Asus RT-BE88U: IoT devices OFFLINE due to a USB3.0 bug (AI DISK menu not working)

[Sir_TEO]

As in title:

I have two Asus RT-BE88U and I have the same problem on both: when I connect something to the USB, pen drives or portable SSDs, the IoT/Guest network stops working and all my home devices are unreachable. It took me a month to understand that this was the problem. As soon as I remove the device from the USB socket everything starts working again. This is a clear bug that needs to be solved as soon as possible because we are talking about a router with a list price of 500€.

Also with the last firmware update (3.0.0.6.102_37103) I can't enter the "AI DISK" sub-menu since I get and empty page. Can you guys check if you have the same issues? Thx.

P.s. I'm not the only one having this problem because it has also been reported by other users on "SBNForums" so it is a generalized problem. The fact that it happens on both of my models means that it's a clear software bug or worse a hardware bug. I already submitted a feedback to Asus.

[Saltgrass]

I suppose the first question is, the book states you can plug in USB Hard drive USB drives.  I found out that once you do that, the drive will be re-configured to work with the port.  

Once it is reconfigured, does the drive behave as you expect?  Can you change the version of USB that USB port uses?

I will go check the SNB link you gave.

Edit:  Just in case it might be useful, check the link.

[AiCloud 2.0] How to set up the Cloud Disk in ASUS Router (AiCloud Web)? | Official Support | ASUS U...

[Sir_TEO]

The SSD/Pen drive has no problem when connected to the router's USB (it works perfectly as it always did before) but as soon as I connect it to the router's port it interferes in some way with the WiFi causing the interruption of the IoT/Guest network (the main network remains online).

Also if I click on the "AiDisk" section I get a blank (grey) page while before updating the firmware on that page there was the FTP configuration wizard. It is clear that the new firmware has a bug in the USB management.

If I click on that "AiDisk" sub-menu I get this:

[jzchen]

Did you try hard/factory reset after updating to the latest firmware?  Then check AiDisk again?

[Sir_TEO]

No, I haven't tried to do a hard reset yet because I wanted to leave it as a last resort since I have over 30 devices connected to the router and some of them have a manual IP (which I should reconfigure one by one) in addition to the FTP server connected to the USB3 and the FTTH provider settings. It would take me an hour to reconfigure everything.

Anyway I will try to do it since there is no way to fix the problem with AiDisk. I will let you know after I do it.

[Saltgrass]

I don't have any good guesses as to why that might be happening, unless the USB drive was confusing the system based on its configuration.

I believe the LTE 3/4G cellular devices are USB dongles.  Perhaps, you could set up a new drive for using the for storage with those router USB ports?

You could remove the drive and let it go for a few hours.  Then re-insert the drive and make note of the time so your router logs could be checked.

[Sir_TEO · Accepted solution]

PROBLEM:

1) AiDisk sub-menu not working (blank/empty page)

SOLUTION --> FACTORY RESET (It worked for me)

1. Turn the router off.
2. Press and hold the WPS button and turn the router on.
3. Power light is on (keep holding the WPS button).
4. Release the WPS button after the power light is off.
5. Reboot your router by manually pressing the power button.

2) IoT/Guest (2.4Ghz) devices OFFLINE when you connect a USB SSD/pen drive to the router's USB3

WORKAROUND --> I used a triple shielded and braided USB cable that allowed me to place the SSD/pen drive about 2m from the router and the IoT/Guest network worked without any issue. With this cable everything seems to work without interfering with the 2.4Ghz network (so far).

This is the cable I used:

Hope this can help other users with the same problem.

[jzchen]

I've read of the USB noise issue before, but upon posting about it was told it was old and resolved.  Good to know that there is a solution which is shielded cables.

[HeatherGreen]

Thank you so much.