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faq [2023/05/07 23:10] – [Device Name Defaults] -spelling, clarity hogwildfaq [2023/07/27 03:35] (current) – [Device Support] -add that Asus TUF AX3000 will be first .ax supported router hogwild
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-  * You are in the right place. +  * You're in the right place. 
-  * Verify whether your device is supported by your router via the [[hardware_compatibility|Hardware compatibility]] page. Pay attention to the HW revision column and the notes. +  * Go the [[hardware_compatibility|Hardware compatibility]] page and verify check whether your device is supported by FreshTomatoRead the HW revision column and the notes column
-  * Overall, the installation process is relatively safe. Depending on your hardware, there are recovery procedures to try if things don't go as planned. However, please know that you are fully responsible for any risks involved in upgrading your device to FreshTomato.+  * Overall, the installation process is relatively safe. Depending on your hardware, there are recovery procedures to try if things don't go as planned. However, please know that you are fully responsible for any risks involved in upgrading your device to FreshTomato.
   * You need to have an Ethernet connection between your client device and a LAN port on the router.   * You need to have an Ethernet connection between your client device and a LAN port on the router.
-  * You must read and follow the [[firmware_basics_procedures|Installing FreshTomato]] section. This will guide you through all the steps needed.+  * Read and follow the [[firmware_basics_procedures|Installing FreshTomato]] section. This will guide you through all the steps needed to install FreshTomato. 
 +  * There is a lot of information on this wiki. Not all of it is where you might expect to find it. Take a good look around.
  
  
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 \\ A: FreshTomato supports a variety of devices. See the [[hardware_compatibility|Hardware compatibility]] page for more details. Keep a close eye on CPU speed, Ethernet port speed and WiFi speed. \\ A: FreshTomato supports a variety of devices. See the [[hardware_compatibility|Hardware compatibility]] page for more details. Keep a close eye on CPU speed, Ethernet port speed and WiFi speed.
  
-Until recently, it would not have been possible to create new releases that support 802.11ax or newer WiFi standards. However, since Broadcom has released some details about their wireless drivers, FreshTomato developers are currently //in the planning stages// of writing firmware for at least one model that supports the 802.11ax protocol. Traditionally, Broadcom's wireless driver source code has been an industry secret.+Until recently, it was not possible to create new releases that support 802.11ax or newer WiFi standards. However, Broadcom recently released some details about their wireless drivers. As a result, FreshTomato developers are currently writing code to support the Asus TUF AX3000. Traditionally, Broadcom's wireless driver source code has been an industry secret.
  
  
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 The other subfolders such as K26RT-AC and K26RT-N contain dedicated builds, meant for specific router models. Unless you're experienced, It's recommended you install specific hardware builds. If no specific builds exist for your model, select a generic build in the K26 folder. Think carefully before deciding if it should be a MIPSR1 or MIPSR2 build. The other subfolders such as K26RT-AC and K26RT-N contain dedicated builds, meant for specific router models. Unless you're experienced, It's recommended you install specific hardware builds. If no specific builds exist for your model, select a generic build in the K26 folder. Think carefully before deciding if it should be a MIPSR1 or MIPSR2 build.
 +
 +If you have a Netgear R-series router with Netgear firmware installed, you must first flash with one of the "Netgear R-series initial" files. Once you have an R-series initial build installed, you can then upgrade FreshTomato to newer versions using regular build files. The initial .zip file contains a firmware file with a .chk file extension. The original Netgear firmware can use that file to install FreshTomato.
  
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 ===== Device Name Defaults ===== ===== Device Name Defaults =====
  
-//Q: What are the common device names used to represent router interfaces/components?//+//Q: What are some common device names used to represent router interfaces/components?//
  
- \\  This might get quickly complex, but in general you will have physical interfaces such as eth and wl and logical interfaces such as br and vlan. Other interface names might appear when using VPN technologies. An example of VPN interfaces might be something like: tun11, tinc, ppp0, wg0, etc+ \\ This can become a complex topic rather quickly. In general, there will be physical interfacessuch as "ethand "wl", and logical interfaces, like "brand "vlan"When using FreshTomato'VPN technologies, other interface names may appearFor example, a VPN interface might be named "tun11""tinc""ppp0"or "wg0".
  
