Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2016 8:15 Post subject: Help! Failed flashing K3.x mega on Asus RT-N16
I tried installing the November 1 build 30826 on my Asus RT-N16 but it looks to have failed, and I'm stuck.
When my router starts up the following happens:
1. Power light turns on
2. Wifi and connected LAN light turns on.
3. LAN light blinks / flickers a little
4. Power and WiFi lights turn off.
The router is not responding to pings or web requests on 192.168.1.1
If I press the black restore button and power on the router, it goes into recovery mode successfully, because the router starts to respond to pings on 192.168.1.1 after this. I tried to use the tftp method to put the last known working build 30534 on it, but I am unable to successfully complete this. The tftp works, I can transfer the file. I wait for 5 minutes, and then power down, wait 20 seconds, power up the router, but nothing different happens after this.
Originally I tried to install through the web interface of my very old DD-WRT web gui, the file named:
dd-wrt.v24-30826_NEWD-2_K3.x_mega_RT-N16.trx
This did not work, and after that I have tried to install through tftp this file:
dd-wrt.v24-30534_NEWD-2_K3.x_mega_RT-N16.trx
Please help, I don't want to throw away this router, it has served me well and I want to keep using it.
In order to get a K3.X build on this router you need to flash a certain build first (search the forum, I've forget which). Then you may upgrade to a more recent build.
I've used these routers with K3.X builds and they worked quite well. _________________ Netgear R7000 on Build 55109
Asus AC-AC68U rev. C1 (AP) on Build 55109
Asus AC-68U rev. A1 on Build 54604
Asus AC-68U rev. A1 on Build 53339
Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2016 11:40 Post subject: Got it working on K26
I repeatedly tried different firmwares from K3x November and September, nothing worked.
The moment I tried switching to K26, everything started to work. I first fixed the router with the mini trx from 01 November, and then went for the mega.
I've got the mega build working now, everything seems to be working alright, so I'm happy again.
I'm noticing a weird problem where I have to reboot the router every time I make a setting, without that it doesn't apply and Internet is not coming through on my computers. But the moment I reboot everything works great, so I'm keeping it going this way, for now.
You have to install builds in a exact order, then once you get to K3.x, you can update it with K3.x builds without having to re-do the update files. _________________ Deployed Routers:
Netgear R7800 - 1x build 46979
- Gateway (USB /w Entware, CAKE QoS)
Netgear R7000 - 3x build 46979
You have to install builds in a exact order, then once you get to K3.x, you can update it with K3.x builds without having to re-do the update files.
The link you're pointing me to is only listing K26 instructions, there's no info on which K3x build I should install first and what K26 build minimum I need to be able to install this. Do you have any suggestions for this?
Posted: Wed May 10, 2017 17:49 Post subject: RT-N16 vs K3.x flashing
Hi all !
I have a problem installing the DD-WRT firmware into my Asus RT-N16 router. I successfully flashed and ran only DD-WRT K2.6 latest build (currently dd-wrt.v24-31924_NEWD-2_K2.6_mini_RT-N16.trx). But I would like kernel 3.x - big version.
However, if I run into the router dd-wrt.v24-31924_NEWD-2_K3.x-big-RT-N16.trx it will not start. PowerLED is off, the switch works, Web-GUI is not working, Telnet and Putty are not working.
I tried to flash K3.x via WebGUI DD-WRT K2.6. I tried to flash K3.x using tFTP client (Windows 7).
Of course, I have always reset the factory settings before and after flashing.
Otherwise, I use firwmare Advanced Tomato Shibby - works great (currently "ver.140"). All DD-WRT firmwares with K2.6 core can be installed except DD-WRT K3.x.
Thank you for the fast response guys. I'll try it.
So I have to use flash in three steps ?
(1) mini-K2.6 version current to date or any older version
(2) big-K3.x older "transient" version
(3) big-K3.x version current to date
Why this complicated procedure? Does it have anything to do with the fact that the RT-N16 has only 32kB NVRAM size and not the 64kB required by the DD-WRT K3.x?
I know the discussion forum thread named "Condensed" regarding RT-N16. I've studied it before.
Thanks.
