[Coming Soon] New version notification system

[eddiez]

In a way, the "disclosure" of the router model would kinda be opt-in, as it would only occur if you clicked on the "Get Firmware" button on the release note popup.

Just to be clear, I totally agree with you guys - "disclosing" the router model is a non-issue really. But I've seen some people complain about it for other software projects, even when it was an opt-in feature, which was why I wanted to be cautious, and poll the community first for your feedback. At this point however, I'm considering making the button lead you to the correct model folder instead of just the general download page. I just need to do some low-level changes to be able to also handle different URLs based on whether it's a release, beta, or alpha release - the latter usually residing in a separate Test Builds for convenience. I don't want to go through the same amount of work involved with an "official" release every time I publish such early test builds.

I'd really like to know which 'concerns' were raised for this kind of non-personal usage of data to determine the correct update file. Also, no one is forcing anyone to use your firmware. The official Asus is still the original version. When even a conscious opt in is not principally acceptable, one would have serious issues vetting through life at all...

 

[RMerlin]

I'd really like to know which 'concerns' were raised for this kind of non-personal usage of data to determine the correct update file. Also, no one is forcing anyone to use your firmware. The official Asus is still the original version. When even a conscious opt in is not principally acceptable, one would have serious issues vetting through life at all...

Look on Linksysinfo for the thread related to Tomato Anon. It's a script Shibby implemented that allows him to collect (anonymous) statistics as to which model and which firmware versions are used by people. It brought a fair amount of (unjustified IMHO) complains at the time. It was nothing specific, just your general "you are invading my privacy" with little substance or facts behind the complain (once again, my personal opinion).

 

[eddiez]

Look on Linksysinfo for the thread related to Tomato Anon. It's a script Shibby implemented that allows him to collect (anonymous) statistics as to which model and which firmware versions are used by people. It brought a fair amount of (unjustified IMHO) complains at the time. It was nothing specific, just your general "you are invading my privacy" with little substance or facts behind the complain (once again, my personal opinion).

Not only yours . I sometimes think the world was better off without unlimited options for 'brain' dumps. In this case, don't worry too much about the possible complaints. Just do it.

 

[stambeccuccio]

... The option is under Tools -> Other Settings for now. ...

Thanks, I didn't see it:

 

[stambeccuccio]

Later today, I will publish a fake "Release" to the server. Please confirm tonight if you see the flashing exclamation mark at the top of the router's webui after clicking on "Check".

Confirm!

 

[AndreiV]

Flashed the preview and all is working well. The notification is working .

I think the 48 hour refresh is good and the router model check would be a great idea. I see no privacy issue with that.

 

[stambeccuccio]

I report that even the App "ASUS Router" detects that there is a new firmware.
If you confirm you want to update it begins the download of ?? ..

 

[Marc66]

I'd be OK with a Merlin version of anon as it would allow to see %age of router models using Merlin. An Opt-in/out like Shibby would take care of "privacy" issues.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Tom Ames]

I get the flashing exclamation point on my router but not my access point. I am guessing that is the way it is designed.

 

[Chris313AllNight]

Hi everyone,

I didn't have time to finalize it for 380.63, so it will finally appear in 380.64. An often requested feature: the addition of new version notification within the webui. The system will be mostly based on the same code Asus uses for their own notification system, with a few changes:

1) The check will be made against my own server, rather than against's Asus's server (obviously!)
2) It will notify you about new version, and will let you see the changelog (like with stock FW), however it will NOT allow you to automatically download and install. Instead, you will be pointed at the main download site. You will still need to download and flash like before. This is both for security and performance reasons (too many security variables involved in providing such a service, and I'm not willing to get into that kind of responsibility).
3) The option will be opt-out (while Asus's own is hardwired and cannot be disabled). I chose opt-out rather than opt-in because the goal is to help protect more casual users.
4) The ONLY information received on my server will be your IP address (which is for technical reasons - you will be connecting to a web server to download a manifest file, so the web server will know your IP, just as if you had visited with a web browser). I will have a privacy disclosure mumbo-jumbo published on the Wiki soon (it's written, just needs to be published), for people still worried about that sort of thing

Things that remain the same as with Asus:

1) Checks done automatically every 48 hours (with a few hours of variation to spread out the load)
2) Can manually initiate the check from the Firmware Upgrade page
3) Changelog will be shown after a check if a new FW is available
4) The notification area at the top of the page will show a flashing exclamation mark if an update is available
5) Both Release and Alpha/Beta versions will be looked for (you have to opt-in for Beta releases)


I will soon publish a few early alpha builds (like usual) with this new feature enabled, so to start doing load and reliability tests. I might publish a few "fake" new versions on the update server so to trigger notifications, to test out the whole system. I will start the usual [preview] thread at that time, however I'd like all feedback as well as discussions related to this specific feature to be located in this thread here, to better focus that specific area.

