Problem with choosing the *correct* firmware

[Roziek]

Hey everyone!

My router is a TL-WR741ND v2.4 currently running Gargoyle 1.6.2.2 (r42647).

A year ago I bricked it by choosing the wrong firmware version (wrong vX at the end), and it took a lot of effort to unbrick it; tearing the whole thing to pieces, connecting directly to the circuit board, etc.

I'd like to upgrade my Gargoyle to a stable 1.8.1 (unless you guys recommend 1.9?), but I definitely DO NOT want to make that mistake once again, and I forgot which one was the wrong vX for my router.

So, once again, my router is a TL-WR741ND v2.4. Looking at the firmware images it would probably be logical to choose gargoyle_1.8.1-ar71xx-generic-tl-wr741nd-v2-squashfs-factory.bin, except on the Router Hardware for Gargoyle page it clearly states the the correct file for my version would be *-tl-wr741nd-v1-*, not v2 (it actually suggests it for both TL-WR741ND
v1 through 1.9, v2 and v2.4 versions).



And now I'm afraid to do anything. I have no idea whether that page is outdated or that's a typo/mistake or what; I have no idea whether the vX corresponds to the version of the Gargoyle firmware itself, or to the version of the router you want to install it on.

Please, point me to the right firmware file, and if possible, explain what should I base my decision on in the future, so I won't make any mistakes and won't ask you guys every single time .

I'd appreciate that.

Update: Also, when going from my 1.6.2.2 to 1.8.1, should I choose the factory.bin or sysupgrade.bin? I'm wondering if sysupgrade is reserved for firmware from the same major version (e.g. going from 1.6 to 1.6.1) and when going from one major version to another - especially when skipping a major version in between, like in my case - you should choose the full factory.bin?

[nworbnhoj]

I would recommend that you stick with 1.6.2. because your router has only 4MB flash and 1.6.2 is very reliable. The 1.8 versions a bigger and done in a bit of a hurry because version 1.9 became possible. 1.9 is proving very stable, but it is bigger again and near impossible to fit onto 4MB routers at all. Sorry the doco is out of date

[Roziek]

Thanks @nworbnhoj! Two more questions still:

1) Upgrading from 1.6 aside, which firmware file should I choose when in need? v2 from the download page for my v2.4 router?

2) On the download page it doesn't say anywhere that 1.8 (or 1.9) can't installed or be run reasonably on my router model, there's clearly a 1.8 and 1.9 version for my WR741ND there. Is the download page outdated also?

Also. is 1.8 just not able to install on my router? Or it will install just fine but... run unstable or something? What problems can I get myself into if I decide to upgrade from my 1.6?

Thanks in advance .

[nworbnhoj]

1) Upgrading from 1.6 aside, which firmware file should I choose when in need? v2 from the download page for my v2.4 router?

Rely on the name of the file on the download page. You would use
gargoyle_1.8.1-ar71xx-generic-tl-wr741nd-v2-squashfs-sysupgrade.bin
.factory files are only for moving from manufacturers original foirmware to Gargoyle. Use sysupgrade to move from one gargoyle version to another.

2) On the download page it doesn't say anywhere that 1.8 (or 1.9) can't install or be run reasonably on my router model, there's clearly a 1.8 and 1.9 version for my WR741ND there. Is the download page outdated also?

1.8 should install on your router. 1.9 is experimental and @Eric & @Lantis are still trying to figure out how to jam it into 4MB. Routers have been bricked (and recovered)

Also. is 1.8 just not able to install on my router? Or it will install just fine but... run unstable or something? What problems can I get myself into if I decide to upgrade from my 1.6?

Cannot just recall the detail but 1.8.1 had a couple of unresolved questions. You would have to read the (lengthy) post on the subject
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7431
1.8 does not ad any new functionality

As a final note - if you do chooses to upgrade to 1.8 DO NOT attempt to preserve settings (or you will likely brick)

[Roziek]

Thank you so, so much for your answers . I will keep all of that in mind.

One more thing: hardware requirements aside, is there a benefit in upgrading from my 1.6, feature-wise? What new features would I gain?

I could also upgrade to 1.7 instead of 1.8. If there's even a point (features?).

Update: Strange thing, in the Status page, my Gargoyle says it's v1. Shouldn't it say v2, as my router is v2.4 and the firmware is the v2 file? :

[nworbnhoj]

One more thing: hardware requirements aside, is there a benefit in upgrading from my 1.6, feature-wise? What new features would I gain?

no new features in 1.8

I could also upgrade to 1.7 instead of 1.8. If there's even a point (features?).

1.7 is an experimental version of 1.8. No new features

Update: Strange thing, in the Status page, my Gargoyle says it's v1. Shouldn't it say v2, as my router is v2.4 and the firmware is the v2 file? :

Probably because you loaded the Gargoyle image for the v1 ages ago. You can simply flash to the correct v2 version with the sysupgrade file (I do not know the technical difference between v1 & v2)
https://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wr741nd

[Roziek]

Will have to think about all of that; seems like it's not worth the effort and I should probably leave things as they are . Thanks for all your help.