ASUS RT-N16

Links of Interest

 * USB to Serial TTL Mod
 * if data
 * Asuswrt-Merlin support ended after 378.50

Wikis

 * On the DD-WRT wiki
 * On the OpenWrt wiki
 * Asus RT-N16 DebWrt wiki

Reviews

 * Rewieved on FoxNetwork
 * While the N16 is default clocked at 480MHz, the CPU is 533MHz capable.

wl500g.info

 * Specifications Asus RT-N16 on wl500g.info
 * Asus RT-N16 256MB RAM + DualBand on wl500g.info
 * EntWare firmware on wl500g.info
 * DualWAN firmware on wl500g.info

DD-WRT

 * Wireless-N Throughput Testing
 * Wireless-N Configuration
 * Asus RT-N16 now supported
 * dd-wrt RT-N16 & Dual WAN
 * 100 pages of RT-N16 post Condensed
 * rt73usb + aircrack1.0
 * 15407 & Higher USB drive mounting
 * Is it possible to turn off the LEDs for RT-N16 with DD-WRT?
 * Arcadyan may manufacture some of these devices
 * (Success) ASUS RT-N16 + p910nd USB Printing
 * RT-N16 & Dual WAN
 * Asus RT-N16 Load Equalization/Load Balance Help

linksysinfo

 * Stealth Mode (Timer function) RT-N66
 * DD-WRT Kong Mod USB/FTP/miniDLNA/Samba3

Flashing DD-WRT
Asus RT-N16


 * 1) Download the firmware located here: dd-wrt.v24-14929_NEWD-2_K2.6_mini_RT-N16.trx
 * 2) Do a factory reset in the Asus GUI. Let the router reboot. Disconnect all cables (WAN, USB, etc.) and plug the Ethernet cable from your PC into the LAN1 port on the router.
 * 3) Using Internet Explorer (IMPORTANT), Flash the downloaded firmware file through the router's GUI at http://192.168.1.1/ . This process takes about 60 seconds. Asus factory default username/password is admin/admin.
 * 4) ALTERNATE - I was unable to get the initial firmware flashed on a stock router containing the latest RN-16 firmware. Alternatively you can use the ASUS Firmware Restoration Utility (included on router CD or downloadable from ) to flash the initial firmware. Install the application, load up the initial firmware, then unplug the router, and replug it in with the black RESTORE button depressed. The power light should now be blinking slowly, meaning the router is in restore mode and ready for the new firmware. Upload and wait for router reset. This was the only method that allowed me overwrite stock firmware. Follow remainder of instructions normally. -ApatheticNow
 * 5) After the reboot from flashing, wait for the device to show the password change screen for DD-WRT. Enter root as the user and anything for the password as you will do the user/pass procedure again after the final flash.
 * 6) Do a Factory Reset to clear the NVRAM. This is located under Administration -> Factory Defaults in the DD-WRT Web-GUI, or open up a telnet session to your router and type erase nvram followed by the command reboot (This is the preferred method). You will be presented with the password change screen again after this step is complete.
 * 7) Download and flash the full featured Firmware dd-wrt.v24-14929_NEWD-2_K2.6_big.bin under Administration -> Firmware Upgrade.
 * 8) NOTE : in the Firmware Upgrade Tab where it says "After flashing, reset to" choose "Reset to Default settings".
 * 9) NOTE : For the final flash (Upgrade), it is wise to walk away for ~5 minutes while the Mega Firmware is flashing. This ensures all NVRAM variables are successfully loaded by the Kernel before the user configures.
 * 10) Check for recommended builds.
 * 11) Enjoy DD-WRT on the RT-N16!
 * 12) Think about donating to DD-WRT.

Flashing OpenWrt
WIP

Flashing Tomato
Support Chart at Bottom

Upgrading DD-WRT

 * 1) Download the firmware
 * 2) Do a factory reset in the GUI. Let the router reboot.
 * 3) Flash the downloaded firmware file through the router's GUI at http://192.168.1.1/
 * 4) After flashed, wait for the device to show the password change screen for DD-WRT.
 * 5) Do a Factory Reset to clear the NVRAM.

Reverting to OEM Firmware from DD-WRT

 * 1) Download the latest ASUS firmware from asus's site.
 * 2) Rename the asus file from .trx to .bin
 * 3) go into the DD-WRT firmware upgrade page, set it to reset defaults, and select the ASUS firmware you renamed.
 * 4) After the flash finishes, and you see the ASUS GUI, do a Factory Reset to clear the NVRAM.
 * 5) Try to enjoy ASUS's firmware, and keep missing DD-WRT. (you can just flash back to dd-wrt if you ever want)

DD-WRT Recovery Mode
This router does have a recovery mode if ever needed for flashing, and to access it, press the reset button, then plug in power, and tftp the firmware you want to flash. Dont forget to do a Factory Reset in the GUI before and after every flash to make sure you dont have any nvram problems or conflicts.

