Today I tried to update my Dynalink DL-WRX36 to OpenWrt 25.12.0. The updates completed as usual, with all setting retained. However, with the update network connectivity got completely lost. I had to revert back to 24.10.5 get network back.
I reset the router back to its vanilla state, and try installing 25.12.0. Same thing. No network. This tells me my settings can’t be causing the issue.
Has anyone here managed to update Dynalink DL-WRX36 to OpenWrt 25.12.0? If so, what steps did you take?
This is VERRY similar to my issue I posted about the FortiAP 421e it is a similar chipset IPQ806X.
Yes, I updated one of these at a remote location. It’s a simple access point, not handling the internet uplink.
I see it has devices connected to its wireless radios: an iPhone and an iPad, one of them on 5GHz channel 40, the other on 2.4GHz channel 1.
I build my own firmware with the image-builder system. I installed 24.12.0-rc1 and subsequent RCs and now the final release, preserving settings, and all is well when it rebooted.
Yes just recently 24.10.5 => 25.12.0, using owut.
I updates without a problem using my own compiled build
You probably have settings in your config which are outdated, 24.10 was more relaxed in allowing outdated settings then 25.12
Usually it is in /etc/config/network
You can update without keeping settings and gradually put back your config and see what breaks.
Or post your network config and maybe someone sees what can cause this
/etc/config/network ,)
Thanks was too early not had my breakfast and coffee.
I have corrected it
So far I tried this:
Completed the update from 24.10.5 to each of the RC version, then went to the 25.12.0. This didn’t work.
Used owut and did the upgrade. Same result.
It shouldn’t be the settings, because I also reset the device to factory defaults. It wouldn’t give me network in that state either (before I applied any of my settings).
In case it could help, here are the contents of /etc/config/network (with my settings in place).
config interface 'loopback'
option device 'lo'
option proto 'static'
option ipaddr '127.0.0.1'
option netmask '255.0.0.0'config globals 'globals'
option ula_prefix 'fd27:39f5:79a6::/48'
option packet_steering '1'
option dhcp_default_duid 'xxx…xxx removed'config device
option name 'br-lan'
option type 'bridge'
list ports 'lan1'
list ports 'lan2'
list ports 'lan3'
list ports 'lan4'config interface 'lan'
option device 'br-lan'
option proto 'static'
option ipaddr '192.168.1.1'
option netmask '255.255.255.0'
option ip6assign '60'
list dns '192.168.1.209'config interface 'wan'
option device 'wan'
option proto 'dhcp'
option peerdns '0'
list dns '192.168.1.209'config interface 'wan6'
option device 'wan'
option proto 'dhcpv6'
option reqaddress 'try'
option reqprefix 'auto'
option peerdns '0'
option norelease '1'
list dns '192.168.1.209'
Nothing stands out in your network config.
Just do an owut check -v and provide the output here, possibly a package issue?
The correct way nowadays is CIDR notation so remove option netmask and option ipaddr and use:
list ipaddr '192.168.1.1/24'
Not sure if this is the showstopper it might still be allowed
This isn't default. It's also unnecessary to add it to all interfaces. I assume that this device is still connected and operational on your network?
Output of:
tells me that an upgrade is not required.
owut - OpenWrt Upgrade Tool 2026.01.13~2526d84b-r1 (/usr/bin/owut)
ASU-Server https://sysupgrade.openwrt.org
Upstream https://downloads.openwrt.org
Target qualcommax/ipq807x
Profile dynalink_dl-wrx36
Package-arch aarch64_cortex-a53
Root-FS-type squashfs
Sys-type sysupgrade
Version-from 24.10.5 r29087-d9c5716d1d (kernel 6.6.119)
Version-to 24.10.5 r29087-d9c5716d1d (kernel 6.6.119)
Build-commit https://git.openwrt.org/?p=openwrt/openwrt.git;a=shortlog;h=d9c5716d1d
Build-FS-type squashfs
Build-at 2025-12-17T21:08:22Z (~82 days ago)
Image-prefix openwrt-24.10.5-qualcommax-ipq807x-dynalink_dl-wrx36
Image-URL https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/24.10.5/targets/qualcommax/ipq807x
Image-file openwrt-24.10.5-qualcommax-ipq807x-dynalink_dl-wrx36-squashfs-sysupgrade.bin
Installed 183 packages
Top-level 37 packages
Default 40 packages
User-installed 3 packages (top-level only)
