ASUS RT-AC68P AsusWrt-Merlin Firmware 386.4 Beta 3

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.

System:

- NEW: Added support for the RT-AX86S (uses the same firmware as the RT-AX86U).
- NEW: Added wireguard kernel module + userspace tool to HND models firmware images.
- NEW: IPv6 support for OpenVPN server. Allows connecting over your WAN's IPv6, and also reach LAN clients over their IPv6 (redirecting IPv6 Internet traffic does not work).
- UPDATED: Merged with GPL 386_45958 + a few newer patches from Asus.
- UPDATED: curl to 7.79.1.
- UPDATED: vsftpd to 3.0.5.
- UPDATED: openssl to 1.1.1m.
- UPDATED: wget to 1.21.1.
- UPDATED: nettle to 3.7.3.
- UPDATED: dnsmasq to 2.86.
- UPDATED: openvpn to 2.5.5.
- UPDATED: tor to 0.4.5.11.
- UPDATED: miniupnpd to 2.2.3-git 20211017.
- UPDATED: inadyn to 2.9.1.
- UPDATED: CA bundle to 2021-12-13.
- UPDATED: amtm to 3.2.1 (thelonelycoder)
- CHANGED: replaced jitterentropy-rngd with haveged. It uses more resources, but it works properly on older platforms, and is generally less CPU intensive in regular use. This is implemented for all router models.
- CHANGED: Switched dnsmasq crypto backend to nettle.
- CHANGED: Switched to Asus's own dhcp hostname support. Existing dhcp_hostnames entries will be converted on first boot.
- CHANGED: miniupnpd will now be supplied the public WAN IP to improve compatibility with dual NAT setups.
- CHANGED: Disabling Auto DoH will now also disable Windows' new Discovery of Designated Resolvers (DDR) feature.
- FIXED: Wrong interface might be used for the default gateway in an openvpn client routing table.
- FIXED: Generated OpenVPN certs used SHA1 signatures instead of SHA256 (regression from 386.1)
- FIXED: Various issues with protocol handling when importing an ovpn client file.
- FIXED: IPv6 not working while in Dual WAN mode.
- FIXED: Failed OpenVPN client connections might sometime be stuck with a "Connecting" state.
- FIXED: NTP sometimes failing to update at boot time when using IPv6.
- FIXED: Changes done by firewall-start may be lost after ddns service gets stopped when using tunnelbroker

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.