ASUS RT-AC66U - Frequent disconnects

[RastabillySkank]

Hi there,

I've seen this issue reported a number of times, but have so far found no solution.

I am getting frequent disconnects on this router and it is causing me endless issues. I have tried the absolute latest firmware from ASUS and am currently running Merlin's 376.45 with no real luck.

The last incident was around 20 minutes ago, log is as follows:

---

Aug 20 17:14:08 rc_service: ntp 463:notify_rc restart_upnp
Aug 20 17:14:08 miniupnpd[462]: shutting down MiniUPnPd
Aug 20 17:14:08 miniupnpd[471]: HTTP listening on port 59292
Aug 20 17:14:08 miniupnpd[471]: Listening for NAT-PMP/PCP traffic on port 5351
Aug 20 17:14:08 rc_service: ntp 463:notify_rc restart_diskmon
Aug 20 17:14:08 disk monitor: be idle
Aug 20 17:14:09 rc_service: udhcpc 390:notify_rc start_vpnserver1
Aug 20 17:14:09 dhcp client: bound 192.168.1.2 via 192.168.1.1 during 86400 seconds.
Aug 20 17:14:09 kernel: tun: Universal TUN/TAP device driver, 1.6
Aug 20 17:14:09 kernel: tun: (C) 1999-2004 Max Krasnyansky <maxk@qualcomm.com>
Aug 20 17:14:10 nmbd[389]: [2014/08/20 17:14:10, 0] nmbd/nmbd_become_dmb.c:become_domain_master_stage2(113)
Aug 20 17:14:10 nmbd[389]: Samba server RT-AC66U is now a domain master browser for workgroup WORKGROUP on subnet 192.168.2.1
Aug 20 17:14:11 kernel: device tun21 entered promiscuous mode
Aug 20 17:14:14 openvpn[484]: OpenVPN 2.3.4 mipsel-unknown-linux-gnu [SSL (OpenSSL)] [LZO] [EPOLL] [MH] [IPv6] built on Aug 17 2014
Aug 20 17:14:14 openvpn[484]: library versions: OpenSSL 1.0.0n 6 Aug 2014, LZO 2.08
Aug 20 17:14:14 openvpn[484]: NOTE: your local LAN uses the extremely common subnet address 192.168.0.x or 192.168.1.x. Be aware that this might create routing conflicts if you connect to the VPN server from public locations such as internet cafes that use the same subnet.
Aug 20 17:14:14 openvpn[484]: Diffie-Hellman initialized with 512 bit key
Aug 20 17:14:14 openvpn[484]: Socket Buffers: R=[118784->131072] S=[118784->131072]
Aug 20 17:14:14 openvpn[484]: TUN/TAP device tun21 opened
Aug 20 17:14:14 openvpn[484]: TUN/TAP TX queue length set to 100
Aug 20 17:14:14 openvpn[484]: do_ifconfig, tt->ipv6=0, tt->did_ifconfig_ipv6_setup=0
Aug 20 17:14:14 openvpn[484]: /usr/sbin/ip link set dev tun21 up mtu 1500
Aug 20 17:14:14 openvpn[484]: /usr/sbin/ip addr add dev tun21 local 10.8.0.1 peer 10.8.0.2
Aug 20 17:14:14 openvpn[484]: /usr/sbin/ip route add 10.8.0.0/24 via 10.8.0.2
Aug 20 17:14:14 openvpn[491]: UDPv4 link local (bound): [undef]
Aug 20 17:14:14 openvpn[491]: UDPv4 link remote: [undef]
Aug 20 17:14:14 openvpn[491]: MULTI: multi_init called, r=256 v=256
Aug 20 17:14:14 openvpn[491]: IFCONFIG POOL: base=10.8.0.4 size=62, ipv6=0
Aug 20 17:14:14 openvpn[491]: Initialization Sequence Completed
Aug 20 17:14:25 nmbd[389]: [2014/08/20 17:14:25, 0] nmbd/nmbd_become_lmb.c:become_local_master_stage2(392)
Aug 20 17:14:25 nmbd[389]: Samba name server RT-AC66U is now a local master browser for workgroup WORKGROUP on subnet 192.168.2.1
Aug 20 17:14:42 crond[336]: time disparity of 1911194 minutes detected

---

I hope this is enough information.

