ASUS RT-AC68P rev. E1 AsusWrt-Merlin Firmware 386.5.0

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-AC68U V4. All RT-AC68U models are using a combined firmware file (like stock firmware), with both firmwares within the same file.
- NEW: Added support for the GT-AXE11000.
- NEW: Added config option for the Boost key on GT models. The option can be found on the Administration -> System page.
- NEW: Basic IPv6 support for TQoS (Kevin Bracey)
- UPDATED: Merged with GPL 386_46065.
- UPDATED: Reverted dnsmasq from 2.86 to 2.85.
- UPDATED: miniupnpd to 2.3.0.
- UPDATED: avahi to 0.8 + a few backports.
- CHANGED: Improved accuracy of overhead parameters in Traditional QoS (Kevin Bracey)
- CHANGED: Report download stats for TQoS (Kevin Bracey)
- CHANGED: Report DFS scanning state for both 5 GHz bands if appropriate on tri-band models
- CHANGED: Enabled pass_persist support in net-snmp.
- FIXED: Various TQoS issues (Kevin Bracey)
- FIXED: enabling/disabling 802.11b rates wouldn't get saved to nvram.
- FIXED: netatalk failing to load extensions.
- FIXED: Large swapfiles reported the incorrect size on the Tools page (Kevin Bracey)
- FIXED: User accounts would not show as connected on the OpenVPN server username list if a remote client connected over IPv6.
- FIXED: Earlier syslog content was missing on RT-AX86U and RT-AX68U after a reboot.
- FIXED: WAN monitoring could fail if using IPv6 and DNS Rebind protection was enabled.
- FIXED: RT-AX86U syslog could be truncated after a reboot.
- FIXED: Toggling FTP WAN access without applying settings wouldn't reconfigure the FTP server properly.
- FIXED: Non-functionning TrendMicro features on the RT-AX68U and RT-AX86U (reverted kernel components to the previous version).

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 mentioned 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.