Heya, good night!
I just revived an old WR940N that I've used with OpenWRT and decided to do a factory reset via the web interface to configure it again for a new purpose.
But after the factory reset from OpenWRT web interface, I cannot log back into the web interface with root << blank >> or root and my old password.
I Can get the router on Failsafe (flashing lights, no DHCP), but SSH keeps asking for a root password. Telnet does not connect, I think this version telnet was already disabled.
Any way that I can flash it again? Am I doing something wrong?
I think I installed OpenWRT on this router 3....4 years ago, its running:
[Powered by LuCI Master (git-19.211.64022-e6f30bb) / OpenWrt SNAPSHOT r10631-1284067
Thanks in advance!
So there are a bunch of things going on...
You have a snapshot installed, which means there is no LuCI web interface by default. It may have been installed at some point in the past, but when you reset the router, this erased the web interface. With a snapshot installed, though, you won't be able to reinstall LuCI because the packages are all moving targets.
Telnet connections have not been available in OpenWrt for a long time, but ssh is, as you have found.
The failsafe mode should have a default login of root with no password. If that's not working, that means someone customized the firmware image and the password will be required.
All that said, there is little-to-no value in trying to resolve the issues at this point... it is a 4/32 device and support for it ended with OpenWrt 19.07 "tiny" builds (https://openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wr940n). It is not safe to use 19.07 or a snapshot of that age because of the many known security vulnerabilities. And with a device that is seriously under-resourced, you cannot run anything more recent.
It is time to get a new device.
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Yep, I thought so.
I am in need of a repeater, and remembered this old router that I've used in the past as a VPN Hotspot. It was working fine, until I had the terrible idea of a factory reset.
I did this many years ago, and I think you are absolutely right as a customized firmware, having some blurry memories of something like this.
Will check the newer models supported, and be on the lookout for a new router with a good price.
Thanks for your response in this one. Cheers!
If there's something as true as the saying "If it is online once, it is there forever"
After a bit of magic googling, the default password for this Old Custom build for OpenWRT with OpenVPN, is "passworld"
Now I can login, and get the last legs of life from this old router as a repeater until I find a modern one and replace it.
Thanks!
Part of me is glad that you found the password and can use the unit again. But the other part of me is concerned since there are known security vulnerabilities, some serious, that make this a dangerous device to use.