Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2021 2:29 Post subject: [SOLVED] [Newbie] R8300 firmware and Backup/Restore Settings
I am new user trying to get dd-wrt on my routers with a few questions if anyone can help.
I started with my old router that I use as access point. Installed dd-wrt on D-Link DIR-860L using these steps (in case others find it useful)
* Reset router by pressing reset pin for 10 seconds.
* Download dd-wrt firmware from here and install it from factory web UI
* Let it boot and reset again by pressing reset pin for 10 seconds
* Configure the dd-wrt firmware as Access Point as mentioned on the wiki
Everything seems to work fine but the LEDs seem off, WPS LED is on all the time. Does anyone have any info on that ? I used the older build, from 12/8/20 thinking that 90 days old build would be safer. Not sure if this bug has been fixed in newer versions.
Lot of places say not to Backup and Restore settings. Is that true for any upgrades or just major verion or minor version ? Eg I am now on v3.0-r44944. Can I Backup and Restore settings if I move to a higher revision but still under v3.0 ?
I am now thinking of installing dd-wrt on my primary router Netgear R8300 using firmware for R8500 as these forums suggest that it works. But most of the threads on R8300 are older and suggest using Kong build. I do see R8500 builds here, but no Kong builds. Has anyone tried these newer builds on R8300 or R8500 ?
Read on peacock thread about recovery mode for D-Link. Is there a recovery mode for Netgear if anyone knows ? I will keep searching if I missed that.
If I want to go back to factory firmware, could I just install factory firmware from dd-wrt Administration -> Firmware page ?
Last edited by coolgoose3 on Sun Apr 11, 2021 23:36; edited 1 time in total
Joined: 24 Oct 2008 Posts: 1079 Location: Latin America
Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2021 0:26 Post subject: Re: [Newbie] R8300 firmware and Backup/Restore Settings
coolgoose3 wrote:
Lot of places say not to Backup and Restore settings. Is that true for any upgrades or just major verion or minor version ? Eg I am now on v3.0-r44944. Can I Backup and Restore settings if I move to a higher revision but still under v3.0 ?
Sometimes the developers (dd-wrt and/or upstream) add/remove/rename variables between minor and/or major revisions. On the other hand unused variables waste valuable NVRAM space. So it's advised to do other kind of backup when you upgrade.
And about your other questions, sometimes it's as easy as you state, sometimes there's an special procedure for certain routers, so you need to look on wiki or the forum. _________________ If you want support, please read first the announcements and forum rules.
Si usted desea ayuda, por favor lea primero los anuncios y las reglas del foro.
Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 14247 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2021 0:50 Post subject:
You don't necessarily need to do a full reset when you upgrade. It's only when things go screwy. You can screenshot all of your pertinent settings, copy and paste static leases, scripts, etc. to a text file and save them that way if you absolutely are hell bent on *must* reset when upgrading. The Netgear R8300 is not supported officially that I am aware of. What file are you trying to flash to it?
Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2021 13:45 Post subject: Re: [Newbie] R8300 firmware and Backup/Restore Settings
feliciano wrote:
Sometimes the developers (dd-wrt and/or upstream) add/remove/rename variables between minor and/or major revisions. On the other hand unused variables waste valuable NVRAM space. So it's advised to do other kind of backup when you upgrade.
And about your other questions, sometimes it's as easy as you state, sometimes there's an special procedure for certain routers, so you need to look on wiki or the forum.
I was wondering (just thinking out loud) about some generic process, like Web Script which can replay configuration actions/commands and if people have come up with common templates for such Web Scripts (like text based templates for https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/imacros-for-firefox/). Or if I could ssh into DD-WRT and take nvram backup and then adapt or massage the NVRAM backup for newer revision before restoring.
The thread you posted was one of the threads I studied, and was hoping that I would be able to run R8500 firmware on R8300 as mentioned on that thread. I will flash these:
ftp://ftp.dd-wrt.com/betas/2020/12-08-2020-r44944/netgear-r8500/
The threads talk about Kong builds and I do not see those. So just wanted to find out 1) if those are the ones I should try 2) if anyone has tried those.
Installed factory-to-ddwrt 20201208 R8500 build on my R8300
telnet and run nvram erase && reboot
Installed webflash 20210312 R8500 build
I configured and used the router on ethernet ports and things seem to be fine. Yesterday I tried to configure and use wireless and running into issues. I see the adapters and am able to configure wireless access point but the computer does not see any wireless networks. Syslog says the radio is on.
