Asuswrt-Merlin 376.44 Beta 1 is out

[RMerlin]

Howdy folks,


Asuswrt-Merlin 376.44-Beta1 is now available for download for all supported models.

Update: 376.44-Beta 2 is now available.
Update2: 376.44-Beta 3 is now available.

IMPORTANT: Make a backup of your JFFS partition if upgrading an RT-AC56U or RT-AC68U and you have put files in there!

The two highlights of this new build is the merge with Asus GPL 3.0.0.4.376_1779, which brings various enhancements. This is also the first public release of Asuswrt-Merlin with full support for the RT-AC87U (thanks to Asus for providing an early development sample).

There's been a lot of code changes by Asus since the last release, so merging required more work than usual. This is why I will need this beta tested for a while.

The biggest changes since 374.43:

• Code merge with GPL 3.0.0.4.376_1779. This new version includes a redesigned Networkmap, which lets you edit device names for easier identification. For uniformity, Asuswrt-Merlin will now also use this list for indentifying devices on the webui. You can still define actual, valid hostnames on the DHCP reservation list.
• Official support for the RT-AC87U. Everything should work, except one known issue with the Ethernet Port Status display on the Sysinfo page. The same quirk also happens with Broadcom's own "et" userspace tool, so at this point I don't know if it's a bug with 376_1779, or an architecture limitation of the hybrid Broadcom/Quantenna implementation. If I can't find a fix, I will disable the Ethernet port state display on the AC87U with the final release.
• With 376_1779 Asus started to switch from Paragon to Tuxera as the provider of their NTFS/HFS+ filesystem driver. Asus has done the switch with the RT-AC87U, however I have done it for all other router models as well (except for the RT-N16 for now). The Tuxera driver should bring enhanced performance and reliability. It should also eventually allow adding HFS+ support to the older MIPS devices (and potentially Time Machine support as well). However I want to wait for a future test release before adding this, as there is already a lot in need of testing in this first beta.
• Recent changes by Asus on the ARM devices forced me to remove support for IPSEC on the RT-AC87U, and L7 filtering on all ARM routers. This is a compatibility issue caused by the new proprietary kernel modules added by Asus, there is nothing that can be done about it.
• You will notice that the AC56 and AC68 FW have a reduced size. This is normal. Download Master installers are no longer included, as the firmware was getting too big to fit on the router's 32 MB partition. This won't have any real side-effect, the packages will be downloaded from Asus's servers the first time you install Download Master. It was already going through their servers to update it anyway, as built-in versions were often out of date.

Changes in beta 2:

376.44-beta2 (29-Jul-2014)
  - NEW: HFS+ support for MIPS devices (N16/N66/AC66).
         N16 also uses Tuxera now.
  - CHANGED: Updated N66U driver to Asus's 1071 build
  - CHANGED: Implemented RT-AC87U report of LAN port 4
  - FIXED: RT-AC87U port order was wrong on SYsinfo page
  - FIXED: Minidlna issues with Philips smart TVs
  - FIXED: Incorrect state report of port 1 on AC87U.  
           MAC and VLAN cannot be retrieved (AC87U)
  - FIXED: SSHD brute force protection wasn't working if
           Dual WAN was enabled and set to LB mode.
  - FIXED: Miniupnpd error flood in Syslog when using a
           Plex server on your LAN

Changes in beta 3:

376.44-beta3 (31-Jul-2014)
  - NEW: Merged with GPL 376_2044 (from AC87U).  This includes
         amongst other things a minor webui refresh, 
         and IE compatibility fixes.
  - CHANGED: Updated miniupnpd to Git head (as of 20140731), which
             includes NAT-PNP fixes
  - FIXED: SmartSync hangs (updated binary blobs with
           copies extracted from FW 376_1123) (N16/N66/AC66)
  - FIXED: Error messages when using a FAT32 disk on MIPS-based routers

Things that will require special testing:

• RT-AC87U: pretty much everything. Note that while this FW is based on 1779 (which means it lacks certain fixes from the just-released 376_2044), it does contain the updated TrendMicro signature which resolves VoIP issues, as well as the WPS webui fix.
• Check SMB sharing stability and performance. Initial reports from testers reported improvements both for MIPS and ARM devices.
• IPv6 functionality. Asus made a lot of changes to that code, which forced me to revert most of the patches Asuswrt-Merlin had applied on that part of the code.
• AiCloud (both MIPS and ARM platforms). I've done very limited testing there. Just confirm that it starts normally and that you are able to log in.
• DLNA sharing. Asus upgraded to 1.1.3, please confirm there is no regression. Once I get confirmation this is looking at least as good as the last release, I will see if there are additional unmerged patches required.
• 3G/4G sharing - I'm curious to see if Asus's 376_1779 resolved the recent regressions there.
• I did a few experiments for the RT-N66U wifi, including re-implementing some code Asus had removed a few months ago. Just let me know if you notice any increase in overall range/performance if you had a drop in 374.42/374.43.

