New - RAX35/38/40/42/43/45/54 Firmware Version 1.0.16.132 Released

[FURRYe38]

Bug Fixes: 01/05/2023

• Fixes the issue where device list cannot well display all clients detail information.

Security Fixes:

• This firmware addresses security vulnerabilities. For more information about security vulnerabilities, visit https://www.netgear.com/about/security

NOTE: A new feature maybe seen in this version of FW, Protection Engine. We've ask about this feature and NG hasn't given much information on it. All I got was, "Protects against attacks on the router."

Any and all additional questions needed to be answered regarding this new feature, you'll need to contact NG support and ask.

https://kb.netgear.com/000065906/How-do-I-check-the-Protection-Engine-version-on-my-NETGEAR-router

If users notice problems or bad performances, try disabling Protection Engine first then check for problems and performances again. 

Download Links:

RAX35v2: https://www.netgear.com/support/product/rax35v2.aspx#download  (Not Supported on RAX35v1)

RAX38v2: https://www.netgear.com/support/product/rax38v2.aspx#download  (Not Supported on RAX38v1)

RAX40v2: https://www.netgear.com/support/product/rax40v2.aspx#download  (Not Supported on RAX40v1)

RAX42: https://www.netgear.com/support/product/rax42.aspx#download 

RAX43: https://www.netgear.com/support/product/rax43.aspx#download 

RAX45: https://www.netgear.com/support/product/rax45.aspx#download 

RAX54: https://www.netgear.com/support/product/rax54s#download  (Supported on RAX54v2 also)

To update your router’s firmware, follow the instructions in your router’s user manual.

https://kb.netgear.com/23960/How-do-I-manually-update-the-firmware-on-my-NETGEAR-router

NOTE: Nighthawk app or the routers web page may not report seeing new FW updates. NG may not push this to there auto update services immediately and may activate the newer FW update being seen on there auto update services at a later time. User will have the choice to manually update if you want too.

To Manually update FW on the router if this isn't seen on the routers web page:

https://kb.netgear.com/23960/How-do-I-manually-update-the-firmware-on-my-NETGEAR-router

NOTE: Use a wired PC and web browser to update router FW. If continued problems are seen after a FW update, it's recommended to try a >factory reset and setup from scratch with out loading any saved configurations from backup files.

https://kb.netgear.com/9665/How-do-I-perform-a-factory-reset-on-my-NETGEAR-router

NOTE: Recommend setting the default DHCP IP address pool range to the following after applying and a factory reset: 192.168.#.100 to 192.168.#.200.

This supports the following models:

• RAX35v2
• RAX38v2
• RAX40v2
• RAX42
• RAX43
• RAX45
• RAX54

Let us know how it works for you...Please leave feedback.

[microchip8]

I think this version adds more than what is written in the ChangeLog. It's bigger than the previous one by a whopping 2MB!

One thing I've noticed is that addition of "Protection Engine Version". Not sure what it refers to

[wealth-secure]

Would also be curious to hear about what this 'Protection Engine' is, I see it too when signing into the router on my web browser. No info about what this is, other than a checkbox to enable or disable it. Considering it is enabled by default; probably best to keep it that way. Correlation with the Security Vulnerabilities that were patched I think. Note, this is the RAX40v2.

[TC_in_Montana]

This showed up on a version of FW for the RAX50V1 a month or so ago.  It appears that Netgear has added BitDefender to the firmware as part of a security update.

Enabling protection engine turns it on, disabling turns it off.   That is basically the only control there is over it.

On the RAX50V1, I found that it used up quite a large hunk of memory with it enabled.

[Retired_Member]

I am still on FW V1.0.11.112_2.0.77 with my RAX43 as it was the final FW that was stable for me. Any results from this new FW, how stable is it, how is the Wi-Fi behaving?

[microchip8]

Runs just fine on my RAX43

[tgillian]

Updated my RAX45 to the 1.0.16.132 release.

Now the router doesn't work properly.  None of my mobile devices can access the internet.  WiFI is off and on.  While it sometimes does work the deivces (laptop) say offline.

Hard wired seem to be ok.

[michaelkenward]

---

@tgillian wrote:

Updated my RAX45 to the 1.0.16.132 release.

Now the router doesn't work properly.  None of my mobile devices can access the internet.  WiFI is off and on.  While it sometimes does work the deivces (laptop) say offline.

Hard wired seem to be ok.

---

It shouldn't be necessary, but the first thing to try if you have post-update issues is a reset:

How do I perform a factory reset on my NETGEAR router? | Answer | NETGEAR Support

Before you do that it might be a good idea to try this:

How do I back up the router configuration settings on my Nighthawk router? | Answer | NETGEAR Suppor...

After the reset, it should be straightforward job to go in and set the SSID and wifi and router passwords back to how they were before.

[bpaulsen]

I have the same issue. I've attempted to apply the firmware version update using 3 different methods and the result is an unresponsive router until I restart. The upgrade never completes. Can someone explain how a reset to factor defaults will allow the new fw version to install properly or if it does fix the core problem at all? A router that does not accept security updates is, in my opinion inherently insecure and becoming more insecure. Does this process clear a storage or memory issue that then allows the latest update to install properly? What does this mean for future updates? I like the router but concerning that it could possibly be underequipped to keep up with secure firmware udpates when I have owned it for less than 2 years.

[microchip8]

It might help if you tell us which router model you have?

[bpaulsen]

Apologies. It's odd UX that you can designate your product in an associated products field for the posts but that information is not displayed to the community. But I am here for answers regarding my firewall and not to complain about the functionality of the forum. I have a RAX45.

[michaelkenward]

---

@bpaulsen wrote:

I have the same issue. I've attempted to apply the firmware version update using 3 different methods and the result is an unresponsive router until I restart.

---

Did that include this?

How do I manually upgrade firmware to my NETGEAR router? | Answer | NETGEAR Support

---

Can someone explain how a reset to factor defaults will allow the new fw version to install properly or if it does fix the core problem at all?

---

A reset before an update is not normally necessary. It is more of a last ditch measure when things go wrong.

Before going down that road, try this:

How do I back up the router configuration settings on my Nighthawk router? | Answer | NETGEAR Suppor...

Restoring settings after an update can resurrect problems, but it is easy enough it reset and reconfigure.

As it is, you have told us next to nothing about what you are doing and where things go wrong. (See my first question.)

The usual boilerplate questions to eliminate some of the more common issues that crop up here.

What firmware version do you have on the device?

A number is more useful than "the latest". There may be newer versions, or "hot fixes", that do not show up if you check for new firmware with an app or in the browser interface.

If there is one it might also help if you told people the make and model number of the modem/gateway/ONT that connects this router to the Internet. Is it, by any chance, also a router, with a set of LAN ports on the back?

I ask because a lot of people turn up here trying to put a router behind a modem that is also a router. That can complicate troubleshooting.

[Mazzmond]

I have two of these RAX45 and RAX 54 at different houses and both simple networks.  Cable Modem to Router with no extenders.  For both I updated through wired computer using routerlogin.net and for both the update was done but the router did not reboot and kept wifi active...connected but no internet connection.  For both I had to manually reboot the router (I just unplugged and replugged in).  Upon reboot both had the new firmware and worked without issues.  The past updates the router rebooted without an issue but for some reason this one the reboot did not happen.