didnt you ever try to restore a backup from a pc, to a completely different pc ? it wont work !pls use your brain ;D so, jes you have to configure new by hand. _________________ RT-N66U @ Build 25697M K3.10.63
TL-WR842ND v1 @ BS-build 23919 WDS AP
TL-WR841ND @ BS-build 23919 WDS Client
TL-WR841ND @ BS-build 23919 Client Bridge ( Routed )
didnt you ever try to restore a backup from a pc, to a completely different pc ? it wont work !pls use your brain ;D so, jes you have to configure new by hand.
Actually, it works with Macs, FreeBSD and all iOS devices as well. I am aware that it doesn't work with Windows but I don't use it.
Hi guys. I'm getting my RT-N66U this week and I have a few questions.
1) Are there different versions of this router model? (for example, the last router I bought was the Linksys WRT54G which was version 7.2, besides that there was about 8 other versions to that router starting v1.0, v2.0.... v7.0 etc. that had different RAM/flash/chip speeds, they also needed specific DD-WRT versions when flashing - or right now there's only one 1.0 version of the router)
2) What's that CFE/NVRAM thing I keep reading about on the router wiki page? That whole page is big and confusing to me (and outdated?) and from what I've read here the Kong version of the firmware is considered the way to go right now, correct?
Hi guys. I'm getting my RT-N66U this week and I have a few questions.
1) Are there different versions of this router model? (for example, the last router I bought was the Linksys WRT54G which was version 7.2, besides that there was about 8 other versions to that router starting v1.0, v2.0.... v7.0 etc. that had different RAM/flash/chip speeds, they also needed specific DD-WRT versions when flashing - or right now there's only one 1.0 version of the router)
2) What's that CFE/NVRAM thing I keep reading about on the router wiki page? That whole page is big and confusing to me (and outdated?) and from what I've read here the Kong version of the firmware is considered the way to go right now, correct?
Thanks in advance.
1. I believe its only one version out.
2.The first batch of routers had 32kb nvram so thats why everyone was upgrading the CFE/NVRAM to 64kb. If you just bought the router what you want to do is upload Merlins(forum http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/forumdisplay.php?s=b685bf86c5857d2f835820ba127a6a92&f=37) build RT-N66U_3.0.0.4_270.26b.zip then extract the zip to find the .trx file upload in web gui, after upgrading to Merlins build go to tools>systeminfo to see the bootloader CFE version. If its 1.0.1.3 then you could skip the whole CFE upgrade. I know all this because I just bought my rt-n66u, 3 weeks ago and it arrived with the newest CFE of 1.0.1.3 with 64kb nvram.
3.Again if you have 1.0.1.3 CFE already you can flash any 64kb build from fractual, or Kong build, or tomato 64kb.
did not list tomato because I dont use it but Im sure you could find it. Last thing there is a mini build and rtn66u build if you flash these you will brick router(these are for the first rt-n66u routers with 32kb nvram), they have to state 64k in the name of the file these are for the 1.0.1.3 CFE with 64kb nvram.
Good luck
katinez, deeply appreciated your reply. Once I get my router I'm not going to rush but be very careful to follow steps.
What would you guys say are the biggest differences between Kong and Fractal builds? I'm looking for a really strong QoS that would separate heavy connection usage (youtube/p2p at 80-90% connection max speeds) and would let me play online games with minimal impact in ping/delay.
Another question. In the Asuswrt-Merlin readme it says:
Quote:
NOTE: If you were still running a 32KB nvram firmware on an RT-N66U (which
usually mean an original firmware older than 3.0.0.4.220), the first time
you flash a 64KB-enabled firmware (such as Asuswrt-merlin) it will
wipe ALL your current settings and revert back to factory default!
This is required to upgrade the nvram storage to 64 KB.
Does this mean I don't need to "enable" the 64k NVRAM beforehand like I would need to if I was installing DD-WRT? If yes, I wonder why is flashing to Merlin so simple while DD-WRT needs extra steps to first expanding NVRAM and why is it separate from installing DD-WRT firmware. I guess you can just install Merlin to expand NVRAM and then proceed with DD-WRT/Tomato or whatever else.
katinez, deeply appreciated your reply. Once I get my router I'm not going to rush but be very careful to follow steps.
What would you guys say are the biggest differences between Kong and Fractal builds? I'm looking for a really strong QoS that would separate heavy connection usage (youtube/p2p at 80-90% connection max speeds) and would let me play online games with minimal impact in ping/delay.
Another question. In the Asuswrt-Merlin readme it says:
Quote:
NOTE: If you were still running a 32KB nvram firmware on an RT-N66U (which
usually mean an original firmware older than 3.0.0.4.220), the first time
you flash a 64KB-enabled firmware (such as Asuswrt-merlin) it will
wipe ALL your current settings and revert back to factory default!
This is required to upgrade the nvram storage to 64 KB.
Does this mean I don't need to "enable" the 64k NVRAM beforehand like I would need to if I was installing DD-WRT? If yes, I wonder why is flashing to Merlin so simple while DD-WRT needs extra steps to first expanding NVRAM and why is it separate from installing DD-WRT firmware. I guess you can just install Merlin to expand NVRAM and then proceed with DD-WRT/Tomato or whatever else.
Not to sure about the QoS in either build of Fractual or Kong. I flashed all three within 1 hour of opening my new router, but settled with Merlins build because I had faster wi fi speeds then the first two, also the usb storage has some bugs in the current build of DDWRT.
Yes thats the official webpage of Merlin.
And I suggested to flash Merlins first because it's the easiest way of finding out your CFE/bootloader version without using telnet/ssh.
Also Merlin build is compatible with 32kb and 64kb, first check your bootloader version before going any further.
Merlin build will not upgrade your CFE, you have to do it manually if you are going with ddwrt64kb build.
Another reason for installing my firmware first is to get SSH support. Makes it easier then to transfer files using SCP if you were preparing the CFE on another Linux machine, and also to keep your backup (make sure you DO keep a backup of the original CFE!).
Oooh ok. The way I thought it worked is that when you upgrade to Merlin it expands your NVRAM to 64k if it's lower, but in reality it works in both 32 and 64k.
So the procedure to expand NVRAM is the same no matter what firmware I will want to upgrade to? (just in case my router is 32k)