wl-500g deluxe problems

[guerby]

Is the bootloader fix absolutely necessary?

It looks like it fixes some transcient state problems at reboot, for now as I use the WL500GX only as Access Point (I have another router/firewall on my internet connection with only ssh enabled), I shouldn't be affected by the issue described, right? (Also my hw version is 1.3/1.33 not 1.1/1.33)

Note that "Performing old bootloader backup" instructions did not work for me, after refresh nothing happens and the file is not created. "echo test > /tmp/harddisk/test.ttxt" did not work either, but I did get a correct file listing out of "ls -la /tmp/harddisk".

My firmware is 1.8.2.1, is there anyway I could telnet into the WL500GX?

[Oleg]

Is the bootloader fix absolutely necessary?

It looks like it fixes some transcient state problems at reboot, for now as I use the WL500GX only as Access Point (I have another router/firewall on my internet connection with only ssh enabled), I shouldn't be affected by the issue described, right? (Also my hw version is 1.3/1.33 not 1.1/1.33)

Yes, you do not need this in the AP mode.

Note that "Performing old bootloader backup" instructions did not work for me, after refresh nothing happens and the file is not created. "echo test > /tmp/harddisk/test.ttxt" did not work either, but I did get a correct file listing out of "ls -la /tmp/harddisk".

Well, you need to have ftp enabled, otherwise your drive would no be mounted. Also, have you entered command inside braces?

My firmware is 1.8.2.1, is there anyway I could telnet into the WL500GX?

You need to use custom firmware to telnet to the router.

[guerby]

Well, you need to have ftp enabled, otherwise your drive would no be mounted. Also, have you entered command inside braces?

FTP was enabled, but I just plugged my USB key into the WL500GX, then the ls command showed me my existing files but the command (including parentheses and refresh, no enter) did not produce anything on the key (I checked by plugging the key in my computer after a while on the WL500GX). I didn't find an equivalent of dmesg or /var/log/messages by poking around, so I don't know why no command on the WL500GX seem to write anything on my USB key.

You need to use custom firmware to telnet to the router.

The latest is 1.9.3.6 BETA, is it supposed to work or is there a significant risk?

[Tuur]

I'm not sure if anyone is interested, but I've got a model starting with S/N 52 and my /proc/meminfo also stated 30920704.

The upgrade went fine, the only thing I noticed was Oleg talked about a RESTORE button where my unit says RESET.

[jp30]

I finally got hold of a windows box in order to fix the bootloader problems on my wl500gx. I was stuck for a long time because I had earlier changed the IP number of my unit to 192.168.1.10 (there is already a 192.168.1.1 on my home network). This resulted in a "Timeout!" error from bootburn.exe.

After changing the IP back to 192.168.1.1 it worked fine. It would have been helpful if the (otherwise very good) instructions had noted this.

[Ritesh]

How do i get i firmware restoration mode?

FOUND OUT ALREADY, MUST BE RESET BUTTON INSTEAD OF RESTORE

[Ritesh]

How can i see wether 32 mb is enabled or not?

[Styno]

How can i see wether 32 mb is enabled or not?

With the command 'free' or 'top'.

[Ritesh]

hmm

Can you explain further?

Where should i use the command free or top?

[sodb]

Use command in telnet or ssh prompt or in the web page under System Setup --> System Command: remember to press refresh button!

Two outputs of 'free' command:

On Asus wl-500g

[admin@asus root]$ free
              total         used         free       shared      buffers
  Mem:        13948        12156         1792            0          364
 Swap:            0            0            0
Total:        13948        12156         1792

On asus wl-500gx

[admin@wl500gx root]$ free
              total         used         free       shared      buffers
  Mem:        30156        12104        18052            0         1516
 Swap:            0            0            0
Total:        30156        12104        18052

Total: wl500g 14 MByte, gx 30Mbyte; Diffrence free approx.16 Mbyte --> 32 Mbyte is enabled in Asus wl-500gx

[Ritesh]

I installed the Oleg 1.9.2.7 - 5a firmware and it works now thanks!

I had installed the Asus official 1.9.4.0 firmware.

Olegs is 1.9.2.7 -5a, the versionnumber is lower than the official one, did i just downgrade? Or did Oleg extended the 1.9.4.0 firmware and called it 1.9.2.7-5a?

Besides that, it is enough to install olegs 1.9.2.7-5a firmware or do i have to install his previous versions also?

A lot of questions, sorry!
Hope i can get an answer.

[Ritesh]

Hi there

No response? I would be please if someon can answer the question.

Thanks

[Styno]

Maybe noone answered because with a bit of careful reading you would've known the answer. Sorry for being so blunt, but I feel it's the truth.

The previous firmwere you were using (1.9.4.0) was a BETA firmware. It says so specifically: http://wl500g.info/showthread.php?t=2254

The current official stable firmware from Asus (1.9.2.7) has been modified by Oleg to 1.9.2.7 CR5a (His 5th Custom Release, 'a' revision).

Oleg will release a custom firmware with a higher version number when Asus releases a new official stable firmware and also releases the source code nessesary to compile a custom release.

Hope this clears it.

[Ritesh]

Ok thanks for your answer.

Neither on this site or the ASUS site you can find an official firmware named 1.9.2.7 (or it even exists). Thats why i did not get why Oleg's firmware was named 1.9.2.7 -5a.
Secondly Oleg's 1.9.2.7 -5a firmware was released later than the Asus official BETA 1.9.4.0 which brought me up to that question also.

I understand it now.

I'm not that familiar with firmware.

What i do not understand/know is the following:

When i install Oleg's revision firmware 1.9.2.7-5a i will profit the fixed bugs and Oleg's custom fixes. But when i will install 1.9.4.0 Beta Asus firmware, will i loose Oleg's custom fixes from 1.9.2.7-5a? Are they overwritten by 1.9.4.0 Beta firmware or something like that? Or will i keep the fixes from Oleg and profit the 1.9.4.0 fixes also?

That's the part i do not understand fully yet.

I hope its not a blunt question this time.

Hoping you can help me out!

thanks

[Styno]

What i do not understand/know is the following:

When i install Oleg's revision firmware 1.9.2.7-5a i will profit the fixed bugs and Oleg's custom fixes. But when i will install 1.9.4.0 Beta Asus firmware, will i loose Oleg's custom fixes from 1.9.2.7-5a? Are they overwritten by 1.9.4.0 Beta firmware or something like that? Or will i keep the fixes from Oleg and profit the 1.9.4.0 fixes also?

That's the part i do not understand fully yet.

There is no way that you can use the fixes from two firmware by just flashing them back-to-back to the router. The firmware that is current in your router determines what works/fixes/features are present in the router.

Consider installing Windows 98 and Windows 2000 on the same machine:
You first install '98
Then you format your drive
You install 2000

This won't give you the combined features from 98 and 2000. This example is pretty much the same as installing firmwares, they are completely independend of each other.