Few questions about Asus RT-AX88U pro

[L&LD]

Use your plugged-in PC like you were before.

Test for the next few days without making any other changes (i.e. test for as long as it took to start crashing on you).

You weren't pushing the router to its limits before, no need to do so now.

 

[LeKeiser]

Before, all my connections were using the WiFi. I have only my desktop PC that's ethernet connected. I use it only on the week-end, to rip some of my BD. That's the only change that happened since I got the router.

 

[LeKeiser]

Oh, I really want to thank all of you for helping me
Really appreciate that

 

[Tech9]

Out of curiosity, what tests could I try ?

You have to calm down and slow down first. You are rushing and making too many changes at a time making it hard to tell what is wrong. Two days ago I told you to start fresh with reset after 3.0.0.6 upgrade. I posted a link for you with the procedure. You had nothing to lose, but you didn't do it for some reason. Stop playing with settings randomly and keep the defaults until you learn what the settings do. Then change one thing at a time and observe the effects. Read the User Manual - it explains the basics. Search SNB Forums for answers to your multiple questions. You can use Google to search the forums - "keyword1 keyword2 keyword3 site:snbforums.com". The results come faster and more relevant compared to the built-in search.

 

[LeKeiser]

I'm calm... Really calm.
I'm not rushing anything.
I have just bought an expensive router to replace one that is maybe, just maybe, failing me because it's getting old. I have made lengthy searches and decided to get this one, RT-AX88U Pro.
It came with the stock Asus firmware. First thing I did when it was just unboxed was a full reset factory. And then I set it up so it would work within my LAN. Changed its IP, clone its MAC address so my box could still be configured as a bridge. And then, I upgraded its firmware using the Administration/Firmware upgrade. And since it's an upgrade from an Asus firmware to an Asus firmware, I didn't think that another factory reset was necessary. From all that you all told me, you do that when it's a big upgrade or if you go for another firmware, like RMerlin firmware. And that wasn't the case.
Yesterday, as I was moping the floor, the router rebooted. I don't know why. There was no activity at all.
I logged in an as I was typing, it rebooted again.
Why ?
The router is connected to an Eaton UPS. Same plug the other router was using. And this one never rebooted on its own.
The configuration of the RT is really pretty basic :
_ dedicated IP on my LAN. Normal I'd say.
_ WAN is configured as DHCP with a clone MAC address. I use this MAC address on my Internet box so that it becomes a bridge.
_ 2 separate SSID. 2.4 and 5GHz. WPA2-WPA3 Personal. Pretty basic again.
_ I make sure that QOS and Traffic Analyser are off.
_ I've turned on the FW, and the DDOS option.
_ I've turned on the AiProtection, I was told it had no impact on the performance of the router. And a little more protection is always good.
And that's all.
Nothing fancy. Nothing special. I didn't tune the router more than that.

What's within my LAN ? Nothing special. Couple of laptops running MacOS, Linux, and Windows. 5 WiFi speakers, Echo and Home. A few WiFi electrical plugs. An AppleTV and a Nvidia Shield ethernet connected. 3 NAS ethernet connected. My Google cellphone. 3 iPads. And a desktop ethernet connected that I use only on the week-end.
Around 28 devices connected, ethernet and WiFi combined.
That's it. Nothing fancy.

So you can understand why I'm a little annoyed that the RT seems to be having a problem. Its configuration is basic, in a basic environment.

I'm not playing randomly with the settings. It's not my first router. Far from it. I may not understand all the finesse of the configuration of this router, but I don't care because I'm not looking for finesse. I'm looking for stability and performance. Performance meaning I just want a good speed, the speed I'm paying my provider for.
And just so you know, I'm an IT Admin guy. I work on Cisco switches and routers. Different game. So you understand I know a little what I'm doing when I configure a home router. Maybe not all of it but enough not to make a mess.

