An Easy Guide to Installing Tomato on the Asus 520gu
Before installing Tomato, I thought DD-WRT was the best router firmware there is. But Tomato is as good as DD-WRT and scores on usability and QOS as well, two areas where DD-WRT needs improvement.
The Asus 520gu gives you the best bang for the buck. It looks sleek in white as opposed to the ugly black and blue Linksys ‘brick’, has a USB 2.0 port which can be hooked up to a printer or an external storage or both via a USB hub and comes with 16MB RAM and 4MB flash.
Why Tomato and not DD-WRT?
I like DD-WRT, and before Asus, I had a Linksys running DD-WRT. I bought the 520gu for its USB port. I wanted to hook up my old Seagate 160GB external harddrive to serve as a low cost NAS. I did want to go with DD-WRT, but finding the right version is quite daunting on DD-WRT site. And from the wiki it isn’t clear if the USB 2.0 works well with DD-WRT. Here’s an actual quote from the wiki:
The WL-520GU WRT is supported as of DD-WRT v.24 RC7. USB (e.g. external storage or printer) support currently require manual work (as of DD-WRT v24 Final Release you may be able to use the web-GUI to enable USB support).
The words ‘may’ and ‘manual work’ made me give Tomato a try! Atleast with Tomato I can be sure that USB2.0 works out of the box without having to much around too much on the console. Actually, this is not the official Tomato build but a mod by ‘teddy_bear’ who added a bunch of enhancements to the official Tomato firmware specifically for the Asus 520gu. Thank you ‘teddy_bear’!
How Easy is it to Flash Tomato?
Actually it took me an hour to figure out what all wouldn’t work. There are number of steps that has to be done in the exact sequence as listed in this howto. If you follow the steps as listed, it shouldn’t take you more than 20 minutes. Reading the DD-WRT wiki, different people had different experiences installing the firmware. I think my steps should work consistently.
My Setup
MacBook running OS X Leopard
Parallels running Windows XP
Let’s Get Started!
There are different ways to flash Tomato on the 520gu. I’m going with the easiest. Use Asus’ Firmware Restore utility to flash DD-WRT and then use DD-WRT’s Firmware Upgrade to upgrade to Tomato. Asus’ Firmware Restore utility is a Windows executable. If you run a pure Mac shop, you can alternatively tftp the firmware to the router.
- Download dd-wrt.v24-11028_NEWD_mini_asus.trx and the latest Tomato Mod to C:\tmp. Do not download it to your Desktop or any directory with spaces!
- Install Asus’ Firmware Restoration Utility from the CD. CD: /Utility/Setup.exe in Windows. Do not download the latest from Asus’ website. This was a mistake I did and the upload kept failing. This utility must match with Asus’ stock firmware running in the Router. This step will save you hours of frustration!
- If like me you are running Windows via Parallels on a Mac, turn Airport off. On a PC, disable any other Access Point you might be connected to
- Goto Start->All Programs->Asus Utility->WL-520GU Wireless Router->Firmware Restoration
- Browse to the dd-wrt firmware you downloaded in Step 1, don’t upload yet!
- Using the ethernet cable that came with your Asus router, connect your Mac/PC to a Lan port on the router. I chose Lan1. Power on the router
- Check if you are able to goto the router’s admin page at 192.168.1.1
- Disable windows firewall
- Unplug power from the router
- Using a pen, press the Reset button at the back of the router (the black, recessed button, not the protruding red one), keeping the reset button pressed, power on the router
- When the power led begins to flash slowly, release the button, upload the DD-WRT firmware (Step 5) quickly
- The firmware should get uploaded and the router will reboot with DD-WRT
- Goto 192.168.1.1, username is admin, no password. You should see DD-WRT admin page
- Goto Administration->Firmware Upgrade in DD-WRT
- Rename Tomato firmware you downloaded in step 1 with extension .bin from .trx
- Upgrade!
- Once the upgrade is complete, the router will reboot to Tomato
- Go to 192.168.1.1, username is root, password is admin
- You have successfully upgraded your router to Tomato!
