[Official Beta] AiMesh beta firmware for RT-AC68U/RT-AC86U/RT-AC5300/RT-AC88U

[arthurlien]

Hi Arthur. I'm not sure what you mean by "Could you tell me how to fix the issue as Node add?'

I've been testing this evening with only 2 routers. 1 main and 1 node unit. I too have successfully connected the node unit while the main unit was using a different subnet so that functionality appears to work properly.

I think the issue I was having using all 3 routers was connecting them via ethernet backhaul. Just connecting 2 of the AiMesh units via WiFi has been stable for over an hour now. No dropouts yet... Knock on wood. Unfortunately, to reach the back rooms of my house, I'll have to be able to use ethernet backhaul for the connection so maybe that'll be more stable in a later update.

Can you please comment on the MAC address question? Are the 1st 2, (eth0 and 2.4 ghz wifi) supposed to be the same while the 5 ghz wifi is different? Several users have said they set all 3 MAC addresses differently while other posters have stated 1 and 2 are the same while 3 is different. Mine are set the first 2 the same and the 3rd different. Would having the eth0 and 2.4 MACs the same cause the issues I was having with ethernet backhaul?

You don't need to touch MAC Address and the MAC Address rule will not cause the ethernet backhaul issue. For TM, i can't provide any comment. Sorry for TM.

 

[arthurlien]

Thanks

I am using the AIMESH ROUTER in AP mode now and everything looks fine, except by the fact that the wifi sometimes drops and we loose the connection for a while, also the node1 and nod2 keeps showing offline/online and something they disappear , right now isan´t showing any one and the wifi is working normally

=]

It's known issue and will improved stability next release.

 

[hotsauce2007]

Hi. I think you are using various AC68 variants and all on wired backhaul, is that correct? When you say “drops” do you mean wifi completely turns off across all AIMesh Nodes including the Main, and for how long are we talking? How often? Can you clarify for us all?

My 4 unit AIMesh setup is still in bench test mode and reading comments such as yours makes me want to hold off actually putting them out into service around the house (all will be wired backhaul) to replace the existing old N AP’s ... if Wifi is dropping out then I’d be worse off not better off, especially in terms of friction within the household. Perhaps the stability is not there yet, and arthurlien has stated above this is the focus for ASUS. What do others think about how ready AIMesh is for real world usage, bearing in mind it is still beta and all that implies.

StephenH

Hi StephenH

To be honest the problem about nodes going to off even with cable doesnt drop the wifi
I am getting some wifi drops for nodes but its more like a little issue where two nodes are trying to send the wifi for the same device and the internet acces get a "lag", beside its workig great

Iam using merlim first because I really need the DNS filter
I think the AI protection for the AIMESH is soo much better than Merlim but I miss the DNS option for aimesh, I really hope asus put it or merlim do something about it


Using this way Iam getting only 88% of cpu when my speed goes up to 400MB

 

[hotsauce2007]

It's known issue and will improved stability next release.

Hi Arthur

Thanks for the feedback.

The system is working okay for one day and a half, lets see how it will work in this week

Do you need any information?
Also, does the asus app works out of the wifi? Sometimes I am travelling and I'd wish I could be able to look into it

 

[arthurlien]

Hi Arthur

Thanks for the feedback.

The system is working okay for one day and a half, lets see how it will work in this week

Do you need any information?
Also, does the asus app works out of the wifi? Sometimes I am travelling and I'd wish I could be able to look into it

For Online/Offline issue, we found some exception and fixed.
For APP, i need to discuss with APP team and will update to you.

 

[Stephen Harrington]

Hi StephenH

To be honest the problem about nodes going to off even with cable doesnt drop the wifi
I am getting some wifi drops for nodes but its more like a little issue where two nodes are trying to send the wifi for the same device and the internet acces get a "lag", beside its workig great

Iam using merlim first because I really need the DNS filter
I think the AI protection for the AIMESH is soo much better than Merlim but I miss the DNS option for aimesh, I really hope asus put it or merlim do something about it


Using this way Iam getting only 88% of cpu when my speed goes up to 400MB

Thanks very much for that extra info. Sounds like the overall usability/stability at this point may not be quite as buggy as I was beginning to think? Like you I also have need to use Merlin for my main house router (with wifi turned off) because of DNS filtering plus a couple of other conveniences. But it actually suits my physical setup anyway to then have the 4 AIMesh units all as wired AP’s separate from the router (currently AC68U about to become AC86U sometime this week once I transpose the setup). Just procrastinating about whether to actually put the AIMesh AP’s out in place of the old ones (slow but reliable). Guess I can always pull them out again if it doesn’t go so well?

StephenH

 

[avaholic]

Thanks for the clarification Arthur.

I have not seen any issues either last night or this morning after removing ethernet backhaul from the equation and only using WiFi to connect the main router with the node. Streams were running in both locations and I did not have any problems.

So...with ethernet backhaul, perhaps I was using it incorrectly. I had the Main router's LAN port plugged directly into the WAN port on one of the nodes. I then had a LAN port on that NODE plugged into the WAN port of the last node. Is that the correct configuration?

I also had several devices plugged into the LAN ports on each of the nodes. Can you not use the switching capabilities of the node once its been connected via ethernet backhaul?

 

[arthurlien]

Thanks for the clarification Arthur.

I have not seen any issues either last night or this morning after removing ethernet backhaul from the equation and only using WiFi to connect the main router with the node. Streams were running in both locations and I did not have any problems.

So...with ethernet backhaul, perhaps I was using it incorrectly. I had the Main router's LAN port plugged directly into the WAN port on one of the nodes. I then had a LAN port on that NODE plugged into the WAN port of the last node. Is that the correct configuration?

I also had several devices plugged into the LAN ports on each of the nodes. Can you not use the switching capabilities of the node once its been connected via ethernet backhaul?

