Aimesh goes down daily or every few hours

[DJones]

Each of my 5 routers has devices hard wired to it because they don't support WIFI. This AiMesh system was working perfectly for > a year until I decided to update my routers to 386.7 and then 386.7_2. I won't apologize again for not being an expert in this area, I'm just looking for suggestions. I see that you've given yours, and I've followed it; it works mostly for now, though connection keeps dropping across the board. Instead of just fixing it, I'd like to understand why updating to the latest firmware would cause this, or if maybe something else I might have done caused it.

I’m not sure if it’s a firmware issue. It very well could be; version 388 is in early alpha for certain devices, but as he gets the firmware from ASUS he will add more device support. Things are looking good so far for 388.

Alpha builds will be added here however it’s not in a state where Rmerlin will support addons until it releases. But so far they mostly work regardless.

Microsoft OneDrive

onedrive.live.com

 

[Tech9]

Each of my 5 routers has devices hard wired to it because they don't support WIFI.

I would downgrade the main router to Asuswrt-Merlin 386.5_2, if you ask me. In your case I would use latest available stock Asuswrt on the main router. Instead of AiMesh nodes you may consider switching some of the routers to Media Bridges. Too many routers with Wi-Fi enabled makes things worse.

 

[ldeveraux]

The other thing that gives me worry is the overall speed. When I setup my aimesh my download speed via fast.com was >200 Mbps. Now with all routers at stock , and after the issues I've had, I don't get over 100. There was a time when I was getting the 300 Mbps I pay for. So confused...

 

[Tech9]

With AC68U as wireless AiMesh node about 150Mbps to connected to it wireless clients is what you can expect. It’s AiMesh compatible, but the oldest hardware around 10 years old now. It has some limitations.

 

[ldeveraux]

With AC68U as wireless AiMesh node about 150Mbps to connected to it wireless clients is what you can expect. It’s AiMesh compatible, but the oldest hardware around 10 years old now. It has some limitations.

But I was getting 200-300 a year ago on the same hardware, same configuration, same locations, same device(s).

 

[Tech9]

I never managed to get this speed from a wireless AC68U variant node even when it was connected to the main router at full speed with 1300Mbps link. 200Mbps is perhaps possible, but 300Mbps is in ideal conditions theoretical territory.

 

[JohnD5000]

Each of my 5 routers has devices hard wired to it because they don't support WIFI. This AiMesh system was working perfectly for > a year until I decided to update my routers to 386.7 and then 386.7_2. I won't apologize again for not being an expert in this area, I'm just looking for suggestions. I see that you've given yours, and I've followed it; it works mostly for now, though connection keeps dropping across the board. Instead of just fixing it, I'd like to understand why updating to the latest firmware would cause this, or if maybe something else I might have done caused it.

First, you should have stock on your nodes. Merlin on your router.

On my nodes, I was having the same issue as you. Version 3.0.0.4.386.48260 released 2022/03/25 gave me issues on my Aimesh node (RT-AC86U) so I reverted back to Version 3.0.0.4.386.46092 released 2022/03/03. Note: Merlin 386.7_2 is currently on my router. I recall seeing a thread about this somewhere, too. In any case, just don't use the latest version if it is giving you issues. I've been waiting for an updated version to try out, but it has been a while now. Hopefully, they fixed the issue in the next version.

 

[ldeveraux]

First, you should have stock on your nodes. Merlin on your router.

On my nodes, I was having the same issue as you. Version 3.0.0.4.386.48260 released 2022/03/25 gave me issues on my Aimesh node (RT-AC86U) so I reverted back to Version 3.0.0.4.386.46092 released 2022/03/03. Note: Merlin 386.7_2 is currently on my router. I recall seeing a thread about this somewhere, too. In any case, just don't use the latest version if it is giving you issues. I've been waiting for an updated version to try out, but it has been a while now. Hopefully, they fixed the issue in the next version.

My nodes are RT-AC68U not RT-AC86U, should I still use the previous version firmware? 3.0.0.4.386.48262 (2022/03/25) vs the newer 3.0.0.4.386.49703 (2022/07/20) or the even older
3.0.0.4.386.46065 (2022/01/27)

 

[JohnD5000]

My nodes are RT-AC68U not RT-AC86U, should I still use the previous version firmware? 3.0.0.4.386.48262 (2022/03/25) vs the newer 3.0.0.4.386.49703 (2022/07/20) or the even older
3.0.0.4.386.46065 (2022/01/27)

I have 2 AC68U up in the attic but haven't used them in a while. I'd try the latest stock on AC68U, if no issues, stick to it, it is newer. The 3/25 version looks like the equivalent of the version I was having Aimesh issues with. My issue was that it would not find the node nor let me reset the node.

