cable.

In both cases, the TFTP recovery mode is initiated by holding the reset button for an extended period of time:

reset.gif

1. Press and hold the reset button.

2. The port LEDs will start light up in sequence starting from port 1 and ending at the last port.

3. Continue holding the reset button for approximately 30 seconds until all the port LEDs light up.

NOTE:The difference between resetting the EdgeRouter to factory defaults and entering the TFTP recovery mode is the length of time the reset button is pressed. See the Reset to Factory Defaults article for more information.

4. Release the reset button.

5. The port LEDs will continuously turn on and off while the TFTP recovery mode is active.

ATTENTION: The TFTP recovery process is indicated by the port LEDs continuously lighting up in sequence. See the image below.

led.gif

6. Follow the Third-Party TFTP Client steps above.

7. Wait for the TFTP recovery process to complete.

8. The EdgeRouter will automatically reboot after the recovery process has been completed.

9. A successful recovery will allow management access via the web UI or CLI using the default 192.168.1.1 IP address on the eth0 port.

Related Articles

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EdgeRouter - Manual TFTP Recovery

EdgeRouter - How to Update the Bootloader

EdgeRouter - Reset to Factory Defaults

EdgeRouter - Device LED Statuses

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