New GT-AX11000 Pro on the way to replace GS-AX3000

[dwp]

I have had to sadly realize that my GS-AX3000 is simply at its limited for connected devices at about 30 wired and wifi. There is a point where it just cannot seem to keep up even though the majority of the devices really do not push all that much data. Add another 1 or 2 devices and connections that have previously been pretty rock solid start dropping and not coming back until a reboot. That sort of thing.

After consulting the Asus AI asking for a "wifi router for 50+ devices", I was pointed at the GT-AX11000 Pro. I have no idea how/if they will help anything but there is a large increase in the number of antennae. And I love that it is supported with Merlin, which I figure I will install first thing so I can get down and geeky even more than I am already. Mostly I am hoping that the other substantial hardware increases will give me some peace and quite on the LAN - at least for a while

Is there a simple way to move config data from the one router to the other and avoid needless data entry? I am specifically speaking about reserved IPs as mine are most voluminous but also other stuff.

My guess is that I might be able to dump the GS-AX3000 nvram and use that to set at least some of the nvram in the GT-AX11000 Pro. I seriously doubt I could do a wholesale import of the nvram data - especially since I am moving to AsusWRT to Merlin. But it would like to know of any other helpful tips/tricks for making this transition merciful and swift!

Thanks

 

[bbunge]

There is no way to use a config file from one model to a different one. No safe way, that is. Take screen shots of the old one then bite the bullet and fumble finger the settings into the new router.
Oh, try the Asus firmware first. It should work just fine for you.

 

[bennor]

Is there a simple way to move config data from the one router to the other and avoid needless data entry? I am specifically speaking about reserved IPs as mine are most voluminous but also other stuff.

If using the Asus-Merlin firmware on supported routers there is the addon script YazDHCP which has an export/import feature that is ideal for moving large manual IP reservations between routers and router models.

YazDHCP - YazDHCP v1.2.5 [2026-Mar-22] - Feature expansion of DHCP assignments (increasing limit on the number of DHCP reservations)

Release Notes for YazDHCP v1.0.8 production version now available [2025-May-29] The fork from @Jack Yaz's repository is now hosted on the AMTM-OSR GitHub repo: https://github.com/AMTM-OSR/YazDHCP 1) FIXED: Errors when loading the webGUI page on the 3006.102.x F/W version. 2) FIXED: Some...

www.snbforums.com

There are other Asus-Merlin addon scripts that can backup certain features and options on the current router and possibly from one Asus router to another Asus router:

BACKUPMON - BACKUPMON v1.9.1 -Oct 28, 2025- Backup/Restore your Router: JFFS + NVRAM + External USB Drive! CIFS/SMB/NFS! (Available in AMTM!)

BACKUPMON v1.9.1 Released October 28, 2025 First off -- HUGE thanks to @Jeffrey Young for sharing his original backup script. His script is the main engine of BACKUPMON, and all credit goes to him! BACKUPMON is simply a wrapper around Jeff's backup script functionality, adding easy-to-use...

www.snbforums.com

Script to Back Up & Restore Subsets of NVRAM Variable Settings.

I moved this thread's topic from this post as it was off-topic in that particular thread. NOTE: The script was moved to GitHub. UPDATE [2025-Sep-23]: The latest Release 0.7.18 version is now available. I've made a tweak in the code so that on a first run, it will try to find the input file...

www.snbforums.com

There are various past posts on how to possibly move manual IP reservations on routers running Asus-Merlin or possibly stock Asus firmware:

save/upload Manually Assigned IP around the DHCP list

Hello, Is there a way to Save/Upload just the Manually Assigned IP around the DHCP list configuration? This would be useful after a factory reset. Don't mind doing a basic configuration, but would like to save time and upload just the assigned IP and macs. Thanks

www.snbforums.com

Can RT-AX86U Pro Run Non Pro Firmware?

