RT-AX88U has a serious bug with firmware 3.0.0.4.384.9566 (random reboots)

[Spartan]

So I recently got an RT-AX88U which runs great other than the random reboots. I saw some posts about it here and did all the suggested resets and whatnot to no avail. I also tried the latest Merlin Firmware but it was a no go for me because the VPN that I setup in the client VPN (L2TP) gets deleted after a reboot. This is on both 384.19 and 384.18 causing me lots of problems as I use an IP phone for work which needs to the VPN so having to recreate it every time a big hassle.

So today I tried downgrading to the previous official firmware from ASUS v 3.0.0.4.384.9559 and now all is fine.

 

[Graham]

I can confirm the same issue. We use 2x RT-AX88U AX6000 in our workplace and both have intermittent / random reboots (1-3/day). The outages last around 1-2 minutes as the ASUS seemingly reboots.

The first couple of log entries after the router recovers (to help with people searching for log entries in the future):

Oct 9 14:08:28 rc_service: ntp 2214:notify_rc restart_diskmon
Oct 9 14:08:28 disk_monitor: Finish
Oct 9 14:08:28 disk monitor: be idle

At first, we thought it was a DNS issue, with the WAN failing on the ASUS RT-AX88U, and the broadband/DSL working fine on the modem. After changing DNS servers and setting up various monitoring tools, we soon discovered that the ASUS Router was not responding to ping requests during a network failure (though other devices connected via Layer 2 switches were working fine between each other).

3.0.0.4.384.9566 isn't stable, 3.0.0.4.384.9559 has been rock solid.

We use most features of the RT-AX88U (DHCP, QOS, AiProtection, AiMesh, 2.4+5Ghz WiFi, Guest WiFi, static routes, port forwarding, etc) and I am unsure which of them are the source of the issue.

 

[Spartan]

I can confirm the same issue. We use 2x RT-AX88U AX6000 in our workplace and both have intermittent / random reboots (1-3/day). The outages last around 1-2 minutes as the ASUS seemingly reboots.

The first couple of log entries after the router recovers (to help with people searching for log entries in the future):



At first, we thought it was a DNS issue, with the WAN failing on the ASUS RT-AX88U, and the broadband/DSL working fine on the modem. After changing DNS servers and setting up various monitoring tools, we soon discovered that the ASUS Router was not responding to ping requests during a network failure (though other devices connected via Layer 2 switches were working fine between each other).

3.0.0.4.384.9566 isn't stable, 3.0.0.4.384.9559 has been rock solid.

We use most features of the RT-AX88U (DHCP, QOS, AiProtection, AiMesh, 2.4+5Ghz WiFi, Guest WiFi, static routes, port forwarding, etc) and I am unsure which of them are the source of the issue.

Thanks for confirming this. I am using 0 extra features other than a VPN Client in the router. Nothing else has been touched, no AiProtection, no QoS, nothing! It's just one buggy firmware and ASUS hasn't updated it in 2 months!

 

[Tommy Grace]

Strange, i have been running it for a while now and it has been rock solid. Will keep an eye on mine.

 

[1ceLaz0r]

So glad I sold my AX88u and got AX86U

 

[RMerlin]

So glad I sold my AX88u and got AX86U

RT-AX88U and RT-AX86U share the same CPU and same 5 GHz wifi chip. Only the network switch and the 2.4 GHz SoC are different.

 

[Ole Vik]

Got to chip in here. Latest fw on the XT8's also has the same problem. I then disabled AiProtection, and no more reboots.

Hate disabling AiProtection, but at least the system is reliable.

 

[Spartan]

Got to chip in here. Latest fw on the XT8's also has the same problem. I then disabled AiProtection, and no more reboots.

Hate disabling AiProtection, but at least the system is reliable.

I never enable AiProtection so yeah the issue has been happening without AiProtection even.

The best firmware for the AX88U with 0 issues for me is 3.0.0.4.384_9107

 

[Tommy Grace]

Version 3.0.0.4.384.9579 is out now.

 

[Vimes]

3.0.0.4.384_9579 is out now.

That link doesn't seem to resolve...?

Thanks

 

[Tommy Grace]

That link doesn't seem to resolve...?

Thanks

Sorry that isn't meant to be a link, try this:

RT-AX88U AX6000 Dual Band WiFi 6 (802.11ax) Gaming Router

Next-Gen WiFi 6 Standard - 802.11ax WiFi standard for better efficiency and throughput. Ultrafast WiFi Speed - 6000Mbps WiFi speed to handle even the busiest network with ease. With 8 1GB LAN ports.

www.asus.com

 

[Vimes]

Sorry that isn't meant to be a link, try this:

RT-AX88U AX6000 Dual Band WiFi 6 (802.11ax) Gaming Router

Next-Gen WiFi 6 Standard - 802.11ax WiFi standard for better efficiency and throughput. Ultrafast WiFi Speed - 6000Mbps WiFi speed to handle even the busiest network with ease. With 8 1GB LAN ports.

www.asus.com

Many thanks.
Should be ready for when my 88U arrives.

 

[Spartan]

Sorry that isn't meant to be a link, try this:

RT-AX88U AX6000 Dual Band WiFi 6 (802.11ax) Gaming Router

Next-Gen WiFi 6 Standard - 802.11ax WiFi standard for better efficiency and throughput. Ultrafast WiFi Speed - 6000Mbps WiFi speed to handle even the busiest network with ease. With 8 1GB LAN ports.

www.asus.com

Thanks a lot! Been checking for updates daily and was wondering why they have ignored his router for so long! Let's see how this firmware goes I hope they fixed the random disconnection issues.

I just installed it then reset my router to defaults.

 

[Tommy Grace]

Thanks a lot! Been checking for updates daily and was wondering why they have ignored his router for so long! Let's see how this firmware goes I hope they fixed the random disconnection issues.

I just installed it then reset my router to defaults.

Yeah i noticed because the ASUS Android app highlighted that it was available when i logged on to it. Quite handy.

 

[1ceLaz0r]

RT-AX88U and RT-AX86U share the same CPU and same 5 GHz wifi chip. Only the network switch and the 2.4 GHz SoC are different.

yeah, and my ax88u was unstable

 

[RMerlin]

yeah, and my ax88u was unstable

Been using an RT-AX88U as my primary router since it launched, and it`s very stable for me.

 

[1ceLaz0r]

Been using an RT-AX88U as my primary router since it launched, and it`s very stable for me.

Good for you. Want a medal?

 

[RMerlin]

Good for you. Want a medal?

The point is if something is perfectly stable for one user, and totally unstable for another, then maybe that other user needs to troubleshoot their setup instead of making a blanket statement. Or making snarky remarks.

 

[Blacklistedcard]

I have a new AX88U in the mail. So I can join the fun. My other ASUS routers RT68, AC87U and AC86U were all good routers. So I do expect the same performance from the AX88U

 

[1ceLaz0r]

The point is if something is perfectly stable for one user, and totally unstable for another, then maybe that other user needs to troubleshoot their setup instead of making a blanket statement. Or making snarky remarks.

So faulty equipment simply doesn't exist? All consumer products from covid China are perfect actually