Asus RT-N66U Router Sick or Dead?

Hi,
I decided to take on a project to run a VPN Service on my home network & hopefully learn something along the way.
In brief as a first step I Researched Routers & firmware,purchased new Asus RT-N66U Router and set up to flash Tomato by Shibby (tomato-K26USB-1.28.RT-N5x-MIPSR2-128-AIO-64K.trx),
I Started update which was unfortunately interrupted, router now has no Ethernet capability, have tried various reset methods, router has wifi and I can log into the setup so updated firmware (RT-N66U_3.0.0.4_376_3861-g11c21b3.trx) from Asus via wifi utility, still no Ethernet.
Everything else seems Ok. System log appears to pinpoint some problems I don't know how or if possible to fix, I can send a copy of the log to anyone willing to help.
Is my router sick or dead?
Do I now need to learn how do I tell my wife I've destroyed $170?
Any help would be appreciated, please be gentle.

I think it is fine.


... do not get in a hurry though.

Check this thread:
http://www.snbforums.com/threads/rt-n66u-and-tomato.19046/
The router is just confused.

[EDIT]
Try to install that Shibby firmware again, be sure to check the "clear NVRAM" box before starting the installation.
Then I would say: stop your firmware experiments and install stock or Merlin firmware.

I'm confused about 1 thing. $170 for a new rt-n66u? You were robbed.
I've got an rt-ac66u I want to sell since its used I'll sell it to you for $200.

If all else fails, unplug it. Hold the reset button in, plug it back in, when the power led starts flashing, use the asus restoration tool to recover the router.

Pierino said:

I'm confused about 1 thing. $170 for a new rt-n66u? You were robbed.
I've got an rt-ac66u I want to sell since its used I'll sell it to you for $200.

Click to expand...

Hi, Sorry for confusion regarding router cost, should have explained I am in Australia, $170AU is a good price for this unit here.
Also didn't mention in earlier post I have put the router into recovery mode several times, but the recovery software says the router is not in recovery mode.
I even ran the recovery utility with the LAN cable unplugged from the router to see what happens and got the same message form the recovery software,
it seems there is no LAN connection to the router,I have pasted below a section of the system log if this helps:

Jan 1 09:00:08 kernel: ip_tables: (C) 2000-2006 Netfilter Core Team
Jan 1 09:00:08 kernel: net/ipv4/netfilter/tomato_ct.c [Feb 12 2015 20:33:02]
Jan 1 09:00:08 kernel: ip6_tables: (C) 2000-2006 Netfilter Core Team
Jan 1 09:00:08 kernel: VFS: Mounted root (squashfs filesystem) readonly.
Jan 1 09:00:08 kernel: Warning: unable to open an initial console.
Jan 1 09:00:08 kernel: Algorithmics/MIPS FPU Emulator v1.5
Jan 1 09:00:08 kernel: ctf: module license 'Proprietary' taints kernel.
Jan 1 09:00:08 kernel: et_module_init: passivemode set to 0x0
Jan 1 09:00:08 kernel: et_module_init: et_txq_thresh set to 0x400
Jan 1 09:00:08 kernel: bcm_robo_enable_switch: EEE is disabled
Jan 1 09:00:08 kernel: eth0: Broadcom BCM47XX 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet Controller 6.30.163.2002 (r382208)
Jan 1 09:00:08 kernel: wl_module_init: passivemode set to 0x0
Jan 1 09:00:08 kernel: PCI: Enabling device 0000:01:01.0 (0000 -> 0002)
Jan 1 09:00:08 kernel: eth1: Broadcom BCM4331 802.11 Wireless Controller 6.30.163.2002 (r382208)
Jan 1 09:00:08 kernel: PCI: Enabling device 0000:02:01.0 (0000 -> 0002)
Jan 1 09:00:08 kernel: eth2: Broadcom BCM4331 802.11 Wireless Controller 6.30.163.2002 (r382208)
Jan 1 09:00:08 kernel: SCSI subsystem initialized
Jan 1 09:00:08 kernel: ufsd: driver (8.6 U86_r187446_b122, LBD=ON, acl, ioctl, rwm, ws, sd) loaded at c027d000
Jan 1 09:00:08 kernel: NTFS (with native replay) support included
Jan 1 09:00:08 kernel: optimized: speed
Jan 1 09:00:08 kernel: Build_for__asus_n66u_2011-10-27_U86_r187446_b122
Jan 1 09:00:09 stop_nat_rules: apply the redirect_rules!
Jan 1 09:00:10 WAN Connection: Ethernet link down.
Jan 1 09:00:10 kernel: scsi 0:0:0:0: Direct-Access Multi Flash Reader 1.00 PQ: 0 ANSI: 0
Jan 1 09:00:10 kernel: sd 0:0:0:0: [sda] Attached SCSI removable disk
Jan 1 09:00:10 kernel: sd 0:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg0 type 0
Jan 1 09:00:14 dnsmasq[368]: warning: interface ppp1* does not currently exist

Did you set a static ip on your pc?
Set your NIC to 192.168.1.9, 255.255.255.0, 192.168.1.1 and try the recovery again.

Have you tried powering it up while holding the wps button in for 10 seconds, to clear the nvram?

At first I see no point to use the troublesome Tomato, current stock firmware and Merlin have great VPN support.

You seems to be able to (wireless) access the router interface, so install the latest stock firmware first.
http://support.asus.com/Download.aspx?SLanguage=en&m=RT-N66U (VER.B1)&p=11&s=2
Select OS = Others
Unfold the Firmware branch
Pick version 3.0.0.4.378.4850

Next is to erase NVRAM through Telnet:
1-Advanced Settings - Administration - System: Enable Telnet = Yes
2-Open a Telnet session to the router.
3-Run this command from the Terminal prompt:

mtd-erase -d nvram

4-Power down the router and start it up again.
5-Access the router at the default IP address 192.168.1.1 and admin/admin
6-Manual configure the router again (do NOT load an old configuration backup file).

Hi, Thanks for your responses to my problem. I tried every solution given here and more. Eventually I took the router to a friends and plugged it into their Ethernet port where my LAN light finally came on
the router! Finally worked out that my problem was in my computers Ethernet and not the router. I have a HP all in one system so a faulty Ethernet is not easily fixed, my solution was to obtain a USB to Ethernet adapter on eBay which I hooked up today & bingo connection to the router and Tomato installed & running, several weeks of frustration over. I don't know if the Ethernet on my PC is faulty or incompatible but both adapters are Realtek Family Controller but my onboard one does not see the router.