Asus RT-AX88u flash / nand / storage issue?

[killeriq]

Hello,

Router started to behave strange:
- wasnt accepting some Devices
- impossible to log in
- soft restart didnt helped

So i though ok, let try to add newer FW (currently Merlin 386.4) -> RT-AX88U_388.1_0

After hitting upgrade via:
Administration - Firmware Upgrade - Manual firmware update : Upload

Process went till 100% , restarted....but i was still seeing 386.4

Tried to Factory reset via UI, upgrade again via different browser, but same result

So i tried:

RT-AX88U_386.8_0
even original FW_RT_AX88U_300438820558

Also Hard Factory reset - https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1039074/

No success (

--

In System Log - General Log i See those errors:

Dec 18 15:13:48 kernel: bcm63xx_nand ff801800.nand: program failed at bb20e00
Dec 18 15:13:48 kernel: jffs2: jffs2_flush_wbuf(): Write failed with -5
Dec 18 15:13:48 kernel: jffs2: Write of 1624 bytes at 0x00420cd8 failed. returned -5, retlen 0
Dec 18 15:13:48 kernel: jffs2: Not marking the space at 0x00420cd8 as dirty because the flash driver returned retlen zero
Dec 18 15:16:48 kernel: bcm63xx_nand ff801800.nand: program failed at bae1e00
Dec 18 15:16:48 kernel: jffs2: jffs2_flush_wbuf(): Write failed with -5
Dec 18 15:16:48 kernel: jffs2: Write of 290 bytes at 0x003e1fcc failed. returned -5, retlen 0
Dec 18 15:16:48 kernel: jffs2: Not marking the space at 0x003e1fcc as dirty because the flash driver returned retlen zero
Dec 18 15:18:48 kernel: bcm63xx_nand ff801800.nand: program failed at baa1e00
Dec 18 15:18:48 kernel: jffs2: jffs2_flush_wbuf(): Write failed with -5
Dec 18 15:18:48 kernel: jffs2: Recovery of wbuf succeeded to 00380000
Dec 18 15:18:48 kernel: jffs2: Write of 349 bytes at 0x003a1f04 failed. returned -5, retlen 0
Dec 18 15:18:48 kernel: jffs2: Not marking the space at 0x003a1f04 as dirty because the flash driver returned retlen zero
Dec 18 15:20:49 kernel: bcm63xx_nand ff801800.nand: program failed at ba60e00
Dec 18 15:20:49 kernel: jffs2: Write of 2576 bytes at 0x00360794 failed. returned -5, retlen 0
Dec 18 15:20:49 kernel: jffs2: Not marking the space at 0x00360794 as dirty because the flash driver returned retlen zero
Dec 18 15:20:49 kernel: bcm63xx_nand ff801800.nand: program failed at ba40000
Dec 18 15:20:49 kernel: jffs2: Write of 2576 bytes at 0x00340000 failed. returned -5, retlen 0
Dec 18 15:20:49 kernel: jffs2: Not marking the space at 0x00340000 as dirty because the flash driver returned retlen zero
Dec 18 15:20:49 kernel: jffs2: Error garbage collecting node at 00380000!
Dec 18 15:21:48 kernel: bcm63xx_nand ff801800.nand: program failed at ba20e00
Dec 18 15:21:48 kernel: jffs2: jffs2_flush_wbuf(): Write failed with -5
Dec 18 15:21:48 kernel: jffs2: Recovery of wbuf succeeded to 00300000
Dec 18 15:21:48 kernel: jffs2: Write of 352 bytes at 0x00320f74 failed. returned -5, retlen 0
Dec 18 15:21:48 kernel: jffs2: Not marking the space at 0x00320f74 as dirty because the flash driver returned retlen zero
Dec 18 15:22:20 acsd: eth6: selected_chspec is 0x1005 (5)
Dec 18 15:22:20 acsd: eth6: Adjusted channel spec: 0x1005 (5)
Dec 18 15:22:20 acsd: eth6: selected channel spec: 0x1005 (5)
Dec 18 15:22:20 acsd: eth6: txop channel select: Performing CSA on chspec 0x1005
Dec 18 15:23:49 kernel: bcm63xx_nand ff801800.nand: program failed at b9e0e00
Dec 18 15:23:49 kernel: jffs2: jffs2_flush_wbuf(): Write failed with -5
Dec 18 15:23:49 kernel: jffs2: Write of 2576 bytes at 0x002e0850 failed. returned -5, retlen 0
Dec 18 15:23:49 kernel: jffs2: Not marking the space at 0x002e0850 as dirty because the flash driver returned retlen zero
Dec 18 15:23:49 kernel: bcm63xx_nand ff801800.nand: program failed at b9c0000
Dec 18 15:23:49 kernel: jffs2: jffs2_flush_wbuf(): Write failed with -5
Dec 18 15:23:49 kernel: jffs2: Write of 2576 bytes at 0x002c0050 failed. returned -5, retlen 0
Dec 18 15:23:49 kernel: jffs2: Not marking the space at 0x002c0050 as dirty because the flash driver returned retlen zero
Dec 18 15:23:49 kernel: jffs2: Error garbage collecting node at 00300000!
Dec 18 15:23:49 kernel: bcm63xx_nand ff801800.nand: program failed at b9a2e00
Dec 18 15:23:49 kernel: jffs2: jffs2_flush_wbuf(): Write failed with -5
Dec 18 15:23:49 kernel: jffs2: Write of 956 bytes at 0x002a2d70 failed. returned -5, retlen 0
Dec 18 15:23:49 kernel: jffs2: Not marking the space at 0x002a2d70 as dirty because the flash driver returned retlen zero
Dec 18 15:25:49 kernel: bcm63xx_nand ff801800.nand: program failed at b961e00
Dec 18 15:25:49 kernel: jffs2: jffs2_flush_wbuf(): Write failed with -5
Dec 18 15:25:49 kernel: jffs2: Write of 428 bytes at 0x00261f30 failed. returned -5, retlen 0
Dec 18 15:25:49 kernel: jffs2: Not marking the space at 0x00261f30 as dirty because the flash driver returned retlen zero
Dec 18 15:27:49 kernel: bcm63xx_nand ff801800.nand: program failed at b920e00
Dec 18 15:27:49 kernel: jffs2: jffs2_flush_wbuf(): Write failed with -5
Dec 18 15:27:49 kernel: jffs2: Write of 432 bytes at 0x00220f80 failed. returned -5, retlen 0
Dec 18 15:27:49 kernel: jffs2: Not marking the space at 0x00220f80 as dirty because the flash driver returned retlen zero

