AX92U - LAN ports problems

[aherped]

Hello,
First of all, sorry for my English.

I have a AX92U as single and main router, connected directly to the ONT with PPPoE.
I'm having problems with the LAN (wired) ports. Randomly but frequently (one or two times a day) the LAN ports gets disabled and nothing connected to them works. Surprisingly WiFi devices works fine and have internet.
I haven't found any way to solve this but rebooting the router. Then it works again until the next cut.
When it's not working, I can't connect to the router or any other elements of the net. I tried DHCP and Static IP and I try to change but nothing works but reboot the router.
I use Merlin software, the gnuton variant wich supports the AX92U. I've been using gnuton's merlin since two years more or less without any problems. Actually I'm using last version but I try downgrading to a version that I know that I was not having problems.
I tried two times to reset all the router config, last time minutes ago. I have no special config, basically all disabled but WireGuard and some port redirections. I have the WiFi enabled but Smart Connect Disabled. I had two custom scripts, one for DDNS and the ChkWAN.sh that is in the logs but now I haven't put them to try.

I have logs registered on my NAS so I can see when it cuts, when NAS can't register more logs, because it's wired and loses connection but the router's log continues logging.

I attached the syslog to the post
The last log registered by NAS is "Jun 30 01:51:51". When the date changes to May 5 (don't know why) is when I restart the router.
I don't know if anyone see anything, if there is a hardware problem or software. I'm confused because if it is software problem I don't know why it persists on router resetting and firmware downgrade. If it is hardware problem why it works on restart?.
I have two wires connected to the router, one comes from a switch that have connected my PC and the NAS. The other is from the TV. I thinked that the problem could be in the switch or the wire but when I have no conection, the TV neither and everything starts working if I reset the router from my mobile in web interface no touching the router.

Thank you very much to everyone that reads and try to solve this. I would like to understand the problem. I'm thinking to change the router for an AX-88U Pro but I'm afraid that this don't solve the problem.

 

[bennor]

Generally when you see the May 5th in the system log it means the router rebooted or was powered on. Its the date used by the firmware/router during the boot process until the router sets its time via NTP or similar from the internet.

As a troubleshooting step, may want to disable any addon scripts and see if the issue persists.

As always a last resort troubleshooting step is to remove the attached USB hard drive, then perform a hard factory reset of the router, then manually configure the router (do not import a saved router.cfg file) without reattaching the USB drive or adding the addon scripts. See if the issue shows itself in the basic stock setup. If it doesn't then you can start making changes. Testing along the way to see if one of your settings, or the addon script(s) are introducing the issue you are experiencing.

 

[OzarkEdge]

Hello,
First of all, sorry for my English.

I have a AX92U as single and main router, connected directly to the ONT with PPPoE.
I'm having problems with the LAN (wired) ports. Randomly but frequently (one or two times a day) the LAN ports gets disabled and nothing connected to them works. Surprisingly WiFi devices works fine and have internet.
I haven't found any way to solve this but rebooting the router. Then it works again until the next cut.
When it's not working, I can't connect to the router or any other elements of the net. I tried DHCP and Static IP and I try to change but nothing works but reboot the router.
I use Merlin software, the gnuton variant wich supports the AX92U. I've been using gnuton's merlin since two years more or less without any problems. Actually I'm using last version but I try downgrading to a version that I know that I was not having problems.
I tried two times to reset all the router config, last time minutes ago. I have no special config, basically all disabled but WireGuard and some port redirections. I have the WiFi enabled but Smart Connect Disabled. I had two custom scripts, one for DDNS and the ChkWAN.sh that is in the logs but now I haven't put them to try.

I have logs registered on my NAS so I can see when it cuts, when NAS can't register more logs, because it's wired and loses connection but the router's log continues logging.

I attached the syslog to the post
The last log registered by NAS is "Jun 30 01:51:51". When the date changes to May 5 (don't know why) is when I restart the router.
I don't know if anyone see anything, if there is a hardware problem or software. I'm confused because if it is software problem I don't know why it persists on router resetting and firmware downgrade. If it is hardware problem why it works on restart?.
I have two wires connected to the router, one comes from a switch that have connected my PC and the NAS. The other is from the TV. I thinked that the problem could be in the switch or the wire but when I have no conection, the TV neither and everything starts working if I reset the router from my mobile in web interface no touching the router.

Thank you very much to everyone that reads and try to solve this. I would like to understand the problem. I'm thinking to change the router for an AX-88U Pro but I'm afraid that this don't solve the problem.

First thoughts...

The May 5 date is you rebooting the router... this factory date will update once the router has booted fully and has Internet access.

The LAN issue sounds like a hardware problem (was working, then not working and difficult to isolate) related to the router LAN circuit/switch or the connected cabling or devices. Disconnect everything from the router LAN except a healthy short cable to a healthy LAN test client. See how that runs... could even reconfig the router to a minimal configuration to test without much else going on. And remind yourself that 99.99% of networking trouble is cabling... so you don't overlook the basics... inspect RJ-45 connectors/contacts/cables jackets for corrosion/damage/cat bites. etc. If the trouble was removed, slowly add back the LAN equipment one segment at a time until you find it.