Special thanks to Eko for making this possible!

JTAG Pinouts
 nTRST | 1o o2 | GND  | 6o | GND TDI | 3o o4 | GND  | 5o | -> TDO | 5o o6 | GND  | 4o | -> TMS | 7o o8 | GND  | 3o | -> TCK | 9o o10| GND  | 2o | -> nSRST |11o o12| N/C  | 1o | +VCC CPU JTAG [J1]         [J5]  Switch BCM4718                    BCM53115 Using Universal JTAG Adapter  white | 1o o2 | black red | 3o o4 | GND blue | 5o o6 | GND green | 7o o8 | GND yellow | 9o o10| GND orange |11o o12| N/C
 * /byte_mode switch required

DD-WRT JTAG Recovery

 * 1) Backup CFE x2 (Compare the files, they must match exactly or there is something wrong with your JTAG setup)
 * 2) Erase Wholeflash x2
 * 3) Flash CFE
 * 4) Unplug Power
 * 5) Unplug JTAG Cable

TFTP:


 * 1) Set Rig ip static 192.168.1.10
 * 2) Plug network cable from rig to port 1
 * 3) Get TFTP ready, server ip - 192.168.1.1, Password - blank, file - dd-wrt.v24-13527_NEWD-2_K2.6_mini_RT-N16.trx
 * 4) Plug in power
 * 5) As soon as windows says "connected" hit upgrade. May have to use a network hub to make sure windows is always connected.
 * 6) Hard Reset 30\30\30

Serial Pinouts
 F | VCC | 1o | R R | RX | 2o | E O |  TX | 3o | A N | GND | 4o | R T |      [J2]

DD-WRT Serial Recovery
Modified redhawk0 instructions
 * 1) Connect Serial cable
 * 2) Start one of the programs from above
 * 3) Get TFTP ready with file selected
 * 4) Use dd-wrt.v24-13527_NEWD-2_K2.6_mini_RT-N16.trx
 * 5) Connect power to the router
 * 6) start a rapid fire Cntl-C as you plug the router to power
 * 7) type "nvram erase" w/o quotes, hit enter
 * 8) type "flash -noheader : flash1.trx" w/o quotes, this starts the tftp daemon, hit enter
 * 9) but have tftp.exe ready
 * 10) Click go or start on TFTP
 * 11) give it 5 minutes after it finishes
 * 12) then power cycle....Hard reset or 30/30/30...then config
 * 13) when it stops spitting out txt....hit the enter key...you should get a login prompt...
 * at that point, power cycle it, hard reset...then config


 * 1) you'll see it boot up

DD-WRT vlan Info

 * DD-WRT VLAN Support

Per fggs, Reference: Routers that will and won't support VLAN

Confirmed working on an Asus RT-N16 using 14929 K2.6 NEWD-2, I had to add the commands..

insmod switch-core insmod switch-robo

and save as startup, after which

ls /proc/switch

Showed up, also as jumran mentioned, the webgui works thereafter the ins~ commands are saved to startup.

Edit: almost forgot...

1 2 3 4 | Case labels 4 3 2 1 | NVRAM ports

Pictures
DarkShadow's RT-N16 

DD-WRT Notes
Build 15407 and later

The devs of dd-wrt have removed the loading of file system drivers from the startup of the firmware.
 * They are now loaded on demand with automount. Well, this presents a problem for those of us with
 * USB HDD that automount doesn't detect. In order to load the file system drivers at startup you need
 * to add the following to save startup in the commands tab.

For K2.6 builds only that have the modules already in place insmod /lib/modules/2.6.24.111/kernel/fs/mbcache.ko insmod /lib/modules/2.6.24.111/kernel/fs/ext2/ext2.ko insmod /lib/modules/2.6.24.111/kernel/fs/jbd/jbd.ko insmod /lib/modules/2.6.24.111/kernel/fs/ext3/ext3.ko This loads the ext2 and ext3 file system drivers.

The mtd flash partitions

The factory firmware and the dd-wrt firmware use different partition schemes.

