Firmware Model Validation

[gatorback]

"Asus is now enforcing stricter model validation on the RT-AC68U series at flash time."

From: https://www.snbforums.com/threads/the-tm-ac1900-is-not-supported.48056/

I am trying to understand in the quote: is 'Asus' referring to the CFE firmware or is there some other force performing a check?

Is the model validation preventing flashing of the non TMO firmware?

 

[RMerlin]

I am trying to understand in the quote: is 'Asus' referring to the CFE firmware or is there some other force performing a check?

The firmware upgrade code is closed source, and does a number of undisclosed validations before accepting to flash an uploaded firmware. Various components might also have their own validation in place, going through their software/hardware authentication module (which for instance will refuse to run certain features if the wrong hardware model is detected).

Is the model validation preventing flashing of the non TMO firmware?

Nobody but Asus knows the detail of that validation. All we know for a fact so far is it will refuse to flash a non-TMO firmware on a TMO model. Similar validation might possibly be in place for other models like the RT-AC68A perhaps.