VPN settings missing in newer Merlin firmwares on my router

[AsuWrtMerOls]

Hi there!

I have a RT-AX56U and have noticed that newer original ASUS firmware no longer supports scp.
So I had a look around and came across the ASUSwrt-Merlin firmware. I know that my router is no longer supported, but nevertheless I found a new compativle firmware: RT-AX56U_3004_388.8_4 (17-Nov-2024).
After flashing this firmware all seemed to be ok, but when trying to activate the VPN settings, I couldn't find any setting for VPN server, VPN client, etc. There was just a blank screen except for a short message that said something like “Refresh ...”.
I then tested a relatively old Merlin firmware RT-AX56U_386.7_2 from July 2022; the VPN settings were possible there.

Does anyone have an explanation for the fact that the VPN settings have disappeared in the new firmware?

I have not yet found any reference to this topic here in the forum.

 

[bbunge]

Hi there!

I have a RT-AX56U and have noticed that newer original ASUS firmware no longer supports scp.
So I had a look around and came across the ASUSwrt-Merlin firmware. I know that my router is no longer supported, but nevertheless I found a new compativle firmware: RT-AX56U_3004_388.8_4 (17-Nov-2024).
After flashing this firmware all seemed to be ok, but when trying to activate the VPN settings, I couldn't find any setting for VPN server, VPN client, etc. There was just a blank screen except for a short message that said something like “Refresh ...”.
I then tested a relatively old Merlin firmware RT-AX56U_386.7_2 from July 2022; the VPN settings were possible there.

Does anyone have an explanation for the fact that the VPN settings have disappeared in the new firmware?

I have not yet found any reference to this topic here in the forum.

Did you do a factory reset and manual configure after flashing Merlin firmware?

 

[AsuWrtMerOls]

Did you do a factory reset and manual configure after flashing Merlin firmware?

Did you do a factory reset and manual configure after flashing Merlin firmware?

No, my procedure was the following:
1) Before flashing to the Merlin firmware, I executed a backup
2) Flash the Merlin firmware
3) Restored the settings, which were saved in step 1)
4) Reboot the router
I read somewhere - I can't remember where - that the Merlin firmware is fully compatible with the original ASUS firmware, even in terms of settings,
And, lastly, in the old Merlin firmware RT-AX56U_386.7_2 the VPN settings were available.

 

[degrub]

Not doing the steps bbunge listed can lead to an unstable system. Hell to troubleshoot. And never restore from a backup config if not the identical firmware. Manual config is a must.

 

[AsuWrtMerOls]

Ok, I will give it a try - in 2025...

 

[bbunge]

Ok, I will give it a try - in 2025...

Well, it is 2025 somewhere in the world. Take the time to factory reset with initialize then manually reconfigure. Without this step you do not know what you have left yourself open to....

 

[AsuWrtMerOls]

Happy new year!

So, I've tried everything; my skepticism was unfortunately justified!
A factory reset didn't change or improve anything. The settings for VPN are simply missing! I have backed this up with screenshots.

When I try the old Merlin version RT-AX56U_386.7_2, the VPN settings are visible (see screenshot).

 

[RMerlin]

A Javascript error is preventing the page from loading. Open the browser console and look for any error message.

Also, try a different browser, your issue may be caused by a browser plugin such as an ad blocker.

 

[AsuWrtMerOls]

That was the reason!!! Thank you very, very much.

Should I still carry out a factory reset?

 

[RMerlin]

That was the reason!!! Thank you very, very much.

Should I still carry out a factory reset?

What was? A browser addon?

Should I still carry out a factory reset?

If coming from stock firmware and you had a VPN configured, I strongly recommend doing one since Asuswrt and Asuswrt-Merlin OpenVPN settings are not fully compatible. You might be able to avoid it just by resetting all VPN server and clients to their default values, and just reconfiguring the VPN settings, keeping your existing WAN/LAN settings.

 

[AsuWrtMerOls]

I took the path of least resistance. I simply changed the browser: LibreWolf. First try, first hit.
Previously I had used K-Meleon, to my knowledge without AdBlocker.
I'll check tomorrow to see if javascript was disabled.

Thanks for the tips...

 

[AsuWrtMerOls]

@RMerlin
Javascript was activated, but K-Meleon reported a lot of errors (FYI: see attachment). K-Meleon operated in a Firefox compatible mode...

 

[RMerlin]

Sounds like a browser issue. The first syntax error it reports is something that works in every other browsers.

Thu Jan 02 2025 10:29:57
Fehler: SyntaxError: invalid regular expression flag s
Quelldatei: http://192.168.1.1/Advanced_VPNStatus.asp
Zeile: 532, Spalte: 34
Quellcode:
var fields = data[i].split(/:(.*)/s);

 

[AsuWrtMerOls]

It doesn't matter; I use a different browser...