This will probably get asked, so here it is: you do not need to do a factory default reset if upgrading from 374.43 or 374.42. Older than that - feel free to try without a reset, but be prepared to do one if you run into odd wireless issues.

And one more time:

IMPORTANT: Make a backup of your JFFS partition if upgrading an RT-AC56U or RT-AC68U and you have put files in there!

Thanks everyone for testing this and posting your feedback here!

Changelog is here.
Downloads are here.
More details can be found in the complete changelog.

Beta 1:
9a78d6c78643174cb6f4f172c6b466b8  RT-AC56U_3.0.0.4_376.44_beta1.trx
44f6d8e692b67658ebac0fb48a613e9a  RT-AC66U_3.0.0.4_376.44_beta1.trx
1b2ae03798245bf0b3028294556ec012  RT-AC68U_3.0.0.4_376.44_beta1.trx
ea2b0081576deac33990b9e82b2824b1  RT-AC87U_3.0.0.4_376.44_beta1.trx
20dc809b4dfadce6e704d9599bac089a  RT-N16_3.0.0.4_376.44_beta1.trx
1e64bae8117831e22a7565c2e037eb6a  RT-N66U_3.0.0.4_376.44_beta1.trx

Beta 2:
1dda25009cf291af6925b39d430b986a  RT-AC56U_3.0.0.4_376.44_beta2.trx
94fae92595fdb0b0515e79cb1f61cf98  RT-AC66U_3.0.0.4_376.44_beta2.trx
bd1e2bc7fa2590ca1e95a80ae3cba4d4  RT-AC68U_3.0.0.4_376.44_beta2.trx
2080c9dd69f7feadb5be83091ae27c7e  RT-AC87U_3.0.0.4_376.44_beta2.trx
2141353a7442c8713ab082592834e7c6  RT-N16_3.0.0.4_376.44_beta2.trx
f729d682d3044528c34231d298ae6016  RT-N66U_3.0.0.4_376.44_beta2.trx

Beta 3:
917ab791e380eef213e96b0acaa4f37b  RT-AC56U_3.0.0.4_376.44_beta3.trx
e3fb09a1ece01dd180c81e719b109f40  RT-AC66U_3.0.0.4_376.44_beta3.trx
9e41ace0f91b36a3c3b720af2a522c2c  RT-AC68U_3.0.0.4_376.44_beta3.trx
5b46c06009520e092d9f837df1a33620  RT-AC87U_3.0.0.4_376.44_beta3.trx
8ee027dc306360ce32e18ad2692702fd  RT-N16_3.0.0.4_376.44_beta3.trx
5c02bdb9247adb328490842382e78dca  RT-N66U_3.0.0.4_376.44_beta3.trx

 

[KevTech]

I just found under Admin- Wireless history tab, if i disabled 5G band its showing "2.4 GHz radio is disabled"

I think you mean system log > wireless log

I can confirm it says "2.4 GHz radio is disabled" when disabling 5GHz channel.

As for signal it is a bit better to my TV but still not as good as sdk5.

sdk5 was -45 to -50

44 beta1 is -53 to -55 which a little bit better than the latest stock or 44alpha4.

I will stay with this for a bit and see if connection issues occur.

 

[Bulls729]

Hey Merlin! Thanks for the awesome work as always, I'm curious if Beam-forming was removed from the AC-66U with this build as I don't see it listed anymore? Thank you so much!

 

[mromero]

Good job Merlin. Noticed on one RTN66U the upgrade pauses and demands a manual reboot. Simply refreshed the page and selected reboot from the Web UI and everything appears to be going great.

 

[sinshiva]

I think you mean system log > wireless log

I can confirm it says "2.4 GHz radio is disabled" when disabling 5GHz channel.

As for signal it is a bit better to my TV but still not as good as sdk5.

sdk5 was -45 to -50

44 beta1 is -53 to -55 which a little bit better than the latest stock or 44alpha4.