Yesterday, I did a reset factory again. WPS + Power. And reconfigured the whole thing again. Same way I did before. And I won't change, because that's the way it was working with my R7800, and I expect no less with the RT.
I don't see what I should drop to test the router. I have no game configuration. I have no WiFi special configuration. It's just an expensive router in a normal basic LAN.

I'll see how it goes.

 

[Tech9]

And just so you know, I'm an IT Admin guy.

You'll figure it out then. It's a home router.

 

[LeKeiser]

You'll figure it out then. It's a home router.

I didn't say I'm an IT guy to shine or whatever. I mentioned it so that you know that I also know what I'm talking about.

It's a home router yes. But what do you mean by that ? It's still a network equipment, running an OS and apps and...
The reboot isn't normal. Nothing in the log is giving me any clue. It just rebooted. For no reason. I really don't think it's electrical. I don't know if a device could reboot the router, doesn't make sense. Never happened with the R7800, even if it's a different hardware and a different OS. But still.

So now I'm back with a RT that's been reconfigured from the scratch, after a reset factory. I'm crossing all my 20 fingers that it won't crash again. That's all I want.

 

[Tech9]

But what do you mean by that ?

I mean made for people with minimum networking knowledge. Some of your settings are not clear to me, but you know what are you doing.

 

[LeKeiser]

I mean made for people with minimum networking knowledge. Some of your settings are not clear to me, but you know what are you doing.

Which settings are you talking about ?

 

[Tech9]

Like how a MAC clone makes something a bridge, what is a dedicated IP on your LAN, how you enabled the FW when it's enabled by default, why did you enable DoS when it may break things, etc. Also we told you 3.0.0.6 firmware is a new base, the Pro firmware with VLAN features never available before. It was recommended to you to do a reset after 3.0.0.4 to 3.0.0.6 upgrade. It is a major change. Seems like you don't read very carefully.

 

[LeKeiser]

Like how a MAC clone makes something a bridge,

The internet box I am using needs the MAC address of the router if I want to configure my internet box as a bridge. It already has a Mac Adddress configured, one that I used before and I don't want to change it.
The only thing I have to do is to enter that address in the WAN configuration of the router, Clone MAC address. I used to do the same thing with the R7800.
Pretty basic stuff.

what is a dedicated IP on your LAN

The router addres is, by default, 192.168.50.1. It's not the range I'm using in my LAN. So I change that range and give the router an address within that range. An address all my static devices have configured also.
Pretty basic stuff.

, how you enabled the FW when it's enabled by default,

It is enabled by default but not the DOS protection. So I enabled it, like I do with all my previous routers.

How does DoS protection work? | Official Support | ASUS Global

Also an old thread says you shouldn't but I think it's better to leave it on.

Any reason not to enable DoS Defense in my router?

I recently found a DoS Defense setting in my DrayTek Vigor 2830 router, which is disabled as default. I'm running a very small server on this network and I take it very serious to have the server u...

serverfault.com

why did you enable DoS when it may break things,

How would the DOS protection break things ??? It's also a basic option that all routers have...

etc. Also we told you 3.0.0.6 firmware is a new base, the Pro firmware with VLAN features never available before. It was recommended to you to do a reset after 3.0.0.4 to 3.0.0.6 upgrade. It is a major change. Seems like you don't read very carefully.

I read very carefully. But I missed that one. It was @ColinTaylor who wrote it first. I read it, and forgot about it
But the thing is that to me, a significant jump is going from 3.0.0.4 to 4.0.0.1 . A change of version number in the middle, sorry, but it's lame. I've never seen something like that before. You stay within the same number range when it's a mod or even a change. You increment the first part when it's something totally new and/or important.
Also, no one said anything after my first posts, when I detailed how I configured the router.

Router is still being steady so far. As it was when I first configured it. Still crossing fingers.

 

[Tech9]

I've never seen something like that before.

