Asuswrt-Merlin 374.41 is out

[joegreat]

By the way should I reset to factory defaults after I got .41 installed?

Hi,

Factory reset is not required for .41 when coming from .40 (as the version and content change is small).

But is case of issues (as you have) a factory reset is always recommended to check if the issues will get better!

With kind regards
Joe

 

[Marsi4eg]

What about making separate builds with 'Run CMD' and without it? Users who need maximal security will use the build without this option. Built-in command line was very useful in some cases.

 

[GoNz0]

Because it could be exploited. Just get used to telnet, it works really well and as an added bonus it will return values the webpage one couldnt.

 

[Daybreak]

Have a user with a Lenovo T61 laptop, controlling its no-longer-actively supported Intel 4965AGN WiFi adapter chipset. With the pretty much latest 15.3.1.0 (Intel ProSet Wireless/WiFi) client software running under Windows 7. They at times wirelessly connect with a Merlin-firmware RT-AC66U router that is shouting at the adapter from about 2 meters away, "historically" at a 72mbps link rate on the 5 gigahertz band. Which (1) had seemed like a tad slow link rate and (2) occasionally reported slightly-drifting-up-and-down other link rates.

Upgraded the RT-AC66U router yesterday to Merlin version ...374.41, and suddenly the laptop connects to the 5 gigahertz wireless LAN at a solid (non-varying) 144 megabits per second.

The now-extremely-happy-camper user also pointed out an old Intel product brief:
http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/wireless-network/next-gen-wireless-n-brief.html

referring to the 4965AGN chipset, apparently written at a time when the "N" specification was only in draft stage. The brief describes the chipset as hopefully having a potential for a 300 megabits per second link rate:
"Up to 2X greater range and up to 5X better performance with optional Intel® Next-Gen Wireless N technology enabled by 2x3 Draft N implementations with 2 spatial streams."

Perhaps due to the latest Merlin change from previously-not-as-compatible RT-AC66U wireless drivers, the user at this point feels like their version 374.41 glass is doubly full at 5 gigahertz, rather than half empty.

Howdy,
I have a notebook with the Intel 4965AGN in it. I connect to a RT-N66U and or a RT-AC68U with a rate between 243 Mbps-300Mbps.
I never liked the issue I always saw with the newer drivers from Intel. I would always roll back to Intel driver 12.4.1.4. That is with both bands.

 

[jim769]

@Merlin, first thanks for adding the firewall rule that stops the comcast IPv6 neighbor table overflow from filling up the router error log. I have a question about this there is some debate on the comcast forums as to wether these overflows are counting against are monthly data caps. What I would like to know is if it does count against data usage does your fix stop that or does it simply stop the error from being reported by the router ?

 

[RMerlin]

What about making separate builds with 'Run CMD' and without it? Users who need maximal security will use the build without this option. Built-in command line was very useful in some cases.

Sorry, not going to devote an additional hour of time every time I make a new release to additionally release a vulnerable and exploitable version of the firmware.

Connecting through SSH is even faster than logging on a web interface and navigating to the Run Cmd page.

 

[RMerlin]

@Merlin, first thanks for adding the firewall rule that stops the comcast IPv6 neighbor table overflow from filling up the router error log. I have a question about this there is some debate on the comcast forums as to wether these overflows are counting against are monthly data caps. What I would like to know is if it does count against data usage does your fix stop that or does it simply stop the error from being reported by the router ?

If Comcast counts that traffic, then it won't totally stop the traffic, as it will still go through your modem. However it will prevent your router from sending replies back to Comcast, so it might reduce the amount of traffic passing through your connection.

 

[DrTeeth]

Connecting through SSH is even faster than logging on a web interface and navigating to the Run Cmd page.

I can only agree. Using SSH is very easy. I went from knowing nothing about it to being able to use it *perfectly* in less than 10 mins. The only reason it took that long was because I misunderstood and example in the text.

@Merlin - How about you make your easy-to-follow instructions a locked sticky?

 

[RMerlin]

I can only agree. Using SSH is very easy. I went from knowing nothing about it to being able to use it *perfectly* in less than 10 mins. The only reason it took that long was because I misunderstood and example in the text.

@Merlin - How about you make your easy-to-follow instructions a locked sticky?

I prefer to avoid putting too many stickies, as people end up just ignoring them when there are too many of them - see the DD-WRT forums, for a good (bad?) example.

Someone could create a Wiki article however, which would be the logical place for such instructions.

