CWWK/Topton/... Nxxx quad NIC router

[rogervn]

I've kept on playing with the CWWK X86 P5 with the 4x nvme hat and I've put a cable adapter on the e key wi-fi slot to plug one extra nvme to act as a boot drive, but it actually made a random nvme from the hat not recognized. Rebooting had the same effect on another drive. I wonder if the WiFi card slot is shared or exclusively somehow with the nvme hat.

There was also some difficulty on where to glue the adapter as the flat cable is not very flexible, so I kinda left it loose. But as the problem was not on that drive I've not considered it a problem.

 

[pigr8]

I've kept on playing with the CWWK X86 P5 with the 4x nvme hat and I've put a cable adapter on the e key wi-fi slot to plug one extra nvme to act as a boot drive, but it actually made a random nvme from the hat not recognized. Rebooting had the same effect on another drive. I wonder if the WiFi card slot is shared or exclusively somehow with the nvme hat.

There was also some difficulty on where to glue the adapter as the flat cable is not very flexible, so I kinda left it loose. But as the problem was not on that drive I've not considered it a problem.

No share, the a+e key has a dedicated pcie lane so it should work with 4 populated nvme disks in the adapter.

 

[gordhawkins]

Well, I think I have really screwed up my system. I flashed the BIOS with what I thought was the right file (and it worked), but now I am getting no video. The system doesn't appear to boot, and it beeps when I insert or unplug USB devices. The system responds to CTRL-ALT-DEL and reboots but I can't seem to get into BIOS.

Any tips or have I fried this thing?

 

[audit13]

Well, I think I have really screwed up my system. I flashed the BIOS with what I thought was the right file (and it worked), but now I am getting no video. The system doesn't appear to boot, and it beeps when I insert or unplug USB devices. The system responds to CTRL-ALT-DEL and reboots but I can't seem to get into BIOS.

Any tips or have I fried this thing?

Would it be possible to contact the manufacturer and ask for assistance or a bios file?

 

[buglebum]

There is no power issue with these devices. They use x520 nic which is ancient.

Check the idle power consumption, it seems to be about 6-7w.

Am I missing something as I've been following this thread and finally decided to motivate myself to post what appears very obvious?

 

[gordhawkins]

Would it be possible to contact the manufacturer and ask for assistance or a bios file?

I've tried but no luck.

 

[h_m_b]

CWWK just released a new BIOS version for CW-X85-P5_V1.1A which opens lots of config options for CPU Power Settings.
Got idle values of 6.5 W with debian bookworm out of the box without optimizing BIOS values.
Lets see how low we can go now...

Edit: link

 

[r33tom]

CWWK just released a new BIOS version for CW-X85-P5_V1.1A which opens lots of config options for CPU Power Settings.
Got idle values of 6.5 W with debian bookworm out of the box without optimizing BIOS values.
Lets see how low we can go now...

Edit: link

Nice how do you know if this bios will work with the device you have?

 

[h_m_b]

Nice how do you know if this bios will work with the device you have?

Sorry, can't follow your question.
BIOS is for this device with Board Revision V1.1A.
I own this one and since updating 2 days ago it's running stable. Will do further tests this weekend...

 

[audit13]

Sorry, can't follow your question.
BIOS is for this device with Board Revision V1.1A.
I own this one and since updating 2 days ago it's running stable. Will do further tests this weekend...

How are the cpu temps?

I wonder if a lower wattage will result in lower temps.

I have a Topton n100 and it ideals between 8 to 10 watts.

 

[h_m_b]

How are the cpu temps?

Temps are about 43°C CPU and 54°C SSD (room temp. 17°C).

I have a Topton n100 and it ideals between 8 to 10 watts.

My N100 idles between 5.9 and 6.9 W (8GB Samsung RAM and 256GB Patriot NVME drive). I didn't get it lower without performance loss.

 

[audit13]

Temps are about 43°C CPU and 54°C SSD (room temp. 17°C).

My N100 idles between 5.9 and 6.9 W (8GB Samsung RAM and 256GB Patriot NVME drive). I didn't get it lower without performance loss.

Are you using an fan with the unit?

I use a slow-spinning fan on top of my Topton to pull hot air away from the unit. My idle temps according to bare metal opnsense at around 26 to 27 celsius.

You unit idles nicely!

 

[motta]

Just wanted to elaborate on this post as I'm getting quite a few DM's with questions.

First of all, make 10000% sure you have the same board!!! All these board are a lot alike but you need the same original BIOS for this to work.