Installed factory-to-ddwrt 20201208 R8500 build on my R8300
telnet and run nvram erase && reboot
Installed webflash 20210312 R8500 build
I configured and used the router on ethernet ports and things seem to be fine. Yesterday I tried to configure and use wireless and running into issues. I see the adapters and am able to configure wireless access point but the computer does not see any wireless networks. Syslog says the radio is on.
wait 10 mins after install and then do nvram erase && reboot
switch to latest 03/17/21 build
install factory-to-ddwrt again
stopservice wlconf ; startservice wlconf
wlconf eth2 down ; wlconf eth2 up
but nothing worked, still could not see the physical access points/SSIDs on a computer. syslog attached.
I even tried going back to OEM firmware but for some reason dd-wrt would not install OEM firmware, it says upgrade successful rebooting but it boots back into dd-wrt.
Then I found an old Kong Build from June 2019 on myopenrouter for R8500. I installed that and things seem to be better, the computer is able to see 'dd-wrt' SSID now.
After that I tried installing latest webflash, but again the same error. And I reverted back to Kong Build.
For anyone coming to this thread for info on R8300, please note that R8500 builds work fine on it. But latest builds from dd-wrt FTP do not work, you need to use the old Kong Builds (at least for now, as of Mar 2021)
Marking the post as SOLVED as I have found one working revision for R8300 (Firmware: DD-WRT v3.0-r39960M kongac (06/08/19)).
Despite that I will keep trying newer builds as they come out. Since wiki-devi claims there is virtually no difference in R8500 and R8300, I would expect R8500 builds to work on R8300. But they do not work. My guess is that it is not due to any missing drivers but more likely due to chipset check or something like that.
With respect Backup/Restore I have been working on a shell script that I use to quickly setup my router. I will put it on GitHub and link here just in case anyone finds it useful.
Joined: 08 May 2018 Posts: 14247 Location: Texas, USA
Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2021 1:18 Post subject:
After examining stock firmware files for R8500 and R8300 and 46316 factory-to-ddwrt.chk, I don't see anything that would prevent flashing. They both use the same exact board id in the header. As far as the wifi issue, there is no telling as the R8500 is known to have hardware issues, anyway. I think somewhere in this forum is at least one thread about wi-fi woes on the R8500, but I don't have a link handy.
I will say this: Unless you have a need to, *DON'T* reset your settings after you flash an upgrade. That is likely where you're running into problems... _________________ "Life is but a fleeting moment, a vapor that vanishes quickly; All is vanity"
Contribute To DD-WRT Pogo - A minimal level of ability is expected and needed... DD-WRT Releases 2023 (PolitePol)
DD-WRT Releases 2023 (RSS Everything)
----------------------
Linux User #377467 counter.li.org / linuxcounter.net
It is now in bootloop with solid amber light. I tried TFTP from Linux but no avail. I am now going to order a Serial Cable and will try to recover using that.
I will say this: Unless you have a need to, *DON'T* reset your settings after you flash an upgrade. That is likely where you're running into problems...
That turned out to be the main thing to keep in mind.
I installed Stock 1.0.2.128 using NMRPFlash. That worked well. All I had to do was try it a couple of times.
Then I installed (factory-to-ddwrt) Kong build 20190608. That was the only build it would accept, I tried 20161006, 20170228 and 20170601 too.
After that I could install (webflash) 20191111, 20201022 and even 20210403, the only trick being, Do not reset while installing.
My router went back to boot loop when I tried to install 20160720. So I had to do NMRPFlash again. And thus I could not update/flash CFE.
I am now on 20210403 build and WiFi shows up fine. I will try to configure the device over the weekend. The summary I have:
R8300 can run any R8500 build.
Do not do nvram erase on this router.
Should be able to install Kong build 20190608 from Stock.
After that, flash webflash file as needed, but do not reset while flashing. Make sure you choose 'Don't reset'
If needed, perform a reset after upgrading/downgrading.
With respect Backup/Restore I have been working on a shell script that I use to quickly setup my router. I will put it on GitHub and link here just in case anyone finds it useful.
Sorry for the delay in posting this link. Here is a link to the script I use to easily backup and restore/configure settings on my router, in case others find it useful.