Infrastructure/docs/er605-firmware-update.md

ER605: Firmware Update (Standalone Mode)

Do this before installing the Omada Software Controller or adopting the router — it's much easier to upgrade a device while it's still in standalone/local mode than after it's controller-managed, and you want to start the VLAN/ACL/WireGuard build on current firmware.

1. Identify your hardware version

TP-Link ships multiple hardware revisions of the ER605 (v1, v2, v3, ...) with different firmware trains — the wrong file won't install cleanly. Check the sticker on the bottom/back of the unit for something like Ver: 2.0.

2. Download the firmware

• Official download page: https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/download/er605/ (also mirrored at https://support.omadanetworks.com/us/download/firmware/er605/v2/ for the v2 hardware line)
• Select the page for your exact hardware version, then the "Firmware" tab.
• As of writing, the latest ER605 firmware is around 2.4.5 — but check the download page for what's current, and note the changelog in case anything is relevant (e.g. the LAN DNS feature referenced in status.md needs 2.3.0+).
• Download is a .zip — extract it to get the actual .bin firmware file.

3. Back up current config first

Do this even though the router is barely configured yet — it's a 30-second safety net.

1. Log into the router's web UI (default https://192.168.0.1, or whatever IP it's currently reachable at; default credentials are admin/admin unless already changed).
2. Go to System Tools / Settings → Backup & Restore (exact path varies slightly by firmware version).
3. Download the current config backup somewhere safe (e.g. docker/omada-controller/ is not the place — keep router backups out of git, or in a private/untracked location).

4. Upload the new firmware

1. Same web UI → System Tools → Firmware Upgrade (naming may vary; some firmwares call it Administration → Firmware).
2. Select the .bin file you extracted in step 2.
3. Start the upgrade.
4. Do not power off the router or disconnect the Ethernet cable during the upgrade. It reboots itself when done — this can take a few minutes.

5. Verify

• Log back into the web UI and confirm the firmware version shown matches what you just installed.
• Confirm basic connectivity (internet still works through the router) before moving on to controller adoption.

Next step

Once firmware is current, move on to standing up the Omada Software Controller: ../docker/omada-controller/.

References

• How do I upgrade firmware of Omada Gateway in Standalone web UI? (TP-Link FAQ)
• How to upgrade firmware of Omada Gateway in controller mode (TP-Link FAQ) — for later reference, once the router is adopted
• ER605 firmware downloads (Omada Networks support)