Firmware 4.3.6 removes features!

osolong · 2023-08-09T14:33:10.378Z

I have the same situation.
Not just NAS. The update deleted all my wifi passwords, which I don’t have at hand and will have to request again. This update is very very disappointing and lame, the UI feels sluggish.
I already put a lot of effort configuring this router and almost everything was wiped out!!!

What is this? Planned obsolescence?

eric · 2023-08-09T17:43:18.687Z

A couple questions:

Since the AR750S has enough flash for these features, why is GL iNet not installing them on routers using these features?
Why are you allowing auto-updates if it is killing features or or configurations? This should only be an opt-in update.

I am glad to see 4.x for some of the older products finally reaching production, but this should be only an opt-in update!

elorimer · 2023-08-09T19:14:02.496Z

I follow that an auto-update to 4.x from 3.x is problematic because “keep settings” is unwise, but folks may not have "kept settings’ to rebuild. Updating to 4.x from 3.x most definitely needs one to completely reconfigure, so I agree maybe that step needs to be opt-in. Auto update along the 3.x line, and notify of the opportunity to move to 4.x.

But, I most definitely think it is good for GL-Inet to rethink what they pack into the firmware. It is fairly easy to add packages back, but it takes imagebuilder to rebuild the firmware to omit stuff, and that is really beyond most users. I was most pleasantly surprised that my Mango could go to 4.x and still have room for the stuff I wanted to add, without having to make space by deleting stuff I don’t need. Looking at you nodogsplash and glterf.

Also: I am almost always installing beta/snapshot firmware and never under any circumstances auto-updating. Windows and Chrome cause enough pain as it is.

robotluo · 2023-08-10T01:17:47.612Z

Allowing automatic updates was indeed a mistake, and we have now removed automatic push, leaving the choice in the hands of the user.

robotluo · 2023-08-10T01:23:41.488Z

We upgraded to openwrt 22.03, and while it made the router a lot more possible, the AR750S would be very slow to run these features, which is like your computer from 10 years ago running the latest windows11, and we chose to put these features in the software repository for people who needed them to install it.
Of course, it was a wrong decision to push the firmware, and we did not consider the users who turned on the automatic upgrade function.

fosman · 2023-08-10T02:25:51.507Z

How do I get the file sharing or local network access back? I have two external HD connected to my Ar750s. Seems a lot of things have been removed. What package do I need to install?

In advance thank you.

eric · 2023-08-10T02:26:22.867Z

Normally, for best security, auto-updates are good. I use it on Windows, macOS, my Android phones and several Linux systems. The problem is, GL iNet firmware updates are not clean. This should be a priority in future releases.

yuxin.zou · 2023-08-10T02:46:49.438Z

fosman:

How do I get the file sharing

Just run the “for nas” command:

Firmware 4.3.6 removes features! Technical Support for Routers

You can use these features by installing the following package For nas opkg update opkg install gl-sdk4-webdav gl-sdk4-nas-exfat gl-sdk4-nas-utils gl-sdk4-nas-web gl-sdk4-ui-nasview samba4-server samba4-libs samba4-utils minidlna blkid kmod-fs-ext4 kmod-fs-ntfs kmod-fs-vfat kmod-fs-exfat kmod-usb-storage-uas ntfs-3g ntfs-3g-utils dosfstools e2fsprogs shadow-common shadow-useradd for tor opkg install gl-sdk4-ui-torview for adguardhome opkg install gl-sdk4-ui-adguardhome

If you are not familiar with SSH:

File sharing on MT1300 4.3.6 firmware Technical Support for Routers

You can install them manually by installing them manually on the plug-ins page gl-sdk4-ui-nasview shadow-useradd samba4-server samba4-utils kmod-usb-storage-uas or via SSH opkg update opkg install gl-sdk4-webdav gl-sdk4-nas-exfat gl-sdk4-nas-utils gl-sdk4-nas-web gl-sdk4-ui-nasview samba4-server samba4-libs samba4-utils minidlna blkid kmod-fs-ext4 kmod-fs-ntfs kmod-fs-vfat kmod-fs-exfat kmod-usb-storage-uas ntfs-3g ntfs-3g-utils dosfstools e2fsprogs shadow-common shadow-useradd

qdolan · 2023-08-10T03:16:09.898Z

Automatic updates aren’t a bad idea, in fact they are excellent for maintaining security if they are done well and reserved for minor point releases that contain security updates only. Unattended installation of a major update is almost always a bad idea.

