Here are some windows OS noob-friendly instructions on how to install and get started with OpenWRT using this router.
Advantages of installing OpenWRT:
- Getting mesh support with fast roaming/transitioning. Fast roaming is not even supported by leading asus routers.
- Able to use wireguard vpn protocol, which is not supported on the standard firmware.
- A hell of a lot more of stuff that i personally don't use/know about.
Files you need:
Config file to enable ssh: https://gdteam.net/dynalink_hack/wrx36.cfg (right click, save as)
From the following page you need to grab the following files:
https://downloads.openwrt.org/snapshots/targets/ipq807x/generic/
dynalink_dl-wrx36-initramfs-uImage.itb
dynalink_dl-wrx36-squashfs-factory.ubi
Instructions:
Step 1: The first step is to enable SSH access to the router, so you can remotely give it commands to execute. Head to 192.168.216.1 in your browser to access the web interface.
Use the prepatched config file you downloaded and load it into the router as a restore option, through the web interface.(System Settings>Configuration & Reset)
Once loaded, your router's password has changed. Now, the password for logging into the router is "askey1234". There is no need to change it as we will flash a new OS on the device.
Step 2: Install WinSCP and Putty, simple google searches will get you there.
Step 3: Get a usb drive that is formatted in any FAT format(right-click, format the drive) Copy the openwrt-ipq807x-generic-dynalink_dl-wrx36-initramfs-uImage.itb file to the usb drive, and insert it into your router.
Step 4: Start putty and login into the router. Host name is the device's LAN IP Address, which should be "192.168.216.1". You can find it in Network>LAN on the device's web interface.
Accept the warning message. Login with username admin and password "askey1234". If you cannot login or it says "access denied" try to restart your router.
Step 5: Once logged in with putty, execute the following command:
fw_setenv bootcmd 'usb start && fatload usb 0:1 0x44000000 openwrt-ipq807x-generic-dynalink_dl-wrx36-initramfs-uImage.itb && bootm 0x44000000; bootipq'
and then reboot with the "reboot" command.
Step 6: Now your router is running OpenWRT in temporary memory. You want to install it. Open WinSCP and login using 192.168.1.1 this time, because that's the standard openwrt address. The username is root, and there is no password. Make sure SCP protocol is selected for file protocol for login.
Step 7: Head to the /tmp folder in your router using WinSCP, and copy the openwrt-ipq807x-generic-dynalink_dl-wrx36-squashfs-factory.ubi file there.
Step 8: Head back into putty, login using 192.168.1.1, username root and no password.
Step 9: A slur of commands:
Make sure that rootfs and rootfs_1 should be mtd18 and mtd20 at the result of the following command:
cat /proc/mtd
If (and should) yes, continue with the following two commands:
ubiformat /dev/mtd18 -y -f /tmp/openwrt-ipq807x-generic-dynalink_dl-wrx36-squashfs-factory.ubi
ubiformat /dev/mtd20 -y -f /tmp/openwrt-ipq807x-generic-dynalink_dl-wrx36-squashfs-factory.ubi
IF there were no errors(There shouldn't) then proceed. If there were, ask for help, as you will brick your router if you now restart it or at a power loss.
fw_setenv mtdids 'nand0=nand0'
Now, execute the following command and check the number that is shown:
cat /sys/class/mtd/mtd18/offset
If the number is 16777216, execute the following command:
fw_setenv mtdparts 'mtdparts=nand0:0x6100000@0x1000000(fs),0x6100000@0x7a00000(fs_1)'
If the number is 127926272, execute the following command:
fw_setenv mtdparts 'mtdparts=nand0:0x6100000@0x7a00000(fs),0x6100000@0x1000000(fs_1)'
Almost done. Now execute:
fw_setenv bootcmd 'setenv bootargs console=ttyMSM0,115200n8 ubi.mtd=rootfs rootfstype=squashfs rootwait; ubi part fs; ubi read 0x44000000 kernel; bootm 0x44000000#config@rt5010w-d350-rev0'
You can remove the usb drive and finally reboot with the "reboot" command.
Step 10: Now your router is restarting with OpenWRT. But you do not have a web interface anymore.
This can be solved by executing the following two commands, make sure your router is connected by WAN so it has internet.
opkg update
opkg install luci
Step 11: Now you can access Luci, OpenWRT's interface at 192.168.1.1 and start using OpenWRT!