How to Install Third Party Firmware on NETGEAR WNR3500Lv2

One of the best things about the new NETGEAR WNR3500Lv2 router is the ability to install third party open source firmware. Even though the WNR3500Lv2 is very new as of the writing of this article, there are already several builds available in our downloads section--with more on the way.

Keep an eye out for new uploads! In the meantime, let's show you how to get new firmware installed on your WNR3500Lv2.

How to Install Open Source Firmware to WNR3500Lv2 from Default (Stock) Netgear Firmware

 

STEP 1:-

Type “192.168.1.1” in address bar of your browser to explore WebUI of WNR3500Lv2.

Goto “ADVANCED -> Administration -> Firmware Upgrade”. (Fig.1 and Fig.2 )

 

                                                                                                                      fig. 1

 

                                                                                                                      fig. 2

 

STEP 2:-

Browse the “chk” file [e.g. ddwrt-wn3500lv2.chk , tomato-wnr3500lv2.chk] downloaded from MyOpenRouter site and click upload. (Fig.3).

 

                                                                                                                      fig. 3

 

Step 3:-

Now it may show a warning if the image (to be upgraded) has a lower version than the existing original firmware (as depicted by the following snapshot). Ignore this warning and click on OK button.(fig: 4).

 

                                                                                                                      fig. 4

 

Step 4:-

Next it will show version info for the existing firmware (Stock firmware) and the target firmware you want to upload in your router. Click yes option to continue. (Fig.5).

 

 

                                                                                                                      fig. 5

 

Step 5:-

Now the router should start uploading the target firmware. Wait until the firmware is flashed. After flashing your router will reboot with your target firmware (Fig. 6) Wait until the progress bar completes..

 

                                                                                                                      fig. 6

 

STEP 6:-

Now type “192.168.1.1” in address bar of your browser and hit enter to get the WebUI page of the firmware you have uploaded. (Fig.7, Fig.8 and Fig.9).

 

DD-WRT:-

                                                                                                                      fig. 7

 

                                                                                                                      fig. 8

 

Tomato:-

                                                                                                                      fig. 9

 

** If you are having any problem in this step then clear your browser cache and repeat step 6.

Note: -

For OpenWRT,

  • Default username : root
  • Default password : void (the password field need not to be populated and click on the login button).

For DDWRT firmware,

  • Default username : root
  • Default password : admin

For Tomato firmware,

  • Default username : admin
  • Default password : admin

** After first login, change username and password for security reasons.

Tags: 

Juggla
Juggla's picture
I followed instructions here

I followed instructions here for dd-wrt and at stage 6 the default userid and password did not work It seems to have been set up with a different userid and/or password. Now I am effectively locked out.

I have looked on this and other forums and find three methods to recover,
1) telnet and tftp which requires user-id and password for the telnet session to erase the linux kernel
2) or a serial cable which I don't own (but may have to acquire)
or
3) doing a pin short during reboot but the pictures of the pin short method show a different chip
http://www.myopenrouter.com/article/20501/Reset-Debrick-NETGEAR-WNR3500L... (possibly the v1 model).

Looking for ideas

Subhra
Subhra's picture
Perform a nvram reset. Then

Perform a nvram reset. Then you will be able to use default username and password of dd-wrt.

Juggla
Juggla's picture
Thanks for the response but

Thanks for the response but to clarify - I have done 30-30-30 resets and the default password was not working.

I now have a serial cable and have a working router of sorts. (If this post is too long then don't read. I'll understand- it's mostly just me documenting my sad tale)

I reflashed stock (30-30-30 reset before and after). Default password did not work. Fortunately password recovery facility did work and returned: User - $1$tsM5L2C/$bzY7x9I6O7RPaNn0WQ.xm0, Pswd - $1$GtFYU/6b$SpL0CvB4hltXxDK0Xp3T30.

This got me in but firmware behaved strange - default DNS IP addresses containing alpha and could not edit, unable to save other changes.

Flashed Tomato. Flash worked but wireless signal was rubbish and unstable (dropped out every second or so) tried tweaking settings but could not get it to stabilise.

Reflashed stock. It took perfectly this time complete with default password. Wireless signal is weaker than I could get with Tomato but stable.

I now have a new router with a signal worse than my 10yr old belkin. My new router as acting as a switch for gigabit wired (one improvement) and using my old router for wireless. This sucks because my old router needs power cycling at least daily. I had also hoped to move to N, improve coverage and do some traffic monitoring.

I will, however, not be defeated. At least not yet - I am on a quest to find all the settings used by Netgear to get a stable signal. Then I will reload either tomato or dd-wrt, replicate settings and then try to increase the signal strength from there.

Any ideas re this last plan greatly appreciated.

Thanks

whit
whit's picture
This is dangerous with Tomato

This is dangerous with Tomato. I reset the IP for the LAN, did nothing with the password, and got locked out after restart. "admin/admin" is not it. The password it came with as Netgear isn't it either.

Guess the lesson is if you don't reset the default password the first time you update the router settings, it will. (At least it do that to me.) Then the 30/30/30 reset is required, and you're back at defaults.

Subhra
Subhra's picture
@Juggla: It is customary to

@Juggla: It is customary to perform a reset to defaults every-time you switch firmware.
To get same wireless behavior, you have to ensure that both the firmwares are using same wireless driver along with the same parameters to configure it.
As per my experience, The 2.4GHz provides better coverage than 5GHz. So if your are concerned about wireless signal coverage 2.4GHz is better choice

Mancini
Mancini's picture
[email protected]
Polding
Polding's picture
NL

NL

Subhra
Subhra's picture
Have you performed factory

Have you performed factory reset after firmware upgrade?

arn0
arn0's picture
Hello, I did a hard reset and

Hello, I did a hard reset and now I accede to dd-wrt. By cons it is normal to missing features? As Chillispot in "Hotspot", Keep Alive... There are updates?

HTB7
HTB7's picture
Subhra said: Have you

Subhra said: Have you performed factory reset after firmware upgrade?

Hi Subhra:  I am confused: It is clear that I need  to perform factory reset before firmware upgrade, but do I need to do same thing after firmare upgrade? Thank you!

Subhra
Subhra's picture
Yes both are needed.

Yes both are needed.

Arellano
Arellano's picture
GC

GC

Arellano
Arellano's picture
[email protected]
Cosgrove
Cosgrove's picture
DA

DA

Cosgrove
Cosgrove's picture
[email protected]
Gilruth
Gilruth's picture
CO

CO

Gilruth
Gilruth's picture
[email protected]
jouell
jouell's picture
The upload always times out :

The upload always times out :( tomato or dd-wrt

jouell
jouell's picture
The upload always times out :

The upload always times out :( tomato or dd-wrt

Svartbacken
Svartbacken's picture
Hi

Hi

 

Is it really possible to add DD-WRT to WNR3500Lv2? I have hade no luck men flashing. I came as far as flashing the CHK file. But I can’t find any bigger version of DD-WRT. Can someone please share a link to a working image.

kitmax
kitmax's picture
had a v1 running tomato

had a v1 running tomato recently die to purchased a v2 so have experience with flashing etc but cannot get either dd-wrt or tomato on this new router

all i get is Firmware upgrade failed. Please check your file. no matter what i try

have downgraded genie to the same version as this guide, still the same

any ideas ?

Goddammit
Goddammit's picture
Good question.  Did you ever

Good question.  Did you ever figure something out?  My WNR3500Lv2 also only gives me "firmware upgrade failed" each time I try to flash Tomato or DD-WRT to it, 30-30-30 resets galore don't change this.  I'm guessing we've either gotten bugged units or it's no longer an open router.