ASUS RT-N16

Pre-Compiled Archives and Firmware

The RT-N16 is now user supported, see here for installation instructions.

Firmware	​debwrt-firmware-brcm4716-squashfs-09092012.trx
Modules	​debwrt-modules-brcm4716-None-3.3.7-testing-2.1-1-09092012.tar.gz
RootFS	​debwrt-rootfs-mipsel-2.0-1.tar.bz2

Please note that the broadcom gmac driver is not covered by a GPL compliant licence. Use of it in any way is done so at your own discretion.

See thread ​here for support discussion.

Compiling From Source

1. After checking out the DebWrt Build Environment, download and extract one of the attached archive to the plugins directory.

Standard Plugin

​debwrt-plugin-brcm4716-09092012.tar.gz

Experimental Plugin (See notes below)

​debwrt-plugin-brcm4716-experimental-current.tar.gz

2. Follow the rest of the instructions as shown here.

*EXPERIMENTAL PLUGIN NOTES*

This plugin will always use the latest openwrt revision/kernel. However, due to changes in the OpenWrt source (which are impossible to anticipate) build errors may be encountered. Therefore this is only recommended for advanced users. With that being said, the build errors are usually remedied quite easily (if you have knowledge of how patches work) by simply updating the offending patchfile(s). Please read the README included with the plugin to increase the likelihood of success.

General notes about the modified source files (the ones in the above archives)

• The new plugin facility automatically patches the DebWrt config files to create brcm4716 based device targets as well as select all required packages and options.
• Other brcm4716 based devices include the Belkin PlayMax? F7D4301, Linksys E3000 v1 and the Linksys WRT610N v2. This plugin should work for them as well but is untested.

RT-N16 Initial Configuration Script

This script was made to automatically perform many of the necessary steps of setting up, securing and optimizing the RT-N16 for use as a router. Can be used with both installations from pre-compiled archives or building from source. It is to be run by the user on the first boot after rootfs installation.

List of tasks performed:

• Package debwrt-net and dependencies are installed if missing
• The /etc/network/interfaces.broadcom file is patched for use with the RT-N16 and enabled
• DNSMASQ is enabled
• /etc/apt/sources.list is set to debian default (including security and updates repositories)
• aptitude update and upgrade are run to install all the latest security updates
• Both the power and wireless LED are enabled
• User is prompted with an option to automatically overclock their router to 532MHz from the stock 480MHz
• User is prompted to set their own SSID other than the default
• User is prompted to set a wireless password
• User is prompted to set their timezone
• User is prompted to change the root password
• Router reboots automatically and voila! You have an up-to-date working router

Usage:

1. Download the script from here: ​rtn16_config.sh and place it on the usb stick containing the DebWrt rootfs
2. Ensure that the "WAN" port on the router is connected to an active internet connection
3. Connect to the router (via SSH/Serial) and execute the following command: sh ./rtn16_config.sh
4. Follow the prompts and wait for the script to finish, should take no more than 15 mins

Network Interfaces

The default network interface definition file suitable for RT-N16 can be found here. The following changes are probably necessary:

• remove the lines marked as robocfg
• enable the lines marked as asus rt-n16
• disable the lines referring to /etc/firewall/firewall.sh (this script is not available by default)
• you will need to install the broadcom-wl package to use the wifi interface with encryption