Related to this the device also needs to have a reliable backup and restore process of configuration changes to make resetting, updating or rolling back firmware versions painless. This is pretty fundamental to a network appliance and something that GL needs to improve on.

limbot · 2023-08-10T05:24:38.539Z

I uboot updated one of my AR750s from 3.216 to 4.3.6 and expected to lose everything however I can confirm that @robotluo 's instructions will bring back NAS capabilities.

fosman · 2023-08-10T11:43:16.940Z

Thx. Can you help me out how to enable the file sharing/access to ext. HDs once again? I can’t remember how I did it. It’s so long ago. I got the ‘network storage’ under Application now but still can’t access them.

fosman · 2023-08-10T12:29:24.635Z

Btw sorry for this (offtopic), but what’s your latest/newest router that can do exactly the same?

gazelleOpal · 2023-08-10T13:45:13.836Z

zzztidurvirus:

later? If not, auto updates will be turned off.

Mine automatically upgraded to 4.3.6 too and I don’t know if you can actually turn off auto updates anymore? The tab to configure auto upgrade is gone from the upgrade page. Has it been removed? Do you know a way to fix this?

yuxin.zou · 2023-08-11T06:18:56.450Z

Please refer to

docs.gl-inet.com

Network Storage - GL.iNet Router Docs 4

Documentation for GL.iNet Router Productions

dabeermoney · 2023-08-11T18:01:54.750Z

The “custom” tab under luci interface is gone too. I can’t add my TTL settings. So effectively I cannot tether a phone and modify TTL settings anymore.

Also, there is no longer and internet kill switch with the VPN options. This upgrade for this device was poorly thought out.

Love GL devices…own a lot…but this is disappointing

EddieA · 2023-08-11T19:43:00.484Z

dabeermoney:

Also, there is no longer and internet kill switch with the VPN options

Look under Global Options in the VPN Dashboard.

Cheers.

yuxin.zou · 2023-08-14T06:38:42.069Z

dabeermoney:

The “custom” tab under luci interface is gone too. I can’t add my TTL settings. So effectively I cannot tether a phone and modify TTL settings anymore.

This is a modification for the new version of OpenWrt, we are not responsible for maintaining LuCI.
For now, you can only modify it via SSH.

For All Interfaces:

mkdir -p /usr/share/nftables.d/chain-pre/mangle_postrouting/
echo "ip ttl set 65" >  /usr/share/nftables.d/chain-pre/mangle_postrouting/01-set-tt
l.nft
fw4 reload

For one Interface (such as eth0):

mkdir -p /usr/share/nftables.d/chain-pre/mangle_postrouting/
echo " oifname eth0 ip ttl set 65" >  /usr/share/nftables.d/chain-pre/mangle_postrouting/01-set-tt
l.nft
fw4 reload

dabeermoney:

Also, there is no longer and internet kill switch with the VPN options.

It is optimized for tighter Block Non-VPN Traffic in GlobaL Options of VPN Client.

eric · 2023-08-14T23:31:21.473Z

@yuxin.zou Totally agree that your are not responsible for maintaining LuCI, BUT you do control your firmware and could add this much requested feature into the GL iNet router GUI

yuxin.zou · 2023-08-15T01:15:57.905Z

It’s already in the plans.

zzztidurvirus · 2023-08-18T08:12:26.847Z

Firmware 4.3.6 not found on the Firmware page. Although its nice that we finally have a new update, 3.2.1.6 is still more stable. For instance:

4.3.6: My custom LuCI LED Config always reset to default, when my hotspot from phone is down (when I get calls on my phone, my 4G data will be cut off, thia is not VoLTE phone), no auto reconnect

3.2.1.6: Immediately connect to my phone when data is detected. LED Config never changes.

4.3.6 feels kinda slow, maybe GL iNet team can somehow optimize 4.3.6 for Slate? Even Reset All has been done, it still feels slow, and this hotspot problem too, makes me always had to manually reconnect my phone (No, I have not installed those 3 stuffs that I need and it still has that reconnection and LED Lights problem).

For now, maybe 3.2.1.6 is the better choice. Just set it up once, including NAS and AdGuard settings, then just leave it alone, just let it auto connect to my phone like usual.