If you own a Zyxel EX3301 router and are curious about how OpenWRT feel on this device, You can easily try it out without any complicated disassembly or UART connections. The installation process is straightforward, simply flash using the OEM web interface.
What's even better? You can always revert to the original OEM firmware some of the feature are in development but over 90% works fine, join in testing
Happy flashing!
Update link: See releases, v-17 have backhaul mesh support added
Thank you for working on this EX3301 port. I understand its a very early release, but we need a bit more info to be able to help in testing it. For instance, I wonder why is it based on OpenWrt 15 and not the latest 25 version? Also, how to backup the existing original firware before flashing this? Router has ISP provided firmware, so the generic version provided with the download will most likely not be a suitable replacement in case we need to rollback.
Thank you
Back in the days of Kernel 3.18, Linux didn't know separating drivers from hardware layouts. Most vendors, like Zyxel, compiled their code directly into the kernel using a "board file," which is how the OEM firmware on the EX3301 was built. Lets talk about recent kernels, like those in the latest OpenWrt, require Device Tree Source (DTS). To build it is a time-consuming see work in progress here . This firmware build around the same kernel with a filesystem from OpenWrt 15.05, just to make things fast and avoid writing DTS files and Wi-Fi drivers.
To back up the current ISP firmware, you need a UART connection. Installing OpenWrt 15.05 will erase your current ISP firmware unless your ISP has locked the installation (in this case you cant install it anyway)
The rollback.bin file ( when flash using sysupgrade) will restores your router to factory settings with firmware version 3.3, not to the current ISP firmware. I would say if you are on ISP firmwae then proceed with caution.