That’s all there is to it! Make sure you change the default password and enable USB support before attaching a printer or a storage device.
Update: In my opinion, the Asus 520gu coupled with Tomato is the best router you can get. I’ve been running mine without ever having to restart for a couple of years now. I run media heavy stuff like Roku, VoIp via Ooma, Video streaming via the Panasonic Surveillance cam all routed through the Asus 520 and I’ve never had any issues with this fantastic router.
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241 Comments
Can u explain how to set up printer in Mac OSx Leopard using the Asus WL-520gu and the mod tomato firmware? Please help!
@tbraim: What brand/model printer do you have?
I’m running Windows XP. I’m sure that this is a dumb question but what does the following mean:
“If like me you are running Windows via Parallels on a Mac, turn Airport off. On a PC, disable any other Access Point you might be connected to.”
The only thing I can think of would be my existing wireless internet connection?
Thanks for all of your help!
Jack
OK,please ignore the previous post. I’m now thru #12 but don’t see a screen from which to enter “192.168.1.1″.
I have a Brother MFC-6800. I tried entering the IP address(192.168.1.1) in IP printing but no success. The printer is shown as a mounted device in Tomato.
The printer works fine on my wireless Vista and XP pc’s, so it’s gotta be something I’m not configuring right on the Mac. Thanks.
@jwhart: Open a browser and enter the ip
OK. Unfortunately, firmware upgrade is not an option. I always get the router username and then password (twice).
Any ideas for setting up printing for Brother MFC-6800 on Apple Mac?
@tbraim, try this:
Goto System Preferences
Enable Printer Sharing
Open a browswer and goto http://127.0.0.1:631/
Configure your printer. Let me know if this worked. Thanks!
OK, I finally firured out the DD-WRT Control panel issue and was able to upgrade firmware with Tomato. However, after getting the “upgrade successful unit is rebooting” screen, the “Air” light on the front of the router is “off” and I’m unable to connect.
Jack
Not sure what info to load in the configuration.
Device? USB printer vs IPP(http) vs IPP(IPP) vs windows SAMBA
Device URI? They give examples ie socket://hostname/9100 or
http://hostname/ipp/port1
My printer(Brother) is not listed. Should I use RAW?
Maybe my printer is not configurable on a Apple/Mac
Thoughts?
I’m sorry. It’s little bit out of topic.
But compared to WRT54G2/WRT54GL, Which one has a stronger transmit power? WL-520GU or the linksys ones?
Thanks.…
@tbraim:
Device: IPP(HTTP
Device URI is the ip address of your router. http://192.168.1.1
I think the URI needs more detail to connect. I tried http://192.168.1.1:9100 I got confirmation of a connection to the device, but no printing.
I’m not certain that I downloaded the correct version of Tomato. Would someone please provide the link for Tomato firmware with USB support for the ASUS 520?
Thanks,
Jack
http://www.box.net/shared/nvsnpabkkf use standard version
Thanks.
1) Do you suggest that I re-install the ASUS firmware from the CD before attempting to install Tomato?
2) It claims in the following post that Tomato may be installed directly over the ASUS without having to go through the intermediate steps. Is that now the way to go?
“Log into the router with the stock Asus firmware. Go to the page where it says update firmware. Now, go to where you have the Tomato firmware with USB support stored. Rename the file “WL520gu_2.0.0.9_EN.trx” (without quotation marks of course) then go back to the Asus update firmware page on the router and select the file you just renamed and click to upgrade. When it finishes, it will reboot and up comes the Tomato page”
Thanks,
Jack
Yes you can install tomato without installing dd-wrt. If you already have tomato installed, even if it is an incorrect version, you don’t have to re-install Asus. Just use the firmware upgrade page, point to the right tomato version and re-flash.
Ever since I installed Tomato (probably the incorrect version
), I’m unable to get any lights except for the “power” and “LAN1”. I have NO “air” and, therefore NO online access?
Jack
PS I’ve had this problem ever since getting the “upgrade successful unit is rebooting” screen following the Tomato installation.
