Lost My AiMesh

[7ravler]

I have an RT-AX88U-Pro for my AiMesh Router and an RT-AX88U for my AiMesh Node. Both running on their latest version of Merlins firmware. Now it's at 3004.388.8_4.
Last month I set the AX88U as AiMesh Node and it was working perfectly. I could unplug it and move it to different locations and it kept reconnecting as an AiMesh Node. It showed in the router GUI and mobile app consistently. Then I setup WAN Aggregation and was getting the WAN Aggregation 2Gbps connection but lost the AX88U AiMesh node. I need the AiMesh Node more than a 2Gps ethernet because I rarely use ethernet. I removed the WAN Aggregation and tried to get the AX88U AiMesh Node back. The AX88U-Pro detects the AX88U and says it is set as the AiMesh Node after setup but it does't show in the GUI or mobile app like it did before. Every time I check the network Map there are no clients connected to the AiMesh Node. It does show up in the Network Map client list but it is reporting no Tx Rate or Rx Rate activity. I do notice that during AiMesh setup...when it finds the AX-88U router, it doesn't have a MAC address. Its always (00:00:00:00:00:00). When it says it was successful there is a MAC address assigned to it. Please see the screen shots attached.
I've followed all the steps of resetting the AX-88U and keeping it at close to the AX88U-Pro. I've tried setting it up with the ethernet cable to WAN port. I tried setting it up through the mobile app and every time it tells me the setup was successful but the AiMesh Node is not there. Did I break something by setting up WAN Aggregation? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[OzarkEdge]

I have an RT-AX88U-Pro for my AiMesh Router and an RT-AX88U for my AiMesh Node. Both running on their latest version of Merlins firmware. Now it's at 3004.388.8_4.
Last month I set the AX88U as AiMesh Node and it was working perfectly. I could unplug it and move it to different locations and it kept reconnecting as an AiMesh Node. It showed in the router GUI and mobile app consistently. Then I setup WAN Aggregation and was getting the WAN Aggregation 2Gbps connection but lost the AX88U AiMesh node. I need the AiMesh Node more than a 2Gps ethernet because I rarely use ethernet. I removed the WAN Aggregation and tried to get the AX88U AiMesh Node back. The AX88U-Pro detects the AX88U and says it is set as the AiMesh Node after setup but it does't show in the GUI or mobile app like it did before. Every time I check the network Map there are no clients connected to the AiMesh Node. It does show up in the Network Map client list but it is reporting no Tx Rate or Rx Rate activity. I do notice that during AiMesh setup...when it finds the AX-88U router, it doesn't have a MAC address. Its always (00:00:00:00:00:00). When it says it was successful there is a MAC address assigned to it. Please see the screen shots attached.
I've followed all the steps of resetting the AX-88U and keeping it at close to the AX88U-Pro. I've tried setting it up with the ethernet cable to WAN port. I tried setting it up through the mobile app and every time it tells me the setup was successful but the AiMesh Node is not there. Did I break something by setting up WAN Aggregation? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

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The missing MAC address is a problem. I'd install stock ASUSWRT on the node, Hard Reset it, and try adding it again from within the main router webUI.

I assume you Hard Reset the main router ASUSWRT-Merlin firmware before configuring it.

OE

 

[7ravler]

I did not hard reset the main ASUSWRT-Merlin router.
I will install ASUSWRT on the node and try again.

 

[OzarkEdge]

I did not hard reset the main ASUSWRT-Merlin router.
I will install ASUSWRT on the node and try again.

You should start over and recommission your network, imo... Hard Reset the ASUSWRT-Merlin firmware router and configure it from scratch. Make sure the ASUSWRT firmware node is Reset/Hard Reset before adding it to the AiMesh.

FW Reset FAQ

Reset button/webUI Restore/node removal clears settings in NVRAM; reboot restores fw defaults from CFE

Hard Reset via WPS button/webUI Restore+Initialize also clears data logged in /jffs partition

Then any subsequent troubleshooting will be more productive and not required due to improper installation of the firmware.