Indicators to check:

In BIOS
Project Version BK-1264NP Ver 1.5
Build Date 09/28/2023 17:23:35
Version 2.22.1287

View attachment 33404View attachment 33405

The board has two simcard slots and on the backside is a sticker BK-1264NP-4L-45G********

View attachment 33402View attachment 33403

To flash it you can use the ISO from another BIOS and replace the BIN file with this one.
The CWWK ISO for N100 for example

Download the ISO
Extract it to a USB drive with Rufus or BalenaEtcher
Replace the file CW-N100-V2-5M2-230927.bin with the bios.rom from my link
Make sure the replaced file is also named CW-N100-V2-5M2-230927.bin
Edit the file 1.nsh and add -bios to the fpt line
Boot from the USB

Here is a link to the original extracted BIOS from this board (without any modifications)

Be careful and make 10000% sure you have the same board. I hate to see anyone brick their device!!!

I have a Topton N100, version 1.4 board. Does anyone have a BIOS update for it?

bios BK-1264NP Ver 1.5
Build Date 09/28/2023 17:23:35

sticker BK-1264NP-4L-45G
Only thing different is the board version

 

[Beau Slim]

Hey all!
Got one of the Topton 4x 2.5Gbe units. There are so many variations! I got model "W-N12" or "X4B-COM" depending on where I look. 2 physical DB9 serial ports, 2 HDMI, eDP header, miniPCIe, M-key m.2, AE-key m.2, a SIM slot, SATA and USB3. All the Things!
It runs fine, but the product listing suggested that the M-key m.2 NVMe slot had 2 PCIe lanes and I'm only seeing one. I asked for documentation and Topton sent me something with schematics for the miniPCIe slot and the AE-key slot but not the M-key slot.
1 lane will probably do for my intended purpose, but want to be sure the board isn't faulty.
Does anybody have the same/similar unit but with 2 PCIe lanes on the NVMe slot?

 

[Drabon]

I've kept on playing with the CWWK X86 P5 with the 4x nvme hat and I've put a cable adapter on the e key wi-fi slot to plug one extra nvme to act as a boot drive, but it actually made a random nvme from the hat not recognized. Rebooting had the same effect on another drive. I wonder if the WiFi card slot is shared or exclusively somehow with the nvme hat.

There was also some difficulty on where to glue the adapter as the flat cable is not very flexible, so I kinda left it loose. But as the problem was not on that drive I've not considered it a problem.

I have a similar problem with the e key slot. Tried a different adapter and different drives, no luck. Sometimes it gets recognized in BIOS, sometimes you can boot and it shows in the OS, but after a few min. tops it just hangs and you cannot access it anymore. The sister board drives stay connected though.

 

[oneplane]

I have a similar problem with the e key slot. Tried a different adapter and different drives, no luck. Sometimes it gets recognized in BIOS, sometimes you can boot and it shows in the OS, but after a few min. tops it just hangs and you cannot access it anymore. The sister board drives stay connected though.

This is probably the same issue as before: there aren't enough clocks for clockless SSDs so that's why you suddenly end up with random ones working and others not working.

 

[Drabon]

What? Clocks? First time i hear about SSDs having a built in clock lol. Even if that were true, then the E-key adapter should work if it is the only drive plugged in, which is not the case either. I tested that, too. And it isn't random ones. It is always the E-key adapter, never the 4 NVMe or 2 SATA SSDs.

 

[mephisto]

in case anyone is interested. tested a hp prodesk 400 g4 desktop mini with 256gb wd sn810 nvme, 2.5 mechanical drive, 16gb ram dual channel and i5 8500t cpu. running win11 it was idling around 5.7w from the wall. uses original hp 90w power adapter.
thats really good for these units. without the mechanical drive it would probably hit 5w on the dot.

the small tower PC model? 5.7w at idle is crazy! I'm looking at a firewall hardware and after one faulty CWWK device I'm looking for alternatives.

 

[slybunda]

the small tower PC model? 5.7w at idle is crazy! I'm looking at a firewall hardware and after one faulty CWWK device I'm looking for alternatives.

no its the mini micro 1L machines. they are small but very good for general use.
the cwwk box i got is working perfectly, its on 24/7 and not given me any issues. well worth having

 

[rogervn]

This is probably the same issue as before: there aren't enough clocks for clockless SSDs so that's why you suddenly end up with random ones working and others not working.

What do you mean clockless ssds? This is something I never heard before.

In my case it's not necessarily the number of ssds, the exact number work just fine if I put them all in the daughter board, but if I put one in the E-key slot, a random one drops after some time, in my case it wasn't the e-key one.

Could this be a bios configuration?