Jack
Mine works perfectly and I used the install method I noted above. I can email you the file I used for ASUS that has USB support. It is already renamed, you just have to flash it from the ASUS stock/base firmware.
That would be great — jwhart@gmail.com.
Thanks,
Jack
It is on its way. Good Luck and let me know how you make out. BTW, my ASUS is connected wirelessly to my Linksys — both use Tomato. This is great firmware. Very happy with it and run it on all three routers in the house.
Thanks! I purchased this router to hookup my Pioneer Blu-Ray DVD player based on a recommendation from a post to avsforum.com. I’m currently using a Netgear “G” router and adapter for my PC “connection”, which traverses 2 interior walls and about 25 feet; still using the stock Netgear software and firmware, however. I do have the usual drops which can get annoying and are having me consider upgrading to N-series?
Not sure that I’m “tech-savvy” enough to change software and firmware “on my own!”
Thanks again,
Jack
For those of you who use Apple/Mac computers, I have found a link for setting up usb printing on the Asus WL-520gu and Tomato/wUsb support:
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Printer_Sharing
Scroll down to “workstation setup” and follow the instructions for Mac OSX (Leopard). It works!
Thanks tbraim, that was a nice find! BTW, what printer do you have?
Brother MFC-6800. The driver is preloaded in Leopard.
Is a tutorial for setting up FTP server for NAS forthcoming??
@tbraim: Yes!
Thanks! I haven’t had any luck.
A HUGE thank you to Duffy who spent a considerable portion of his Saturday afternoon on the phone with me this afternoon helping me “unbrick” my ASUS520 and getting the Tomato firmware going. After speaking with him, it’s my understanding that I should be able to use the ASUS for my wireless connection with my existing Netgear router in lieu of my current Netgear wireless USB adapter. After re-booting with the ASUS connected and the Netgear USB adapter unplugged, I’m not able to connect to the internet. Any suggestions?
BR,
Jack
Hey there
I got tomato up and running — sweet! works VERY well
unforutnately i can’t get my printer function to work, even 192.168.1.1:9100 isn’t responding.
It doesn’t say if my printer is mounted or not, either.
the printer is recognized — and correctly at that. It is a hp psc 1200 model printer> thanks in advance for any help!
Great post & Thanks for the info. Will be attempting within the week.
Does the HSM (High Speed Mode @ 125Mbs) work with the Tomato Flash?
Any luck with Vista?
Thanks
Just got the router today. Will be working on Tomato tonight. Once I flash to tomato, is it possible to use the WL-520gu as a bridge to my old WRT-54g running linksys firmware? Is there a compatibility issue?
Thanks
Does anyone know a purely Mac-based installation procedure for Tomato? Using tftp is mentioned, but I have no idea how to go about using that method.
@Hal: This tftp client for the mac might come in handy!
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/12146
Thanks! I was assuming the tftp command could be performed from Terminal. Is this app just a convenient GUI for using tftp, or is it not possible from Terminal?
Hello,
I followed instructions and everything goes as it should but my firmware util just times out. I eventually upgraded to the 3008 firmware (and I’m using the appropriate version of the util) and the error it gives now is that it can not find a wireless device in recovery mode.
Anyone run into this before?
I am running into issue with IOMEGA 250 USB external driver. Formated the driver for NTFS to FAT32 several times. Win Vista shows as being FAT32, chkdsk command shows this to be FAT32. But when I plug the the drive in to router’s, WL-520GU, USB port, it is recognized as VFAT. When I map that drive in Vista the same drive shows to have NTFS instead of FAT32. Don’t know if I am missing something here or chipset is the issue.
Another issue that I am running into is when I connect a computer to ASUS WL-520GU in Wireless Client or Wireless Bridge mode, I can see the share drive and it shows up in Vista Network. But when I try to go through my Linksys gateway WRLT54G v4.21, I can’t see share drive in Vista Network.
Please advise.
I am no worried about the 2nd issue as much as the 1st one (USE VFAT issue).
@lmp:If WL-520GU is able to recognize it, the drive is formatted as FAT. WL-520GU cannot read or write NTFS. No idea why Vista is showing this as NTFS (don’t have vista, so sorry can’t help you there!).
