The AsusWrt Mod Kit is a tool for rebuilding the firmware image of Asus ARM routers.
This tool will automatically detect the router model and version of your firmware image, then download directly from Asus the GPL source package for your router model. This is done to ensure a proper firmware format when you repack the image.
Binwalk is used to extract the AsusWrt filesystem and Linux kernel from the (.trx) image.
Any piece of the AsusWrt filesystem may be changed. The Linux kernel cannot be changed. When you're finished with the filesystem, my script initiates the firmware rebuild by utilizing the original Asus firmware packaging tools.
DISCLAIMER: There is risk of damage to your router when you play with custom firmwares. I use this tool for my RT-AC68U router without any issues. However, no testing has been done for the other Asus ARM routers. Before using this tool, you should be familiar with the recovery methods available for unbricking a router.
# Tested on Ubuntu 16.04.2 LTS (64-bit)
# install dependencies
sudo apt install git
# on 64-bit systems, the Asus tools require 32-bit libraries
sudo apt install lib32z1-dev lib32stdc++6
# install latest binwalk
sudo apt remove binwalk
cd
git clone https://github.com/devttys0/binwalk.git
cd binwalk
sudo ./deps.sh
sudo python setup.py install
# OR, update to latest binwalk if you're already using it
cd
cd binwalk
git pull
sudo python setup.py uninstall
sudo ./deps.sh
sudo python setup.py install
# install asuswrt-mod-kit
cd
git clone https://github.com/blackfuel/asuswrt-mod-kit.git
cd asuswrt-mod-kit
# grab some firmwares from the Asus website and display the version info
wget -nc http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/wireless/RT-AC68U/FW_RT_AC68U_30043807378.zip
[ ! -f RT-AC68U_3.0.0.4_380_7378-g7a25649.trx ] && unzip FW_RT_AC68U_30043807378.zip
./asuswrt-version.sh RT-AC68U_3.0.0.4_380_7378-g7a25649.trx
# an old firmware
wget -nc http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/wireless/RT-AC68U/FW_RT_AC68U_3004374291.zip
[ ! -f FW_RT_AC68U_3004374291.trx ] && unzip FW_RT_AC68U_3004374291.zip
./asuswrt-version.sh FW_RT_AC68U_3004374291.trx
# grab a firmware from the Asus website
wget -nc http://dlcdnet.asus.com/pub/ASUS/wireless/RT-AC68U/FW_RT_AC68U_30043807378.zip
[ ! -f RT-AC68U_3.0.0.4_380_7378-g7a25649.trx ] && unzip FW_RT_AC68U_30043807378.zip
# extract
./asuswrt-extract.sh RT-AC68U_3.0.0.4_380_7378-g7a25649.trx
# rebuild
asuswrt-rt-ac68u/release/src/router/arm-uclibc/asuswrt-rebuild.sh