ASUS RT-AC68P AsusWrt-Merlin Firmware 384.11 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:

- NEW: DNS-Over-TLS (also known as DoT) is now supported. You can configure it on the WAN -> Internet Connection page. You can manually add your own servers, or chose one (or a few) from the preset list. (themiron)
- NEW: NTP daemon on the router, to allow your LAN clients to synchronize their clocks with it.
- NEW: Added service-event-end custom script, executed at the end of an rc service call. Receives the same arguments as service-event, but is a non-blocking script.
- UPDATED: RT-AX88U to 384_5951 GPL.
- UPDATED: Other models to 384_45713 GPL (RT-AC87U, RT-AC3200 and RT-AC5300 still using 384_45149 binary blobs)
- UPDATED: Nano 4.0.
- UPDATED: Curl 7.64.1.
- UPDATED: Dropbear 2019.78.
- CHANGED: Replaced the custom ntpclient with a proper ntpd implementation, for reduced memory footprint and increased accuracy.
- CHANGED: Made the secondary NTP server configurable through the webui. Note that ntpd will use BOTH servers, so clear the second server if there is one and you don't want to use it.
- CHANGED: Re-designed firmware upgrade page, moving the schedule option to that page, and removed support for the Beta channel.
- CHANGED: Removed popup messages showing on the DDNS page when a service state change was detected. Report it within the page instead.
- CHANGED: Report available firmware version within the new firmware notification popup.
- CHANGED: Moved LED control (formerly known as Stealth Mode) to the System page.
- CHANGED: Do not restart whole network whenever changing an IP reservation on the Networkmap card.
- CHANGED: Allow URLs up to 64 chars long on the URL filter.
- CHANGED: pre-mount user script now receives the filesystem as second argument.
- CHANGED: Moved various DNS-related settings from the DHCP page to a more appropriate location on the WAN page.
- CHANGED: OpenSSL default dir moved to /etc/ssl/. Allows programs to automatically locate the CA bundle without requiring explicit configuration.
- FIXED: Reboot scheduler would sometime get stuck or corrupt plugged USB drives. Now doing a more thorough shutdown of services, should hopefully make it more reliable.
- FIXED: CVE-2019-1543 issue with Chacha20-poly1305 in OpenSSL 1.1 (themiron)
- FIXED: Client count on the Sysinfo page was missing Guest clients
- FIXED: Miniupnpd sometimes sending ssdp notifies to the wrong interface (themiron)

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.