OE

 

[aherped]

Hello,

Thanks for the answers.
I tried a factory reset without any custom script and the problem is not solved, it happend again.
Now I tried a hard factory reset with I didn't know and minimal config.

Generally when you see the May 5th in the system log it means the router rebooted or was powered on. Its the date used by the firmware/router during the boot process until the router sets its time via NTP or similar from the internet.

As a troubleshooting step, may want to disable any addon scripts and see if the issue persists.

As always a last resort troubleshooting step is to remove the attached USB hard drive, then perform a hard factory reset of the router, then manually configure the router (do not import a saved router.cfg file) without reattaching the USB drive or adding the addon scripts. See if the issue shows itself in the basic stock setup. If it doesn't then you can start making changes. Testing along the way to see if one of your settings, or the addon script(s) are introducing the issue you are experiencing.

I have no USB plugged on the router, only two wires and Wi-Fi.

First thoughts...

The May 5 date is you rebooting the router... this factory date will update once the router has booted fully and has Internet access.

The LAN issue sounds like a hardware problem (was working, then not working and difficult to isolate) related to the router LAN circuit/switch or the connected cabling or devices. Disconnect everything from the router LAN except a healthy short cable to a healthy LAN test client. See how that runs... could even reconfig the router to a minimal configuration to test without much else going on. And remind yourself that 99.99% of networking trouble is cabling... so you don't overlook the basics... inspect RJ-45 connectors/contacts/cables jackets for corrosion/damage/cat bites. etc. If the trouble was removed, slowly add back the LAN equipment one segment at a time until you find it.

OE

Maybe it's a wire problem. It surprises me that suddenly makes the router have that problems... I think I would have micro-cuts or packets lost or event connection lost but that suddenly all the LAN ports stop working, no logs, and a reset makes all work again...
I have no other options so, if it continues I would think any way to test the cables and if not, I would think on changing the router.

Thank you very much.

 

[McKey]

Hello,

Thanks for the answers.

Hi aherped!
Is there any news about the problem? My AX92U misery also started with some wierd things. Can you change the firmware version on it? I mean, it is really changing its version? (It shows the fw version on the op of the main page). My 92U started to forgetting the IP adresses he gave out. I was unable to change its fw:
-the normal method went trough, said the update was completed, but stuck on the old fw
-with the asus firmware restoration tool it is randomly failed or succeded
I hooked it up to a usb-serial via its uart pins (its inside) and i tried to flash multiple fw versions to it, but i always saw a ton of
"Uncorrectable ECC Error: intr 0x70, addr=0x0580c800, blk=704,"
like lines on the serial, so it looks like its nand chip failed. May this can be your problem as well?

 

[aherped]

Hello,

I haven't been able to solve it.
I tried, a few days when I left home, to turn off all the network stuff and plug my NAS directly into the router with a brand new cable included with the NAS, to discard wiring, cable or switch errors. It kept failing only the NAS connected by wire and the WiFi elements active. I have tested the cables with a network tester and everything is fine.
Always the same error, all the wired networks elements went down, can't connect to the router. WiFi elements working fine and also I can access to the router with Wireguard and reboot it, then, everything working fine again... until netx time.
In the end I changed the router and, after 3 days, everything is working perfectly, so I assume that the old router is either defective or has some problem or software incompatibility that I cannot understand.
The truth is, I thought that a supposedly premium router was going to last longer than it has, 4 years, but that was not the case.

Thanks to all for the help

 

[McKey]

Hello,

I haven't been able to solve it.

E-waste re-sellers are putting up a ton of AX92U on ebay. Its a shame for asus... This, and Gamersnexus videos about their shady RMA moves wants me to quit from their fanbase...
Have a better luck with the new router!
M

 

[aherped]

I bought the AX-92U in 2020, shortly after it came out, because it was supposed to be the best from ASUS within a reasonable price range, but I have never been 100% happy with the purchase. It didn't support Merlin for some reason (later I could install ir with gnuton fork), it was supposed to be a niche router... It didn't work fine with some Wi-Fi devices like a Xiaomi smart plug...

I don't consider myself a fan of a brand, if I like it and I think it's worth it I recommend it and if not, I'm very sorry but I look for alternatives.

I was determined to buy an AX88U Pro until I saw the ROG GT-AX6000 which is almost the same and cheaper... but I think that it was still ASUS, that the problem could be repeated because it was some software incompatibility of any kind...
I discovered GL.iNet and its Flint 2, with similar specifications and OpenWRT, although modified, and for 100€ less in cost and the truth is, in the 5 days I've had it, I'm quite happy. Many options, easy to configure, I would say more than ASUS and zero WiFi or cable problems. More range and more speed over WiFi, so happy for the €130 it cost on Prime Day.
Is ASUS better? The truth is, I don't know, but I know that this one I bought is cheaper and, at least for the use I give it, it is more than enough. My mobile phone and laptop connect via Wi-Fi at speeds of 1200Mbps and I have been able to upgrade the NAS and PC to a 2.5Gb network. Latency in speed tests of 5ms, so no complaints.