ASUS has 4 partitions: 0x00000000-0x00040000 : "boot" 0x00040000-0x01fe0000 : "linux" 0x001dff88-0x01fe0000 : "rootfs" 0x01fe0000-0x02000000 : "nvram" dd-wrt has 5 : 0x00000000-0x00040000 : "cfe" 0x00040000-0x01fe0000 : "linux" 0x00187000-0x00720000 : "rootfs" mtd: partition "rootfs" doesn't start on an erase block boundary – force read-only 0x01fe0000-0x02000000 : "nvram" 0x00720000-0x01fe0000 : "ddwrt"

likely the "linux" partition is not dd-wrt at all, but a remnant of the ASUS fw, as rootfs
 * overlaps with it. in either case, the asus "boot" is binary identical to dd-wrt "cfe"

what does a functioning OpenWRT partition scheme look like?

Default vlans

nvram show | grep vlan.ports vlan0ports=1 2 3 4 5*    <-- Eko says it causes no problems vlan1ports=4 3 2 1 8*    <-- natted LAN vlan2ports=0 8           <-- WAN

For newer 802.11n routers the variable vlan1ports equals to the natted LAN side while, vlan2ports refers
 * to the WAN side. Was told by Eko not to worry about vlan0ports, that it didn't cause any problems.


 * (Solved) RT-N16 Vlan Bridge problem when using PPPOE

Overclocking

By factory default the cpu is clocked at 480MHz and the Ram at 240MHz.
 * Overclocking at CPU 532MHz / Ram 266 MHz can be achieved with these commands:

nvram set clkfreq=532,266 nvram commit reboot

Note: some users have had overheating issues, so adding a fan may be a good idea if you want to try the overclocking. Note: other instability issues may also arise from overclocking. Overclocking is NOT a good idea. Note: See also Overclocking BCM 47xx CPU's for more info.

UPnP fix with swap on

If using SVN13450 (Eko Big) which still has swap enable option, you can
 * manually enable UPnP with these commands in your start-up script:

nvram set wan0_primary=1 nvram commit

Current Known DD-WRT Issues and Bugs

 * UPNP is currently not working for the RT-N16, so for now leave the feature disabled unless you want a full CPU Load. Fixed with SVN trac Changeset #13527


 * Access Restriction with MAC-Filter doesn't work on Asus RT-N16. trac Ticket #1319(as of 12/18/09)


 * On this router reset button will only bring you to recovery mode. If you wish to restore defaults, use wps button while plugging power in. Post By Eko

Personal Experiences
Dark_Shadow (This information was gathered when support was in its infancy, it's long outdated):

My current USBHDD, dd-wrt's automount doesn't mount. In TomatoUSB it automounts fine.
 * I have a HDD comming for another USBHDD enclosure. It's a Antec MX-1, we'll see how that one fairs.

Currently have 2x Western Digital My Book Essential 2TB.

It detected and automounted the drive, but only the first partition.
 * Seems way to complicated to get the other partitions mounted.

Using My compiled(This was ages ago and I no longer have the buildand no longer compile) TomatoUSB build 54
 * seems everything works so far (currentlty using Shibby builds). It also has a superior wireless signal.

Things I've tried thus far: (RT-N16)
 * Firmware itself - Works
 * Wireless radio - Works
 * USB support - Works
 * File sharing - Works
 * Media Server - Works
 * My custom firewall - Works
 * Automatic script execution - Works
 * Swap - Works
 * Custom Theme/Skin for GUI - Works

FernSpider:

With recommended DD-WRT build (14929M) on Asus RT-N16's I experienced the following issues:


 * httpd daemon crashes (100% CPU) when https WAN management option is enabled. This problem has also been reported here and here and a ticket was raised here. However, even though the ticket was closed because the bug was deemed to have been "fixed", no details are given and it is not clear that it has actually been fixed. As the crash may take days to happen it is difficult to diagnose the problem and therefore devise a workaround.
 * Access Restrictions do not work with unbridged virtual wireless interfaces. The problem appears to be due to a bug in the "Add Bridge" GUI code which adds a rule to the iptables FORWARD chain before the lan2wan chain reference which ACCEPT's all packets originating from the new bridge. As a consequence the access restrictions which apply to traffic on this bridge are rendered ineffective. This problem can be fixed via a firewall script which searches for firewall rules targeting packets originating from the added bridges and moving them further down the FORWARD chain.

Features that work well for me:
 * Wireless Radio
 * Custom Firewall
 * Multiple WLAN's
 * Separate WLAN's
 * jffs

Hardware Modification

 * ASUS RT-N16/Hardware
 * USB to Serial TTL Mod
 * ASUS RT-N16 Cooling Mod
 * ASUS RT-N16 Cooling Mod(s)