Merlin firmware not working on Asus RT-AX57

[terminator8]

Hi, I have trying to install custom firmware on my router, like Tomato/DD-WRT or Merlin. Apart from the Merlin, the other two do not support this router (as far as I have researched). As I am only left with Merlin, I downloaded the latest released file for AX-58U because they said it's the one that will work with AX-57 as well.
Now the problem is, whenever I try to flash the file, it gives me this error, "Firmware upgrade unsuccessful. This may result from incorrect image or error transmission. Please check the version of firmware and try again."

I have tried;
1. Resetting the router to default.
2. Rebooting before flashing.
3. Tried that ASUS Rescue Mode (https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1000814

/).
4. Using different systems etc.

In method 3, it says that the upgrade is successful and the router will reboot, etc, but then nothing happens, the lights are turned off, and I waited for almost 40 mins. Then I removed the power cable and turned it on again, and it was the same as before, with no changes. I dunno why it's so persistent or what's the issue with it.
Kindly someone help me with this, please?

 

[ColinTaylor]

Merlin doesn't make firmware for the RT-AX57. I don't know why someone would tell you it's the same as the RT-AX58U V1 because it isn't.

N.B. Merlin only supports the RT-AX58U V1, not the V2.

 

[terminator8]

Merlin doesn't make firmware for the RT-AX57. I don't know why someone would tell you it's the same as the RT-AX58U because it isn't.

Asuswrt-Merlin - Browse /RT-AX3000 at SourceForge.net

Alternative firmware for Asus wireless routers

sourceforge.net

/

They've mentioned themselves

 

[ColinTaylor]

Asuswrt-Merlin - Browse /RT-AX3000 at SourceForge.net

Alternative firmware for Asus wireless routers

sourceforge.net

/

They've mentioned themselves

The RT-AX3000 V1 is not the same as the RT-AX57.

About | Asuswrt-Merlin

www.asuswrt-merlin.net

 

[terminator8]

The RT-AX3000 V1 is not the same as the RT-AX57.

https://www.asuswrt-merlin.net/abou...aegfbieplglfidafgoka/icons/vt-logo.svg[/IMG]]

If I can't use Merlin, DD, Tomato what alternate I am left with then which would be perfect?
I mean, I just need to make a kill switch function so that whenever router cannot connect to the VPN, it doesn't connect at all. That's what I only need. I dunno if I even need a custom firmware for that or not.

 

[Tech9]

This router has stock Asuswrt as the only firmware option.

 

[terminator8]

This router has stock Asuswrt as the only firmware option.

Well, sad

So there's no way I can get a kill switch feature?

 

[Tech9]

You get whatever is available in current stock Asuswrt for this router.

 

[Flipmode11]

CHECK THE COMPATIBILITY LIST BEFORE BUYING A ROUTER!

You can check the list yourself, instead of being lazy and relying on other people's "opinions".

MERLIN: https://github.com/RMerl/asuswrt-merlin.ng/wiki/Supported-Devices

DD-WRT: https://wiki.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php?title=Supported_Devices

GARGOYLE: https://gargoyle-router.com/wiki/doku.php?id=supported_routers_-_tested_routers

OPENWRT: https://openwrt.org/toh/start?toh.filter.supportedcurrentrel

FRESH TOMATO: https://wiki.freshtomato.org/doku.php/hardware_compatibility

ADVANCED TOMATO: https://advancedtomato.com/downloads

So so so many other firmware projects out there with specific purposes to improve specific functionality.

Well, sad

So there's no way I can get a kill switch feature?

 

[Viktor Jaep]

Can't help you now... but when you buy a new sweet replacement router... give KILLMON a shot... It will help block WAN traffic if your VPN goes down.

KILLMON - KILLMON v1.1.2 -Feb 29, 2024- IP4/IP6 VPN Kill Switch Monitor & Configurator (Now available in AMTM!)

KILLMON v1.1.2 Released February 29, 2024 Executive Summary: KILLMON is a shell script that provides additional VPN kill switch capabilities outside of the VPN kill switch functionality that is currently integrated into the Asus-Merlin Firmware. KILLMON builds on the excellent kill switch...

www.snbforums.com

 

[dev_null]

If I can't use Merlin, DD, Tomato what alternate I am left with then which would be perfect?
I mean, I just need to make a kill switch function so that whenever router cannot connect to the VPN, it doesn't connect at all. That's what I only need. I dunno if I even need a custom firmware for that or not.

If you are a little curious and savvy, there are methods to get Asus official firmware to run scripts and to load entware. I can confirm that official Asus firmware can support many Merlin scripts with a bit of finagling (most recently I've run entware and scripts on a RT-AC66U_B1 with firmware from 2023 - I wanted scripts on a mesh node to clean up the syslog and to see how much data transited the node).

Since I'm not familiar with your model, it'll take some experimentation on your part. If you're interested, start here: https://github.com/jacklul/asuswrt-scripts, and also review: https://github.com/Entware/Entware/wiki/Install-on-Asus-stock-firmware and also: http://www.giuseppeparrello.it/en/net_router_install_entware.php.

Note that this is entirely "unsupported" so you'll be mostly on your own. But it is doable.

EDIT: after you've got entware running (check by rebooting to make sure it comes back up on it's own), you can run the Merlin scripts "installer commands" to install them on your router. It's even possible to install amtm once entware is running.

EDIT 2: all in the interest of reducing e-waste and providing an environment for experimentation of course.