Merlin, AiMesh & AP Mode

[smajor]

Hi all, I used to run Merlin on my RT-AC66U years ago... I've upgraded to 3 AC68Us with two as AiMesh nodes. I run the primary router in AP Mode. Is there any benefit to me using Merlin with these with this setup?

 

[Swistheater]

Hi all, I used to run Merlin on my RT-AC66U years ago... I've upgraded to 3 AC68Us with two as AiMesh nodes. I run the primary router in AP Mode. Is there any benefit to me using Merlin with these with this setup?

I would say the main advantage comes when running merlin on your aimesh router vs node, but you would want to take your primary router out of AP mode and run it as your main router and bridge any other routers in front of it to prevent double nat. you could then benefit from all the enhanced features that merlins firmware brings.

 

[Val D.]

I run the primary router in AP Mode

AP Mode has no routing. Your primary router must be in Router Mode.

Is there any benefit to me using Merlin with these with this setup?

If you don't need any of Asuswrt-Merlin enhancements - No.

 

[Swistheater]

Hi all, I used to run Merlin on my RT-AC66U years ago... I've upgraded to 3 AC68Us with two as AiMesh nodes. I run the primary router in AP Mode. Is there any benefit to me using Merlin with these with this setup?

this is merlin's current feature listing on the web site

Features
With a few rare exceptions, Asuswrt-Merlin retains the features from the original stock Asus firmware.  In addition, the following features have been added or enhanced:
System:
Various bugfixes
Performance optimizations to some CPU-bound components like OpenVPN
Some components were updated to their latest versions, for improved stability and security
User scripts that run on specific events such as firewall restart
Cron jobs for scheduled tasks
Customizable config files for router services
Third party software through Entware, with an easy setup script
SNMP support
Nano text editor (for more user-friendly script edition)
NTP daemon, which can synchronize your client devices
TLS 1.3 support for some services (OpenSSL 1.1.1)
 
Disk sharing:
Optionally use shorter share names (folder name only)
Disk spindown after user-configurable inactivity timeout
NFS exporting of USB drives
Allow or disable WAN access to the FTP server
Updated Samba version (3.6), with SMB2.0 support
TLS support for the FTP server
 
Networking:
Act as a SMB Master Browser
Act as a WINS server
SSHD support for key-based authentication
Allows tweaking TCP/UDP connection tracking timeouts
CIFS client support (for mounting remote SMB share on the router)
User-defined options for WAN DHCP requests (required by some ISPs)
Advanced OpenVPN client and server, based on code originally written by Keith Moyer for Tomato and reused with his permission.
Support for new OpenVPN 2.4 features like NCP and LZ4
Netfilter ipset module, for efficient blacklist implementation
Wireless site survey page
DNS-based Filtering, enforcing a specific DNS server, can be applied globally or per client
Custom DDNS (through a user script)
TOR support, individual client access control
Policy-based routing for OpenVPN clients (based on source or destination IPs), sometimes referred to as "selective routing", or "split tunneling")
DNSSEC validation
fq_codel queue discipline for QoS (ARM-based models only)
Full cone NAT support (RT-AC86U/RT-AX88U only)
Detailed wireless troubleshooting information (RT-AC86U/RT-AX88U only)
Modern DDNS client (In-a-Dyn), with https support
DNS-over-TLS support
Redirect NTP client queries to the router's own NTP daemon
 
Web interface:
Performance improvements
Optionally save traffic stats to disk (USB or JFFS partition)
Enhanced traffic monitoring: adding graphical charts, and traffic monitoring per client IP
Hostname field on the DHCP reservation list and Wireless ACL list
System info summary page
Wifi icon reports the state of both radios
Display the Ethernet port states
Wireless site survey
Advanced Wireless client list display, including automated refresh
Redesigned layout of the various System Log sections
Editable entries (on some pages)
User-provided SSL certificate
 
 
Some features first debuted in Asuswrt-Merlin have since been integrated/enabled in the official firmware:
HTTPS configuration interface
Persistent JFFS partition
LED control - put your router in Stealth Mode by turning off all LEDs
Turning WPS button into a radio on/off toggle
Clicking on the MAC address of an unidentified client will do a lookup in the OUI database.
WakeOnLan web interface (with pre-configured targets)
Display active/tracked network connections
VPN Status page
DualWAN and Repeater mode (while it was still under development by Asus)
Basic OpenVPN (client and server) support
Configurable IPv6 firewall
Improved compatibility with 3TB+ and Advanced Format HDDs
SSH access

 

[OzarkEdge]

Hi all, I used to run Merlin on my RT-AC66U years ago... I've upgraded to 3 AC68Us with two as AiMesh nodes. I run the primary router in AP Mode. Is there any benefit to me using Merlin with these with this setup?

I don't think so... unless Merlin adds some AP mode features of interest... I suspect most/all Merlin features are in router mode.

OE

 

[heysoundude]

the adblocking script Diversion is a pretty big benefit to most around here, as is the SkyNet firewall. FreshJR's QoS is a big deal too...