Cheers

 

[RastabillySkank]

Happened again only 45 minutes after the last reboot, as follows:

---

Aug 20 18:00:17 rc_service: ntp 463:notify_rc restart_upnp
Aug 20 18:00:17 miniupnpd[462]: shutting down MiniUPnPd
Aug 20 18:00:17 miniupnpd[471]: HTTP listening on port 44720
Aug 20 18:00:17 miniupnpd[471]: Listening for NAT-PMP/PCP traffic on port 5351
Aug 20 18:00:17 rc_service: ntp 463:notify_rc restart_diskmon
Aug 20 18:00:17 disk monitor: be idle
Aug 20 18:00:18 rc_service: udhcpc 403:notify_rc start_vpnserver1
Aug 20 18:00:18 dhcp client: bound 192.168.1.2 via 192.168.1.1 during 86400 seconds.
Aug 20 18:00:18 kernel: tun: Universal TUN/TAP device driver, 1.6
Aug 20 18:00:18 kernel: tun: (C) 1999-2004 Max Krasnyansky <maxk@qualcomm.com>
Aug 20 18:00:19 nmbd[385]: [2014/08/20 18:00:19, 0] nmbd/nmbd_become_dmb.c:become_domain_master_stage2(113)
Aug 20 18:00:19 nmbd[385]: Samba server RT-AC66U is now a domain master browser for workgroup WORKGROUP on subnet 192.168.2.1
Aug 20 18:00:20 kernel: device tun21 entered promiscuous mode
Aug 20 18:00:23 openvpn[484]: OpenVPN 2.3.4 mipsel-unknown-linux-gnu [SSL (OpenSSL)] [LZO] [EPOLL] [MH] [IPv6] built on Aug 17 2014
Aug 20 18:00:23 openvpn[484]: library versions: OpenSSL 1.0.0n 6 Aug 2014, LZO 2.08
Aug 20 18:00:23 openvpn[484]: NOTE: your local LAN uses the extremely common subnet address 192.168.0.x or 192.168.1.x. Be aware that this might create routing conflicts if you connect to the VPN server from public locations such as internet cafes that use the same subnet.
Aug 20 18:00:23 openvpn[484]: Diffie-Hellman initialized with 512 bit key
Aug 20 18:00:23 openvpn[484]: Socket Buffers: R=[118784->131072] S=[118784->131072]
Aug 20 18:00:23 openvpn[484]: TUN/TAP device tun21 opened
Aug 20 18:00:23 openvpn[484]: TUN/TAP TX queue length set to 100
Aug 20 18:00:23 openvpn[484]: do_ifconfig, tt->ipv6=0, tt->did_ifconfig_ipv6_setup=0
Aug 20 18:00:23 openvpn[484]: /usr/sbin/ip link set dev tun21 up mtu 1500
Aug 20 18:00:23 openvpn[484]: /usr/sbin/ip addr add dev tun21 local 10.8.0.1 peer 10.8.0.2
Aug 20 18:00:23 openvpn[484]: /usr/sbin/ip route add 10.8.0.0/24 via 10.8.0.2
Aug 20 18:00:23 openvpn[491]: UDPv4 link local (bound): [undef]
Aug 20 18:00:23 openvpn[491]: UDPv4 link remote: [undef]
Aug 20 18:00:23 openvpn[491]: MULTI: multi_init called, r=256 v=256
Aug 20 18:00:23 openvpn[491]: IFCONFIG POOL: base=10.8.0.4 size=62, ipv6=0
Aug 20 18:00:23 openvpn[491]: Initialization Sequence Completed
Aug 20 18:00:34 nmbd[385]: [2014/08/20 18:00:34, 0] nmbd/nmbd_become_lmb.c:become_local_master_stage2(392)
Aug 20 18:00:34 nmbd[385]: Samba name server RT-AC66U is now a local master browser for workgroup WORKGROUP on subnet 192.168.2.1
Aug 20 18:00:51 crond[336]: time disparity of 1911240 minutes detected

