Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2022 0:10 Post subject: [SOLVED] WRT1900AC - Firmware sizes: webupdate X factory
I have a curiosity here... when it comes to the WRT1900AC the size of the two firmware files is blatantly different: Around 14MB for the "factory to dd-wrt" version verus 36MB for the "webupdate" version. I assume there's a reason for it, does anyone here knows why? If you check the firmware files for a similar router, say the WRT3200ACM, both files are almost the same size.
is there any requirement or advantage in applying the webupdate version just after the "factory to dd-wrt"? Any new features or anything that justifies the extra size, or is it just compression?
Usually, it is a matter of the limitation on what firmware image size can be flashed to convert to DD-WRT from stock... but hopefully this does not mean that the factory-to-ddwrt.img is broken in newer releases... _________________ "The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep." - Robert Frost
"I am one of the noticeable ones - notice me" - Dale Frances McKenzie Bozzio
Usually, it is a matter of the limitation on what firmware image size can be flashed to convert to DD-WRT from stock... but hopefully this does not mean that the factory-to-ddwrt.img is broken in newer releases...
This actually makes sense, but then one can assume the "webupdate" version has additional features and therefore the instructions on migration should include this information, something like "use the factory-to-dd image and then upgrade again with the webupdate version to have all possible features". After all the image for webupdate is about 3 times bigger, there's got to be some extra stuff
I just find it strange it's not explicitly written anywhere.
Initially I thought the factory image was broken, but I used it today and it worked OK. That's what prompted this topic.
Unfortunately, neither the generic DD-WRT Installation, Upgrade & Basic Setup–Cliff Notes topic nor the Linksys WRT1900AC Wiki may have this information, either, and the only place I could think of was the aforementioned thread, but after 40+ pages of tabbing through, I lost interest in finding a specific post that explained it and used my best educated guess from many other posts regarding initial flash of WRT AC series devices to DD-WRT. _________________ "The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep." - Robert Frost
"I am one of the noticeable ones - notice me" - Dale Frances McKenzie Bozzio
Over time Marvell DD-WRT builds are larger. Most need small builds to install from Linksys factory stock WebUI.
Models affected: wrt1200ac (v1), wrt1200acv2, wrt1900ac (v1), wrt1900acv2, wrt1900acs (v1), wrt1900acsv2
One model has stripped down factory-to-ddwrt.bin wrt1900ac (v1) but others need an old factory build r34411.
You can always use serial to flash a full-size factory-to-ddwrt.bin. Anyway, known issue with easy workarounds.
Joined: 12 Dec 2007 Posts: 764 Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2022 1:50 Post subject:
I've had to recover my WRT1900AC using serial cable a few times. The factory-to-ddwrt seemed to be a more basic build, with features missing. You need to flash a second time with ddwrt-linksys-wrt1900ac-webflash. _________________ __________________________
Netgear R7800
DD-WRT v3.0 STD
Linksys WRT1900AC
DD-WRT v3.0 STD
Did I understand correctly, it is better to use webflash.bin to upgrade wrt1900acs v2 to a newer version than to use writing from the original firmware Linksys? _________________ Internet provider https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RCS_%26_RDS 1Gbps
WDR3600 rev.1.5 - DD-Wrt
Linksys WRT1900ACS v.2 DD-Wrt/-OpenWrt
Joined: 12 Dec 2007 Posts: 764 Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2022 20:46 Post subject:
Yes, only use Factory-to-DDWRT if you're going from Linksys firmware to DD-WRT. Use Webflash for anything else. _________________ __________________________
Netgear R7800
DD-WRT v3.0 STD
Linksys WRT1900AC
DD-WRT v3.0 STD
Yes, only use Factory-to-DDWRT if you're going from Linksys firmware to DD-WRT. Use Webflash for anything else.
I knew that!
how is it healthier to use DD-Wrt on Linksys routers gen wrt1900 acs v2, it is more correct to use Webflash, or every time to return to the original software and from there to switch to factory? _________________ Internet provider https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RCS_%26_RDS 1Gbps
WDR3600 rev.1.5 - DD-Wrt
Linksys WRT1900ACS v.2 DD-Wrt/-OpenWrt
Leaving a factory firmware partition on your WRT AC series is pointless. Unless you really clobber things, there will always be a bootable partition. Hint: The nvram variables between stock and DD-WRT are not 100% the same, you are wasting nvram space by leaving stock firmware on one partition of your router and creating your own problems. _________________ "The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep." - Robert Frost
"I am one of the noticeable ones - notice me" - Dale Frances McKenzie Bozzio
Did I understand correctly, it is better to use webflash.bin to upgrade wrt1900acs v2 to a newer version than to use writing from the original firmware Linksys?
oliver44 wrote:
how is it healthier to use DD-Wrt on Linksys routers gen wrt1900 acs v2, it is more correct to use Webflash, or every time to return to the original software and from there to switch to factory?
Nobody should ever go back to factory stock Linksys firmware. Boot into DD-WRT environment do Factory Defaults.
Upgrade with webflash.bin, webUI or CLI flash. Use DD-WRT webUI Factory Defaults or CLI nvram erase && reboot.
I will use your instructions then, thanks for the information! _________________ Internet provider https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RCS_%26_RDS 1Gbps
WDR3600 rev.1.5 - DD-Wrt
Linksys WRT1900ACS v.2 DD-Wrt/-OpenWrt
I've had to recover my WRT1900AC using serial cable a few times. The factory-to-ddwrt seemed to be a more basic build, with features missing. You need to flash a second time with ddwrt-linksys-wrt1900ac-webflash.
That's the information I was looking for! Thanks a lot for the clarification. So, we get the bigger firmware version but we lose the "backup" partition. Not a bad deal if you're careful.
You don't "lose the backup partition". You will still have two partitions. Don't know what makes you think otherwise.
two things made me assume it: one was dpp3530's message:
dpp3530 wrote:
I've had to recover my WRT1900AC using serial cable a few times.
The other is the fact we can't upload the "full" version when coming from stock, I assumed it was a space limitation that stock can't handle but DD-WRT can by removing the boundaries between the partitions to create a big one and installing itself "full". But yeah, that was a big mental leap. If the backup partition is still there after installing the "big" DD-WRT over the "small" one, that's even better than I thought, you'll get no complaint from me here