Release GNUton [Official Fork] 388.8_2 Release

[abdullah salahaldin]

this last beta test ? for GT-BE98 ?

Release 3006.102.4_1-gnuton0_beta1 · gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng

GNUton's Asus Merlin changelog Date: May 24, 2025 Release: 3006.102.4_1-gnuton1 ADEED: Support for GT-BE98

github.com

 

[Unisoft]

this last beta test ? for GT-BE98 ?

Release 3006.102.4_1-gnuton0_beta1 · gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng

GNUton's Asus Merlin changelog Date: May 24, 2025 Release: 3006.102.4_1-gnuton1 ADEED: Support for GT-BE98

github.com

Posted in the Wifi 7 router section what it fixed for me.

This beta release was substantial for me. DNS Director works, DNS over TLS in VLANS works, DHCP reservations in VLANs works, 64 MAC address for filtering, WPA2/WPA3 mixed mode on an SSID works with Smart TVs (LG) that are WPA2 only... couple of minor UI bugs seen (Gnuton aware).

 

[bennor]

this last beta test ? for GT-BE98 ?

Release 3006.102.4_1-gnuton0_beta1 · gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng

GNUton's Asus Merlin changelog Date: May 24, 2025 Release: 3006.102.4_1-gnuton1 ADEED: Support for GT-BE98

github.com

Yes. See the post preceding your prior post.
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/gnuton-official-fork-388-8_2-release.91363/post-958085

 

[prjker]

I have the TUF AX3000 v2, which has no Merlin firmware alternative, but it seems I can try the latest Gnuton instead!

I'm a newbie, so let me ask: why does the firmware filename (TUF-AX3000_V2_3004_388.9_2-gnuton2_nand_squashfs) have the extension .pkgtb, and not the extension .w, as is usual with Merlin firmware updates)? What's the difference between pkgtb and .w?

 

[RMerlin]

What's the difference between pkgtb and .w?

Firmware image format varies between models.

 

[prjker]

Firmware image format varies between models.

Here's what Gemini says:

"Understanding the Files

• puresqubi.w. (or similar names) / Firmware Customization:
  This filename suggests a root filesystem image used in custom firmware projects, like the ASUSWRT-Merlin firmware. It is designed for users who want to unlock advanced features, performance tweaks, or specific functionalities not found in the stock firmware.
• nand_squashfs.pkgtb / Standard System Image:
  This is a standard firmware image file that contains the router's operating system. It's the file you'd typically use to restore your router to its factory settings or to apply a manufacturer-provided firmware update.

Which One to Choose?
Your choice depends on what you want to accomplish:

• If you want to customize your router with advanced features and performance optimizations
  (e.g., VPN Fusion, detailed traffic control, or enhanced QoS), you are likely looking for a custom firmware image, possibly using the file indicated by your desired firmware's documentation.
  

• If you want to restore your router to its official, stable state, update the firmware, or reinstall the stock operating system,
  you should use the nand_squashfs.pkgtb file or another official firmware file from ASUS."
  
  
  There seems to be differences. Does this make sense?

 

[RMerlin]

Here's what Gemini says:

Gemini is full of shirt there.

Folks, don't post AI answers here unless you can validate if these answers are even accurate - in this case, it's not. The file extension has nothing to do with being a third party firmware vs first party. It has to do with the hardware platform and SDK of the router model.

All this AI slop getting posted to forums and Reddit means that future web searches will return these completely wrong answers. They will also be used to retrain AIs. Garbage In, garbage out.

 

[RMerlin]

If you want to customize your router with advanced features and performance optimizations
(e.g., VPN Fusion, detailed traffic control, or enhanced QoS), you are likely looking for a custom firmware image,

It even got that part wrong... VPN Fusion is only part of the stock firmware, Asuswrt-Merlin replaces it with VPN Director.

 

[dave14305]

AI will destroy the world, not by launching our missiles, but by ruining every other pursuit known to man.

 

[ExtremeFiretop]

AI will destroy the world, not by launching our missiles, but by ruining every other pursuit known to man.

I see often the problem being that people trust it blindly, without any underlying knowledge in that field/area.

If your using it as a tool to make you more effective, then by all means.

But never trust it blindly. People need to have some underlying understanding of what it's saying/doing else when it spits out slop people won't know better.

 

[RMerlin]

I see often the problem being that people trust it blindly, without any underlying knowledge in that field/area.

If your using it as a tool to make you more effective, then by all means.

But never trust it blindly. People need to have some underlying understanding of what it's saying/doing else when it spits out slop people won't know better.

The problem becomes worse as all that AI output is being repeated, and distributed all over the Internet. Which means that down the line, someone might not even know that the original information was spitted out of an AI application.

 

[prjker]

Gemini is full of shirt there.

Folks, don't post AI answers here unless you can validate if these answers are even accurate - in this case, it's not. The file extension has nothing to do with being a third party firmware vs first party. It has to do with the hardware platform and SDK of the router model.

All this AI slop getting posted to forums and Reddit means that future web searches will return these completely wrong answers. They will also be used to retrain AIs. Garbage In, garbage out.

Sorry guys, didn't mean to be disrespectful or something. It's just I'm a newbie and got this new router, so I wanna be 100% sure b4 customizing it. That's it, and thanks for the great support!

 

[RMerlin]

Sorry guys, didn't mean to be disrespectful or something.

It's ok, I don't think it was disrespectful in any way. I wasn't uniquely pointing at you in my post regarding AI, it's a recent trend I have been noticing on the forums for a few months already, and I wanted to more broadly address it.