 

[AdvHomeServer]

I am as mystified by router problems as you are. My routers have always been stable, although my old DSL service wasn't and it caused a lot of problems before I dropped it in favor of Xfinity. Form reading here, some people report lots of problems.

Just for grins, lets try to be systematic and see if anything helps.

Reloading firmware was a good idea and trying alternate firmware was also helpful in eliminating problem causes.

* Try a router reset by pressing the reset button, putting the router in factory default condition, and starting over. Try it with stock firmware also.

* Was your connection stable before starting with the router that has problems? Does your ISP have the ability to see if your connection to the home is working properly?

* Do you have a spare, cheapo router. If so, give it a try. If not, consider buying a well regarded refurb that might be a little obsolete but is still functional. Unless you are into heavy network use, it might tide you over until a better solution can be figured out.

* If you reset, try turning on any supplemental services one at a time over a period of days. Perhaps one of the ancillary router functions is causing the issue.

Edit: Before loading any new firmware, reset the router using the reset button first. Your problems may be caused by leftover junk conflicting with whatever is loaded at the moment.

 

[RastabillySkank]

Hey, thanks for the replies. Unfortunately I've had no luck.

Router reset did not fix the issue. Still occurring on a relatively regular basis.
Connection was stable before the router, but my other router had unrelated issues that were part of the reason I switched to this one. My modem's uptime is perfect and the internet is not dropping out at all, as the router is fully rebooting it would appear to be purely a fault with the router itself.

I have seen people report similar issues but nothing since the last couple of versions of firmware. I'm stumped!

 

[AdvHomeServer]

Hey, thanks for the replies. Unfortunately I've had no luck.

Router reset did not fix the issue. Still occurring on a relatively regular basis.
Connection was stable before the router, but my other router had unrelated issues that were part of the reason I switched to this one. My modem's uptime is perfect and the internet is not dropping out at all, as the router is fully rebooting it would appear to be purely a fault with the router itself.

I have seen people report similar issues but nothing since the last couple of versions of firmware. I'm stumped!

The logs make your router look like it's running a lot of ancillary services, such as openvpn. I am unfamiliar with Merlin's firmware so I am not in a position to tell you how a tweak might work.

As I said earlier, go systematic. Put the original firmware back on, reset (not just reboot .. there's a difference) the router, turn on only the features you need.

Long ago, one of the frequent posters here said, in regard to router firmware upgrades "If it ain't broke, don't fix it.." Right now it looks like your router doesn't work with alternate firmware. Re-install the stock firmware ... in fact do a 'big' factory reset. I think with asus, you load some reset software on your PC and grab a copy of the firmware, you hold the reset button down in a particular way until blue lights start to blink, then you use the pc software to find the router and re-load the factory firmware.

In fact, look up the proper instructions on this forum or from asus to do a hard reset.

If it still doesn't work and your old router did, then the router's broken. If you buy a new one, don't get one that people here always seem to complain about. The same names pop up again and again.

I like to play with dd-wrt and I recently put padavan's alternate firmware on my old Asus rt-n56u because it gave me a client bridge function the the n56u didn't have. Otherwise, it ran stock firmware reliably for over 2 years. DD-WRT on my other router is for research and hobby purposes. I am quite willing to drop it if I need an emergency router and DD-WRT is a problem. While I have no doubt that manufacturers include / exclude features partly as a marketing ploy to keep you in an upgrade mood, I also believe that most test their firmware extensively. Does Merlin's firmware offer you a feature you need, are you just playing around (nothing wrong with that), or are you just following the crowd?

