Due to performance/heat and several minor issues, I flashed the router back to stock firmware. compared with Merlin build, stock firmware missing some common features, we need to bring them back.
Requirements
- A USB storage
Basic
The following steps are performed on the Web UI.
Enable SSH Service
Enable SSH and remember the port.
Misc Settings
Wireless Region
Select Australia for better signal and performance.
NAT Type
Select Fullcone as needed.
Open NAT
OpenNAT offers a hassle-free way to create port forwarding rules for online games and optimizes the routing packets from your game console to the modem with an optimized gaming experience.
Enable Port Forwarding
Entware
An ultimate software repository for embedded devices, ~1.8K packages are available.
Connect to Router via SSH
# ssh [user]@router.asus.com -p [port]
or
# ssh [user]@[IP] -p [port]
The following steps are performed after the connection.
Enable JFFS
script_usbmount variable set to a script that executes after each USB storage is mounted, equivalent to the startup script.
JFFS1 will be enabled and formatted after reboot.
# nvram set jffs2_on=1
# nvram set jffs2_enable=1
# nvram set jffs2_format=1
# nvram set jffs2_scripts=1
# nvram set script_usbmount=/jffs/scripts/usbMount
# nvram commit
# reboot
Format USB Storage
In this case, the USB storage: /dev/sda.
Lists the plugged storage via command: blkid, mount or fdisk -l.
Show partition table for each DISK:
# fdisk -l
Unmount USB storage:
# umount /dev/sda
If an error occurs while umount the USB storage, then unmount it via access Web UI > Network Map > USB > Safely Remove Disk.
e.g. umount: can’t unmount /tmp/mnt/sda: Device or resource busy
Continue to the next steps, after unmounted.
Format USB storage:
# mkfs.ext3 /dev/sda
// Or ext4:
# mke2fs -t ext4 /dev/sda
Remount USB storage:
# mount /dev/sda /mnt/sda
Installation
Preparation
Create script for mounting /dev/sda as /opt.
# mkdir -p /jffs/scripts
# echo -e "#!/usr/bin/env sh\nmkdir /tmp/opt\nmount /dev/sda /tmp/opt" > /jffs/scripts/mountOpt
Install
mount /opt manually:
# /jffs/scripts/mountOpt
Download and execute install script:
# wget -O - http://bin.entware.net/aarch64-k3.10/installer/generic.sh | sh
Test after done:
# opkg --version
# opkg update
Alternative Installation
- Install on Asus stock firmware · Entware/Entware Wiki
- Alternative install vs standard · Entware/Entware Wiki
Optional
Run at Startup
Make mountOpt execute after the USB storage is mounted.
# echo -e "#!/usr/bin/env sh\n/jffs/scripts/mountOpt" > /jffs/scripts/usbMount
# chmod a+x /jffs/scripts/*
Suggestions
For high performance and privacy:
- Disable AiProtection
- Disable QoS
- Disable Traffic Analyzer
For heat reduction:
- Disable 5GHz band
Tips
- Access ajax_coretmp.asp to get the current temperature of the CPU.