NOTE: Requires K2.6, Do not flash anything else.
NOTE: During configuration or flashing a device, the only that should be hooked to the device is the computer and power.

 This section is in need of cleanup!

Platform

Serial Num. = ?
FCC ID = PY308400093
CPU Type = Broadcom BCM4718A1KFBG CS0841 P11 E8937 6 N1 (BCM4718A SoC)
MIPS Rev = ?
CPU Speed = 480MHz
Bus = ?
Flash Type = Serial (SPI)
Flash Chip = MX X084231 25L6405DMI-12G 2Y169103 (Macronix MX25L6405D)
Flash Size = 8MB
Max Firmware Size = 7667456 bytes = 7487 KB
RAM Size = 64MB
RAM Chip = Samsung 834 K4T56163QI-ZCE6 CQE021Q3
nvram Size = 32kb
Switch = Broadcom BCM53115SKFBG TSO841 P21 896189 N1 (BCM53115)
Port-based vlan = Yes
802.1q vlan = Yes
Ethernet Port Count = 1-10/100/1000-WAN 4-10/100/1000-LAN
Wired Standard = IEEE 802.3/3u/3ab
boot_wait = ?
bootloader = CFE
Flash Card Socket/Type = No
SD/MMC Mod Support = No
MiniPCI slots = No
PoE = No
Power = 12V/1A
Color of LEDs = ?
Size = ?
USB = 1x USB 2.0
Serial Port = 1
JTAG Port = 1
Supported by TJTAG/Version = Yes/3.02
Supported by dd-wrt as of = v24 sp2 - build 12966 - 20090923
dd-wrt K2.4 Support = No
dd-wrt K2.6 Support = Yes
Special Features = (also known as the WNR3500U)

Radio (wl0)

Wireless Radio = Broadcom (BCM4718A SoC)
WLAN DSP processor = ?
Antenna Connector Type = Internal Antenna
Wireless Standard = IEEE 802.11b/g/n
WiFi Operating Frequency = 2.4GHz
 802.11n Draft 2.0 = up to 300Mbps
 802.11g = 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54Mbps
 802.11b = 1, 2, 5.5, 11Mbps
Radio cor_rev = wl0=17
Radio Capabilities = ?

• Support Thread
• DD-WRT Kong Mod USB/FTP/miniDLNA/Samba3 for all broadcom 47xx units with =>8MB Flash (WNR3500L, Asus RT-N16, Linksys WRT610N V2) build 15000
• WNR3500v2 stuck in waiting for tftp mode (Solved)

• Netgear WNR3500L

This Wiki article is a Work in Progress.

CAUTION:

This router REQUIRES a K26 build. All of the K26 builds have "_K2.6_" in the filename. If you need a firmware recommendation refer to the Firmware Recommendations thread and make sure to get a K26 build.

HIGHLY recommended reading

Peacock Thread FAQ Especially the "Required Reading" notes listed at the beginning of the thread

Redhawk's Firmware Recommendations

Which Firmware?

First you need to know that this router only supports the "NEWD-2_K2.6" firmware. Next, you need to know which revision number (i.e. build 13525) you want to use. For recommendations on what revision to use don't trust the Router Database. Instead you should first read the Peacock Thread keeping in mind that this router REQUIRES K2.6. Pay particular attention to Note 3. Then read the Firmware Recommendations Thread (still keep in mind K2.6). You should now have a pretty good idea of what build number you want.

Now you need to know what build version you want. Compare the features of the different build versions here. This router has 8MB of flash memory so it will support any of the builds in that list. You probably want to get a build version that supports USB since this router has a USB port.

Next, a question: Are you flashing from a stock router with Netgear firmware? If not then you can skip this paragraph. If so then first you need to flash with a special build called a "trailed" build. A trailed build ...

... Some more stuff ...

Need to re-word the following and take out the mention of the Router Database... Are you flashing from the original Netgear firmware? The Netgear firmware won't recognize a standard build of DD-WRT. You need to start with a special build that the Netgear firmware recognizes. You can grab one from the Router Database. Make sure to grab the one that says "Special File for initial flashing". It should have "_NEWD-2_K2.6_mini-WNR3500L.chk" in the filename. After you flash this initial image you should have a working version of DD-WRT on your router. But wait! You're not done yet. This initial version doesn't have very many features and is probably not a recommended build. (Don't trust the Router Database recommendations) Also, the WNR3500L has an 8MB flash and 64MB RAM so it will run even the "Big" builds with room to spare. Don't hesitate to use at least the "Standard-USB-FTP" build.

Flashing the router

Here is an article for how to flash the dd-wrt firmware onto the WNR3500L: [1]

Installation of DD-WRT

I’m sure someone will ask about this. Here’s the deal, straight and to the point:

• The WNR3500L requires a NEWD-2, K2.6 build of DD-WRT
• You will first need to upload a special .chk build (also K2.6) of DD-WRT to the router to go from Netgear’s factory firmware. Then you may install a .bin build of DD-WRT.
• Spend some time browsing the DD-WRT Forums http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/ There’s a lot of chaotic information to ingest.

