New firmware for the router?

[JackElliott]

Hi, we are using a TP-Link TL-WR1043N/ND v1 purchased from Gargoyle. Currently running Gargoyle Version:1.5.10.

Where are we now? 1.9.x?

I am looking at the downloads page at https://www.gargoyle-router.com/download.php and which architecture do I choose if I want to update the firmware? I suppose it's probably right in front of me, but not seeing it.

[Lantis]

1.9.2 is the latest official.
Your architecture is Atheros AR71XX

[JackElliott]

Thank you.

[tapper]

Hi jack when you flash to 1.9.2 pleas don't save settings!

[JackElliott]

Thank you Tapper, I saw the warning note on the downloads page.

[JackElliott]

One last question before I update the firmware on this router, which is the hub of the company's network: Any particular reason to think anything may break?

Summary:
Router is TP-Link TL-WR1043N/ND v1 currently running v 1.5.10 of Gargoyle.
Planning update to 1.9.2 using file gargoyle_1.9.2-ar71xx-generic-tl-wr1043nd-v1-squashfs-sysupgrade.bin
I will back up router config.
I will do the update from a computer connected via wire to the router, not wirelessly.
I will then restore the config.

Anyone see a problem here?

[ispyisail]

I will then restore the config.

Anyone see a problem here?

Maybe

What do you mean by "restore the config"?

are you planning to import the old config

or

are you planning to manually enter each field via GUI?

[JackElliott]

Hi ispyisail, thank you.
Gargolye's Update Firmware page says,

By default upgrading your firmware will completely erase your current configuration. It is strongly recommended that you back up your current configuration before performing an upgrade.

You can attempt to preserve your old settings by ticking Attempt to Preserve Settings below. Be aware that this can potentially lead to problems if the new version is significantly newer than the old version, but for small, incremental differences this will likely work. It is always best to keep a backup just in case.

I was not going to attempt to Preserve Settings. Because the firmware downloads page says,

WARNING 2: Do not attempt to preserve settings when upgrading from [...]

Nothing said about backing up and restoring . . . will that not work?

[Lantis]

Attempting to preserve settings, and backing up and restoring later are essentially the same actions.
And in this case, they will almost certainly make your router unstable/brick.

Don't do either of them for such a large version jump.

[JackElliott]

Thanks for catching that. I'll do a bunch of screencaps before the upgrade and restore my settings off those.

One question: is the upgrade likely to overwrite /etc/hosts?