Hello, I am planning to install OpenWRT on my TP-Link Archer C2 v3 (EU), but I'm getting some conflicting information on how to actually do it.
I found a guide on GitHub for the US version of my router (Archer C900), which sets up shell access to the router, and uses the "sysupgrade" image, even explicitly warning me that using the "factory" image will brick the device.
This goes conflicts with most other guides on the internet, which all say that I should use the "factory" image when installing it for the first time, because the sysupgrade image will brick the device. Is this because my router's stock OS as already based on OpenWRT?
Also, this guide says that I should flash the image from an SSH shell using the mtd command, but most other guides suggest that using the built-in web interface is fine.
So which image should I use? I already configured root SSH access to the device based on the guide, and I downloaded the sysupgrade image to /tmp, but I haven't pulled the trigger on the mtd command yet.
Yes, I've read this guide, but the other guide that I linked says that uploading the factory image will brick my device. My issue is that I don't know which guide to trust.
I'm sorry for not wanting to brick the only router in my house, and trying to take the necessary precautions before flashing a new firmware instead of just randomly throwing shit at the wall to see if it sticks, that's my bad.
If anyone else wants to make a meaningful contribution to this thread, I'm still looking for answers regarding the upgrade process.
The other page is 4 years old, in my impression it just works as an old browser mentioned in openwrt page (still keep fifty bucks as recovery in your hand)
The github does not say that following the official installation process (flash the "factory" image through the web interface) will brick the device, only that it may be rejected by a verification check and refuse to flash. In which case it will continue running stock firmware as before.
With 8/64 memory this device's ability to run much on OpenWrt is limited, and becomes more so as new versions come out. It would be good to shop for more capable hardware as a replacement. Especially for a beginner, it is not fun constantly fighting memory limitations.
The reason I'm trying to do this is because I want to do IPv6 port forwarding, which the stock firmware doesn't allow (the default IPv6 firewall is not configurable with the web interface). I'm not planning to use any other fancy features.
Since I've already hacked my way into a root shell via SSH, I could just manually forward the ports with ip6tables, but I assume I'd have to do that every time the router gets rebooted, which seems like a hassle. AFAIK OpenWRT has built-in GUI for properly configuring IPv6 firewall rules, which would make things easier.
Plus I assume I can always just restore the factory image, right?
Not really, 8mb tplink factory image is usually raw flash content. Recovery usually needs ttl to activate
Start with 19.07.10 factory because it is smaller
then sysupgrade to 23.05.5 not keeping config
24.10.0 has problems on some devices with this 5ghz wifi, better wait for 24.10.1 (here you can migrate config)