RT-AX88U_PRO Asuswrt-Merlin vs Asuswrt

[m m.]

I got a Asus RT-AX88U Pro recently and flashed its stock firmware to 3.0.0.6.102_33309 dated 24/08/19. However, the Asuswrt-Merlin version is 3004.388.8_2, which is close to the non-pro version, ASUS RT-AX88U with stock firmware version 3.0.0.4.388_24209 dated 2024/03/29. It looks to me the 3004 and 3006 is two different series of firmware. Does anyone know the difference between 3006.102.3 and the 3004.388.8? Has anyone flashed the 3004.388.8_2 (AMerlin) firmware to Asus RT-AX88U Pro?

 

[Tech9]

which is close to the non-pro version

Current Asuswrt-Merlin firmware is Asuswrt 4.0 based. Stock firmware for your router is Asuswrt 5.0 branch.

Has anyone flashed the 3004.388.8_2 (AMerlin) firmware to Asus RT-AX88U Pro?

Yes, RT-AX88U Pro is Asuswrt-Merlin supported and latest release is version 3004.388_2. Download is here:

Asuswrt-Merlin - Browse /RT-AX88U_PRO/Release at SourceForge.net

Alternative firmware for Asus wireless routers

sourceforge.net

 

[Logi]

I got a Asus RT-AX88U Pro recently and flashed its stock firmware to 3.0.0.6.102_33309 dated 24/08/19. However, the Asuswrt-Merlin version is 3004.388.8_2, which is close to the non-pro version, ASUS RT-AX88U with stock firmware version 3.0.0.4.388_24209 dated 2024/03/29. It looks to me the 3004 and 3006 is two different series of firmware. Does anyone know the difference between 3006.102.3 and the 3004.388.8? Has anyone flashed the 3004.388.8_2 (AMerlin) firmware to Asus RT-AX88U Pro?

I am running Merlin 388.8.2 since release without any problem on my AX88U Pro

 

[bennor]

It looks to me the 3004 and 3006 is two different series of firmware. Does anyone know the difference between 3006.102.3 and the 3004.388.8?

The 3006.102.x firmware is generally what is known as WRT5.0. See Asus's general explanation of what WRT5.0 is:
ASUSWRT 5.0

Generally the main feature of WRT5.0 is the VLAN and Guest Network Pro feature:

[Guest Network Pro] What is Guest Network Pro? | Official Support | ASUS USA

You can read about Asus-Merlin and how it's different than the stock Asus firmware here:

About | Asuswrt-Merlin

www.asuswrt-merlin.net

You can read RMerlin's statements about support for Asus-Merlin 3006.102.x:

ANNOUNCEMENT: Asuswrt-Merlin support underway for 3 Wifi 7 routers

Hi everyone, I am now able to officially announce support for three different Wifi 7 routers is currently under development, to be part of the 3006.102.1 release: RT-BE96U GT-BE98_PRO GT-BE98 (by Gnuton) Things are still too early to have any kind of ETA, even for snapshot builds, as there...

www.snbforums.com

Announcement: 3006 progress report - it's a go

Hi everyone, I have been working on the 3006 integration for a couple of weeks now, and I am finally at a point where I am able to confirm that Asuswrt-Merlin will proceed with integrating the 3006 code in the future. That will include the full VLAN and SDN integration (which has been the...

www.snbforums.com

Release - Asuswrt-Merlin 3006.102.1 is now available for Wifi 7 devices

Asuswrt-Merlin 3006.102.1 is now available, for the RT-BE96U and GT-BE98_PRO. This is the initial release of Asuswrt-Merlin based on the 3006 codebase. Only a few specific models are currently available, more will be added over time as Asus progressively migrates devices to the new...

www.snbforums.com

[ 3006.102 alpha Build(s) ] Testing available build(s)

https://www.asuswrt-merlin.net/test-builds No support on Alpha builds GT-BE98_PRO RT-BE96 3006.102.xx (xx-xxx-xxxx) - NEW: Added mDNS support to the router's local name resolution (nss). - UPDATED: OpenVPN to 2.6.12. - CHANGED: Support importing Wireguard config files that...

www.snbforums.com

As indicated for the RT-AX88U Pro the current stable Asus-Merlin firmware is 3004.388.8_2. At this point in time the Asus-Merlin stable 3006.102.1 firmware does not include support for the RT-AX88U Pro. It may eventually, at some future point in time. And before one asks when will their router be included, only Rmerlin can answer that question. For now its just two routers (GT-BE98_PRO, RT-BE96) that support Asus-Merlin 3006.102.x and one (GT-BE98) that supports Gnuton's Asus-Merlin fork of 3006.102.x.

If you want to use the WRT5.0 features found in 3.0.0.6.102.x firmware, then use the stock Asus RT-AX88U Pro Firmware version 3.0.0.6.102_33309 for your RT-AX88U Pro:
https://www.asus.com/networking-iot...8u-pro/helpdesk_bios/?model2Name=RT-AX88U-Pro

 

[m m.]

Thank you all...