Tell me, if you could replace the firmware on your microwave oven, would you do it or would you just get on with your life and use it to heat stuff as designed?

 

[RastabillySkank]

Hey, thanks for the reply. Appreciate your time.

I just want to be clear that this started happening on 2 versions of stock firmware. The first version was the version the router shipped with and the second version was an attempt to fix the issue. Merlin firmware was the last resort before giving up and asking for advice here.

I did do a reset, not just a reboot. Set everything up again from scratch (only what was necessary) but it could well be that the Merlin firmware has some opt-out features I don't know about.

I'll go through every page of the config and turn off anything I come across that isn't vital for function. If that doesn't work then I guess it's time to give ASUS another call.

Cheers.

 

[RastabillySkank]

So I went through every page of the config and the only extra service I found on was DLNA Media Server. No change after this was turned off.

Last reboot was as follows:

Aug 25 18:43:17 rc_service: ntp 462:notify_rc restart_upnp
Aug 25 18:43:17 rc_service: ntp 462:notify_rc restart_diskmon
Aug 25 18:43:17 rc_service: waitting "restart_upnp" via ntp ...
Aug 25 18:43:17 miniupnpd[461]: shutting down MiniUPnPd
Aug 25 18:43:17 miniupnpd[471]: HTTP listening on port 36439
Aug 25 18:43:17 miniupnpd[471]: Listening for NAT-PMP/PCP traffic on port 5351
Aug 25 18:43:17 disk monitor: be idle
Aug 25 18:43:19 crond[335]: time disparity of 1918423 minutes detected
Aug 25 18:43:39 nmbd[390]: [2014/08/25 18:43:39, 0] nmbd/nmbd_become_lmb.c:become_local_master_stage2(392)
Aug 25 18:43:39 nmbd[390]: Samba name server RT-AC66U-AAF0 is now a local master browser for workgroup WORKGROUP on subnet 192.168.2.1
Aug 25 18:43:50 dnsmasq-dhcp[425]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.219 18:00:2d:37:a9:dc
Aug 25 18:43:50 dnsmasq-dhcp[425]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.219 18:00:2d:37:a9:dc android-40fa1f90c2c5ea31
Aug 25 18:44:30 miniupnpd[471]: HTTP Connection from 192.168.2.230 closed unexpectedly
Aug 25 18:44:58 dnsmasq-dhcp[425]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.70.33 18:00:2d:db:92:ad
Aug 25 18:44:58 dnsmasq-dhcp[425]: DHCPNAK(br0) 192.168.70.33 18:00:2d:db:92:ad wrong network
Aug 25 18:45:02 dnsmasq-dhcp[425]: DHCPDISCOVER(br0) 18:00:2d:db:92:ad
Aug 25 18:45:02 dnsmasq-dhcp[425]: DHCPOFFER(br0) 192.168.2.231 18:00:2d:db:92:ad
Aug 25 18:45:02 dnsmasq-dhcp[425]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.231 18:00:2d:db:92:ad
Aug 25 18:45:02 dnsmasq-dhcp[425]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.231 18:00:2d:db:92:ad android-d699de177b7f58d
Aug 25 18:58:53 dnsmasq-dhcp[425]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.219 18:00:2d:37:a9:dc
Aug 25 18:58:53 dnsmasq-dhcp[425]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.219 18:00:2d:37:a9:dc android-40fa1f90c2c5ea31
Aug 25 20:10:36 dnsmasq-dhcp[425]: DHCPREQUEST(br0) 192.168.2.219 18:00:2d:37:a9:dc
Aug 25 20:10:36 dnsmasq-dhcp[425]: DHCPACK(br0) 192.168.2.219 18:00:2d:37:a9:dc android-40fa1f90c2c5ea31