ASUS RT-AC56S AsusWrt-Merlin Firmware 384.6 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: The RT-AC87U is not supported in this release, as Asus hasn't released any updated code for that model.
- NEW: Merged with GPL 384_21045/382_50624.
- NEW: Added support for the "-p" option to netstat.
- NEW: Added setting to enable DNS rebind protection, on the DHCP page. This works by rejecting upstream server responses that would point at a private IP.
- CHANGED: Updated nano to 2.9.8
- CHANGED: Updated curl to 7.60.0 (contains security fixes)
- CHANGED: Allow selecting text (for copy/paste operations) on AiProtection pages.
- CHANGED: Added AES--GCM ciphers to the OpenVPN legacy ciphers (so they can be explicitly used without using NCP).
- CHANGED: Updated dnsmasq to 2.80test2-17-g51e4eee (themiron)
- CHANGED: Since dnsmasq 2.80, dnsmasq now ensures that unsigned DNS replies received with DNSSEC enabled are legitimate. If your upstream DNS doesn't support DNSSEC, this means all replies from signed zones will be considered invalid. Make sure you only enable DNSSEC if your upstream DNS servers do support it. This behavior is a bit slower, but far more secure than the old default.
- CHANGED: Network Tools -> Netstat output also report program/PID
- CHANGED: Updated CA bundle to June 20th version.
- FIXED: IPv6-related issues on non-HND platform (themiron)
- FIXED: Couldn't log on WTFast if accessing the router webui over https.
- FIXED: USB modem support code failing to properly pass parameters to the kernel module (themiron)
- REMOVED: WTFast support for RT-AC88U/RT-AC3100/RT-AC5300, as it's incompatible with recent versions of curl (and has been broken for quite some time). Not gonna revert back to a 7 years old curl
 

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.