One feature I considered but decided against implementing at least for now was pointing you directly at the correct model on the download site. The reason I decided against this for now was for privacy reasons, as it would mean you would be disclosing your actual router model (currently, zero information is being sent) when connecting to the update server (which would redirect you to the download folder on Mediafire). I admit it might be a nice convenience however, and would also help me better figure out which models are most popular among users. Thoughts?

Note that the result of these tests and the gathered feedback will determine the final fate of this feature. If any major issue (such as server load) appears during that test, I might end up disabling that feature, and re-evaluate things out.

I'm posting this a bit early ahead of the release of the first test builds so people can begin discussing things (I already announced the new feature on Twitter a couple of days ago).

Thanks everyone!

Love this idea. I also wouldn't care about router model checks. For the record, I use an N66U and your firmware is awesome on it.

 

[RMerlin]

I report that even the App "ASUS Router" detects that there is a new firmware.
If you confirm you want to update it begins the download of ?? ..

View attachment 7860 View attachment 7861 View attachment 7862

It probably just reads the nvram flag for it rather than check itself. Not a bad thing ultimately.

 

[RMerlin]

I get the flashing exclamation point on my router but not my access point. I am guessing that is the way it is designed.

I didn't check Asus's code, but it's possible they don't check when in AP mode due to the router lacking any form of direct Internet connectivity.

 

[RMerlin]

I'll remove the two fake new firmware over the next few hours. Next time it occurs, it should be due to a genuine new beta (unless I need something specifically tested, in which case I will post it here first).

 

[RussellInCincinnati]

.

Merlin, maybe am imagining things but it looks like my Chrome v54 under Arch Linux 4.4x kernel (and also Opera 41) cannot UNcheck the "get Beta Firmware" option. The checkbox was cleared after new firmware install, at initial inspection, but having checked the option once, can't go back. RT-AC68u router.

Logging out, and revisiting the Firmware page after logging back in, does not change the situation.

The checking itself runs quite nicely, thanks.

 

[AndreiV]

Merlin, maybe am imagining things but it looks like my Chrome v54 under Arch Linux 4.4x kernel (and also Opera 41) cannot UNcheck the "get Beta Firmware" option. The checkbox was cleared after new firmware install, at initial inspection, but having checked the option once, can't go back. RT-AC68u router.

Logging out, and revisiting the Firmware page after logging back in, does not change the situation.

The checking itself runs quite nicely, thanks.

Yes indeed, having said all was well I checked this after you posted.

Win 10 64Bit . Opera, Google Chrome and IE11 , set to not check for firmware, log out of Asus GUI, clear cache and cookies, log in again and the firmware update icon is still present and flashing .

 

[RMerlin]

That checkbox doesn't behave like a regular setting. I'm not 100% sure at this time how it works, I think it gets toggled only under certain situations (i.e. after completing a firmware check). Same reason why the option to disable all checks wasn't put on that page.

People should toggle it right before clicking on the Check button.

 

[Wutikorn]

Are the fake firmwares removed? My AC68U say "The router's current firmware is the latest version." even if "get Beta firmware" is checked.

 

[RMerlin]

Are the fake firmwares removed? My AC68U say "The router's current firmware is the latest version." even if "get Beta firmware" is checked.

http://www.snbforums.com/threads/co...-notification-system.35896/page-3#post-292800

 

[AndreiV]

That checkbox doesn't behave like a regular setting. I'm not 100% sure at this time how it works, I think it gets toggled only under certain situations (i.e. after completing a firmware check). Same reason why the option to disable all checks wasn't put on that page.

People should toggle it right before clicking on the Check button.

I looked at this again, once I had gone to the firmware upgrade page in the GUI and run the check from there the notification stopped.

 

[GoNz0]

That's a good point. But I also saw what happened when Shibby developed his Tomato Anon project. Despite being fully opt-in, people complained about him collecting router models used by people. That's what is currently making me pause.

I am happy to disclose the router model, why not put it to a vote to put your mind at rest?