ON the second issue, try entering the ip address manually in vista. smb:// and see if the drive shows up.
Thanks for the response. I am using Tomato latest rev level. I will try smb://ip_address later this evening and see if it works. I will also try to map the USB drive on XP to isolate the issue.
As plan B, I will try to download dd-wrt firmware, yes I know it has modules, to see if that makes any difference with Vista — if all options fail.
I have not tried on the XP yet, as I will have to move the router to another room. But, smb://ip_address of the router did not work for me in IE or Firefox.
Good news. It worked. I went back and reinstalled DD-WRT V.24 few rev levels on the router. Played around for few hours to add the USB support and, of course, could not. Reinstalled the Tomato tomato-ND-USB-8625-Ext.bin and this time I made sure that “Auto-share all USB Partitions” property in the “File Sharing” is set to “Read/Write”, previously set to “Disabled”. Right at moment time the share drive format changed from NTFS to FAT32. I think there was nothing wrong with the install in the first place.
The File Sharing instructions at http://www.society9.com/setting-up-a-low-cost-nas-using-tomato/ do not show that option. So if you are using tomato-ND-USB-8625-Ext.bin then make sure that “Auto-share all USB Partitions” property in the “File Sharing” is set to “Read/Write”.
Running into 2 issues now:
1. Can’t mount Lexmark Z2300 printer connected via WL-520GU USB port. It is showing up in the USB and NAS settings but no mount options.
2. If I connect the computer to WL 520GU, configured as Wirless bridge, then I can see the share the USB drive. But if I try to come through Gateway, Linksys WRT54G (v4.21.1) then I can’t pull the share drive in the Windows Network. “Show In My Network Places” is checked in Port Forwarding option.
For those of you who are running in to the issue of losing share USB drive after router reboot, please follow instructions below:
1. Once router is up and running, log into the router
2. Go to USB and NAS>USB Support and copy the following script in the “Hotplug script” textbox area:
mount –t vfat /dev/scsi/host0/bus0/target0/lun0/part1 /mnt/
3. Save and and hard reboot the router.
You should see the share drive in Windows Network next time.
Please note that this was tested when ONLY EXTERNAL USB drive was connected to the router.
If the last post does not work for you then try copying the script to:
Administration>Scripts>Init Tab in Tomato
I took care of the 2nd question posted earlier for Win Vista by doing the following”
1. Configured Router as Wireless Bridge
2. Made sure that USB share drive was mounted in the router
3. Opened “Network” in Win Vista
4. Went into “Network and Sharing” section in Vista
5. Turned on “Network Folder Sharing” and selected radio button for anyone to alter files.
6. Refreshed Network and here it was.
Now, if someone can please answer my first question about the printer then I will be done playing with router.
I’m having the same problem as Lmp. After installing tomato on a WL-520GU and plugging my printer in (HP officejet 5100) It shows up in the USB gui but without any mount options. The same thing happens with my deskjet 4100. The printer is recognized correctly but there is nothing in the “Mounted?” section.
However, both of my USB flash drives mount correctly.…
Any ideas? I would really like to figure this out because without printing it makes this tomato mod pretty useless…
I see a section for hotplug scripts. Can I make one to mount the printer?
OK with the help of some very nice peeps I got this installed and running. I even got it daisy-chained to my DLINK.
One issue that I am having is that it will not connect me to the internet when i connect it to my comcast router. Any suggestions?
Thank you
I am having the same problem as Kyle and Lmp
My printer is Brother HL-2140, I can see it in the USB GUI without any mount options.
Thus I can’t add it in my vista laptop, yet I can print it from my macbook via 192.168.1.1:9100. Somehow that ip setting doesn’t work for vista either.
As I have tried many solution found in the google. I begin to believe it’s a firmware bug that can’t be solved anyway.
Thank you and hope somebody can give me some hints.
I don’t want to use share printing. It’s exactly why I want to set up a printer server in the first place. Make sure other people can print it directly from the printer server while I am out with my macbook.