1. Anything what else could be done or the local FLASH is faulty and need to look for different router?
2. What might caused it?
Adaptive QoS - QoS - Web History - ON? i do check what are devices connecting to, this might have some writes to storage ?!
3. Do you have suggestion to any other router from Asus with 8x LAN ports ? i had becore AC88 and moved to AX88 due to faster CPU/RAM

Thanks

 

[bbunge]

AS it appears you are on Merlin firmware the first thing I would do id format /jffs.
After that I would to a reset and initialize from the GUI. Then reconfigure but do not use a saved configuration. I noted that your try at a hard Factory Reset did not work and I have had the same issue with mu AX86U. But the reset and initialize usually does work. Also, pull the power brick from the power recepricle with the router power switch on and leave the router powered off for 10 minutes or so.

 

[killeriq]

Yes im on Merlin.

How do i format JFFS? via UI or some script / command to run?

Even i did various reset (form UI, via WPS, Reset button...) i just do basic config in order to enter menu, soon as i try to upload new FW it just dont work. All the time i'm seeing those errors in Log

 

[killeriq]

@RMerlin please any clue if there is any option to format it and fix it somehow? Thanks

 

[Ripshod]

Do you have another similar asus router you could borrow the power supply from (must check voltage and polarity)?
Are there any sources of emi(rfi) close by like a TV, computer or digital phone?

 

[killeriq]

Do you have another similar asus router you could borrow the power supply from (must check voltage and polarity)?
Are there any sources of emi(rfi) close by like a TV, computer or digital phone?

i dont have any spare router to use the power supply, but usually inside the router is Power balancer/limiter so power supply shouldnt be an issue...or?

I have some Lab power supply, where i can set Volts,Amps as i need, so i might be able to test it with this one.

No sources of "emi" around, it was fine for last 2y, i havent even upgraded FW for last 9 months.

I went for vacation and issues started before i came back... maybe he was missing traffic

 

[HeadBanger]

@killeriq - how are you getting on? Have you managed to update to 388? If so - how? Thnx.

HB

 

[killeriq]

not at all, i'm still on 386.4 and seems like no way to upgrade. I've managed to restore settings from some backups

Router is "running" somehow, but usually after 30-60min since restart i'm not able to log in anymore. Fortunately is still doing his service somehow, time to time is Wifi suddenly down so i need to reboot again.

Looking for a new router probably GT-AX6000 (as they suggested me here in other thread), so next week I will order it, even i was thinking to get again RT-AX88 as is/was sufficient for my needs