Wireguard on Asuswrt-Merlin

[rt909]

I have an Asus RT-AC86U running Asuswrt-Merlin v386.14, which is currently setup for OpenVPN.
I want to try Wireguard and have searched through the last couple of years of threads to find some straightforward instructions on how to install it.
Perhaps I’m blind, a bit thick, or both, but I see lots of reference to workarounds for using it but no actual clear cut explanation.
There has been speculation that Merlin will be adapting wireguard but if they have, I don’t see it.
Am I missing something, or can someone point me in the right direction?

 

[RMerlin]

Your router is too old. Wireguard is only supported on Wifi 6 and Wifi 7 models.

 

[ZebMcKayhan]

I have an Asus RT-AC86U running Asuswrt-Merlin v386.14, which is currently setup for OpenVPN.
I want to try Wireguard and have searched through the last couple of years of threads to find some straightforward instructions on how to install it.
Perhaps I’m blind, a bit thick, or both, but I see lots of reference to workarounds for using it but no actual clear cut explanation.
There has been speculation that Merlin will be adapting wireguard but if they have, I don’t see it.
Am I missing something, or can someone point me in the right direction?

There is an addon to be able to run Wireguard on this router, as the router kernel is sufficiently new on this model but as it's not an AX- model Asus never bumped this router onto 388 code base.

In order to get this Addon installed you would need to get an usb drive plugged into your router and install Entware on it (there are instructions for that part in this forum somewhere, like here: https://www.snbforums.com/threads/help-with-installing-entware.70152/post-661660)

When this is done you could install the Wireguard Manager addon from AMTM and start using Wireguard.

 

[rt909]

Your router is too old. Wireguard is only supported on Wifi 6 and Wifi 7 models.

Is the RT-AX58U supported?

 

[rt909]

There is an addon to be able to run Wireguard on this router, as the router kernel is sufficiently new on this model but as it's not an AX- model Asus never bumped this router onto 388 code base.

In order to get this Addon installed you would need to get an usb drive plugged into your router and install Entware on it (there are instructions for that part in this forum somewhere, like here: https://www.snbforums.com/threads/help-with-installing-entware.70152/post-661660)

When this is done you could install the Wireguard Manager addon from AMTM and start using Wireguard.

Thanks, Zeb. I’ll take a look at that.

 

[bennor]

Is the RT-AX58U supported?

You can see the currently supported Asus-Merlin router list here:
https://www.asuswrt-merlin.net/about

The RT-AX58U V1 is currently supported by Asus-Merlin (latest stable 3004_388.8_2).
The RT-AX58U V2 is currently supported by the GNuton fork of Asus-Merlin.

GitHub - gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng: Extends the support of Merlin firmware to more ASUS routers

Extends the support of Merlin firmware to more ASUS routers - gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng

github.com

 

[Tech9]

Is the RT-AX58U supported?

This model will slow down the entire network WAN-LAN throughput to about 300Mbps with WireGuard active. Not only devices routed through WireGuard, but the entire network behind it. It doesn't have flow cache bypass like high-end models with different Broadcom hardware.

 

[RMerlin]

Is the RT-AX58U supported?

It`s a Wifi 6 router, so yes.

 

[rt909]

This model will slow down the entire network WAN-LAN throughput to about 300Mbps with WireGuard active. Not only devices routed through WireGuard, but the entire network behind it. It doesn't have flow cache bypass like high-end models with different Broadcom hardware.

At this point, my RT-AC86U running OpenVPN slows my 1GB service down to anywhere between 120Mbps to 50Mbps, so 300Mbps sounds like a win.

What router would you recommend to run WireGuard, that doesn’t break the bank?

 

[Tech9]

At this point, my RT-AC86U running OpenVPN slows my 1GB service down to anywhere between 120Mbps to 50Mbps

OpenVPN doesn't slow down the entire network behind your RT-AC86U though. On RT-AX58U the entire network will slow down regardless of clients going through VPN or not. There is a big difference between how the two work on this entry-level hardware. Your RT-AC86U has better CPU.

What router would you recommend to run WireGuard, that doesn’t break the bank?

Run WireGuard for what purpose? If you are just another victim of aggressive commercial VPN services advertisement mixed with promises and scare tactics - think twice what you wish for. You are getting trouble and extra payments, plus a new hardware you probably don't need that urgently.

 

[rt909]

OpenVPN doesn't slow down the entire network behind your RT-AC86U though. On RT-AX58U the entire network will slow down regardless of clients going through VPN or not. There is a big difference between how the two work on this entry-level hardware. Your RT-AC86U has better CPU.



Run WireGuard for what purpose? If you are just another victim of aggressive commercial VPN services advertisement mixed with promises and scare tactics - think twice what you wish for. You are getting trouble and extra payments, plus a new hardware you probably don't need that urgently.

If anything, aggressive commercial VPN services advertisement mixed with promises and scare tactics makes me very disinterested in WireGuard.
I’m looking at it purely from a performance perspective.
Running OpenVPN on my RT-AC86U, I’m losing 90% of my throughput. I can’t seem to fix that, so it was suggested that I try WireGuard.

 

[Tech9]

In this case you need different hardware router, RT-AX86U Pro or better from Asus. Or look at GL.iNet GL-MT6000, even faster on WireGuard. OpenVPN speed will be about the same of what you have now. For faster VPN - x86 hardware appliance with i3/i5 CPU. This fast VPN idea will cost you in hundreds.