ASUS GT-AX6000 AsusWrt-Merlin Firmware 3004.388.7 Beta 1

The AsusWrt-Merlin firmware was developed with the primary goal of boosting the original ASUS firmware, fix bugs and also add new improvements. This package includes a customized firmware targeted at ASUS routers that brings various changes without modifying the interface of the original firmware.

Changes:

- NOTE: RT-AX56U is exceptionally included in this release.
- NEW: IGD2 support for UPNP/PCP. This will allow IPv6 pinhole support for clients. It must be enabled on the WAN page. Existing pinholes will be listed on the System Log -> IPV6 page. Note that IGDv2 has compatibility issues with various clients that do not properly follow the standard.
- UPDATED: Openvpn to 2.6.10.
- UPDATED: TOR to 0.4.8.10.
- UPDATED: wsdd2 to 2023-12-21 snapshot.
- UPDATED: miniupnpd to 2.3.6.
- UPDATED: wireguard kernel to v1.0.20220627.
- UPDATED: wireguard tools to 2023-08-04 snapshot.
- UPDATED: dropbear to 2024.84.
- CHANGED: Hardcoded location of the CA bundle in inadyn, so it no longer needs to be manually defined in custom configurations.
- CHANGED: Re-designed Tools->Sysinfo page, adding graphs and removing useless content.
- CHANGED: Updated free memory report on networkmap to also consider reclaimable memory as being free (kjbracey)
- CHANGED: "Prevent client auto DoH" will also prevent the use of Apple's iCloud Private Relay.
- CHANGED: NAT Passthrough page - removed the "Enabled + NAT Helper" option as the firewall no longer blocks traffic when set to disabled. This is back to the former behaviour, where this setting only controls whether or not to load the NAT helper. You might need to readjust that setting if you had previously changed it.
- CHANGED: SIP, RTSP and H323 ALG (NAT helpers) are now disabled by default, as these legacy features tend to create issues with modern VoIP setups. This change will only apply to people doing a factory default reset of their router.
- FIXED: Concurrent cronjob changes through cru could cause collisions, leading to missing jobs (dave14305)
- FIXED: crond would not use the new timezone if it got changed.
- FIXED: MiniDLNA web interface could only be accessed through an IP address (regression in 3004.388.6).
- FIXED: CVE-2023-5678 & CVE-2024-0727 in openssl (backport from Ubuntu by RSDNTWK)
- FIXED: Long lists on System Log -> Connections tab could result in a timeout (Sani Huttunen)
- REMOVED: Temperature page (charts are now part of the redesigned Tools->Sysinfo page).

Installation

- Simply flash it like any regular update. You should not need to reset to factory defaults (see note below for exceptions). You can revert back to an original Asus firmware at any time just by flashing a firmware downloaded from Asus's website.
- If the firmware upgrade fails, try rebooting your router to free up sufficient memory, without any USB disk plugged in, then try flashing it again.
- If you run into any issue after an upgrade and you haven't done so,try doing a factory default reset as well.
- Always read the changelog, as mandatory resets will be mentionned there when they are necessary.
- In all of these cases, do NOT load a saved copy of your settings! This would be the same thing as NOT resetting at all, as you will simply re-enter any invalid setting you wanted to get rid of. Make sure to create a new backup of your settings after reconfiguring.

NOTE:

- Resetting to factory default after flashing is strongly recommended for the following cases: Updating from a firmware version that is more than 3 releases older or Switching from a Tomato/DD-WRT/OpenWRT firmware

Installation Notes:

- This custom firmware can be applied like any regular update.
- You should not need to reset to factory defaults.
- You can revert back to an original ASUS firmware at any time.
- Do not load a saved copy of your settings.  

About Router Firmware:

Before you consider downloading this firmware, go to the system information page of the router and make sure that the currently installed version isn't either newer or matching this release.

Due to the large variety of router models and different methods for upgrading the device, it is highly recommended that you read and, above all, understand the installation steps before you apply the new firmware, even if you are a power user.

In theory, these steps shouldn't be much of a hassle for anyone, because manufacturers try to make them as easy as possible, even if they don't always succeed. Basically, you must upload the new firmware to the router through its administration page and allow it to upgrade.

If you install a new version, you can expect increased security levels, different vulnerability issues to be resolved, improved overall performance and transfer speeds, enhanced compatibility with other devices, added support for newly developed technologies, as well as several other changes.

If you're looking for certain safety measures, remember that it would be best if you perform the upload using an Ethernet cable rather than a wireless connection, which can be interrupted easily. Also, make sure you don't power off the router or use its buttons during the installation, if you wish avoid any malfunctions.

If this firmware meets your current needs, get the desired version and apply it to your router unit; if not, check with our website as often as possible so that you don't miss the update that will improve your device.