I will stay with this for a bit and see if connection issues occur.

does any amount of adjustment to antenna positions or the client bring you to your desired performance ?

[edit/] or turning the router itself

 

[RMerlin]

Hey Merlin! Thanks for the awesome work as always, I'm curious if Beam-forming was removed from the AC-66U with this build as I don't see it listed anymore? Thank you so much!

No idea, I haven't used my AC66U for anything but development for a long time. Any change there would have been done by Asus.

 

[plun]

Thanks Merlin for updating!

4G with the cdc_ncm high speed driver is not resolved (more about that in the dedicated thread about this.)

I also got a kernel crash....

http://paste.ubuntu.com/7872849/

 

[bits]

Since updating to 376.44 Beta 1 my country code has been locked to US instead of AU.

I purchased this router in an Australia store to be used in Australia.

Other than channels 12 and 13 on 2.4ghz I think nothing else would change but many other countries have different rules and those users may be forced to break the laws in their country with this firmware.

Maybe a warning should be given that this firmware is incapable of correctly setting country code and therefore breaks the law in many countries other than USA.

 

[jonny]

@plun

did your router to look the country code ?
( is ther a big deal realy?) ofcourse it should work but not likley that the FBI will ring on your door but you can Always get a ip cam so you can see who is caling at the door

 

[bits]

@plun

did your router to look the country code ?
( is ther a big deal realy?) ofcourse it should work but not likley that the FBI will ring on your door but you can Always get a ip cam so you can see who is caling at the door

I assume you are actually replying to me and not plun.

nvram get wl0_country_code
nvram get wl1_country_code
Both are reporting US.

nvram set wl0_country_code=AU
nvram commit
succeeds but is lost other a reboot(reverts back to US)


I do not care about the FBI the tiniest bit, they and the FCC have zero jurisdiction here. Them knocking on my door is as worthwhile as me going and knocking on their door.

However I may get a knock on my door from the AFP or ACMA regarding any illegal output from this router.

Also I do have an IP camera over my front door and can see who is calling already

 

[prinknash]

Don't think the FBI is very active in England - but anyway, my upgrade to 376.44 Beta 1 hasn't changed wireless country codes, which remain set to EU. (And stayed with EU after a reboot.)

p

 

[wsarahan]

@Merlin how are you?

I have a RT-AC68U

I`m using the factory Asus 3.0.0.4.376.1663 FW (The Latest one)

I always do factory resets when i go to your FW or vice-versa, just to make things clean

I just did not get it:

IMPORTANT: Make a backup of your JFFS partition if upgrading an RT-AC56U or RT-AC68U!

How should i do that? The factory reset is not enough in my case

Please let me know what to do

Thanks

 

[jonny]

a bit off topics but....
you guys take this all too seriusly... hehe: never Heard about the NSA?
they even got Germanys head of state coverd by mobilephone

ofcourse they have you in there site where ever you are... and a specialy if your using the wrong contry code

lighten up mates

 

[bigmag]

@merlin

Hi and good Morning aus Germany

I can not set 40 MHz in the new Beta , he set always 20MHz
Chanspec: 2.4GHz channel 13 20MHz (0x100d)

 

[connorm]

is there any way of getting channel 120 or 124 with this fw? in tomato for rt-ac66u i use channel 120 on 80MHz and i would like to stay on this channel so nothing will ever interfere with my rt-ac66u 5GHz

im curious the results of the new tuxera drivers aswell...... 15MB/s on rt-ac66u? thats about what it would take for me to switch fw

 

[DrTeeth]

Don't think the FBI is very active in England - but anyway, my upgrade to 376.44 Beta 1 hasn't changed wireless country codes, which remain set to EU. (And stayed with EU after a reboot.)

p

You are missing out on 13 more 5GHz channels as a result.

 

[DrTeeth]

is there any way of getting channel 120 or 124 with this fw? in tomato for rt-ac66u i use channel 120 on 80MHz and i would like to stay on this channel so nothing will ever interfere with my rt-ac66u 5GHz

In which country are you located?

 

[connorm]

canada......

 

[DrTeeth]

canada......

Sorry cannot help, that channel does not appear to be legal in your locale.

 

[dipole]

anyone have a mirror? I get the following

Not Acceptable

An appropriate representation of the requested resource /asuswrt-merlin/download could not be found on this server.

Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.