I'm getting a weird pktrunner error on my RT-AX86U Pro (https://www.snbforums.com/threads/running-wireguard-server-and-multiple-clients-fails-with-pktrunner-error.87237/) and the only other reference to this error (on all of Google) is from another user with the same router model. So I was...

www.snbforums.com

There are numerous past discussions, which can be found using the forum search feature, with varying opinions, on using the Asus router.cfg option (Router GUI > Administration > Restore/Save/Upload Setting > Save Setting option and Upload option) to export and import a router's settings from one router to another router. General rule of thumb is; copying a router.cfg file between the same router model is OK. But trying to import a saved router.cfg file from a different router model may introduce issues due to the two routers having different settings and hardware and is generally not recommended by more than a few on these subforums. It may work or it may introduce weird issues or incorrect default settings forcing the user to expend time tracking down the issues. And it is generally not recommended to try importing a router.cfg file from a router running a different firmware track, for example from one router model running 3004.x firmware to a different router model running 3006.x firmware.

There are various methods people use to record their existing router GUI settings. From screen shotting, to printing each screen to PDF, to manually writing down the settings. Some will keep a running document containing their router's manual settings to help with quick configuration of a new router or if they routinely hard factory reset their router back to default settings.

 

[dwp]

If using the Asus-Merlin firmware on supported routers there is the addon script YazDHCP which has an export/import feature that is ideal for moving large manual IP reservations between routers and router models.

YazDHCP - YazDHCP v1.2.5 [2026-Mar-22] - Feature expansion of DHCP assignments (increasing limit on the number of DHCP reservations)

Release Notes for YazDHCP v1.0.8 production version now available [2025-May-29] The fork from @Jack Yaz's repository is now hosted on the AMTM-OSR GitHub repo: https://github.com/AMTM-OSR/YazDHCP 1) FIXED: Errors when loading the webGUI page on the 3006.102.x F/W version. 2) FIXED: Some...

www.snbforums.com

There are other Asus-Merlin addon scripts that can backup certain features and options on the current router and possibly from one Asus router to another Asus router:

BACKUPMON - BACKUPMON v1.9.1 -Oct 28, 2025- Backup/Restore your Router: JFFS + NVRAM + External USB Drive! CIFS/SMB/NFS! (Available in AMTM!)

BACKUPMON v1.9.1 Released October 28, 2025 First off -- HUGE thanks to @Jeffrey Young for sharing his original backup script. His script is the main engine of BACKUPMON, and all credit goes to him! BACKUPMON is simply a wrapper around Jeff's backup script functionality, adding easy-to-use...

www.snbforums.com

Script to Back Up & Restore Subsets of NVRAM Variable Settings.

I moved this thread's topic from this post as it was off-topic in that particular thread. NOTE: The script was moved to GitHub. UPDATE [2025-Sep-23]: The latest Release 0.7.18 version is now available. I've made a tweak in the code so that on a first run, it will try to find the input file...

www.snbforums.com

There are various past posts on how to possibly move manual IP reservations on routers running Asus-Merlin or possibly stock Asus firmware:

save/upload Manually Assigned IP around the DHCP list

Hello, Is there a way to Save/Upload just the Manually Assigned IP around the DHCP list configuration? This would be useful after a factory reset. Don't mind doing a basic configuration, but would like to save time and upload just the assigned IP and macs. Thanks

www.snbforums.com

Can RT-AX86U Pro Run Non Pro Firmware?

I'm getting a weird pktrunner error on my RT-AX86U Pro (https://www.snbforums.com/threads/running-wireguard-server-and-multiple-clients-fails-with-pktrunner-error.87237/) and the only other reference to this error (on all of Google) is from another user with the same router model. So I was...

www.snbforums.com

There are numerous past discussions, which can be found using the forum search feature, with varying opinions, on using the Asus router.cfg option (Router GUI > Administration > Restore/Save/Upload Setting > Save Setting option and Upload option) to export and import a router's settings from one router to another router. General rule of thumb is; copying a router.cfg file between the same router model is OK. But trying to import a saved router.cfg file from a different router model may introduce issues due to the two routers having different settings and hardware and is generally not recommended by more than a few on these subforums. It may work or it may introduce weird issues or incorrect default settings forcing the user to expend time tracking down the issues. And it is generally not recommended to try importing a router.cfg file from a router running a different firmware track, for example from one router model running 3004.x firmware to a different router model running 3006.x firmware.

