RT-AC68U NVRAM Low Warning

[LexLuthor]

Hi,

I have an Asus RT-AC68U and I'm getting an NVRAM low warning.

I found this thread and it looks like there are a couple of helpful things here.
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/solved-high-nvram-usage.56848/

I just don't know where to start as far as running the script on the router. I've activated support for scripts in admin->system. I understand that I have to create a file using the code in that thread and I guess I have to save it a certain way (using notepad++?) and then upload it to /jffs/scripts on the router and then run it. But how do I get it loaded into /jffs/scripts and how do I run it? Can I then delete the script after it's done running?

 

[LexLuthor]

Ok, so I figured out I have to connect to the router using WinSCP. I can navigate to /jffs/scripts. But how do I save the script, where do I put it and how do I run it?

 

[appleseed]

Creating scripts

Don't forget to set any script you create as being executable:

chmod a+rx /jffs/scripts/*

And like any UNIX script, they need to start with a shebang:

#!/bin/sh

Also, you must save files with UNIX line endings. Note that Windows's Notepad cannot save with UNIX line endings; use Notepad++ instead. You can also directly edit them on the router through SSH, by using vi or nano, both included in the firmware; they will create files with the proper line endings.

https://github.com/RMerl/asuswrt-merlin.ng/wiki/User-scripts#creating-scripts

 

[JohnD5000]

Ok, so I figured out I have to connect to the router using WinSCP. I can navigate to /jffs/scripts. But how do I save the script, where do I put it and how do I run it?

I'm a noob, but this should get you started

In GUI
Administation/System
Enable SSH - Lan Only (this might already be set if logged in with WinSCP)

In WinSCP
1)Open folder with script file in left box, right box /jffs/scripts
2) Right click on script and select Upload
3) Go to right box, right click on script, select properties, and make sure all boxes with an X have a check mark in them (this makes script executable)
-----------

Install PUTTY on your computer, log in (since you figured this out with WinSCP I assume you can figure it out with Putty, too)
In Putty
cd /jffs/scripts
dos2unix -u scriptname (might not be necessary but just in case notepad ++ didn't save to a unix format)
sh scriptname (note, script name is case sensitive) this will run script

 

[LexLuthor]

Thank you for the replies. I would have thought this would be documented somewhere.

I should be able to figure out putty. I'll look at that now. EDIT: I'm good with putty.

Ok, so I copied the script text from the other thread to notepad++. What name do I save it as? I see it has to have a unix ending, but what does that mean?

 

[JohnD5000]

Thank you for the replies. I would have thought this would be documented somewhere.

I should be able to figure out putty. I'll look at that now. EDIT: I'm good with putty.

Ok, so I copied the script text from the other thread to notepad++. What name do I save it as? I see it has to have a unix ending, but what does that mean?

it can be almost any name. Doesn't need an ending, but *.sh seems to be good naming convention. Ie. LowWarn.sh

 

[LexLuthor]

it can be almost any name. Doesn't need an ending, but *.sh seems to be good naming convention. Ie. LowWarn.sh

Ok, I used this post for the script https://www.snbforums.com/threads/solved-high-nvram-usage.56848/#post-494586
I just saved it as lowwarn1.sh, uploaded it and set the permissions. I then ran the putty commands and it looks like the script ran as I received the 2 echo command texts.
I rebooted the router and free nvram is unchanged. I had definitely been playing with some openvpn connections over time so I was hopeful that script might work here.

Did the script not run correctly or what other script should I try?

 

[JohnD5000]

Ok, I used this post for the script https://www.snbforums.com/threads/solved-high-nvram-usage.56848/#post-494586
I just saved it as Script1, uploaded it and set the permissions. I then ran the putty commands and it looks like the script ran as I received the 2 echo command texts.
I rebooted the router and free nvram is unchanged. I had definitely been playing with some openvpn connections over time so I was hopeful that script might work here.

Did the script not run correctly or what other script should I try?

Sorry, I'm a noob at scripting, I've just been in your shoes that there was no simple instructions on how to run a script, which is what I gave you.

Just a note that these routers run with 95% or so memory. In Merlin click on Tools/Sysinfo and look at free memory, cache memory swap memory ,etc. My main screen shows memory usage at 95%, but 31.34 MB free, 14.47 MB Buffers, 88.54 MB cache and a swap 1.29 / 2048 MB (not sure what these numbers mean but I think I'm OK. Also, NVRAM usage 67128/ 131072 bytes and JFFS 7.43 / 48 MB. Again, don't know what numbers mean but I think I'm OK.

 

[LexLuthor]

It certainly looks like that first script ran, but didn't do anything as far as freeing up nvram. At least I think I have the script creating and running part down.

Should I, and if so, how do I run the "one liner" from this post?
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/solved-high-nvram-usage.56848/#post-494600

Anything else I can do or other scripts to run to try to free up nvram? Or did my script not really run?

NVRAM Usage: 63389 / 65536 bytes

 

[JohnD5000]

It certainly looks like that first script ran, but didn't do anything as far as freeing up nvram. At least I think I have the script creating and running part down.

Should I, and if so, how do I run the "one liner" from this post?
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/solved-high-nvram-usage.56848/#post-494600

Anything else I can do or other scripts to run to try to free up nvram? Or did my script not really run?

NVRAM Usage: 63389 / 65536 bytes

to run the command, just type it into putty as a command. Note: make sure you know what it is doing.

To test a script in "debug mode" (not sure if that is correct term here) enter sh -x scriptname which gives a more verbose response when run

 

[LexLuthor]

to run the command, just type it into putty as a command. Note: make sure you know what it is doing.

To test a script in "debug mode" (not sure if that is correct term here) enter sh -x scriptname which gives a more verbose response when run

I appreciate the assistance so far!
So I re-ran the script with the -x and I got a bunch of + nvram unset lines spit back at me. I guess that means it really ran?

As for running that line directly in putty, I thought that might be possible, but what do I type in? Everything starting with for line in through nvram commit? Just in one long line?

EDIT: I figured out how to paste into putty using right click mouse and ran that whole command line
for line in `nvram show | grep =$ `; do var=${line%*=}; nvram unset $var; done; nvram commit

I no longer have the nvram warning! NVRAM usage: 54081 / 65536 bytes

JohnD5000, I can't thank you enough.

Hopefully, this thread helps someone else someday.

 

[JohnD5000]

I appreciate the assistance so far!
So I re-ran the script with the -x and I got a bunch of + nvram unset lines spit back at me. I guess that means it really ran?

As for running that line directly in putty, I thought that might be possible, but what do I type in? Everything starting with for line in through nvram commit? Just in one long line?

NVRAM usage: 54081 / 65536 bytes

Can't help you with the line (over my head) but just type it in exactly and hit enter. I assume it is posted correctly.

To copy in Putty, copy the line normally, then go to putty and right click mouse

 

[LexLuthor]

Can't help you with the line (over my head) but just type it in exactly and hit enter. I assume it is posted correctly.

To copy in Putty, copy the line normally, then go to putty and right click mouse

Sorry, I edited my previous post. Read it again.

Thank you!

EDIT: After reboot, it's back up a bit, so maybe we don't yet have this solved
61513 / 65536 bytes.
The warning is still off at least.

 

[JohnD5000]

JohnD5000, I can't thank you enough.

Glad it worked! I'm usually getting help, not giving