Netgear R6300v2

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== DD-WRT Upgrade == == DD-WRT Upgrade ==
-Download '''.bin''' (''not'' .chk) file of desired build from [ftp://ftp.dd-wrt.com/betas/ DD-WRT FTP server].+Download '''.bin''' (''not'' .chk) file of desired build as per [https://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Firmware_FAQ#Where_do_I_download_firmware.3F Where do I download firmware?].
Locate correct firmware in folder '''netgear-r6300v2''' on ''main page of build''. Locate correct firmware in folder '''netgear-r6300v2''' on ''main page of build''.
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Link to Kong Personal Test Builds (PTB) appears in Build Information section below. Link to Kong Personal Test Builds (PTB) appears in Build Information section below.
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- 
== Return to Stock == == Return to Stock ==

Revision as of 17:27, 15 November 2017

Contents

Hardware Specs

CPU Broadcom BCM4708A0
CPU Speed 800 MHz (2 Cores)
Flash ROM 128 MB
RAM 256 MB
Radios BCM4360 5 GHz & BCM4331 2.4 GHz
WLAN Support a/n+ac 3x3:3 & b/g/n 3x3:3
WLAN Max Speed 450 mbps on 2.4Ghz and 1300mbps on 5Ghz
Antenna Location Internal
Switch 4x GigE LAN + 1 GigE WAN
USB 1x USB 3.0 + 1x USB 2.0
Power Adapter 12VDC 2.5A wall wart


Other Non-v2 Hardware

This is v2 specific WiKi. Please do not get confused and try to use it on a v1, or "R6300" model unit. That device has a different CPU and is NOT covered here.

Also this page does not consider Costco's OEM software crippled AC1450 hardware. Kong has added support for the AC1450 and has advised AGAINST using burnboardid to make it a R6300v2. See HERE for details.


R6300v2 Versions

There are TWO software variants of the R6300v2 device. Charter (an ISP) puts out a custom R6300v2 unit with "Model: R6300v2" on the bottom. The authours CH unit had a blue coloring on the front, not the standard yellow. When you open the stock firmware web interface you will note a "CH" at the end of the stock firmware name/version.


Be careful to flash the correct INITIAL firmware for your version!

Version R6300v2 R6300v2CH (Charter ISP)
Label on Router R6300v2 R6300v2
Netgear Support OEM Link Charter Firmware Link
Supported from DD-WRT build 23082 2013-12-12 since Kong's historical initial v2CH file
Initial DD-WRT Flash Files 26138 device specific build for R6300 Kongs old "initial" file for R6300v2CH
MD5 of Initial Flash Files f801997c59cb7a734ac41afc2e929a98 ad17d87215118a0d4d32cd04df1caef5


Determine your R6300v2 variant & download the proper initial flash file from the table above:

  1. Connect to the router (using router DHCP is fine) via LAN cable or WiFi
  2. In web browser, go to http://192.168.1.1 or http://www.routerlogin.net and login (if you have to reset details, including default username/password, are in flash section below)
  3. Click on Advanced > Administration > Router Status
  4. Check the Stock Firmware version for a trialing "CH"
  5. If there is a "CH" use download the "CH" initial flash file, if not you can use the regular initial flash file
  6. See yellow highlights in screenshot below for details.


Screenshot of R6300v2CH unit:

Flashing Instructions

It's always good practice to read the Peacock Thread for reference on Broadcom-based routers. Even if a few small details do not apply to a BCM4707/4708/4709 ARM CPU device, it is still an excellent historical reference that provides valuable insight on how these devices work and related processes/procedures.


Initial DD-WRT Installation

...now that you have the appropriate initial flash file downloaded...

To go from stock Netgear firmware to DD-WRT on a R6300v2:

  1. Turn on router, wait for Power light to go solid green, then reset router:
    1. Reset Per Netgear Documentation: Use the end of a paper clip or a similar object to press and hold the Reset button on the back of the router for at least 7 seconds. The router resets, and returns to the factory configuration
      Note: WiKi author recommends holding reset for at least 20 seconds.
    2. After releasing Reset button, router should reboot with much flashing of lights.
    3. Wait for Power light to go solid green again.
  2. Connect PC to one of router's LAN ports with an network cable (using router for DHCP is okay). This should be the ONLY connection for the router & PC
  3. Clear web browser cache.
  4. In web browser, go to http://192.168.1.1 or http://www.routerlogin.net netgear default username & password is "admin" & "password" respectively (no quotes)
  5. Click on Advanced > Administration > Router Update
  6. Select special .chk firmware file you downloaded from table above.
  7. After the router says it is done... wait at least 5 minutes longer (5 full earth minutes) for it to fully reboot and power light to go solid green again. (Why wait? See peacock Note 1 "Important2" bold paragraph.)
  8. In web browser, go to http://192.168.1.1
  9. Verify DD-WRT successfully installed.
  10. Reset router (as documented above), and wait for router to reboot and Power light to go solid green again.
  11. In web browser, go to http://192.168.1.1 (you should see the DD-WRT create password screen)
  12. Create a password using the standard DD-WRT GUI
  13. Set Password, Login and manually configure DD-WRT.
  14. Note: Some users have needed to reset NVRAM from the CLI, see the "NO 30-30-30 reset..." section below for details. While these last few steps may not be necessary, the wiki author has performed them without issues.