 

[jkxs]

I have 2x RT-AX86U and I noticed this on the weekend as well. Only affected the node in basement and not the router upstairs. Both routers are connected using ethernet backhaul and only the 5 Ghz channel is active. I have automatic restarts set up every day at 5 am, considering the latest update came out like 3 months ago I am not sure why there is an issue now. I am factory resetting both routers and am going to downgrade to the previous version.

 

[ankhazam]

Hey,
on my AX88U (386.8) + 2xRP-AX58U (latest ASUS) I think the problem was the enabled "Roaming Assistant" under Wireless->Professional tab.

Once I have disabled it my AX88U stopped dropping tainted kernel messages:

Oct 16 20:10:17 <router> roamast: [EXAP]Deauth old sta in 1 0: <some mac>
Oct 16 20:10:17 <router> roamast: eth7: disconnect weak signal strength station [<some mac>]
Oct 16 20:10:17 <router> kernel: potentially unexpected fatal signal 11.
Oct 16 20:10:17 <router> kernel: CPU: 1 PID: 23463 Comm: roamast Tainted: P           O    4.1.51 #2
Oct 16 20:10:17 <router> kernel: x12: 00000000ffffffff
Oct 16 20:10:33 <router> hostapd: eth7: STA <some mac> IEEE 802.11: disassociated
[..]
Oct 16 20:10:41 <router> roamast: ROAMING Start...
[..]
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> roamast: determine candidate node [<some mac>](rssi: -61dbm) for client [<some other mac>](rssi: -74dbm) to roam
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> roamast: eth6: disconnect weak signal strength station [<some other mac>]
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: potentially unexpected fatal signal 11.
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: CPU: 0 PID: 19385 Comm: roamast Tainted: P           O    4.1.51 #2
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: Hardware name: Broadcom-v8A (DT)
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: task: ffffffc032a3ea80 ti: ffffffc020224000 task.ti: ffffffc020224000
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: PC is at 0xf6e3672e
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: LR is at 0xf6e02858
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: pc : [<00000000f6e3672e>] lr : [<00000000f6e02858>] pstate: 20000030
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: sp : 00000000f6dbec48
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: x12: 00000000ffffffff 
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: x11: 00000000f6dbf144 x10: 0000000000000000 
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: x9 : 00000000f6efc7a8 x8 : 00000000f6efe000 
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: x7 : 00000000f6dc0920 x6 : 0000000000000021 
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: x5 : 00000000001b9b89 x4 : 0000000000000004 
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: x3 : 0000000000000000 x2 : 0000000000000001 
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: x1 : 0000000000000050 x0 : 0000000000000054 
Oct 18 20:23:41 <router> roamast: ROAMING Start...
Oct 18 20:25:21 <router> rc_service: cfg_server 1635:notify_rc restart_wireless
Oct 18 20:25:21 <router> custom_script: Running /jffs/scripts/service-event (args: restart wireless)
Oct 18 20:25:21 <router> networkmap: Error unlocking 8: 9 Bad file descriptor
Oct 18 20:25:21 <router> networkmap: Error unlocking 0: 9 Bad file descriptor

 

[ldeveraux]

Hey,
on my AX88U (386.8) + 2xRP-AX58U (latest ASUS) I think the problem was the enabled "Roaming Assistant" under Wireless->Professional tab.

View attachment 44897

Once I have disabled it my AX88U stopped dropping tainted kernel messages:

Oct 16 20:10:17 <router> roamast: [EXAP]Deauth old sta in 1 0: <some mac>
Oct 16 20:10:17 <router> roamast: eth7: disconnect weak signal strength station [<some mac>]
Oct 16 20:10:17 <router> kernel: potentially unexpected fatal signal 11.
Oct 16 20:10:17 <router> kernel: CPU: 1 PID: 23463 Comm: roamast Tainted: P           O    4.1.51 #2
Oct 16 20:10:17 <router> kernel: x12: 00000000ffffffff
Oct 16 20:10:33 <router> hostapd: eth7: STA <some mac> IEEE 802.11: disassociated
[..]
Oct 16 20:10:41 <router> roamast: ROAMING Start...
[..]
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> roamast: determine candidate node [<some mac>](rssi: -61dbm) for client [<some other mac>](rssi: -74dbm) to roam
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> roamast: eth6: disconnect weak signal strength station [<some other mac>]
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: potentially unexpected fatal signal 11.
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: CPU: 0 PID: 19385 Comm: roamast Tainted: P           O    4.1.51 #2
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: Hardware name: Broadcom-v8A (DT)
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: task: ffffffc032a3ea80 ti: ffffffc020224000 task.ti: ffffffc020224000
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: PC is at 0xf6e3672e
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: LR is at 0xf6e02858
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: pc : [<00000000f6e3672e>] lr : [<00000000f6e02858>] pstate: 20000030
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: sp : 00000000f6dbec48
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: x12: 00000000ffffffff
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: x11: 00000000f6dbf144 x10: 0000000000000000
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: x9 : 00000000f6efc7a8 x8 : 00000000f6efe000
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: x7 : 00000000f6dc0920 x6 : 0000000000000021
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: x5 : 00000000001b9b89 x4 : 0000000000000004
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: x3 : 0000000000000000 x2 : 0000000000000001
Oct 18 20:23:25 <router> kernel: x1 : 0000000000000050 x0 : 0000000000000054
Oct 18 20:23:41 <router> roamast: ROAMING Start...
Oct 18 20:25:21 <router> rc_service: cfg_server 1635:notify_rc restart_wireless
Oct 18 20:25:21 <router> custom_script: Running /jffs/scripts/service-event (args: restart wireless)
Oct 18 20:25:21 <router> networkmap: Error unlocking 8: 9 Bad file descriptor
Oct 18 20:25:21 <router> networkmap: Error unlocking 0: 9 Bad file descriptor