On a home router with de facto perpetual beta firmware there is a chance you'll see other things you've never seen before. Don't compare it to your Cisco business gear. This AIO device is few hundred bucks for a router, switch, access point, marketing, development, support, logistics, etc. The actual hardware inside is under $100, sometimes under $50. Don't expect everything perfect on it especially when the new base firmware is the first official release. When I got a new Asus router for experiments I was thinking it was defective. Over time it become more usable. This is how things work on a consumer market- pay first and hope for the best. Your router model is getting popular around, folks are using it and the firmware is improving. Have some patience.

 

[LeKeiser]

Thank you for your post.
I just mentioned my knowledge of Cisco and Aruba devices so that you understand that I know a little bit about configuring a router. Like I said, I don't know all the finesse of the Asus and Netgear home router, but I kind of know where I'm stepping.

One thing I didn't know and that I read in a post today, is that you have to reboot the router when you make a change in the configuration. One thing I didn't do before.

I didn't know that this firmware was new. I thought it was based on stable ones and that there were some security fixes and stuff like that. That's why some people here are reverting to the previous firmware then.

 

[Tech9]

is that you have to reboot the router when you make a change in the configuration

It depends on what changes you make. Some require reboot and do it automatically, some don't.

I didn't know that this firmware was new.

Did you look at Asus Support page? How many other firmware releases starting with 3.0.0.6 you see there?

 

[LeKeiser]

It depends on what changes you make. Some require reboot and do it automatically, some don't.

I don't know. Some changes, they seem to be applied immediately, with a percentage on the display. And then if I reboot the router, once again, I get a message that says the changes are being applied, with a percentage, and then the reboot. Even though I haven't changed a thing since the last change.

Did you look at Asus Support page? How many other firmware releases starting with 3.0.0.6 you see there?

Like I said previously, I don't understand how those releases are named... 3.0.0.6 stays in the same range as 3.0.0.4 because the major IS 3
I'd understand a major change if the new firmware was named 4.0.0.X

 

[Tech9]

And then if I reboot the router, once again, I get a message that says the changes are being applied, with a percentage, and then the reboot.

Give us an example of such settings change.

I don't understand how those releases are named

Asus thing. Firmware with 3.x.x.x are official releases, firmware with 9.x.x.x is beta, 3.0.0.4 is the base for non-Pro models, 3.0.0.6 is the new Pro firmware.

 

[LeKeiser]

Give us an example of such settings change.

I can't remember, it was yesterday, but really basic settings. When I made the change, I would have the "Apply settings" on screen. And then, I would reboot the router and get another "Applying settings"
I'll let you know when this happens again. Right now, the router is working well, so I'm not touching it

Asus thing. Firmware with 3.x.x.x are official releases, firmware with 9.x.x.x is beta, 3.0.0.4 is the base for non-Pro models, 3.0.0.6 is the new Pro firmware.

Ahh I see. Thanx for the information

 

[Tech9]

When I made the change, I would have the "Apply settings" on screen. And then, I would reboot the router and get another "Applying settings"

I don't remember seeing this on any Asus router. Settings requiring reboot warn about this and do it automatically. You don't have to reboot the router manually. There is no further "Applying setting" after the reboot unless it's something new in Pro firmware. I don't have a Pro series router to test with.

Right now, the router is working well, so I'm not touching it

Good man.

 

[LeKeiser]

I don't remember seeing this on any Asus router. Settings requiring reboot warn about this and do it automatically. You don't have to reboot the router manually. There is no further "Applying setting" after the reboot unless it's something new in Pro firmware. I don't have a Pro series router to test with.

I can confirm that when you reboot the router, you get another "Applying settings" (something like that) even if you already applied the change in the configuration. Even a small change, like checking the DDOS settings, you reboot and you get the Applying message.

 

[Tech9]

This is weird. Very few settings require reboot and none of them continue applying changes after the reboot and user login. I may get one Pro router and see what it does in 3.0.0.6 firmware.