If your Vigor 2960 or 3900 router is not operating normally, then it is very likely that it can be successfully returned to normal operation by performing a firmware upgrade, using the DrayTek Firmware Utility. The DrayTek Firmware Upgrade Utility is a DrayTek specific TFTP utility designed for use with DrayTek products.
If a DrayTek Vigor router is in an inoperable state either due to a failed firmware reflash or any other reason, the router can be manually put into TFTP (Trivial File Transfer Protocol) mode - this is a function separate from the main firmware that makes it possible to reflash the firmware when the router is not able to start up normally.
When a DrayTek Vigor 2960 or Vigor 3900 is in TFTP mode, its IP address is 192.168.1.1, it will respond to Ping and TFTP connections from the DrayTek Firmware Utility.
There are two firmware file types that can be sent to the router:
Type | Example | Description |
---|---|---|
ALL File | v3900_140.all | The firmware will be upgraded to this version and retain all existing settings |
RST File | v3900_140.rst | The firmware will be upgraded to this version and the router will be reset to its factory default settings |
Firmware supplied for the Vigor 2960/3900 routers uses the .all extension, simply change the file extension from .all to .rst by renaming the file.
Firmware recovery is easiest to complete in this order, which this guide will be covering at each step:
Disconnect the computer that will be sending the firmware from its networks, both Wired - disconnect the cable, and Wireless - disable the wireless adapter or enable Airplane mode.
Set up the computer's Ethernet adapter IP address with these details:
IP address | 192.168.1.10 |
Subnet mask | 255.255.255.0 |
Default gateway | no Gateway IP address set |
DNS servers | no DNS IP addresses set |
For guidance on how to change the IP address in different Windows operating systems, see this guide.
Upon starting the DrayTek Firmware Utility, it will pop-up a warning that recommends to disable the computer's firewall. Just click OK to bypass the warning, the Windows Firewall should only be disabled if the Firmware Utility fails to send.
In the Firmware Utility, click "..." for the Firmware File to select the firmware that will be sent by the utility, where the type of firmware to be sent can be selected:
ALL File (Reflash & retain settings) - Navigate to the directory that the firmware is located in, select the firmware and click Open:
RST File (Reflash & reset settings) - Standard firmware renamed with .rst extension. Rename the file and change the file type to "(*.rst)" to select the file, then click Open:
With the firmware selected, configure these settings and move on to the next step:
Vigor 2960 | Vigor 3900 | |
---|---|---|
Router IP | 192.168.1.1 | 192.168.1.1 |
Password | leave this blank | leave this blank |
Port | 69 | 69 |
Time Out | 5 | 5 |
Recommended Block Size Fastest: 1468 Most Compatible: 512 |
1468 1454 1024 512 |
1468 1454 1024 512 |
Open the Windows Start menu (Start key) or open the Windows Run prompt (Start+R keys) and type "cmd" then press enter to open the Windows command prompt.
At the command prompt, type "ping -t 192.168.1.1" and press enter. This will start a constant ping to the TFTP IP address, which is useful to determine when the router's TFTP server is ready to accept firmware.
The pings to 192.168.1.1 will not receive a response, which is normal at this stage. Leave this running and move on to the next step.
Remove the router from its normal fitted position and connect it directly to the PC running the DrayTek Firmware Utility.
TFTP mode is activated by powering up the Vigor 2960 while the Factory Reset button is pressed in.
This requires a pen tip or paperclip to press the recessed reset button.
When pressed, the reset button will make an audible clicking sound as the button is depressed.
Once the router has booted into TFTP mode and is connected to the computer, watch the pings to the router's TFTP IP address - 192.168.1.1 should begin responding to pings after a few seconds, at which point the firmware can be sent:
In the DrayTek Firmware Utility, click the Send button and watch the status, it should look like the animation below:
Once the firmware has been sent, the Firmware Utility will pop-up a "Waiting" window - this checks for connectivity to the router at the IP address that the firmware was sent to.
If the Vigor router had standard .all firmware sent to it, click "Skip" and proceed to the next step.
If the Vigor router had .rst firmware sent to it, the router will go back to its factory default IP address of 192.168.1.1. Wait for the Firmware Utility to detect connectivity to the router, at which point the router's web interface will be accessible.
If a Windows Firewall message pops up, the firmware sending procedure may be able to send successfully even without being allowed access, but if you find the firmware is not sending, click Allow Access for the Firmware Utility.
Once the firmware has been sent to the router, it can spend up to 5 minutes upgrading its firmware.
During this time, the router's LEDs will indicate its status:
Do not power off the router until the LED states indicate it is operating normally
Vigor 2960 - LED States | Description |
---|---|
DoS, WAN1, WAN2, USB2 lit ACT, CSM, VPN flashing |
router is in TFTP mode and awaiting firmware |
ACT, CSM, DoS, WAN1, WAN2, USB2 lit | firmware has been uploaded successfully, router is reflashing firmware |
All LEDs lit | router is starting up |
ACT blinking once per second | router is operating normally |
Vigor 3900 - LED States | Description |
---|---|
ACT blinking rapidly | router is in TFTP mode and awaiting firmware |
ACT, USB1, USB2 blinking very rapidly | firmware has been uploaded successfully, router is reflashing firmware |
PWR, USB2 lit solidly | router is starting up |
ACT blinking once per second | router is operating normally |
Once the router has restarted, the ACT light should blink once per second, indicating that it is operating normally.
If the Vigor router had standard .all firmware sent to it, the router will be accessible on the IP address it was on prior to the reflash with all original configuration present. Connect it back up to the network and use the router as normal.
If the Vigor router had .rst firmware sent to it, the router will be back to its factory default configuration, with an IP address of 192.168.1.1. Connect it back up to the network and reconfigure the router.
If the upgrade process shows this error message when attempting to send firmware then the utility has not been able to successfully send the firmware to the Vigor router.
If this occurs, try these steps which should allow the Firmware Upgrade Utility to send to the router successfully:
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