[Release] AB-Solution 3 - The Ad Blocking Solution

[thelonelycoder]

I continue with @Wutikorn's answers:

#2) I plan to use an 8G flash drive for adblocking/entware. At the moment I don't plan to install lots of other scripts beside pixelserv. Do I need to partition the flash drive (e.g. a separate partition for entware?) or can I leave this as one 8G partition? I have not yet installed entware on my router.

Partition it anyway. I suggest make a 'absolution', 'entware' and 'data' partition. The first two each 1 GB, data the rest. You can then use the data partition for other stuff, while the first two are used for the respective usage, entware being for the pixelserv-tls installation.

#3) Currently I use ublock origin on my laptop and I subscribed to several additional lists (privacy filters, privacy filters). What is the best way add such subscriptions to AB-solution?

AB ad-blocking works on a hosts based blocking. It's never as granular as ublock can be. But AB is (very) good at what it does with the limited process power and possibilities on your router.

As for white-listing, the upcoming version AB3.1 will have a more helpful approach to whitelist and be a lot more precise.
This is in fact what I'm working on at the moment, when I have time at all. I have a Job, and not just a hobby...

 

[Wutikorn]

As for white-listing, the upcoming version AB3.1 will have a more helpful approach to whitelist and be a lot more precise.
This is in fact what I'm working on at the moment, when I have time at all. I have a Job, and not just a hobby...

Every time I saw email notification that you replied to this thread, I thought it is AB-Solution 3.1 announcement! Can't wait!!

Thanks for making this awesome Ad blocking solution btw

 

[Diamond67]

#2) Do I need to partition the flash drive (e.g. a separate partition for entware?) or can I leave this as one 8G partition? I have not yet installed entware on my router.

I think there is no need for separate partitions in your case (edit: thelonelycoder won't agree... just noticed... ) You just need ext2 formatted flash drive. I think ext2 is recommended for usb flash drives (no journaling, no extra wearing)? I am not sure though. You can google "ext usb flash drive journaling wearing" etc.

And AB-Solution installs Entware automatically if you don't have it installed.

BTW, found this link the other day. I mean if you truly wanna tweak your flash drive:
http://www.algissalys.com/how-to/format-and-partition-usb-asuswrt-routers

 

[thelonelycoder]

Every time I saw email notification that you replied to this thread, I thought it is AB-Solution 3.1 announcement! Can't wait!!

Thanks for making this awesome Ad blocking solution btw

It'll be good.
And I too wish it was out. But me and the beta team have ideas.

 

[thelonelycoder]

I think there is no need for separate partitions in your case (edit: thelonelycoder won't agree... just noticed... ) You just need ext2 formatted flash drive. I think ext2 is recommended for usb flash drives (no journaling, no extra wearing)? I am not sure though. You can google "ext usb flash drive journaling wearing" etc.

And AB-Solution installs Entware automatically if you don't have it installed.

BTW, found this link the other day. I mean if you truly wanna tweak your flash drive:
http://www.algissalys.com/how-to/format-and-partition-usb-asuswrt-routers

It's good to keep things separate. If you have a data partition, you could share that via samba without worrying about the contents of the other partitions.

 

[Diamond67]

If you have a data partition, you could share that via samba without worrying about the contents of the other partitions.

I have formatted my flash drive with only one partition (containing 'adblocking', 'entware' and 'media' directories). Only 'media' directory is shared via samba (Media Server), and normal users won't have access to 'adblocking' or 'entware' directories. I think this is pretty much OK? Or?

 

[heysoundude]

I think there is no need for separate partitions in your case (edit: thelonelycoder won't agree... just noticed... ) You just need ext2 formatted flash drive. I think ext2 is recommended for usb flash drives (no journaling, no extra wearing)? I am not sure though. You can google "ext usb flash drive journaling wearing" etc.

And AB-Solution installs Entware automatically if you don't have it installed.

BTW, found this link the other day. I mean if you truly wanna tweak your flash drive:
http://www.algissalys.com/how-to/format-and-partition-usb-asuswrt-routers

Woah, I didn't realize you have to format, partition and then mount each partition. and from the router no less!
This changes my re-install once AB3.1 is out...
Thank you.

 

[thelonelycoder]

Woah, I didn't realize you have to format, partition and then mount each partition. and from the router no less!
This changes my re-install once AB3.1 is out...
Thank you.

On Windows, this does it for you from a comfortable point and click environment:
MiniTool Partition Wizard Free

 

[Routy]

BTW, found this link the other day. I mean if you truly wanna tweak your flash drive:
http://www.algissalys.com/how-to/format-and-partition-usb-asuswrt-routers

Thanks for the link. Question: I'm a linux person and I was going to use gpart to set up the ext2 + partitions. Are you suggesting that I need to do all that within asuswrt-merlin, especially the mounting part? I thought that once the flash drive is properly partitioned it would be automounted, but then I'm new to the router-ROM world... THANKS!

 

[Diamond67]

I thought that once the flash drive is properly partitioned it would be automounted

It will. Feel free to use your linux to prepare your flash drive, and everything's gonna be just fine.

