How to Install on Asus RT-AX86U Pro

[abyz01]

I would like to request support for installing on the Asus RT-AX86U Pro. Is the usage similar to that of a Raspberry Pi?

thank you

[jlinktu]

Please note that we currently only support the 5 GHz interface of the Asus RT-AX86U Pro and the current nexmon firmware doesn't come with any advanced features. Also, the default firmware for the Asus RT-AX86U Pro already supports monitor mode, if this is what you are looking for. Check out the wl util that comes pre-installed together with the official Asus system.

If you still want to build and install the nexmon firmware:
Follow the README here up to the last bullet point. Instead of the last point do the following:

• change into directory of the firmware for the Asus RT-AX86U Pro cd patches/bcm6715b0/17_10_188_6401_r808804_ax86upro/nexmon.
• build the firmware: make.
• create a destination directory on your Asus RT-AX86U Pro, e.g. /jffs/nexmon.
• move the firmware file rtecdc.bin over to your Asus RT-AX86U Pro into the previously created directory, e.g. to /jffs/nexmon/rtecdc.bin. (**)

• on your Asus RT-AX86U Pro

  1. remove the kernel module for the 5 GHz interface: /sbin/rmmod dhd.
  2. load the kernel module pointing it to the modified firmware: /sbin/insmod $(find /lib/modules -name dhd.ko) firmware_path=/jffs/nexmon/rtecdc.bin instance_base=1.
  3. configure the interface (eth7), either manually using wl and ifconfig, or if you want to use the defaults using /sbin/restart_wireless.

  (**) On recent builds by Asus, there seem to be no scp and tools like wget do not accept IPv4 addresses. One way to transfer files is to open a web server on your local machine in the nexmon folder where rtecdc.bin is located by running python3 -m http.server 8080 and on the Asus router, map your local IPV4 address (e.g. 192.168.50.100) to a host name, e.g. "mymachine", with echo "192.168.50.100 mymachine" >> /etc/hosts. Then on your Asus router you can fetch the file with: cd /jffs/nexmon && wget http://mymachine:8080/rtecdc.bin. Note that this is just one of many possible ways, you may want to do it differently.