////////// EDIT :
It still does not work. It's getting tired already. Where exactly can I download the functional second file in order (temporary firmware) K3.x that works on the RT-N16 router? Does anyone have them? I found two versions "dd-wrt.v24-21530_NEWD-2_K3.x_big.bin" of which the version is 17MB and the other 16.9MB. _________________ Asus RT-N16 @ Fresh Tomato (2019.3.118)
Asus RT-N18U @ Fresh Tomato (2019.3.118)
Asus RT-AC66U-B1, H/W Ver.:B2 @ Asuswrt Merlin (384.13)
Where exactly can I download the functional second file in order (temporary firmware) K3.x that works on the RT-N16 router? Does anyone have them? I found two versions "dd-wrt.v24-21530_NEWD-2_K3.x_big.bin" of which the version is 17MB and the other 16.9MB.
Hopefully somebody running K3x on a N16 can provide some insight. Out of curiosity, why do you want to run the k3x version? Do you need the extra nvram or other features? The raw speed is faster on k26. There are some nuances of repeater mode with k26 I recall; it doesn't work in (or after a...) certain version or something. If this matters to you, search for 'repeat* AND k26' in threads with user: 'mrjcd'. _________________ #NAT/SFE/CTF: limited speed w/ DD#Repeater issues#DD-WRT info: FAQ, Builds, Types, Modes, Changes, Demo#
OPNsense x64 5050e ITX|DD: DIR-810L, 2*EA6900@1GHz, R6300v1, RT-N66U@663, WNDR4000@533, E1500@353,
WRT54G{Lv1.1,Sv6}@250|FreshTomato: F7D8302@532|OpenWRT: F9K1119v1, RT-ACRH13, R6220, WNDR3700v4
I want the DD-WRT firmware just to try, to work with it, to play with it, to test it. I would like to have fun in my spare time :).
I have been using Tomato Shibby for a very long time and I think it's best for the RT-N16 router. It's easy to flash. Tomato Shibby is a stable firmware with many features (MultiWAN, VPN, Virtual Wireless, DLNA, torrent client, etc.). I just had to set up a multicast filter in WIFI, because multi-stream broadcasts infiltrate the WIFI functionality (unable to connect via WIFI).
Tomato Shibby firmware (based on DD-WRT/Tomato firmware) works on kernel v2.6 too ^^.
But... I don't need kernel version 3.x. I want the "big" version of DD-WRT firmware for testing. Beta version of DD-WRT firmware with kernel v2.6 unfortunately exists only in "mega" and "mini" versions. _________________ Asus RT-N16 @ Fresh Tomato (2019.3.118)
Asus RT-N18U @ Fresh Tomato (2019.3.118)
Asus RT-AC66U-B1, H/W Ver.:B2 @ Asuswrt Merlin (384.13)
...Hopefully somebody running K3x on a N16 can provide some insight...
I managed to get r33607 K3 on my RT-N16 this week. The missing part for me ended up being the mtd commands, mentioned in redhawk0's post referenced above by jwh7.
The full procedure, following redhawk0's post but with firmware links:
DD-WRT Commands or Telnet/SSH - mtd erase nvram; mtd erase ddwrt; mtd erase linux
Worth noting that once this router is running a K3 build, any attempts to soft reset the settings will soft brick the router (using TFTP to recover is easy, so just be sure to export a copy of your settings). (In other words, when using K3 on a NT-16 router, using the DD-WRT web site 'reset settings to default' feature, or doing a 30/30/30 reset using the hardware reset button, will require using TFTP to recover then re-performing the 4 steps above.)
If anyone is interested in a follow-up after using for a few days/weeks, let me know. _________________ -Thracx
"Man wants to know, and when he ceases to do so, he is no longer a man."
-Fridtjof Nansen
Last edited by thracx on Mon Dec 11, 2017 15:58; edited 3 times in total
Posted: Sat Dec 09, 2017 13:32 Post subject: the answer
Ad comments in brackets: You mean resetting NVRAM before or after flashing, in each of the rows mentioned above.
I apologize for longer inactivity, but I had to use the router (which is still running TomatoShibby.)
Now, when I have to wait for the KRACK WPA2 patch to TomatoShibby, I'm thinking about starting to use the original DD-WRT firmware. In the new DD-WRT, this patch already exists. I hope the patch is also DD-WRT for broadcom chipset, i. for dd-wrt firmware also for RT-N16. _________________ Asus RT-N16 @ Fresh Tomato (2019.3.118)
Asus RT-N18U @ Fresh Tomato (2019.3.118)
Asus RT-AC66U-B1, H/W Ver.:B2 @ Asuswrt Merlin (384.13)