-  * ethX: is a physical interface. It could represent Ethernet of WiFi. +  * ethX: is a physical interface. It can be used to represent Ethernet of WiFi interfaces
-  * wlX: identifies a physical wireless interface. It is often associated with an eth reference+  * wlX: identifies a physical wireless interface. It is often associated with an eth reference.
   * brX: is a logical interface. It bridges together two physical interfaces.   * brX: is a logical interface. It bridges together two physical interfaces.
   * vlanX: identifies a VLAN (a logical separation).   * vlanX: identifies a VLAN (a logical separation).
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   * wg0: is an interface used by Wireguard.   * wg0: is an interface used by Wireguard.
  
-NOTE: Things like additional SSID (Virtual Wireless) would create sub-interfaces so it'not uncommon to see interfaces called e.g. wl0.2, which represents the second alias on the first WiFi chipset.+Some structures, like additional SSIDs (Virtual Wireless) will create sub-interfaces. For this reason, it'common to see interfaces with periods in themFor example, wl0.2 would represent the second alias of the first WiFi radio.
  
  
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 Read more at: [[https://www.commandlinux.com/man-page/man1/busybox.1.html]] Read more at: [[https://www.commandlinux.com/man-page/man1/busybox.1.html]]
  
-===== GUI is Slow or not Responding =====+===== The Web Interface (GUIis Slow or not Responding =====
  
 //Q: The GUI is slow. Is this normal?// //Q: The GUI is slow. Is this normal?//
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   - Rarely, you might have multiple copies of FreshTomato's administration interface certificate stored in the browser. If this happens, simply remove any unwanted FreshTomato certificates stored in your browser (or even all of them) before reconnecting to the web interface.   - Rarely, you might have multiple copies of FreshTomato's administration interface certificate stored in the browser. If this happens, simply remove any unwanted FreshTomato certificates stored in your browser (or even all of them) before reconnecting to the web interface.
  
-If the GUI is completely unresponsive, log in via SSH (preferred) or telnet and verify, in order:+If the GUI is completely unresponsive, log in via SSH (preferred) or telnet and verify:
  
   - CPU utilization. You can check this by running the "top" command.   - CPU utilization. You can check this by running the "top" command.
-  - The presence of content in the /www folder. Check this by issuing the command "ls -l /www" .+  - The presence of content in the "/wwwfolder. Check this by issuing the command "ls -l /www" .
   - The httpd daemon is running. Check this by typing "ps | grep [h]ttpd" at a command line.   - The httpd daemon is running. Check this by typing "ps | grep [h]ttpd" at a command line.
  
  
-===== Netgear R-series =====+===== Netgear R-series Routers =====
  
 //Q: What are the "Netgear R-series initial files"?// //Q: What are the "Netgear R-series initial files"?//
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  \\  \\
  
-If you have the Original Netgear firmware installed, use these files to install FreshTomato **for the first time**. You **cannot use these files to upgrade** FreshTomato to a new version. The initial zip files contain firmware with a .crt extension that a Netgear router can use to install FreshTomato. If you already have FreshTomato installed, download regular build zip files which contain firmware files with a .trx extension.+If you have the Original Netgear firmware installed, **you must** use an initial build to install FreshTomato the first time. The initial zip files contain firmware with a ".chk" extension that a Netgear router can use to install FreshTomato. 
 + 
 +After you've installed an initial buildyou can upgrade to any appropriate FreshTomato version you wish. Regular build zip files contain firmware files with a .trx extension. For details on how to flash Netgear routers, see the [[firmware_basics_procedures|Installing FreshTomato]] HOWTO.
  
  
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 Support for modem dongles in FreshTomato is a somewhat complex topic. However, here is some information to help you get your USB modem running. Support for modem dongles in FreshTomato is a somewhat complex topic. However, here is some information to help you get your USB modem running.
  
