_5134 -> _9177 observations

[wfhmaster]

I took some notes about my experience in going from _5134 to _9177 on my AC87U today...

Had to reset router 3 times to get it to reset to factory defaults, same happened last time I flashed firmware.

Internet setup wizard doesn't work to setup Wi-Fi, no settings are changed at all.

Intel SSD not recognized on router reboot, must power off/on SSD as well as unplug/replug USB cable from router, same with previous firmwares.

Wi-Fi SSID cached with auto-complete in browser, security risk?

5G:
-range, line of sight about 40-50ft
-range, through walls 20-30ft
-when signal is weak connectivity is extremely flakey
-can't get 100% signal even 2ft from the router (2.4G gets 100% even further away than this)
-40Mbps is the max speed possible on my Galaxy Note 2 (2.4G gives 72Mbps max)
-no change in any aspects above compared to _5134
-I've disabled 5G, it's still useless for me, slower than 2.4G 2ft from the router.

2.4G is working as usual, no issues.

Open VPN, FTP/SMB, AiCloud all work

NTP is working correctly

All my devices are connected and functioning as before.

Stability, no crashes or weird errors yet(only 2hrs uptime so far). I've bypassed my power timer to see how it goes without forced rebooting daily.

 

[jontalk]

While I have a different router (RT-AC56R) Asus just released firmware update 378.9135 and I'm hesitant to install it since most of the bugs fixed have no relevance for my particular use. I've been VERY happy with the current version, 378.4585 so I'm wondering if it's even worth bothering updating. Thanks.

 

[L&LD]

While I have a different router (RT-AC56R) Asus just released firmware update 378.9135 and I'm hesitant to install it since most of the bugs fixed have no relevance for my particular use. I've been VERY happy with the current version, 378.4585 so I'm wondering if it's even worth bothering updating. Thanks.

I would simply wait for the RMerlin release instead. It will contain bug fixes to Asus' efforts and many others will have tried it by then (there is an 378.56.1 Beta being tested right now).

As for worth bothering to update? I don't think we have too much of a choice. The router is the door, lock and key to our internal network from outsiders. Not updating a device that is constantly online is rather like leaving your keys on top of your car. Doing the same with a router is more like leaving your keys, your wallet, your banking info, your... (I think you get the idea).

 

[jontalk]

I would simply wait for the RMerlin release instead. It will contain bug fixes to Asus' efforts and many others will have tried it by then (there is an 378.56.1 Beta being tested right now).

As for worth bothering to update? I don't think we have too much of a choice. The router is the door, lock and key to our internal network from outsiders. Not updating a device that is constantly online is rather like leaving your keys on top of your car. Doing the same with a router is more like leaving your keys, your wallet, your banking info, your... (I think you get the idea).

OK got it. I haven't used Merlin firmware before since the router has been running fine with the stock version. And since I don't have multiple WiFi devices many of the advanced features and security haven't been as important. I use a powerline wired network for the most part since it's far more stable especially for streaming content.

 

[jontalk]

Just saw this thread which discusses the same version firmware I found for my router: http://www.snbforums.com/threads/did-i-just-brick-my-asus-rt-ac3200.27388/#post-208435 So my question is: When Asus releases firmware do they use one build for ALL the AC routers rather than releasing one specific to the model number? Seems odd since every router is different.

 

[RMerlin]

Just saw this thread which discusses the same version firmware I found for my router: http://www.snbforums.com/threads/did-i-just-brick-my-asus-rt-ac3200.27388/#post-208435 So my question is: When Asus releases firmware do they use one build for ALL the AC routers rather than releasing one specific to the model number? Seems odd since every router is different.

The Asuswrt source code can support all of Asus' routers. When you compile it, you specify for which model you are compiling, which will use code branches specific to the target model. So no, they don't use the same firmware, they just share the same common code.

 

[wfhmaster]

Here we are, about 30hrs later and it died in the middle of some mild web browsing (ebay and amazon).

When it died all ports went dead, all the lights were still flashing as if something were happening, but I could no longer get an IP address from the router on any port.

I rebooted and now see the below continuously in the log.

These messages happened before this crash too, but only one at a time and then not again for a while.

I'm beginning to wonder if there really is some sort of problem with my particular unit....

Oct 18 00:39:05 Mastiff: aae is not running,run aae now

Oct 18 00:39:06 Aaews: start to establish a terminal

Oct 18 00:39:30 Mastiff: aae is not running,run aae now

Oct 18 00:39:31 Aaews: start to establish a terminal

Oct 18 00:39:55 Mastiff: aae is not running,run aae now

Oct 18 00:39:56 Aaews: start to establish a terminal

Oct 18 00:40:21 Mastiff: aae is not running,run aae now

Oct 18 00:40:22 Aaews: start to establish a terminal

Oct 18 00:40:46 Mastiff: aae is not running,run aae now

Oct 18 00:40:47 Aaews: start to establish a terminal

Oct 18 00:41:12 Mastiff: aae is not running,run aae now

Oct 18 00:41:12 Aaews: start to establish a terminal

 

[jontalk]

The Asuswrt source code can support all of Asus' routers. When you compile it, you specify for which model you are compiling, which will use code branches specific to the target model. So no, they don't use the same firmware, they just share the same common code.

OK Thanks.. based on what I'm seeing with the newer AC routers, it appears to be buggy as heck. Since my AC56R is running very nicely I'm not going to use this new version. L&LD said to wait until the newest version of Merlin is out and install it instead though I've been running stock firmware rather than Merlin without any issues whatsoever.