News RT-AC68U End of Life Announced by Asus

[L&LD]

Yes, right now there is no pattern. Asus is in testing mode still.

When 3.0.0.6.xxx gets to a stage where Asus is happy to release it for the models they want it on, the distinction will be more than clear.

 

[Tech9]

have not been able to find any pattern on which routers will get upgraded to the 3.0.0.6 firmware

What we know so far - newer hardware routers with BCM4912 or better will be getting 3.0.0.6.102 (Asuswrt 5.0) firmware. Everything older stays on 3.0.0.4.388 (Asuswrt 4.0), whatever was stuck on 3.0.0.4.386 is now EoL. There is marketing involved as well. If you want new features you have to buy a new router.

 

[bennor]

I have not been able to find any pattern on which routers will get upgraded to the 3.0.0.6 firmware versions and which ones will be stuck on 3.0.0.4.388_xxxxx firmware versions.

Currently the Asus WRT5.0 page only lists two routers, GT-AX6000 and RT-AX88U Pro, that currently have the 3.0.0.6.x firmware. While on the Asus "What is Guest Network Pro" page they currently list eight routers by stating the following; "GT-AX11000 Pro, GT-AX6000, GT-AXE16000, RT-AX86U Pro, RT-AX88U Pro, ZenWiFi Pro ET12, ZenWIFI Pro XT12, more models are coming."

 

[d5aqoep]

Currently the Asus WRT5.0 page only lists two routers, GT-AX6000 and RT-AX88U Pro, that currently have the 3.0.0.6.x firmware. While on the Asus "What is Guest Network Pro" page they currently list eight routers by stating the following; "GT-AX11000 Pro, GT-AX6000, GT-AXE16000, RT-AX86U Pro, RT-AX88U Pro, ZenWiFi Pro ET12, ZenWIFI Pro XT12, more models are coming."

ASUS ZenWiFi BQ16, ASUS ZenWiFi BQ16 PRO, ROG Rapture GT-BE25000, ASUS RT-BE96U, ASUS GT-BE98 and ASUS RT-BE98 PRO are also on 3.0.0.6.x firmwares.

So we have quite a few routers on AsusWRT 5.0 already.

 

[ds5686920]

Sad day. The RT-AC68U was a work horse. Many I know including me used them with no problems ever. Bury it with the Linksys WRT54G.

 

[d5aqoep]

Perfect sendoff news for EOL Asus Routers (News Date: 27 March 2024)

New variant of "TheMoon" malware enslaves thousands of insecure Asus routers into a malicious proxy

Researchers at the Black Lotus Labs discovered a new malicious campaign involving an updated version of "TheMoon," a malware family first identified ten years ago. TheMoon's latest...

www.techspot.com

 

[Intrepid]

Perfect sendoff news for EOL Asus Routers (News Date: 27 March 2024)

New variant of "TheMoon" malware enslaves thousands of insecure Asus routers into a malicious proxy

Researchers at the Black Lotus Labs discovered a new malicious campaign involving an updated version of "TheMoon," a malware family first identified ten years ago. TheMoon's latest...

www.techspot.com

Discussion on TheMoon malware targeting Asus routers - post here:

EOL ASUS routers affected by TheMoon malware

EOL ASUS routers affected by TheMoon malware: https://blog.lumen.com/the-darkside-of-themoon/

www.snbforums.com

 

[bennor]

Perfect sendoff news for EOL Asus Routers (News Date: 27 March 2024)

New variant of "TheMoon" malware enslaves thousands of insecure Asus routers into a malicious proxy

Researchers at the Black Lotus Labs discovered a new malicious campaign involving an updated version of "TheMoon," a malware family first identified ten years ago. TheMoon's latest...

www.techspot.com

FYI, that news was mentioned on Tuesday in post #55 by Intrepid.

 

[wouterv]

The EOL is serious, the support page has been moved to the "legacy" corner of ASUS:

RT-AC68U - Support

www.asus.com

 

[Intrepid]

The EOL is serious, the support page has been moved to the "legacy" corner of ASUS:

RT-AC68U - Support

www.asus.com

That's the same link as before - don't see mention of legacy?

 

[bennor]

The EOL is serious, the support page has been moved to the "legacy" corner of ASUS:

RT-AC68U - Support

www.asus.com

Not seeing "legacy" anywhere in the link/page on my end. Same with the US link. Links appear to be the same they've been for a while.

https://www.asus.com/supportonly/rt-ac68u/helpdesk_bios/
https://www.asus.com/us/supportonly/rt-ac68u/helpdesk_knowledge/
https://www.asus.com/us/networking-iot-servers/wifi-routers/asus-wifi-routers/rtac68u/helpdesk_bios?model2Name=RTAC68U

Edit to add: The WayBack Machine site shows the https://www.asus.com/supportonly/rt-ac68u/helpdesk_bios/ URL as far back as 2021.
https://web.archive.org/web/20210620222009/https://www.asus.com/supportonly/rt-ac68u/helpdesk_bios/

 

[deadite66]

just been looking at the ax86u pro but were already half way through the support cycle (4 years until 31th December 2026)

 

[wouterv]

Regarding the firmware download and support location:
The usual location for active models is: www.asus.com/networking-iot-servers/wifi-routers/asus-wifi-routers/
For EOL models the location is: www.asus.com/supportonly/
No big deal and thanks for jumping on me.

 

[bennor]

Regarding the firmware download and support location:
The usual location for active models is: www.asus.com/networking-iot-servers/wifi-routers/asus-wifi-routers/
For EOL models the location is: www.asus.com/supportonly/

The "usual location for active models" links are still valid and active for the RT-AC68U, at least for me.
www.asus.com/networking-iot-servers/wifi-routers/asus-wifi-routers/rtac68u/
And the support page:
www.asus.com/networking-iot-servers/wifi-routers/asus-wifi-routers/rtac68u/helpdesk_knowledge?model2Name=RTAC68U
Shrugs

Edit to add: If one goes to the www.asus.com/networking-iot-servers/wifi-routers/asus-wifi-routers/ link and filters the routers they'll find the RT-AC68U still listed. (see attached)

And just for giggles, randomly checked a few other AX routers to see if they show up on the www.asus.com/supportonly/:
www.asus.com/supportonly/rt-ax86u/helpdesk_bios?model2Name=RT-AX86-Series-RT-AX86U-RT-AX86S
www.asus.com/supportonly/rt-ax88u%20pro/helpdesk_download/
www.asus.com/supportonly/rt-ax86u%20pro/helpdesk_download/

 

[Jbennett360]

Do we have any idea how long is left in the AX86u/AX86s series?

 

[Smedley]

or when we might see a BE86U?

 

[RMerlin]

There's already way too many different models. We don't need even more.

 

[Oniiz86]

I know it may be silly to ask but is there a possible chance that the RT-AC68U may receive one more firmware security fix release similar to how the RT-AC86U received a firmware release (3.0.0.4.386_51925) last week despite it being on the EOL list?

 

[L&LD]

Anything is possible. Hope always dies last.

 

[andyross]

I know it may be silly to ask but is there a possible chance that the RT-AC68U may receive one more firmware security fix release similar to how the RT-AC86U received a firmware release (3.0.0.4.386_51925) last week despite it being on the EOL list?

Maybe remotely if there was some severe security update that was fixable and similar to some other router that was still in support.