-FreshTomato has functions to automate the process of installing/configuring 3G/4G/5G connected USB modems. However, those functions are limited. One limitation is that generally, the FreshTomato build on your router must contain the the Plug and Play VendorID and DeviceID of your modem. If it's not included, the modem may not be detected or configured properly.+FreshTomato has functions to automate the process of installing/configuring 3G/4G/5G connected USB modems. However, those functions are limited. One limitation is that generally, the FreshTomato build on your router must contain the the Plug and Play VendorID (VID) and DeviceID (PID) of your modem. If it's not included, the modem may not be detected or configured correctly.
  
-First, check the [[dongle_compatibility|3G/4G/5G compatibility]] wiki page to see if your modem is supported in FreshTomatoWhenever possible, that page will also contain the modem's Vendor ID and Device ID(s).+First, check the [[dongle_compatibility|3G/4G/5G compatibility]] page to see if FreshTomato supports your modem. When possible, that page will contain the modem's Vendor ID and Device ID(s).
  
 Next, in FreshTomato's [[nas-usb|USB Support]] menu, verify that USB support is enabled. Then, enable the //3G/4G USB modem support// option in that same menu. Next, in FreshTomato's [[nas-usb|USB Support]] menu, verify that USB support is enabled. Then, enable the //3G/4G USB modem support// option in that same menu.
  
-If you don't know the make/model of your router, connect it to your router and ensure USB Support and 3G/4G USB mode support are enabled, as above. Then log on to FreshTomato and use the lsusb command to check to if its output lists your modem's Vendor ID (make) and Product ID (model).+If you don't know the make/model of your modem, connect it to your router and ensure USB Support and 3G/4G USB mode support are enabled. Then log on to FreshTomato and use the lsusb command to check to if its output lists your modem's Vendor ID (make) and Product ID (model).
  
-It is NOT recommended that to enable a PIN on the SIM card used in your modem. Doing so may prevent it from working.+You should NOT enable a PIN on your modem's SIM card. Doing so may prevent it from working with FreshTomato.
  
  
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 However, FreshTomato already include USB modem drivers in the form of kernel modules. The modem, though, won't accept communication commands in storage mode. It must be switched to modem mode to accept commands. However, FreshTomato already include USB modem drivers in the form of kernel modules. The modem, though, won't accept communication commands in storage mode. It must be switched to modem mode to accept commands.
  
-Being in storage mode complicates things for earlier forks of Tomato. The modem would appear/behave like a storage device. A workaround was used in earlier forks to get around this problem. If you issued a "media eject" command, you could force the device to switch to modem mode. This didn't always work.+Being in storage mode complicates things for earlier forks of Tomato. The modem would appear/behave like a storage device. In earlier forks or Tomato, the "media eject" command was used to force the device to switch to modem mode. However, it didn't always work.
  
-A better solution arrived with FreshTomato'switch4g [[https://bitbucket.org/pedro311/freshtomato-arm/src/43bd2acfdd358c1cb948669fb1c24281d0e69a5c/release/src-rt-6.x.4708/router/others/switch4g#lines-390|switch4g]] . The switch4g Bash script swtiches modes on USB modems more reliably. If FreshTomato's kernel module contains the right VendorID and DeviceID for your modem, switch4g can usually issue the correct command to switch your modem into modem mode.+Instead, FreshTomato includes switch4g [[https://bitbucket.org/pedro311/freshtomato-arm/src/43bd2acfdd358c1cb948669fb1c24281d0e69a5c/release/src-rt-6.x.4708/router/others/switch4g#lines-390|switch4g]] . The switch4g Bash script switches modes on USB modems more reliably. If FreshTomato's kernel module contains the right VendorID and DeviceID for your modem, switch4g can usually issue the correct command to switch your modem into modem mode.
  
 FreshTomato also uses the usb_modeswitch module for some functions. USB_modeswitch takes the important parameters from a configuration file and does all the initialization and other steps to set up communications. FreshTomato also uses the usb_modeswitch module for some functions. USB_modeswitch takes the important parameters from a configuration file and does all the initialization and other steps to set up communications.
faq.1683497437.txt.gz · Last modified: 2023/05/07 23:10 by hogwild