There are various methods people use to record their existing router GUI settings. From screen shotting, to printing each screen to PDF, to manually writing down the settings. Some will keep a running document containing their router's manual settings to help with quick configuration of a new router or if they routinely hard factory reset their router back to default settings.

Thanks. This is hugely informative and helpful. Delivery is supposed to be today.

 

[Tech9]

You can't use any custom scripts for export/import data since your existing router doesn't have Asuswrt-Merlin support. Just set your new router clean manually and then start making the backups you eventually need.

 

[Chulamin]

There is no way to use a config file from one model to a different one. No safe way, that is. Take screen shots of the old one then bite the bullet and fumble finger the settings into the new router.
Oh, try the Asus firmware first. It should work just fine for you.

I guess I've been lucky. I transferred settings from an N66U to an AC68U to an AX86U Pro without any issues over a 10 year period. The only problems I ever had were those with the device itself and not the settings. Not so sure it would be the same with the BE line based on what I have been reading.

 

[dwp]

This is indeed interesting. I was recently reading on Dong Knows Tech about another router. He wrote:

"Universal backup restoration: You can load the backup file of almost any other ASUS router onto the RT-BE86U. This makes upgrading from one router to another a quick job."

Discussed here.

I was not aware of this and have no idea how true this might be. It would be interesting to learn more about it - IF I can find a router that will do what I need and actually fit the available space!

Cheers!

 

[ColinTaylor]

This is indeed interesting. I was recently reading on Dong Knows Tech about another router. He wrote:

"Universal backup restoration: You can load the backup file of almost any other ASUS router onto the RT-BE86U. This makes upgrading from one router to another a quick job."

Discussed here.

I was not aware of this and have no idea how true this might be. It would be interesting to learn more about it - IF I can find a router that will do what I need and actually fit the available space!

Cheers!

The "Universal backup restoration" is something that Dong Knows made up out of thin air. It is not an official "feature" of Asus routers and as far a I know no one (including Asus) other than Dong has ever mentioned the existence of such a thing.

That said, if you're only interested in your DHCP reservations you could still probably export the dhcp_staticlist variable and copy it onto your new router.

 

[dwp]

The "Universal backup restoration" is something that Dong Knows made up out of thin air. It is not an official "feature" of Asus routers and as far a I know no one (including Asus) other than Dong has ever mentioned the existence of such a thing.

Well, I do not mean to pass along false information. Thanks

 

[Chulamin]

The "Universal backup restoration" is something that Dong Knows made up out of thin air. It is not an official "feature" of Asus routers and as far a I know no one (including Asus) other than Dong has ever mentioned the existence of such a thing.

That said, if you're only interested in your DHCP reservations you could still probably export the dhcp_staticlist variable and copy it onto your new router.

It either works or doesn't. it certainly is worth trying. Just be prepared. I even temporarily transferred the settings from my AX86U Pro, 40+ devices, Aimesh and all, to my AX5400 without a hitch when I sent the AX86U in for service. Didn't skip a beat and everyhing worked perfectly. The term "Universal backup restoration" may not be proper, but it certainly can and does work. As always, buyer be ware.

 

[bennor]

This is indeed interesting. I was recently reading on Dong Knows Tech about another router. He wrote:

"Universal backup restoration: You can load the backup file of almost any other ASUS router onto the RT-BE86U. This makes upgrading from one router to another a quick job."

Like @ColinTaylor indicated, its a term Dong made up. Here is what Asus support explains with respect to the firmware "save settings"/"restore setting" feature:
[Wireless Router] How to upload the configuration files of my ASUS router?
Note that they indicate the following in the Prepare section:

3. The configuration file is only applicable to the same model, e.g. the configuration file exported from ZenWiFi XT9 is only imported to ZenWiFi XT9.

And further down in the B. Use ASUS Router Web GUI (web settings page) section's step 5:

Note: The configuration file is only applicable to the same model, e.g. the configuration file exported from ZenWiFi XT9 is only imported to ZenWiFi XT9.