Features

Xwrt-Vortex retains all the features of the original stock Asus firmware. In addition, the following features have been added/enhanced by RMerlin:


System:
  • Based on the 3.0.0.4.380_3831 source release from Asus
  • Various bugfixes
  • Performance optimizations to CPU-bound services such as OpenVPN
  • Some components were updated to their latest versions, for improved stability and security
  • Persistent JFFS partition
  • User scripts that run on specific events
  • Cron jobs
  • Customized config files for router services
  • LED control - put your Dark Knight in Stealth Mode by turning off all LEDs
  • Entware easy setup script (a modern alternative to Optware)
  • SNMP support

Disk sharing:
  • Optionally use shorter share names (folder name only)
  • Disk spindown after user-configurable inactivity timeout
  • NFS exporting of USB drives

Networking:
  • Act as a SMB Master Browser
  • Act as a WINS server
  • Advanced SSHD support
  • Allows tweaking TCP/UDP connection tracking timeouts
  • CIFS client support (for mounting remote SMB share on the router)
  • User-defined options for WAN DHCP queries (required by some ISPs)
  • Advanced OpenVPN client and server, based on code originally written by Keith Moyer for Tomato and reused with his permission. (all models except RT-N16)
  • Netfilter ipset module, for efficient blacklist implementation
  • Site survey page (under Wireless)
  • Configurable lowest/highest allowed UPNP ports
  • IPSec kernel support (N16/N66/AC66)
  • DNS-based Filtering, can be applied globally or per client
  • Custom DDNS (through a user script)
  • Advanced NAT loopback (as an alternative to the default one)
  • TOR support, individual client control
  • Policy routing for the OpenVPN client (based on source or destination IPs), sometimes referred to as "selective routing")

Web interface:
  • Optionally save traffic stats to disk (USB or JFFS partition)
  • Enhanced traffic monitoring: added monthly, as well as per IP monitoring
  • Name field on the DHCP reservation list and Wireless ACL list
  • System info summary page
  • Wireless client IP, hostname, rate and rssi on the Wireless Log page
  • Wifi icon reports the state of both radios
  • Display the Ethernet port states
  • The various MAC/IP selection pulldowns will also display hostnames when possible instead of just NetBIOS names
  • Advanced Wireless client list display, including automated refresh



A few features that first debuted in Asuswrt-Merlin have since been integrated/enabled in the official Asus firmware:

  • HTTPS configuration interface
  • Turning WPS button into a radio on/off toggle
  • Clicking on the MAC address of an unidentified client will do a lookup in the OUI database.
  • WakeOnLan web interface (with user-entered preset targets)
  • Display active/tracked network connections
  • VPN Status page
  • DualWAN and Repeater mode (while it was still under development by Asus)
  • Basic OpenVPN (client and server) support
  • Configurable IPv6 firewall
  • Improved compatibility with 3TB+ and Advanced Format HDDs
  • SSHD