MX4200v2 with 512MB of RAM

Hardware Questions and Recommendations
1

Just bought three second hand MX4200v2 routers and installed OpenWRT. I was rather surprised to discover that they all appear to have 512MB of RAM as I am sure they typically have 1GB.

I am running the latest snapshot that I compiled yesterday. They happily accepted the MX4200v2 firmware. They look like MX4200v2 as they are exactly the same size as the other MX4200v2 routers that I already own, so not the smaller size that I believe the MX4200v1 is.

I don’t see any reports about there being more than one model of the MX4200v2, but I am wondering if anybody else has heard of lower memory MX4200v2 routers?

2

Also just noticed that these apparent MX4200v2 have a controllable LED, so I am guessing they really must be an MX4200v1, but that leaves me a little surprised that they are the MX4200v2 size and they happily accept the MX4200v2 firmware without complaint or any apparent issues (so far).

3

There’s no way that MX4200v2 have 512MB of ram. Those have to be MX4200v1’s.

4

Super easy way to check. Found this myself.

Check the 4th number of the serial. i.e: 38U1 here.

1 = v1.

If the 4th number is a 2 then you have a v2.

Also firmware acceptance means nothing. i.e. you use starhub v1 firmware on a v2 unit to debrand an ISP MX4200v2.

5

Yes, you are quite right these have the serial number 38U1, but they are physically the same size as a v2.

6

All MX series routers are the same size.