Dual WAN fix

[wabyrd]

I've searched around on here and elsewhere, but I can't find a current answer and I can't tell from the release notes. Is the Dual WAN bug fixed in the latest Merlin?

Here's the setup: I've got Uverse as primary WAN and Comcast as backup WAN. I have a RT-AC88U as my main router and another RT-AC88U as an AiMesh node (wired backhaul). If I pull the Ethernet cable between the router and the Uverse gateway, it will failover and failback properly. If I unplug the cable on the upstream side of the Uverse gateway it won't failover. Same thing happens if I turn of the box that converts from fiber to Ethernet; it won't failover. Failover is a BIG deal in our house as the wife works from home and she has a really bad day when Uverse goes down (which means I have a bad day).

1. Is Dual WAN working in Merlin? If so, I don't mind upgrading to Merlin for that feature alone.
2. It doesn't look like AiMesh is working in Merlin, so do I really lose anything if I convert my AiMesh node to running as a AP mode? I do like the seamless switching from one node to the next.
3. If I install Merlin and change AiMesh to AP mode, should I have the same SSID on the AP as on the main router?
4. I'm also not against changing hardware out, but if I'm going to change hardware out, I'd like the ability to do mesh and the dual WAN option both.
5. Does the Dual WAN work on the 5300?

Thanks,
Bill

 

[wabyrd]

I was able to answer some of my own questions:
1. Still not a definite answer.
2. I lose the seamless switching from one node to the next, not a big deal. Am I missing anything else?
3. Not sure on this one.
4. Not really a question.
5. The 5300 Dual WAN is just as bad as the AC88U. I got the gaming version and it will be going back tomorrow.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[wabyrd]

So Asus routers just can't handle the dual WAN setup at this time. I'm going to go with Linksys LRT224. Plan for ASUS router as primary router, Linksys to determine which WAN to use, then connected to the modems.
Will let you know if it works.

 

[isomorphic]

You're correct, dual-WAN is wonky. Failover is sort of working on the RT-AC5300 under 384.4_2, but load-balance causes all outbound web connections to give TLS errors.

Note that load-balance was working (okay if not extremely well) under the 380 firmware series. Merlin doesn't touch the dual-WAN code, and probably for good reason. (Although I can't remember if it's open-source or just a blob. Probably the latter or someone would have fixed it by now.)

I have dual ISPs and would love to get load-balancing working again. But the 380 series is deprecated.

 

[wabyrd]

You're correct, dual-WAN is wonky. Failover is sort of working on the RT-AC5300 under 384.4_2, but load-balance causes all outbound web connections to give TLS errors.

I wouldn't even call the 5300's attempt at failover as "sort of working". For me it just flat out wouldn't work.

The LRT224 seems to have solved all of my problems. Of course, an additional router in the mix adds additional latency and slows my internet connection a bit. Still worth it to not have the wife complain when the internet goes down. She didn't even notice it when I intentionally failed the primary WAN and she had to go to the slower Comcast connection. When I told her she was on the slower connection, she noticed a slight difference in the internet based apps, but not anything significant.

 

[AlexHG]

in case anyone was wondering, i can confirm that dual loading is still not working on Merlin 384.13 and ASUS-WRT 3.0.0.4_384_45717. I don't get how they can claim it as a feature when it basically breaks all https connections.
That was with a brand spanking new RT-AC68U (C/1)

 

[macedot]

in case anyone was wondering, i can confirm that dual loading is still not working on Merlin 384.13 and ASUS-WRT 3.0.0.4_384_45717. I don't get how they can claim it as a feature when it basically breaks all https connections.
That was with a brand spanking new RT-AC68U (C/1)

Bump here. Did anything changed for you guys?

I'm having the very same issue AlexHG had. Other Dual wan routers allow you to do load balancing on session bases (not connections; maybe the same thing with different names thou), disregarding HTTP/HTTPS calls, for example. I guess this would be a way out for us, if it becomes available.

Cheers!

 

[JohnDeere]

AX88U with fresh 384.19 setup: dual WAN operation still not reliable. Sometimes it works OK, sometimes doesn't switch to the backup WAN, even though it is "hot standby".
I had to come to the office just because this error... No internet, no remote access...
I pull the ethernet plug out of primary WAN, waited for 3-4 minutes, it still syas connected
I log out, and log in on another device: still says connected - secondary WAN hot standby - but no internet
Reboot router with cable plugged out - primary WAN cable disconnected - secondary WAN hot standby - and it would not switch to it.

Solution I figured out: I click on secondary WAN, click on WAN setting, internet connection tab, apply on the bottom, then it does switch to secondary WAN. It does not switch automatically.

Then I plug in primary WAN, it goes to "hot standby" but it would not failback, no matter how long I wait.

My current settings:

I tried with all ping, DNS query, both, none, different time and interval settings, but did not notice any difference.

Then I realized: Asus dual WAN is like a woman, unpredictable, and it needs to regularly spend time together with me...

Asus dual WAN has never worked perfect in my case. However it is one of the most important features I need.
On my previous router (AC68U) it was the same.
This pisses me off but what can I do...

Better luck for you guys!