Package version changes:
All packages are up-to-date
Default package analysis:
Default Provided-by
nftables nftables-json
There are currently package build failures for 24.10.5 aarch64_cortex-a53:
Feed: packages
python-flask-httpauth Sat Mar 7 14:44:23 2026 - not installed
python-gevent Sat Mar 7 14:36:40 2026 - not installed
python-msgpack Sat Mar 7 14:03:40 2026 - not installed
3 package build failures don't affect this device, details at
https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/faillogs-24.10/aarch64_cortex-a53/
There are no changes, upgrade not necessary
If I try and force it, with
owut check --version-to 25.12 --verbose
I get this output:
owut - OpenWrt Upgrade Tool 2026.01.13~2526d84b-r1 (/usr/bin/owut)
ASU-Server https://sysupgrade.openwrt.org
Upstream https://downloads.openwrt.org
Target qualcommax/ipq807x
Profile dynalink_dl-wrx36
Package-arch aarch64_cortex-a53
Root-FS-type squashfs
Sys-type sysupgrade
Version-from 24.10.5 r29087-d9c5716d1d (kernel 6.6.119)
Version-to 25.12.0 r32713-f919e7899d (kernel 6.12.71)
Build-commit https://git.openwrt.org/?p=openwrt/openwrt.git;a=shortlog;h=f919e7899d
Build-FS-type squashfs
Build-at 2026-03-03T00:14:15Z (~7 days ago)
Image-prefix openwrt-25.12.0-qualcommax-ipq807x-dynalink_dl-wrx36
Image-URL https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/25.12.0/targets/qualcommax/ipq807x
Image-file openwrt-25.12.0-qualcommax-ipq807x-dynalink_dl-wrx36-squashfs-sysupgrade.bin
Installed 183 packages
Top-level 37 packages
Default 40 packages
User-installed 3 packages (top-level only)
Package version changes:
apk-mbedtls not-installed 3.0.2-r5
base-files 1668~d9c5716d1d 1693~f919e7899d
busybox 1.36.1-r2 1.37.0-r6
ca-bundle 20250419-r1 20250419-r2
cgi-io 2022.08.10~901b0f04-r21 2025.12.11~658b14bd-r1
dnsmasq 2.90-r4 2.91-r2
dropbear 2024.86-r2 2025.89-r1
e2fsprogs 1.47.0-r2 1.47.3-r1
firewall4 2024.12.18~18fc0ead-r1 2025.03.17~b6e51575-r1
fstools 2024.07.14~408c2cc4-r1 2026.02.15~8d377aa6-r1
fwtool 2019.11.12~8f7fe925-r1 2025.10.03~04cd252e-r1
getrandom 2024.04.26~85f10530-r1 2025.10.30~6f78fa49-r1
hostapd-common 2024.09.15~5ace39b0-r2 2025.08.26~ca266cc2-r1
ip-tiny 6.11.0-r1 6.18.0-r2
ipq-wifi-dynalink_dl-wrx36 2025.10.22~ec6831a4-r1 2026.01.28~88514e5a-r1
iw 6.9-r1 6.17-r1
iwinfo 2024.10.20~b94f066e-r1 2026.01.14~f5dd57a8-r1
jansson 2.14-r3 2.14.1-r1
jshn 2025.07.23~49056d17-r1 2026.02.13~1aa36ee7-r1
jsonfilter 2025.04.18~8a86fb78-r1 2025.10.04~f4fe702d-r1
kmod-ath 6.6.119.6.12.61-r1 6.12.71.6.18.7-r1
kmod-ath11k 6.6.119.6.12.61-r1 6.12.71.6.18.7-r1
kmod-ath11k-ahb 6.6.119.6.12.61-r1 6.12.71.6.18.7-r1
kmod-cfg80211 6.6.119.6.12.61-r1 6.12.71.6.18.7-r1
kmod-crypto-aead 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-crypto-ccm 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-crypto-cmac 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-crypto-crc32c 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-crypto-ctr 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-crypto-gcm 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-crypto-geniv 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-crypto-gf128 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-crypto-ghash 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-crypto-hash 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-crypto-hmac 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-crypto-kpp 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-crypto-lib-chacha20 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-crypto-lib-chacha20poly1305 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-crypto-lib-curve25519 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-crypto-lib-poly1305 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-crypto-manager 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-crypto-michael-mic 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-crypto-null 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-crypto-rng 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-crypto-seqiv 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-crypto-sha3 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-crypto-sha512 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-fs-ext4 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-gpio-button-hotplug 6.6.119-r5 6.12.71-r5