OE

 

[7ravler]

I installed the latest Asus stock firmware to the Node router. After the firmware install I made sure it installed correctly. Turned it off and did a hard reset. Then I hard reset the main router (Merlins Firmware) and got my network going. I ran the AiMesh connection wizard. It found the Node (again with no MAC address) and said it is connected. It's not showing in the network "Topology" and there are no clients attached to it. When I turn on the Node router, the only lights that come on are the power and red WAN light. There are no Wifi lights. I reset it again and the ASUS_00_5G and 2G SSID's are showing in my Site Survey and I can log into it and access the GUI at least. I can also access it via ethernet to my laptop. Is it possible I corrupted the NVRAM? Is there any way to fix this if I did?

 

[OzarkEdge]

I installed the latest Asus stock firmware to the Node router. After the firmware install I made sure it installed correctly. Turned it off and did a hard reset. Then I hard reset the main router (Merlins Firmware) and got my network going. I ran the AiMesh connection wizard. It found the Node (again with no MAC address) and said it is connected. It's not showing in the network "Topology" and there are no clients attached to it. When I turn on the Node router, the only lights that come on are the power and red WAN light. There are no Wifi lights. I reset it again and the ASUS_00_5G and 2G SSID's are showing in my Site Survey and I can log into it and access the GUI at least. I can also access it via ethernet to my laptop. Is it possible I corrupted the NVRAM? Is there any way to fix this if I did?

Did you ever have it all working with stock ASUSWRT firmware before trying third-party firmware?

OE

 

[7ravler]

I haven't had it working with stock ASUSWRT. I put Merlin on my routers first thing. I do have the latest stock firmware on the Node now. It was fine on Merlins firmware before I setup WAN Aggregation. I didn't know AiMesh didn't work with the main router WAN Aggregation setup. I disabled the WAN Aggregation in my modem and hard reset the AX88U-Pro (Main Router) back to it's pre-WAN Aggregation state and got my network going again. I hard reset the AX88U (Node) then ran the AiMesh detection again. It found my Node (again with no MAC address).

Wizard said it was successful. (No MAC address)

The node shows in my Client list with it's correct MAC address.

But it is not showing as a mesh node and the 5GHz and 2.4GHz wifi indicator lights don't light up anymore. The node is also shown as wired in the client status view while it's wireless. Also I see itunes and repeater mode at the top of the Client Status screen. itunes is disabled on the Main Router.
When I reset the Node router I can still access it's GUI via WiFi and ethernet cable and I can set it as my main router if I wanted to. Why can't I get to AiMesh Node again?
I really like my AX88U. I hope I didn't break it. All I can think is that, being in a hurry, I may have done the hard reset wrong. Does that happen and can I fix it?

 

[7ravler]

Think I'm going to set my AX88u to AP mode and leave it at that. I don't understand what happened since I had AiMesh working for months with these 2 routers. I could unplug and move them around no problems. If you all can't figure it out I don't know who can! Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[Tech9]

No MAC address and no Wi-Fi after reset sounds like this issue:

Malware damaging ASUS routers?

This malware damaging Asus routers has to be described in a sticky thread with a warning sign! Update: Asus is releasing patched firmware for multiple models. Check for firmware updates! The changelog for most firmware releases contains the following: 1. Strengthened input validation and data...

www.snbforums.com

 

[7ravler]

No MAC address and no Wi-Fi after reset sounds like this issue:

Malware damaging ASUS routers?

This malware damaging Asus routers has to be described in a sticky thread with a warning sign! Update: Asus is releasing patched firmware for multiple models. Check for firmware updates! The changelog for most firmware releases contains the following: 1. Strengthened input validation and data...

www.snbforums.com

Thanks for pointing this out. I will check into it.