Installing Merlin on router

[Jbw123]

I download Merlin software for ASUS AX86U pro And extracted the files but.. in the extraction is

A change log file
A README
Sha256sum.sha256

And I think the main file
RT-AX86U nandsquash it’s a PKGTB file am I putting “just that 1 file above” into the router?

The above file is 59mb

Thanks

 

[ColinTaylor]

And I think the main file
RT-AX86U nandsquash it’s a PKGTB file am I putting “just that 1 file above” into the router?

Yes.

 

[TheMegaMan]

Yup, I believe so.

You had me for a few minutes, there, as the non-Pro 86U has a .w file instead of a .pkgtb file. But you're right, you only need to upload that one larger .pkgtb file to the router when doing the update.

The Changelog file and the ReadMe are just text files that tell you about the firmware you're about to use, and the .sha256 file is a checksum file you can use to make sure the firmware image hasn't been corrupted if you have been copying it around a lot...but not uaually needed assuming the .zip file unpacked without errors.

Be aware that you will probably then need to do a full factory reset of the router to put all your settings back to their default values, and then go through and set it up again from scratch. Don't be tempted to attempt to reload a saved configuration file from a previous firmware version or non-merlin firmware - that's a sure way to experience all sorts of problems.

Hope that helps. Enjoy your Merlin journey!

Adam

 

[jerry6]

read the changelog might save you a headache like said above wipe and set up menualy do bit use a saved config

 

[freddyjuarez]

Is RT-AX86U_PRO not going to get anymore Merlin Firmware updates or what????

 

[bennor]

Is RT-AX86U_PRO not going to get anymore Merlin Firmware updates or what????

Where are you seeing the RT-AX86U Pro won't be getting any more Merlin updates? RMerlin has explained, repeatedly, where things stand with the firmware releases for many months, and why there hasn't been any 3006.102.x GPL's yet from Asus for him to work with for many of the 3006.102.x supported Asus routers including the RT-AX86U Pro.

Current plans regarding separate version branches

I thought I'd make a post clarifying the current plans regarding the separate versions (386 and 388), and future plans. 386 branch: This branch is for older models that Asus didn't move to the 388 codebase. This includes three Broadcom SDKs: - SDK 6.x (RT-AC68U) - SDK 7.14 (RT-AC88U...

www.snbforums.com

Announcement: 3006 progress report - it's a go

Hi everyone, I have been working on the 3006 integration for a couple of weeks now, and I am finally at a point where I am able to confirm that Asuswrt-Merlin will proceed with integrating the 3006 code in the future. That will include the full VLAN and SDN integration (which has been the...

www.snbforums.com

New models to be introduced with 3006.102.2

Hi, Two new models will make their official Asuswrt-Merlin debut with 3006.102.2: the RT-BE88U and RT-BE86U. There is no ETA as to the availability, as development isn't complete yet. The RT-BE88U development is currently based off an old 102_33xxx codebase, and the RT-BE86U is based off...

www.snbforums.com

For recent comments by RMerlin, start with this post here and read several of his posts from that point on.

The Asus-Merlin RT-AX86U_PRO_3004_388.8_2 firmware was released three months ago on 2024-08-01. If you want to use the 3006.102 firmware then you have to use stock Asus firmware (3.0.0.6.102_34334), the latest of which was released four days ago (2024/11/06). The 3006.x firmware has it's own issues which is well discussed in the various 3006 firmware discussion threads both in this subforum and the Asus official subforum.

 

[Tech9]

Where is the fix for current malware issue going to come from in 3004 based Asuswrt-Merlin? There is no word about it.
Asus moved the AX Pro and compatible GT routers to 3006 with few releases already and removed everything 3004 related.