Is my AC87R Bricked?

[agoetz]

Short story I flashed firmware for AC68U on my AC87U.
Now via web interface it will not accept the firmware for a AC87U
I can however flash different versions of the AC68U firmware via web interface.

Additionally I unable to flash it via recovery mode.
The device goes into recovery mode fine but the Asus Firmware Restoration tool never connects to the router.
Timing out every time. I have tried every LAN port multiple times and manually setting the IP addresses.
I cannot seem to get recovery mode to connect.

I did stumble across a post where it was mentioned that flashing the trx via telnet was possible on a older router but every attempt to recreate this on the AC87u has been unsuccessful.

Is this router not recoverable?

Looking for any advice on how to proceed.
thanks for the help.

Oh and I can only connect to the router via wifi 2.4ghz. LAN does not seem to work properly.

 

[RMerlin]

It's definitely recoverable, especially if you are even able to partly boot it.

Simplest method would be to use the mini web server.

1) Set your PC to a static IP (if your router is on 192.168.1.1, then use 192.168.1.100 for example)
2) Reboot the router in recovery mode (boot with reset pressed, then release)
3) Point your browser at 192.168.1.1, and proceed with flashing.

Important note: do NOT use LAN port 1, as that port doesn't work in Recovery mode on the RT-AC87U.

If for some reason you are unable to use the mini web server, flashing over SSH/telnet is possible, but risky.

1) Copy the firmware (in trx format) to a plugged USB disk
2) Connect through SSH, and locate the file (might be in /mnt/sda1/blahblah.trx for example)
3) mtd-write2 /mnt/sda1/blahblah.trx linux && reboot

If the router crashes during the reboot, just power it off, wait 5 secs, then turn it back on.

A factory default reset is strongly recommended to clean up the AC68U remains.

 

[sfx2000]

@RMerlin - does Asus still support tftp recovery from the bootloader, or was that depreciated at some point?

 

[RMerlin]

@RMerlin - does Asus still support tftp recovery from the bootloader, or was that depreciated at some point?

It's still there. It's what their Firmware Recovery tool does actually - send the FW over tftp. It's just that some people are having a harder time using the recovery tool which can have problems locating your router in some situation, versus directly pointing a plain web browser at the router's mini web interface.

 

[agoetz]

RMerlin,
Thank you for taking the time to review and respond to my thread.
Following your direction I was able to flash the correct firmware via telnet.
Your assistance is greatly appreciated.