R6300v2 - Can I restore settings after firmware update?

[StarkmanAlive]

Greetings all,

I'll be doing a firmware update to our R6300, and I've already made a backup of the settings (which only contains simple stuff like security settings and password stuff). After the update, can I restore the configuration and not mess anything up? I know that sometimes there's advice given to not restore the settings because it can undo what you're trying to do via a firmware update.

Thanks.

[antinode · Accepted solution]

> [...] my router was issued by my cable company, and it doesn't allow
> updates (they said they do auto updates, but who knows).

   What's your "my cable company"?  What's the actual firmware version?
If it has a "CH" suffix (or similar), then that would be consistent with
ISP-specific firmware ("CH" for Charter).

   There have been efforts to replace such ISP-specific firmware.  See,
for example:

      https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/m-p/1543374

   But, if you're still using that ISP, then replacing the firmware
behind their backs could be unwise.  If you just bought a used R6300v2
for general use, then using generic firmware might make more sense.

[antinode]

> [...] After the update, can I restore the configuration and not mess
> anything up? [...]

   First, you shouldn't need to restore anything.  The old settings
should survive the firmware update.

   Second, it's Netgear router firmware, so almost anything could
happen.

> [...] I know that sometimes there's advice given to not restore the
> settings because it can undo what you're trying to do via a firmware
> update.

   What you're probably (mis)remembering is advice not to restore old
settings after a settings reset (not a firmware update).  If settings
become corrupt (and that causes bad behavior), then a settings reset
might solve that problem.  Restoring the corrupt saved settings could
undo the benefits of the settings reset.

   Firmware and settings are different things.

[StarkmanAlive]

Thanks for the input. I had forgotten to mention that the instructions say to do a factory rest (thus wiping out my settings) after installing the firmware update. Additionally, I can't do a update anyway, so I've found out; my router was issued by my cable company, and it doesn't allow updates (they said they do auto updates, but who knows).

We'll thanks again.

[antinode · Accepted solution]

> [...] my router was issued by my cable company, and it doesn't allow
> updates (they said they do auto updates, but who knows).

   What's your "my cable company"?  What's the actual firmware version?
If it has a "CH" suffix (or similar), then that would be consistent with
ISP-specific firmware ("CH" for Charter).

   There have been efforts to replace such ISP-specific firmware.  See,
for example:

      https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/m-p/1543374

   But, if you're still using that ISP, then replacing the firmware
behind their backs could be unwise.  If you just bought a used R6300v2
for general use, then using generic firmware might make more sense.

[StarkmanAlive]

Yeah, it's charter, and yeah, it has the CH suffix. So, I'll be leaving it alone.