ASUSWrt; more control over your ASUS router!

What is ASUSWrt-Merlin?

ASUSWrt-Merlin is a custom firmware that you can install on most ASUS routers. It allows you to have more control and feedback from your ASUS router. It also allows you to SSH into it remotely and install packages and log network traffic to a USB drive!

Why did you install ASUSWrt-Merlin on your router?

It is simply so that I can have more granular control over my own router. Sure, I've been a ASUS router fan for a while, but when I dived into Linux, that's when I demanded more of my own hardware, meaning more deep level control and freedom. I also wanted to log any router data and network traffic to find any weird things coming into my subnet.

How did you install ASUSWrt-Merlin?

I simply went into the ASUSWrt-Merlin downloads, found my router, downloaded the .zip file, extracted it, and took the firmware file and uploaded it. Kaboom. It was that easy. Configuring is a different task.

Why not use OpenWrt?

The router I currently own and use, the AC66U B1 does not support OpenWrt because of its processor. MediaTek processors work well with OpenWrt, but mine is (i think) a Broadcom chip. Eww. Broadcom only provides pre-compiled blobs. MediaTek shares more with the community.

DISCLAIMERS:

• I'm not responsible if you brick your router if you install and configure ASUSWrt-Merlin. I'm not saying you will brick it 99% of the time, I'm saying you should be careful when configuring and upload the right firmware file!
• If it doesn't work, that sucks. Maybe find an off-the-shelf router that supports OpenWrt!