 

[thelonelycoder]

I'm a linux person and I was going to use gpart to set up the ext2 + partitions.

Just plug it in, however formatted. It'll be recognized as whatever it is....

 

[Diamond67]

Woah, I didn't realize you have to format, partition and then mount each partition. and from the router no less!

You make it sound too complicated. But it is not.

http://www.ab-solution.info/how-to/

• A supported router running Asuswrt-Merlin firmware
• jffs partition enabled
• A permanently plugged in USB flash drive on the router,
  formatted with ext2, ext3 or ext4 file system
• SSH enabled on the router
• SSH client to access router, use same credentials as the Web-UI
• Very basic understanding of terminal commands
• Installation takes mere minutes. Have a coffee ready to enjoy!

That means:
1. Buy a router.
2. Install the latest Asuswrt-Merlin fw. Enable jffs custom scripts and configs from router menu (http://192.168.1.1/Advanced_System_Content.asp)
3. Format your flash drive and attach it to your router (if not already attached). Windows users can use MiniTool Partition Wizard Free (https://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html)
4. Enable SSH (LAN only) from router menu (http://192.168.1.1/Advanced_System_Content.asp)
5. Connect to your router via SSH. Windows users can use for example PuTTY (http://www.putty.org/)
6. Read the instructions again (http://www.ab-solution.info/how-to/)
7. Install AB-Solution
8. Read the instructions again (http://www.ab-solution.info/how-to/)

 

[Wutikorn]

2. Install the latest Asuswrt-Merlin fw. Enable jffs custom scripts and configs from router menu

Just want to add, after upgrading to Asuswrt-Merlin fw, don't forget to factory restore to clear old setting from stock firmware.

 

[heysoundude]

You make it sound too complicated. But it is not.

http://www.ab-solution.info/how-to/

That means:
1. Buy a router.
2. Install the latest Asuswrt-Merlin fw. Enable jffs custom scripts and configs from router menu (http://192.168.1.1/Advanced_System_Content.asp)
3. Format your flash drive and attach it to your router (if not already attached). Windows users can use MiniTool Partition Wizard Free (https://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html)
4. Enable SSH (LAN only) from router menu (http://192.168.1.1/Advanced_System_Content.asp)
5. Connect to your router via SSH. Windows users can use for example PuTTY (http://www.putty.org/)
6. Read the instructions again (http://www.ab-solution.info/how-to/)
7. Install AB-Solution
8. Read the instructions again (http://www.ab-solution.info/how-to/)

1- check
2 - check and check
3 - ubuntu 16.04 has a disk format utility I'm sure...I'll find it. or I can follow those instructions on doing it on the router ;-p
4 - check
5 - I'm going to use terminal: I can't figure out how to make the text in PuTTY's window larger/easier to read
6 - check
7 - did once before, but then I saw another Entware installation tutorial that did it differently, making a swap file. I went messing with linux and broke it. lesson learned!
8 - yessir, that's the plan. It was easy and smooth and worked until this linux n00b went and poked the bear, as noted above in 7

 

[Bamsefar]

Mmm well it is not possible to

Try to install AB-Solution without a working internet connection, you'll see.
AB pings either Level 3, and if that fails, tries Google.
This has nothing to do with DNS. It just tests for a working internet conection.

Well internet worked, just not the pings you did - so I had to move it outside current firewall. The DNS ping fails, and stops the script...

 

[thelonelycoder]

Mmm well it is not possible to
Well internet worked, just not the pings you did - so I had to move it outside current firewall. The DNS ping fails, and stops the script...

You had it working on your router, why the change?
Did you install extra Entware packages or use a different merlin fork?
The problem are the ping switches I use that throw an error and just die for you.

To get past the test without quitting the test you could out-comment line 973 in ab-solution.sh.
From:

        show_menu

to:

 #       show_menu

Then it will show an error but continue with the install.
Only out-comment this single function, leave the line above (lastError=" Check your internet access...) alone, else an new error will stop the script there.

 

[stambeccuccio]

Why if I put "disq.us" in whitelist, after some days, it will still stuck by AB!?

 

[thelonelycoder]

Why if I put "disq.us" in whitelist, after some days, it will still stuck by AB!?

Because disq.us is in none of the lists that AB uses. Means it is not blocked.
Your problem is elsewhere, not with that domain name.

 

[Diamond67]

5 - I'm going to use terminal: I can't figure out how to make the text in PuTTY's window larger/easier to read

Spoiler: This way

7 - did once before, but then I saw another Entware installation tutorial that did it differently, making a swap file. I went messing with linux and broke it. lesson learned!

Speaking of swap, bookmarked this site a few dayz ago, haven't tried it though:
https://mydevtutorials.wordpress.com/2014/01/10/how-to-activate-swap-on-asus-rt-ac68u-router/

 

[thelonelycoder]

Spoiler: This way

View attachment 8506

Speaking of swap, bookmarked this site a few dayz ago, haven't tried it though:
https://mydevtutorials.wordpress.com/2014/01/10/how-to-activate-swap-on-asus-rt-ac68u-router/

The part about the device not going into hibernation is very important.