Oh thanks, but I'd already had Roaming Assist disabled. I think I might have gotten over the dropping issues by updating the router to the latest merlin and keeping the nodes at a stock fw from January. Now my biggest concern is only getting 100 Mbps through the router (where I previously got 300) and my torrent program killing my other bandwidth.

 

[jkxs]

Oh thanks, but I'd already had Roaming Assist disabled. I think I might have gotten over the dropping issues by updating the router to the latest merlin and keeping the nodes at a stock fw from January. Now my biggest concern is only getting 100 Mbps through the router (where I previously got 300) and my torrent program killing my other bandwidth.

You need to factory reset at this point

 

[ldeveraux]

You need to factory reset at this point

I think I might. Previously I've been holding the reset button for a few seconds until the power light flashed and that reset the router. Is that the best technique still?

 

[OzarkEdge]

I think I might. Previously I've been holding the reset button for a few seconds until the power light flashed and that reset the router. Is that the best technique still?

Aimesh goes down daily or every few hours

To start out, I don't have ethernet backhaul enabled (should I?) My system: 1x AiMesh router: RT-AX68U on asuswrt-merlin firmware 386.3_2 (downgraded yesterday from 386.7_2) 4x nodes either RT-AC68U or P, all on the latest stock firmware Background: About a month ago I upgraded all my units...

www.snbforums.com

OE

 

[Morris]

My experience with RT-AC68U is that they are great while they work. I went through two of them in a few years. One of them is probably trampling the 5-Ghz band with noise. Try one at a time and replace the bad one with something else. Purchasing a pare of ZenWiFi XD-6 is a great deal for a WiFi-6 router and you can run stock firmware on them making them easier to update. Another inexpensive solution is the RT-AX300 which will run Merlin though you are better off running stock for the easier update.

Good luck!

Morris

 

[ldeveraux]

My experience with RT-AC68U is that they are great while they work. I went through two of them in a few years. One of them is probably trampling the 5-Ghz band with noise. Try one at a time and replace the bad one with something else. Purchasing a pare of ZenWiFi XD-6 is a great deal for a WiFi-6 router and you can run stock firmware on them making them easier to update. Another inexpensive solution is the RT-AX300 which will run Merlin though you are better off running stock for the easier update.

Good luck!

Morris

I'm not going to spend >$200 each for something that doesn't suit my needs, especially given my system was working gangbusters a month ago. I need routers placed around the house for wired devices I won't eliminate nodes for the ZenWIFI

 

[Morris]

I'm not going to spend >$200 each for something that doesn't suit my needs, especially given my system was working gangbusters a month ago. I need routers placed around the house for wired devices I won't eliminate nodes for the ZenWIFI

If you don't test to find out if one of them is causing the issue then you don't solve your problem. Take one node down for a day or two at a time and see if the problem goes away. If one of them is causing the issue you need to replace it. If you prove that they are not the cause then you don't need to do anything.

 

[ldeveraux]

I took everyone's advice and completely reset the AX68U router and speeds are back up to normal. This is from a wired connection to a node

 

[ldeveraux]

Can I 'reopen' this discussion to ask if a particular port in a node can hinder speed or otherwise go south? One of the nodes has been connected to a local router for wired devices in one room. When I plug the router into port 1 of the node, I get speeds <100 Mbps. When I plug it into port 4 in the node, I get >300 Mbps. Is this a known issue, has it happened before, and any way to fix? My Aimesh router has 386.7_2 and all 4 nodes have latest stock fw at this point.