Linksys → New Firmware - 1.44

Tried 1.44 on my BEFSR41 v1. Lost gateway icon and MSN Messenger connectivity. Back to 1.42.7, and everything works well.

I don't disagree that Linksys gear is crap, but compared to the other crap available, it's the best of the crap...

What do you expect from a sub-$100 device? You get what you pay for more often than not, especially when you pay little.

How about this little story:

I have a friend with an SMC Barricade; the thing BY DEFAULT disables passive FTP connections (translates the 'PASV' message to 'P@SW' which most FTP servers will refuse...). THIS IS BY DESIGN!...

Well, I am sorry you feel like this about Linksys... I feel exactly like thise about SMC.
I have (now sitting and collecting dust) a SMC7004VBR. First thing when I was calling with constant throughput problems on OOL (7-8 Mbit/s instead of 10Mbit/s)the support guy wanted to make me believe is it has a 10Mbit WAN port (yeah right....). Never solved my problem....

I think the support with all of them is pretty much crap. It's just the way it is. If I buy a 1000+$ Cisco I can expect much more... But would I? No....
You get what you pay for...

I didn't need support with my BEFSX41 yet and its running smoooooooth....

Now available for the:
BEFW11S4 v2
With ZA and PC-C
Without ZA and PC-C

evancs.........can u tell me whether the new firmware has support for HeartBeat in the "WAN Connection Type" ?......can u give me a screen shot?......the last firmware version that supported it was on 1.42.9 (beta) and this is the one i am using.

said by cgo5:

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evancs.........can u tell me whether the new firmware has support for HeartBeat in the "WAN Connection Type"

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I would love to, but I don't have a v2 this is something someone from Linksys could better answer because they don't tell me a thing

So what's the verdict on this Firmware 1.44, I've been holding at 1.43 even though I downloaded it when it first came out. Some say it screws up UPnP and what about this gateway icon disappearing. I'm just trying to decide if I should stay at 1.43 and let 1.44 go. Does anyone know if there's been any response from Linksys about firmware 1.44.

I'm wondering too, if these problems deal with the wireless & wired model (BEFW11S4) and/or the plain wired model (BEFSR41). I have the BEFSR41 model, and I'm trying to distinguish what model is having what problem(s), and if it's both models that have the problem. I have held off updating the firmware, been sitting at 1.43. I don't mind losing UPnP function, as I don't use any UPnP programs. But I am cautious to upgrade, as I'm still concern about the 4 hour disconnect. Nowhere in the firmware 1.44 ver.txt does it say that it fixed that problem. Users here report mix things about it to my understanding (maybe I failed to understand).

said by dan4444:

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So what's the verdict on this Firmware 1.44, I've been holding at 1.43 even though I downloaded it when it first came out. Some say it screws up UPnP and what about this gateway icon disappearing. I'm just trying to decide if I should stay at 1.43 and let 1.44 go. Does anyone know if there's been any response from Linksys about firmware 1.44.

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Latest release notes:

1. Fixed xml authentication bypass issue.
2. Fixed UPnP buffer Overflow issue.
3. Fixed password change without authentication.

My BEFSRU31 died and I got linksys to RMA me a replacement.
which arrived on Dec 2nd with 1.42.7 installed. I thought WTF and upgraded to 1.44 at 7PM last nihgt so far no issues.

You know what I would really enjoy? The ability to program my linksys according to what I want. I like an idiot decided to upgrade from 1.43 to 1.44 - Now I have periodic timeouts every couple of hours where a machine will be randomly disconnected from my network.

What do you say LinkSys? Perhaps you can release some code information for the Linky

I was just wondering if anyone knows if Linksys is testing a new firmware version for the BEFSR41 router? Perhaps a version 1.45 will resolve both the broken UPnP in version 1.44 and the disconnect issue from 1.43.3. I hope Linksys has recognized (and validated) these issues with their firmwares and are working on a solution. Every piece of hardware/software will have problems, it is just how they are corrected that really matters. I'm sure someone out here must know what is happening behind the scenes regarding these issues. I hope someone will restore confidence to us Linksys users.

AnonEMoose - I was thinking the same thing today. WHile I doubt Linksys will make their code public (NDA and warranty issues); a firmware editor tool might be useful and fun. I know many if us DIY computer builders enjoy BIOS editor programs to customize a motherboard BIOS ever so slightly. A firmware editor tool for routers would certainly be fun and possibly useful

With recent firmware releases its only to be expected many people are starting to get the attitude of "If you want a job done right - do it yourself" Combine that attitude with the super smart people in this forum - and I bet a modded DSLR Linksys firmware would be a fun and productive project.

In the end, such a tool would likley have to come from either an employee leak or an industrious member of our comunnity

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Side comment/question: Two times int he last year i ahve been told by Linksys support that Linksys itself as a company does not write or provide firmware for their products; that this is done by an outside company. Cna anyone confirm this? If true it sure would explain th disconnect between customer bug reports and released firmwares.

You know the manual said if this happens to set your computer with a static IP 192.168.1.50 I believe and try to do the firmware a again. It happened to me and I thought the router was dead the red light kepts flashing. When I did the update again it worked no problem. I just double checked and thats it.