kmod-hwmon-core 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-leds-gpio 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-lib-crc-ccitt 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-lib-crc16 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-lib-crc32c 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-libphy 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-mac80211 6.6.119.6.12.61-r1 6.12.71.6.18.7-r1
kmod-nf-conntrack 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-nf-conntrack6 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-nf-flow 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-nf-log 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-nf-log6 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-nf-nat 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-nf-reject 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-nf-reject6 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-nfnetlink 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-nft-core 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-nft-fib 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-nft-nat 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-nft-offload 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-nls-base 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-phy-aquantia 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-ppp 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-pppoe 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-pppox 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-qca-nss-dp 6.6.119.2024.04.16~5bf8b91e-r1 6.12.71.2025.11.24~19c51af0-r1
kmod-qca-ssdk 6.6.119.2024.06.13~c451136b-r3 6.12.71.2025.05.30~446db12b-r1
kmod-qcom-qmi-helpers 6.6.119.6.12.61-r1 6.12.71.6.18.7-r1
kmod-qrtr 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-qrtr-smd 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-slhc 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-thermal 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-udptunnel4 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-udptunnel6 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-usb-core 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-usb-dwc3 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-usb-dwc3-qcom 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-usb-xhci-hcd 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-usb3 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
kmod-wireguard 6.6.119-r1 6.12.71-r1
libblkid 2.40.2-r1 2.41.3-r1
libblobmsg-json 2025.07.23~49056d17-r1 2026.02.13~1aa36ee7-r1
libcomerr 1.47.0-r2 1.47.3-r1
libe2p 1.47.0-r2 1.47.3-r1
libext2fs 1.47.0-r2 1.47.3-r1
libiwinfo 2024.10.20~b94f066e-r1 2026.01.14~f5dd57a8-r1
libiwinfo-data 2024.10.20~b94f066e-r1 2026.01.14~f5dd57a8-r1
libjson-script 2025.07.23~49056d17-r1 2026.02.13~1aa36ee7-r1
libnftnl 1.2.8-r1 1.3.1-r1
libnl-tiny 2025.03.19~c0df580a-r1 2025.12.02~40493a65-r1
libpthread 1.2.5-r4 1.2.5-r5
librt 1.2.5-r4 1.2.5-r5
libsmartcols 2.40.2-r1 2.41.3-r1
libss 1.47.0-r2 1.47.3-r1
libubox 2025.07.23~49056d17-r1 2026.02.13~1aa36ee7-r1
libubus 2025.10.17~60e04048-r1 2025.12.02~3cc98db1-r1
libuci 2025.01.20~16ff0bad-r1 2025.12.02~66127cd7-r1
libuclient 2024.10.22~88ae8f20-r1 2026.02.20~7a0aa2e4-r1
libucode 2025.07.18~3f64c808-r1 2026.01.16~85922056-r1
libudebug 2025.08.24~edeb4d6d 2026.01.16~875e1a7a
libustream-mbedtls 2024.07.28~99bd3d2b-r1 2025.10.03~5a81c108-r1
libuuid 2.40.2-r1 2.41.3-r1
logd 2024.04.26~85f10530-r1 2025.10.30~6f78fa49-r1
losetup 2.40.2-r1 2.41.3-r1
luci 26.068.02905~dff2c52 26.068.02899~3a0dd44
luci-app-firewall 26.068.02905~dff2c52 26.068.02899~3a0dd44
luci-app-package-manager 26.068.02905~dff2c52 26.068.02899~3a0dd44
luci-base 26.068.02905~dff2c52 26.068.02899~3a0dd44
luci-lib-uqr 26.068.02905~dff2c52 26.068.02899~3a0dd44
luci-light 26.068.02905~dff2c52 26.068.02899~3a0dd44
luci-mod-admin-full 26.068.02905~dff2c52 26.068.02899~3a0dd44
luci-mod-network 26.068.02905~dff2c52 26.068.02899~3a0dd44
luci-mod-status 26.068.02905~dff2c52 26.068.02899~3a0dd44
luci-mod-system 26.068.02905~dff2c52 26.068.02899~3a0dd44
luci-proto-ipv6 26.068.02905~dff2c52 26.068.02899~3a0dd44
