Asus RT-N66U Locks me out

Hi guys, need some help. I have been using RT-N66U for 5 days now. It works great, but then every day it locks me out. It has now happened quite a few times to get me worried. Last night it happened twice.

I've done a 30-30-30 reset to clear out the NVRAM, still it locks me out, and I can't get to the router GUI. I also followed the Merlin advice here to erase the nvram settings that tell the router that someone is already logged in, since the router doesn't allow more than one simultaneous user to be logged in. Still no go.

Any ideas would be appreciated, before I pack it up and get a replacement.

Are you using the latest firmware revision (3.0.0.5.354)? It was only uploaded to the Asus site on Friday and mentions fixes for wireless time control bugs.

You can download it from here.

I'm using the Merlin 3.0.0.4.270.26b fw. Thanks for the 354 fw link, I'll use it now. I just hope that my problem is just a software hiccup, and could be cured by a f/w upgrade. If it is a hardware problem, then the router needs to be replaced within 14 days.

Firmware 354 may have been mistakenly released by Asus, so says Merlin.

I did wonder a bit when I d/led it (after my post in here)- it was a .rar file, they're usually .zip.

Thanks for the heads-up, I'll refrain from loading it for a while!

(They've released too early at least once before- I d/led a file, something made me cautious and when I checked a couple of days later it had been pulled.)

In reply to a post by T_Bag:

If it is a hardware problem, then the router needs to be replaced within 14 days.

If that is the seller's rule, it is likely to be illegal as the Sale of Goods Act gives more rights than that. It's worth a read, especially considering the number of retailers who are not too familiar with the contents.

I'd return the router. I have been using the Merlin firmware from day 1 and have never been locked out.

Good luck,

DrT

I have been using the Merlin firmware from day 1 and have never been locked out.

Yes, that seems to be the consensus of opinion. I raised this very same question on the Plusnet forum, got a slightly more response, and seems this lockout is virtually unknown. But then I did come across this thread, before I raised this question on the fora. Now that tells a different story.

Whenever I used to login the router GUI, I would never logout, just kill the tab, or the browser. Could that be a possible cause?

I am now making sure to logout from the Asus GUI, whenever I login. One more lockout and off it goes back to the seller.

Edited by deleted (Sun 24-Mar-13 22:15:44)

In reply to a post by T_Bag:

I am now making sure to logout from the Asus GUI, whenever I login. One more lockout and off it goes back to the seller.

I often, but not always logout, but I can get into the GUI without (re)entering the username and password.

DrT

That is true, and my guess is that by logging out, the nvram is cleared so that the router knows that no one is logged in, but the user credentials are still kept intact within the router.

I find that if I don't log out then I can't get in on another computer unless I go back to the first and either log out or close the browser.

Just closing the tab doesn't log me out, I can go back in (even several days later) without giving a username and password.

Logging out has NEVER caused me to be asked for my username and password again, unless the browser is closed and them reloaded. To me, that is not a proper logout .

DrT

You're using Merlin firmware, I'm using stock, that may be the difference.

edit- or are your login details being stored on a session basis by the browser?

Edited by billford (Mon 25-Mar-13 20:40:36)

In reply to a post by billford:

You're using Merlin firmware, I'm using stock, that may be the difference.

Just out of interest, why ? I took one look at the changelogs and decided on Merlin's and I've even donated (usually the kiss of death to a project ). His support is excellent and he is a very responsive chap.

In reply to a post by billford:

edit- or are your login details being stored on a session basis by the browser?

Maybe. I do not alter the cookie preferences of any of my installed browsers (after checking natch) and they all behave the same way. I'd expect a 'logout' to deal with session cookies anyway.

Regards

DrT

In reply to a post by DrTeeth:

In reply to a post by billford:

You're using Merlin firmware, I'm using stock, that may be the difference.

Just out of interest, why ?

Simple enough- I'm not having any trouble with the stock firmware and Merlin's (highly useful though it looks for some) didn't do anything I needed.

Basically it came down to "If it ain't broke, don't fix it"

Eric (Forum name RMerlin), the man who created Merlin firmware, elaborates about the multiple logins to Assus RT-N66U here. It might be of interest.