Main (LAN)<-- Ethernet-->(wan)Node 1(LAN) <-- Ethernet -->(wan)Node 2

The Main is AP.
The Node1 and Node2 connection setting is Ethernet


Is these your mesh network configuration?

我從使用 Tapatalk 的 ASUS_Z012DA 發送

 

[drabisan]

@avaholic, as far as I looked in the AiMesh, it seems to rely on LLDP for discovering the path(s) to/from router.
It may be a big deal plugging a node on another node. Not sure if that LLDP packet will be seen by the router.
I'll need a better packet capture and some quiet time to look into it, so take this info with a grain of salt.

But your scenario is super cool: to cascade the nodes... That would be so useful!

 

[avaholic]

Main (LAN)<-- Ethernet-->(wan)Node 1(LAN) <-- Ethernet -->(wan)Node 2

The Main is AP.
The Node1 and Node2 connection setting is Ethernet


Is these your mesh network configuration?

我從使用 Tapatalk 的 ASUS_Z012DA 發送

Are you saying the main AiMesh router cannot be used as a directly connected ISP router? Rather, it has to be used in AP mode? The other Asus router I was previously using was an RT-N66U with Merlin's latest fw. I'd much rather have the new (to me) AC68U plugged directly into my ISP modem as its faster and has AiProtect where the old does not.

 

[arthurlien]

Are you saying the main AiMesh router cannot be used as a directly connected ISP router? Rather, it has to be used in AP mode? The other Asus router I was previously using was an RT-N66U with Merlin's latest fw. I'd much rather have the new (to me) AC68U plugged directly into my ISP modem as its faster and has AiProtect where the old does not.

No, I just clarify your network topology. The main router can connect ISP router directly.

我從使用 Tapatalk 的 ASUS_Z012DA 發送

 

[arthurlien]

No, I just clarify your network topology. The main router can connect ISP router directly.

AiMesh network is like a tree topology,

WAN port is use for uplink connectivity with Router or Node.

LAN port is use for downlink connectivity with Node.

There are two backhaul connection options you can configure by webGUI.

Option 1: Auto
Auto select WiFi (2G +5G) or Ethernet Backhaul by asus mechanism.

Option 2: Ethernet Backhaul
If ethernet cable connected, it will selected Ethernet, if ethernet cable disconnected, it will switch to Wi-Fi(2G+5G)

我從使用 Tapatalk 的 ASUS_Z012DA 發送

我從使用 Tapatalk 的 ASUS_Z012DA 發送

 

[bluepoint]

Main (LAN)<-- Ethernet-->(wan)Node 1(LAN) <-- Ethernet -->(wan)Node 2

The Main is AP.
The Node1 and Node2 connection setting is Ethernet


Is these your mesh network configuration?

我從使用 Tapatalk 的 ASUS_Z012DA 發送

Does this mean if you use ethernet connections between nodes the wireless must be off?

Ooops, thinking about my question it does not make sense, since aimesh is to widen the scope wirelessly. NVM

 

[avaholic]

No, I just clarify your network topology. The main router can connect ISP router directly.

我從使用 Tapatalk 的 ASUS_Z012DA 發送

Thanks!

How about using the switches on the node units while connecting the WAN ports for ethernet backhaul? Is that OK? I haven't tried to use the switches on the routers while connecting via WiFi yet. Anyone doing this successfully?

WiFi only is still stable so far!

 

[Trial_Master]

According to pdf that is supplied with firmware on Google Drive.


Wired connection between AMAS routers
AMAS supports wired connection between routers, which means you can use wired connection to maximum secondary, third.... router WiFi throughput.
Wired connection setup:
1. Setup primary and secondary AMAS router via WiFi first.
2. Now you can place secondary router to your idea location, then connect Ethernet cable from each node. The secondary router “WAN port” to primary “LAN port”. For third node, connect the WAN port to secondary LAN or Primary LAN.
3. AMAS will automatically select the best path for data transmission.

 

[avaholic]

According to pdf that is supplied with firmware on Google Drive.


Wired connection between AMAS routers
AMAS supports wired connection between routers, which means you can use wired connection to maximum secondary, third.... router WiFi throughput.
Wired connection setup:
1. Setup primary and secondary AMAS router via WiFi first.
2. Now you can place secondary router to your idea location, then connect Ethernet cable from each node. The secondary router “WAN port” to primary “LAN port”. For third node, connect the WAN port to secondary LAN or Primary LAN.
3. AMAS will automatically select the best path for data transmission.

Thanks Trial but that wasn't what I was asking. Is anyone using the switches on the AiMesh NODEs to connect to other devices (not the main AiMEsh router)?

 

[Trial_Master]

It’s supported according to pdf. Refer to third node comments.

 

[avaholic]

It’s supported according to pdf. Refer to third node comments.

I must be misunderstanding something. Aren't those comments ALL related to the Main to Node connections? I'm wanting to connect OTHER devices, ie. an LAN port on a computer or a lan port on a TV to the NODE switch ports...

 

[Trial_Master]

Right, I have misunderstood. I see no reason why that wouldn’t work, every mesh and extender on the market supports that use. I would say it’s a bug.

 

[Stephen Harrington]

I must be misunderstanding something. Aren't those comments ALL related to the Main to Node connections? I'm wanting to connect OTHER devices, ie. an LAN port on a computer or a lan port on a TV to the NODE switch ports...

I understand what you are saying! It certainly works as I have personally done it with my Mac laptop hooked up to my (wired) AIMesh Node spare LAN ports - but see earlier in the thread from about message #484 onwards discussion about possible throughput bottlenecks, so it may not be your best option without further comparison testing. I was happy enough with what I got for the architecture I’ll be using.

StephenH