luci-proto-ppp 26.068.02905~dff2c52 26.068.02899~3a0dd44
luci-proto-wireguard 26.068.02905~dff2c52 26.068.02899~3a0dd44
luci-theme-bootstrap 26.068.02905~dff2c52 26.068.02899~3a0dd44
mtd 26 27
netifd 2025.05.23~7901e66c-r1 2026.02.26~cbb83a18-r1
nftables-json 1.1.1-r1 1.1.6-r1
odhcp6c 2024.09.25~b6ae9ffa-r1 2026.01.25~ee2949e3-r1
odhcpd-ipv6only 2025.10.02~b14cf98c-r2 2026.01.19~2e5068b9-r1
openwrt-keyring 2024.11.01~fbae29d7-r2 2025.12.10~f0670054-r1
ppp 2.5.1-r1 2.5.2-r2
ppp-mod-pppoe 2.5.1-r1 2.5.2-r2
procd 2024.12.22~42d39376-r1 2026.02.20~2881a59f-r1
procd-seccomp 2024.12.22~42d39376-r1 2026.02.20~2881a59f-r1
procd-ujail 2024.12.22~42d39376-r1 2026.02.20~2881a59f-r1
rpcd 2025.09.01~bba95191-r1 2025.12.03~ffb9961c-r1
rpcd-mod-file 2025.09.01~bba95191-r1 2025.12.03~ffb9961c-r1
rpcd-mod-iwinfo 2025.09.01~bba95191-r1 2025.12.03~ffb9961c-r1
rpcd-mod-rpcsys 2025.09.01~bba95191-r1 2025.12.03~ffb9961c-r1
rpcd-mod-ucode 2025.09.01~bba95191-r1 2025.12.03~ffb9961c-r1
ubi-utils 2.2.1-r1 2.3.0-r1
uboot-envtools 2024.07-r1 2025.10-r1
ubox 2024.04.26~85f10530-r1 2025.10.30~6f78fa49-r1
ubus 2025.10.17~60e04048-r1 2025.12.02~3cc98db1-r1
ubusd 2025.10.17~60e04048-r1 2025.12.02~3cc98db1-r1
uci 2025.01.20~16ff0bad-r1 2025.12.02~66127cd7-r1
uclient-fetch 2024.10.22~88ae8f20-r1 2026.02.20~7a0aa2e4-r1
ucode 2025.07.18~3f64c808-r1 2026.01.16~85922056-r1
ucode-mod-fs 2025.07.18~3f64c808-r1 2026.01.16~85922056-r1
ucode-mod-math 2025.07.18~3f64c808-r1 2026.01.16~85922056-r1
ucode-mod-nl80211 2025.07.18~3f64c808-r1 2026.01.16~85922056-r1
ucode-mod-rtnl 2025.07.18~3f64c808-r1 2026.01.16~85922056-r1
ucode-mod-ubus 2025.07.18~3f64c808-r1 2026.01.16~85922056-r1
ucode-mod-uci 2025.07.18~3f64c808-r1 2026.01.16~85922056-r1
ucode-mod-uclient 2024.10.22~88ae8f20-r1 2026.02.20~7a0aa2e4-r1
ucode-mod-uloop 2025.07.18~3f64c808-r1 2026.01.16~85922056-r1
uhttpd 2025.07.06~7e64e8ba-r4 2025.10.03~ebb92e6b-r1
uhttpd-mod-ubus 2025.07.06~7e64e8ba-r4 2025.10.03~ebb92e6b-r1
urngd 2023.11.01~44365eb1-r1 2025.10.03~f17e33d9-r1
usign 2020.05.23~f1f65026-r1 2025.10.03~c4c72b1b-r1
wireguard-tools 1.0.20210914-r4 1.0.20250521-r1
wireless-regdb 2025.10.07-r1 2026.02.04-r1
wpad-basic-mbedtls 2024.09.15~5ace39b0-r2 2025.08.26~ca266cc2-r1
14 packages were downgraded
166 packages are out-of-date
Automatic package replacements/removals:
Package Replaced-by
opkg apk-mbedtls
Details at https://sysupgrade.openwrt.org/json/v1/overview.json
Default package analysis:
Default Provided-by
nftables nftables-json
There are currently package build failures for 25.12.0 aarch64_cortex-a53:
Feed: packages
domoticz Mon Mar 9 12:04:30 2026 - not installed
pigeonhole Mon Mar 9 12:17:05 2026 - not installed
pillow Mon Mar 9 11:48:09 2026 - not installed
python-flask-httpauth Mon Mar 9 12:05:16 2026 - not installed
python-frozenlist Mon Mar 9 11:48:24 2026 - not installed
python-gevent Mon Mar 9 12:01:06 2026 - not installed
python-gmpy2 Mon Mar 9 11:50:04 2026 - not installed
python-multidict Mon Mar 9 11:48:49 2026 - not installed
python-psycopg2 Mon Mar 9 11:50:41 2026 - not installed
python-pyodbc Mon Mar 9 12:01:55 2026 - not installed
python-pyopenssl Mon Mar 9 12:10:32 2026 - not installed
python-ubus Mon Mar 9 11:51:16 2026 - not installed
python-yarl Mon Mar 9 12:00:15 2026 - not installed
Feed: telephony
asterisk-chan-sccp Mon Mar 9 12:39:50 2026 - not installed
Feed: video
assimp Mon Mar 9 10:20:03 2026 - not installed
glslang Mon Mar 9 10:20:11 2026 - not installed
qt5base Mon Mar 9 12:41:00 2026 - not installed
qt5quick Mon Mar 9 12:41:00 2026 - not installed
qt5quick-controls Mon Mar 9 12:41:08 2026 - not installed
qt5script Mon Mar 9 12:40:59 2026 - not installed
qt5svg Mon Mar 9 12:41:02 2026 - not installed
qt5translations Mon Mar 9 13:08:07 2026 - not installed
qt5virtualkeyboard Mon Mar 9 13:08:07 2026 - not installed
vkmark Mon Mar 9 12:36:00 2026 - not installed
24 package build failures don't affect this device, details at
https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/faillogs-25.12/aarch64_cortex-a53/
WARNING: Checks reveal package downgrades, upgrade still possible with '--force'
The device 192.168.1.209 is a dns sinkhole, and is connected and fully operational, since everything works when I downgrade to 24.10.5.