When your computer starts up manually set your tcp settings.

Gateway: usually 192.168.1.1 IP of the router.
IP: 192.168.1.50
Sub Net: 255.255.255.0
leave the DNS empty you won't need this. Then try and update the firmware again. Good luck

FYI on the topic of UPnP being broken in latest firmware and problems with the "tray icon":

If you go search the Microsoft broadband hardware newsgroups you will see reports of UPnP being broken in their 1.07 and 1.08 firmwares. The problems sound very similar to what Linksys people see with the new Linksys firmware.

You have to hunt a bit to find the UPnP complaints, but they seem to come from knowledgeable people. Being that Microsoft routers seem to cater to the entry level mom and pop, its not surprising more noise isnt being made yet. (just a guess)

Examples:
People with the older firmware had no problems conecting with Messenger voice and video. After flashing to 1.07 and changing nothing else - voice and video failed to function.

A couple of reports of the router tray icon either not appearing at all, disappearing intermitently, or showing that its attempting to connect when teh internet connection is already functioning. All with the latest Microsoft router firmware.

I know misery shouldnt love company - but Linksys is not alone.

said by maj urinator:

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My BEFSRU31 died and I got linksys to RMA me a replacement.
which arrived on Dec 2nd with 1.42.7 installed. I thought WTF and upgraded to 1.44 at 7PM last nihgt so far no issues.

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Any issues yet?

I had the same problem. firmware version 1.44 doesnt work ok. I cant have the BEFSR41 icon in my XP network and it seems to me that the UPnP doesn´t work cause I cant do messenger voice or video conversations.
I had to go back to version 1.43
Linksys has to do better with their firmware updates.
Let´s all insist and pressure linksys to release better firmwares.

"Let´s all insist and pressure linksys to release better firmwares."

Indeed.

People should send e-mail to support@linksys.com and info@linksys.com, not to mention calling them toll free at (800) 326-7114, and complaining loudly, bitterly, and frequently about all the firmware problems as of late.

Make sure to mention clearly and succinctly about having to choose absurdly between security (firmware version 1.44) or connection stability and UPnP functionality (firmware version 1.43.0).

C og it ate,
H of br au

I will add one positive note to this thread. Traceroute on FreeBSD is now working through the SR41.

installed the 1.44 firmware on my befw11s4 version 2 and ya the upnp doesn't work, the internet gateway icon is gone after restarting and it's just utter junk.

I just bought the Microsoft MN-500 and it's great!
Thanks for wasting all this time Linksys.. have a great life

Stable @ v1.43.0 Sep/2002 BEFSR41 v2.Uptime is anywhere from 40/45 hours before reset! Think I will stay right where I am at!

All else seems to be working fine!
Network is good, both PC's can see each other, only problem I am still working on is getting my permissions to work properly! But I expect that I will figure that out sooner or later!

Hats off to JW 55505 (Fish Head) thanx for the firmware

Good luck to all!

I have to agree...I am using ver 1.43 and my uptime before a router reboot was 46 days. Only because i went and upgraded a setting that rebooted the router.

Still working, no issues with anything that I need it to do.

said by akide1:

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installed the 1.44 firmware on my befw11s4 version 2 and ya the upnp doesn't work, the internet gateway icon is gone after restarting and it's just utter junk.

I just bought the Microsoft MN-500 and it's great!
Thanks for wasting all this time Linksys.. have a great life

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Well if anyone's interested in it i've posted it for sale on ebay. Ebay Item #2078511653

Microsoft MN-500 ... not if you gave it to me free.
Bill in NY

over here in canada i got the MN-500 router for only $99.99 CDN dollars.
That's like only $59 USD dollars..

Call them, email them and hound them every day. Complain loudly, complain often. Demand they provide the service for which they were quite willing to take your money. Badger them to death until they acknowledge these problems, fix their shoddy support and start releasing working firmware upgrades that can actually perform as advertised.

Bugs creep in but the latest fiasco with the 1.44 firmware for just about every model of Linksys device is unacceptable - they clearly haven't tested this code but have chosen to foist it on us to shut us up. Don't keep quiet. Yell, scream, shout, post your negative thoughts on review sites. If they don't care what their users (victims?) think, then perhaps they'll care when places like CNet start giving them negative reviews and their new user flow slows to a trickle.

This is just not acceptable.

What's worse is, I was told by a tech that there is no other f/w in beta for the SR11/41 at this time. So we're stuck with broken f/w or the option to downgrade.

^*&^*#&$ linksys, shoulda left the firmware as-is until they could make a secure revision, i'd rather turn off remote management then have a busted ass firmware

wish i lived close to their offices, i'd throw my befsr41 at the receptionist, connect with her better than it does with UPNP
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And by all means DO a downgrade, if you can. You are IMHO better of with the earlier versions of firmware (v1.43 or even v1.42.7) than with the mess that exists now. If just what has been discovered is true, what else that hasn't happened or shown up is waiting to surprise us??? I have no faith in the firware(s) as is, I will use earlier versions until I hear the all clear from the majority.