How to install Asus RT-AX53U

[lipuszb]

I bought an RT-AX53U router. I want to install openwrt on it.

Attempt 1

I used this manual: https://openwrt.org/toh/asus/rt-ax53u
I used this version: openwrt-24.10.2-ramips-mt7621-asus_rt-ax53u-squashfs-factory.bin

mtd-write -i openwrt-24.10.2-ramips-mt7621-asus_rt-ax53u-squashfs-factory.bin -d Kernel

It took 10-15 secundum, it is not gave any output. I thinked, that if no output, there is no error. I than rebooted, but the Original firmware was intact.

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Attempt 2

I found on my router the mtd-unlock command.

mtd-unlock -d Kernel

It was output, it said that unlock was successfull.

mtd-write -i openwrt-24.10.2-ramips-mt7621-asus_rt-ax53u-squashfs-factory.bin -d Kernel

It gave no output, so i restart. It was bricked...

I restored with ASUS restoration tool. It took 3 hour, it helped when i changed my laptop NIC configruation. (100mbps full duplex, i disabled flow control, energy efficiency, etc.)

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Attempt 3

I tried this command:

mtd-write -i openwrt-24.10.2-ramips-mt7621-asus_rt-ax53u-squashfs-factory.bin -d Kernel2

but it is not worked. Stock firmware.

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Attempt 4

I tried install openwrt-24.10.2-ramips-mt7621-asus_rt-ax53u-squashfs-factory.bin with Asus restoration tool. It is flashed, but did not worked.

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I readed on reddit, that other people had the same issue:
How to install OpenWrt on ASUS RT-AX53U?
https://www.reddit.com/r/openwrt/comments/1hdhngk/comment/m2ojngi/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

but there is no answer.

I found this on this forum:

ASUS RT-AX53U - Installation failed?

Hi, I flashed my router with the instructions given at https://openwrt.org/toh/asus/rt-ax53u ( mtd-write ). But after reboot nothing have changed. i only have the asus webinterface like before.

It is recommended to do like this:
"
I used the Asus firmware restoration tool, to flash initramfs-kernel.bin.
After that i flashed the squashfs-sysupgrade.bin.
Now its working.
"

In a different thread i read, that never should install initramfs on this type...

Installation on RT-AX53U

Thanks, it was smooth sailing after doing as you instructed

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I found this too:
ASUS RT-AX53U SSH install –> bootloop

ASUS RT-AX53U SSH install --> bootloop

Boot into failsafe mode and sysupgrade to 23.05.4 (0r .3) ot 22.03.6+ IT IS DOCUMENTED IN THE WIKI PAGE There is no difference between OEM versions, shooting in foot happens when you flash old openwrt on uninitialized flash or dont power off device if first reboot starts looping.

hs303
"
Warning! Due to some devices being shipped with uninitialized flash, please use versions >= 22.03.6 or >= 23.05.2 for initial install. One can downgrade later if really needed
...
But I've tried to reproduce the solution from the github issue
"

Thanks everyone the help!

[brada4]

What is the asus firmware version?

What is written on the label? top lines - smth like ax1800 router rt-ax53U version ….386….

verify sha256sum / sha1sum / md5sum of transferred file - some uncommon ssh clients do bad things to transfer.

OEM fw uses somewhat unorthodox A/B boot partitioning - it copies current firmware+settings to partition B then programs partition A and boots B only in case of multi-failure and restores A, not the more common varying partitions approach. i.e after damaging kernel2 you have to upgrade OEM fw to same version installed to have their intended reliability intact.

Also please find the “backup config” in OEM fw and tell us the file name, it is the equivalent more generic model name usually.

[lipuszb]

@brada4

What is the asus firmware version?

RT-AX53U - Current version: 3.0.0.4.386_67508-g429f3d7

@brada4

verify sha256sum / sha1sum / md5sum of transferred file - some uncommon ssh clients do bad things to transfer.

You are right. I used Windows ssh client. When i tried, than i did not connected the router to internet, i only used ssh. (Windows built in.)
If i scp the file and i wget it on the router the file size and the md5sum didn't match.

-rw-rw-rw-    1 root    root       9890023 Sep  8 21:03 openwrt-24.10.2-ramips-mt7621-asus_rt-ax53u-squashfs-factory.bin   - md5sum: 4d05de388f9ee6fa906c5c60890756eb
-rw-rw-rw-    1 root    root       9830400 Jun 24 07:27 openwrt-24.10.2-ramips-mt7621-asus_rt-ax53u-squashfs-factory.bin.1 - md5sum: 3f74d7cc50fe557f50f0f30662fd4bc4

Later i try with the wget-ed version with the right checksum. I am very appreciated your help! I feel noob...

@brada4

OEM fw uses somewhat unorthodox A/B boot partitioning - it copies current firmware+settings to partition B then programs partition A and boots B only in case of multi-failure and restores A, not the more common varying partitions approach. i.e after damaging kernel2 you have to upgrade OEM fw to same version installed to have their intended reliability intact.

Thanks the input. If i restored the firmware with Asus 'firmware restoration' tool, than i'm good, or i need somehow manually fix, what i am done before?

@brada4

Also please find the “backup config” in OEM fw and tell us the file name, it is the equivalent more generic model name usually.

You thinked this?
Settings_RT-AX53U.CFG

[brada4]

If you manipulate firmware2/kernel2 and current boot from kernel fails 5x system recovers to another broken garbage.

not a big problem - oem recovery tool works nicely.

[lipuszb]

Thank you again. With the right filesize worked.

[brada4]

If possible describe ssh/sftp clients you used to get the broken file.