I tried a vanilla install that had
list ipaddr '192.168.1.1/24'
and sill nothing. That is why I think it can't be the settings.
Can anyone make sense of the above output? otnert, you said you upgraded to 25.12.0. Did you use?
owut upgrade --version-to 25.12
What doesn’t make sense is:
So you did manage to upgrade to 25.12.0-rc(x) release candidate(s).
So just upgrade from the release candidate to 25.12.0?
Why if your upgrading from 24.10.5?
I have 2x wrx36’s. I built owut images for 25.12 on the 24.10 router (for convenience/laziness), and used:
owut download -V 25.12.0 --force -a apk-openssl,iwnfo,uclient-fetch -r apk-mbedtls
..then move image to other router, I do some checks, then run owut install
Even then there are notable changes in 25.12:
dhcp:
config odhcpd 'odhcpd'
option leasefile '/tmp/odhcpd.leases'
option piodir '/tmp/odhcpd-piodir'
option hostsdir '/tmp/hosts'
network:
config interface 'loopback'
list ipaddr '127.0.0.1/8'
config globals 'globals'
option dhcp_default_duid '000xxx’ ←-random number generated here
config interface 'lan'
list ipaddr '192.168.1.1/24'
This is what I’d do.
I tried doing this:
1/ I updated from 24.10.5 to 25.12.0 keeping the settings. This didn't work. No network upon reboot.
2/ I tried updating from 24.10.5 to 25.12.rc1, then to 25.12.rc2 ... to 25.12.rc5 to 25.12.0, keeping the settings. No network upon reboot.
3/ I reset the 24.10.5 version, wiping all settings. Then I updated to 25.12.0 using the built image. Same result. No network upon reboot. I also tried updating using owut. Same result.
4/ I tried this command:
owut download -V 25.12.0 --force -a apk-openssl,iwnfo,uclient-fetch -r apk-mbedtls
Same result. No network upon update.
I am at my wits end. I carried out firmware updates on various OpenWrt routers over many past years. I have never encountered trouble. Until this time.
Try upgrading using a clean https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/25.12.0/targets/qualcommax/ipq807x/openwrt-25.12.0-qualcommax-ipq807x-dynalink_dl-wrx36-squashfs-sysupgrade.bin image via Luci, not keeping the settings.
Just completed an upgrade using the above clean image, and didn't keep any settings. Same result. No network upon reboot.
Just to confirm, are you indicating that you had no network functionality upon reboot with all versions of 25.12.x (including the release candidates), or only had a problem with the final 25.12.0 stable release version?
I ask because I tested with both 25.12.12rc4 and rc5. Networking functionality and speed tests were normal with those versions.
Side note: I do not use IPV6. Not sure if that is part of your situation.
The title is "Openwrt 25.12.0 not working".
What does 'no network' mean?
The issue is now resolved. The hint of the answer came from this post.
What I did is this: updated to OpenWrt 25.12.0 version and rebooted. This gave me no network connectivity. Then, I just let the router sit over night. In the morning, network connectivity was restored.
My thinking is that the most recent version of OpenWrt changed how it is managing DHCP leases. It looks like my ISP didn't assign a new lease immediately upon completion of the firmware update. To get connectivity back, I had to wait for the old leases to expire.
It is indeed scary when a firmware update on a router kills network connectivity.
Thanks to everyone for their help on this!
Wonder if it’s this you’re experiencing?