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ASUS firmware update bricked the device
On Friday 19 June I visited the built-in web server on my Asus RT-N12 home router and received an alert that there was a new firmware available. Following is the text of a complaint message I sent to Asus on 31 May 2018, using the web form at https://www.asus.com/support/Product/ContactUs/Services/questionform/?lang=en.
FIRMWARE UPDATE TO RT-N12 ROUTER BRICKED THE DEVICE.
Product: RT-N12 D1
Serial: D51ADQ000240I was alerted by my RT-N12 router than a firmware update was available. I used the router’s update page to have it download and install the update. Upon restarting, I was presented with a bare-bones web page that invited me to upload a file (I refer to this as the “fallback upload” page.)
After searching the Asus site, I downloaded FW_RT_N12_9013.zip, which unfortunately was the wrong file (investigation revealed I have a revision D1, not an original RT-N12.) I uploaded the .trx file in that ZIP to the router, which bricked the device.
- The model name on the router was “RT N12” and NOT “RT-N12 D1”. Why was the D1 not part of the model name, but was in a separate part of the sticker? That would have gone a long way toward finding and downloading the correct firmware file.
- Why did the fallback upload page allow me to upload an obviously bad firmware file? Is that bit of software so bare-bones that it absolutely cannot make any checks on the file being uploaded?
After thinking about the best way to get a replacement device, I recalled Shaw now provides a combination DOCSIS modem/router/4 port switch/WiFi device to their customers. I checked with Shaw’s technical support department, who informed me I could replace the simple Motorola SB5102 DOCSIS modem with the multifunction device. I did that the next day.