TomatoUSB

Hello,

I'm using TomatoUSB on an Asus RT-N16 some time without problems. Yesterday I got a second RT-N16 and tried to install TomatoUSB again, using these instructions:

tomatousb.org / tut:installing-on-asus-routers-rt-n16-etc-in-linux

But it did not work. After transfering the image via tftp and waiting 5 minutes, the router goes into recovery mode after power off/on.

I found a document, saying that the NVRAM was increased from 32kb to 64kb with the update from 3.0.0.3 to 3.0.0.4.

event.asus.com / 2012/nw/aicloud/download/AiCloud_Manual_v15.pdf

Can this be the cause that the installation fails? (because the flash layout changed?)

(You have to remove spaces from the links. I was not allowed to post links)

Interesting find

http://event.asus.com/2012/nw/aicloud/download/AiCloud_Manual_v15.pdf

But I doubt if Asus have changed the flash layout - the nvram increase for the N66 was via Linux kernel driver not CFE.

I have loaded the 20MB Asus firmware before by Linux tftp.

Can you get the recovery web interface up?

What do you mean with "recovery web interface"?

The only way to bring it back to life was to put the Asus firmware 1.0.2.3 through tftp on the RT-N16. Even Asus firmware 3.0.0.4.260 did not work. After flashing 1.0.2.3 I could upgrade to 3.0.0.4.260 through Asus web interface. That's really strange.

How can I get TomatoUSB on this device? Do I need a windows pc and Asus firmware restauration software? I tried it with Windows in Virtualbox, but this does not work because I have no direct access to the ethernet device.

In recovery mode you should be able to see a web page generated by the CFE bootloader - found this image on the web but IP address looks wrong for RT-N16

I have seen this once, but couldn't reproduce it when researching clarification of the buttons in

http://tomatousb.org/forum/t-572623/does-unbricking-asus-rt-n16-router-require-extra-hardware

so maybe there's more than one version of the CFE out there?

You shouldn't need a windows PC, Linux tftp should work, you must wait 5-10 minutes for the flash write to happen after transferring the file.

It should be fairly easy to produce an Asus specific version of of Tomatousb, just needs an extra command in the build, but one documented way right now is to go via a small version of dd-wrt - documented on the easytomato web site:-

http://www.easytomato.org/get-easytomato/

Thank you for that hint. The dd-wrt way works and I now have TomatoUSB on my second RT-N16. I don't know what was wrong with that unit. I had no difficulties with my first RT-N16 (and never had with my previous two WRT-54GL)