Cannot get aimesh node to show up in large network of AC68Us

[NRDinsmore]

So lets get this out of the way if have a 6 TM-AC1900 that have all been very successfully changed to the Normal ASUSWRT Aimesh firmware. All updated to 3.0.0.4.384_32738 and all of them are still showing as AC68U.

But here is the strange thing I bought 4 initially which I will call Group A, and followed that up for a bit better coverage with a second round of 2 which I will call Group B. All of which were bought as refurbished units.

The strange thing is that I can't get either of the Group B units to join the Aimesh as a node, both the Group B units are happy to be the Aimesh router to the 4 Group A nodes, But neither one will join as a node. I know for a fact that I followed the exact same conversion process for Group B, so I am just racking my brain to figure out why I can't it to work. The only difference could be the firmware upgrade path, which with the group B node I just updated straight to 32738, without first going to the two versions before that.

Just for reference right now I have one group B unit acting as a router to the 4 Group A nodes.

Does anyone have any thoughts about what might be going on?

 

[Ronald Schwerer]

So lets get this out of the way if have a 6 TM-AC1900 that have all been very successfully changed to the Normal ASUSWRT Aimesh firmware. All updated to 3.0.0.4.384_32738 and all of them are still showing as AC68U.

But here is the strange thing I bought 4 initially which I will call Group A, and followed that up for a bit better coverage with a second round of 2 which I will call Group B. All of which were bought as refurbished units.

The strange thing is that I can't get either of the Group B units to join the Aimesh as a node, both the Group B units are happy to be the Aimesh router to the 4 Group A nodes, But neither one will join as a node. I know for a fact that I followed the exact same conversion process for Group B, so I am just racking my brain to figure out why I can't it to work. The only difference could be the firmware upgrade path, which with the group B node I just updated straight to 32738, without first going to the two versions before that.

Just for reference right now I have one group B unit acting as a router to the 4 Group A nodes.

Does anyone have any thoughts about what might be going on?

Update the CFE in group A. Do it just like you did with group B.

 

[OzarkEdge]

Nope. The only thought I have is that maybe there is a limit on the number of nodes a 68U build can manage, and that limit includes available memory, and the amount of available memory in one batch is not the same as for the other...

OE

 

[Grisu]

I think 4 nodes are the limit for one parent router. Maximal 2 in series and 2 parallel (plus main router).

 

[OzarkEdge]

There was an ASUS FAQ that tried to define this limit but they removed it... maybe because it was a bit ambiguous given the nature of locating nodes and the uncertainty of how they might choose to inter-operate. As I read it, the limit was 4 star-connected nodes max, or 3 star nodes plus 1 daisy-chained node max... 5 nodes total including the router/root node.

Given the coverage of 5 nodes... if you need more, you probably should be using something besides AiMesh consumer gear.

OE

 

[Ronald Schwerer]

Just to debunk my theory, OP log in (ssh) to one in group A and one in group B. Preferably the one in group A you used as a router.
Run this command in both.
cat /dev/mtd0 | grep odmpid
Are they both the same? If they both say odmpid=RT-AC68U, then "nevermind".

 

[HuskyHerder]

There was an ASUS FAQ that tried to define this limit but they removed it... maybe because it was a bit ambiguous given the nature of locating nodes and the uncertainty of how they might choose to inter-operate. As I read it, the limit was 4 star-connected nodes max, or 3 star nodes plus 1 daisy-chained node max... 5 nodes total including the router/root node.

Given the coverage of 5 nodes... if you need more, you probably should be using something besides AiMesh consumer gear.

OE

I think 4 nodes are the limit for one parent router. Maximal 2 in series and 2 parallel.

I was thinking 5 total, but I have no recollection where I saw that.

Thanks for reaffirming my thinking on it.

 

[NRDinsmore]

Just a few notes:
1.) I can't add the group B nodes even when there are no other nodes yet.
2.)I have gone back to make sure that that the CFE was exactly the same on all. ie. 1.0.2.0, but to Ron's suspicion when I do cat /dev/mtd0|grep odmpid Group A gives me odmpid=RT-AC68U . and group B gives me .........odmpid=ASUS...... Is there any way I can fix this? As I said I already made sure that all the CFE was the same version.

 

[Grisu]

I was thinking 5 total, but I have no recollection where I saw that.

Thanks for reaffirming my thinking on it.

so we all said the same, 4 nodes + 1 main router or total 5 in mesh configuration

that is shown in the home Aimesh-picture of them: https://www.asus.com/AiMesh/
easy to asume that's the max possible what they are showing.

 

[Ronald Schwerer]

Is there any way I can fix this? As I said I already made sure that all the CFE was the same version.

Yes, but that gets too close to the Prime Directive. Just replace those "ASUS" CFEs (with correct MACs of course). The troublesome CFEs are also 1.0.2.0 so you can't use that to differentiate. It's a good idea to erase nvram after flashing a CFE.