  15. Telnet over to router (username = root & password = the one you just set)
  16. From telnet pass the following command (without quotes): "nvram erase && reboot"
  17. ...wait for router to reboot and Power light to go solid green again (5 minutes).
  18. In web browser, go to http://192.168.1.1 (you should be back at the set password screen again)
  19. Set Password, Login and manually configure DD-WRT.


Note 1: If you get an error message stating that the firmware you are loading is the same or older than the stock firmware on the unit, that is fine. Have it load the firmware anyway.

Note 2: While not always necessary it is also a best practice to set your computer to a static IP of 192.168.1.8 (or to whatever subnet the router is on) for flashing. Also when flashing from a windows client I like to open a command prompt window and pass the following command (no quotes) "ping 192.168.1.1 -t -i 200" and watch the TTL responses during the process. Remember to set your client back to get IP from DHCP when you are finished.

DD-WRT Upgrade

Download .bin (not .chk) file of desired build as per Where do I download firmware?.

Locate correct firmware in folder netgear-r6300v2 on main page of build.

(Do not use folders broadcom_K26 or broadcom_K3X.)

Follow Initial DD-WRT Installation procedure except using DD-WRT Administration > Firmware Upgrade.

Remember to Reset as detailed above.

Link to Kong Personal Test Builds (PTB) appears in Build Information section below.

Return to Stock

Flashing back to Netgear Firmware is supported. Just use the dd-wrt web interface and upload netgear firmware. Since netgear is not using the same password var as dd-wrt you have to reset the router after you flashed back to netgear firmware, otherwise the netgear webif will not accept the default password. (Per Kong's pre-Oct. 2014 "readme" file.)


NO 30-30-30 Reset on BCM4707/4708/4709 ARM Devices

...in addition to the reset button as described above...


From the GUI: If you need to reset (clear historical NVRAM settings) select factory reset option from drop down on firmware upload web gui page. or use the reset to default settings WEBIF.
Administration > Factory Defaults (select radio button, then apply settings)
or
Administration > Firmware Upgrade (after browsing to your firmware file, select "reset to defaults" from dropdown, then click upgrade button)


From the Command Line Interpreter (CLI): Telnet over to the device and pass the following command (without quotes): "nvram erase && reboot"


Reset notes: We all know to reset after initial flash. In early Feb. 2015 Kong announced a reset is required for certain upgrades as well, summary HERE. While not always necessary, resetting and re-configuring manually is also a best practice for upgrades. In Q1 2015 it was noted that users that reset from the CLI and MANUALLY RECONFIGURED after upgrading avoided issues (do NOT restore a NVRAMBAK from previous build it basically will undo your CLI reset).


Build Information

Recommended build for this router is 26138 bin (MD5: f837e9af664b57fb8ea104d7feef9dff ). This is the first historical stable build to include the new Broadcom WIFI driver (released in Feb. 2015). This build has working Ethernet & stable WiFi (no more reboots). That said, the developers are/were still working on other enhancements & bug fixes.


Apr. 2016 Update: The 28500 build dated 12/13/2015 and 28600 build dated 12/31/2015 have both been reported as stable and recommended by many users on the forum. These historical builds can be found HERE, archived in a 3rd party repository of historial Kong PTBs.


Kong is currently maintaining a personal test build (PTB) for this router Current Kong PTB,
available as either DD-WRT upgrade, or initial flash (initial flash not tested by wiki author). Note that since Oct. 2014 no history of Kong PTBs is formally maintained (the new file overwrites the previous version, so that link is always pointed to the current builds).


Both developers are working from the SVN Main Trunk, so you can't go wrong with firmware from either.


Forum threads for reference:
-- Support for netgear R6300 / R6300v2 ? this thread covers both v1 and v2 units so read carefully!
-- New Broadcom ARM driver ? this thread has become the rallying point for Kong PTB testing.
-- Since this device has a similar architecture to the R7000, the wiki author has found it helpful to keep up on the R7000 in the forum thread (for informational purposes).
-- Of course, also keep an eye on the new builds threads, for both Kong and BS builds (Especially if you don't have serial/jtag recovery skills and do NOT want to be the first person to flash a newly released build.)