 

[wbennett77]

I can only agree. Using SSH is very easy. I went from knowing nothing about it to being able to use it *perfectly* in less than 10 mins. The only reason it took that long was because I misunderstood and example in the text.

@Merlin - How about you make your easy-to-follow instructions a locked sticky?

I am in the same boat. I knew nothing about using SSH and was actually a litte intimidated by the thought of having to use it. I have now used it a few times and I am feeling comfortable using it. I certainly don't know all of the commands but I have managed to install Adamm's firewall script as well as Astrill's applet. I am no longer intimidated by SSH and now see it as a very powerful tool.

Cheers!

 

[RussellInCincinnati]

Daybreak, thanks.

Never occurred to me to try installing any Intel client driver but the newest. Will do that at the next opportunity. Hmm, get back to Intel version 12.4.1.4. By the way the user reports now that (with the latest driver) at *greater* than 2 meter distances (i.e. a room away), ironically, they are also see rates somewhat higher than the 144mbps that they max out at, at the 2 meters/super close distance.

 

[GoNz0]

Daybreak, thanks.

Never occurred to me to try installing any Intel client driver but the newest. Will do that at the next opportunity. Hmm, get back to Intel version 12.4.1.4. By the way the user reports now that (with the latest driver) at *greater* than 2 meter distances (i.e. a room away), ironically, they are also see rates somewhat higher than the 144mbps that they max out at, at the 2 meters/super close distance.

144mbps cap is often caused by the adapter setting "packet coalescing" being enabled by default, it is in the advanced section of the network adapter via device manager.

 

[RussellInCincinnati]

User did not see that option anywhere (packet coalescing), will look myself at some point.

 

[GoNz0]

User did not see that option anywhere (packet coalescing), will look myself at some point.

it may vary in name, I have seen reference to friendly neighbour before as well.

 

[ualdrivr]

144mbps cap is often caused by the adapter setting "packet coalescing" being enabled by default, it is in the advanced section of the network adapter via device manager.

User did not see that option anywhere (packet coalescing), will look myself at some point.

it may vary in name, I have seen reference to friendly neighbour before as well.

Interesting

 

[AnTiLooP]

@Merlin,

I have AC66u setup as media bridge connected to my AC68u.

I've updated to the .41 release and all is well but i noticed, on the top right corner there's an alert stating that my 2.4GHZ band is unprotected and not encrypted however there's no way to disable that band since I'm in media bridge mode.

is this anything to worry about ?

if i go to system log >> wireless log it says ..........

"2.4 GHz radio is disabled"

 

[vagii]

AC-66R, for me the only working firmware post 374.39 is 374.40_beta2.

I have tried reset to factory default, clear NVRAM, restoration tool, MD5 check, but still can not update to 374.40, 374.41, 374.41_beta2. After uploading finished, it just went straight into recovery mode.

374.40_beta2 works fine, but this is really annoying.

Anyway, thanks for the work Merlin.

 

[RMerlin]

@Merlin,

I have AC66u setup as media bridge connected to my AC68u.

I've updated to the .41 release and all is well but i noticed, on the top right corner there's an alert stating that my 2.4GHZ band is unprotected and not encrypted however there's no way to disable that band since I'm in media bridge mode.

is this anything to worry about ?

if i go to system log >> wireless log it says ..........

"2.4 GHz radio is disabled"

Asus's notification system is a bit rough around the edges. It checks for the encryption scheme but doesn't make sure the radio is enabled. You can safely ignore this message since that radio is disabled anyway.

 

[joltdude]

Run CMD...ASUS factory firmware

Because it could be exploited. Just get used to telnet, it works really well and as an added bonus it will return values the webpage one couldnt.

Really wish ASUS would just put SSH into their own firmware.. Thats pretty much the *main* reason I use Merlins... would like to see both SSH and some secure FTP variant BUILT in to serve files..

 

[Bob_Collins]

OK, I am currently running Merlin firmware 3.0.0.4.270.26b on my Asus RT-N66U. Is this release finally the rock solid replacement and is it good enough to cost me the time and effort to manually reconfigure all my settings? What are the thoughts on this current version (374.41), especially compared to the 270.26b version?

Merlin, I am especially interested in your thoughts here. I have no issues with the older version; it seems to be completely solid, good range, good performance, no complaints with anything regarding the older firmware but I know It is older and might have some security issues which the newer firmware would/should resolve.