For a brand new WNR3500L, installation goes like this:

1. Set a static IP such as 192.168.1.8 on the PC you will be using for the flash.
2. Connect the PC to the router (unplug everything else!)
3. Perform a 30-30-30 Reset http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Hard_reset_or_30/30/30 on the router.
4. In Internet Explorer, go to http://192.168.1.1
5. Cancel the router’s automatic firmware update checking, then click on “Router Upgrade” in the menu at left.
6. Upload the special .chk firmware file.
7. Wait 5 minutes after the router says it is done, then perform another 30-30-30 reset.
8. Repeat steps 4-7 with the .bin firmware file.
9. Login and start tweaking

These are the exact files I used:

http://www.dd-wrt.com/routerdb/de/download/Netgear/WNR3500L/-/dd-wrt.v24-14311_NEWD-2_K2.6_mini-WNR3500L.chk/3467 (special initial file)

ftp://dd-wrt.com/others/eko/BrainSlayer-V24-preSP2/12-28-09-r13525/broadcom_K26/ dd-wrt.v24-13527_NEWD-2_K2.6_std_usb_ftp.bin

But, you probably shouldn’t use the same files I chose. The DD-WRT team constantly churns out newer firmware builds. These were simply two popular builds as of June 2010. Credits go to: blackinches

DeBricking the router

And another article on de-bricking your WNR3500L with a USB-TTL cable: [2]

If dd-wrt is already on the router follow these instructions. If stock firmware is on the router follow the flashing instructions.

1. Check for recommended builds here first.
2. Set your computer to a static IP of 192.168.1.7. (or to whatever subnet the router is on) Disable all firewalls and security. Disable wireless on your computer and only have the router connected to the flashing computer by the ethernet cable between the two.
3. Hard reset or 30/30/30 (If the router supports it, if not, reset to defults in the GUI) prior to flashing. Wait. Check for password page on re-login and change password.
4. Flash firmware. You can use the webgui except if you have a belkin router. (For belkin use tftp.exe to flash)
5. Wait...at least three minutes. Lights should return to normal. See important2, below. Failing to wait is how most people brick their routers.
6. Do a power cycle of the router. (Unplug the cord, count to 30 and plug it back in.)
7. Wait for the lights to return to normal usually about 2 minutes.
8. Hard reset or 30/30/30 again (If the router supports it, if not, reset to defults in the GUI). Wait. Check for the password page and re-login to change the password. Then you can reconfigure your settings manually.
9. Once configured set your computer back to autoIP and autoDNS.
   

Important1: This Hard reset or 30/30/30 works fine for Asus router, but you do have to power cycle after the reset.

Important2: After you flash the firmware, and before you do the hard reset, the router will be building some nvram settings. YOU MUST WAIT FOR THIS TO FINISH PRIOR TO DOING ANYTHING WITH THE ROUTER INCLUDING A HARD RESET. Usually, you can tell when this process is completed by the WAN light coming on, but it does take several minutes. Go have a beer. There are starting to be more and more people who BRICK their routers by not waiting until the nvram is rebuilt, PRIOR to doing a hard reset. YOU NEED TO WAIT!

 This section is in need of cleanup!

JTAG Pinouts

 This section is in need of cleanup!

JTAG Recovery

 This section is in need JTAG Recovery Instructions!

• /byte_mode switch required

Serial Pinouts

 This section is in need of cleanup!

Hyper terminal Setup in Windows XP

In Windows XP, Click Start Button - All Programs - Accessories - 
   Communication - HyperTerminal
Enter a name for the connection, Click ok
Choose com port you adapter is plugged into, Click ok
Set:
 Bits per second = 115200
 Data Bits = 8
 Parity = none
 Stop bits = 1
 Flow control = none
Click ok
Click File - Save As, and select a place to save it to so you 
             don't have to enter the settings again.

Putty Setup in Windows XP

After installing putty, run it
 Serial line = The COM port your using for serial (ie. COM3)
 Speed = 115200
Click on Serial under Connection
 Serial line to connect to = same as above (Serial line)
 Speed (baud) = 115200
 Data bits = 8
 Stop bits = 1
 Parity = None
 Flow control = None
Click Session
 Enter a name for your connection under saved sessions
Click Save
Click Open

Serial Recovery

 This section is in need of Serial Recovery Instructions!

The USB port is where you can connect an external USB hard drive or flash drive. Which can do a multitude of things. You can use in as a NAS, storage for a FTP server, use Optware to run external programs like torrent software, samba for sharing files to your network, share a USB printer with your network... The list of possibilities is long, it just takes a little research.

ProFTPd is included in most the newer builds of dd-wrt. Check the features chart to be sure.

A ftp server, file sharing, and a media sever is included in TomatoUSB if your device is compatable.

• VLAN Support

Flash partitions

dev:  size     erasesize name
mtd0: 00040000 00010000 "pmon"
mtd1: 00750000 00010000 "linux"
mtd2: 005dc000 00010000 "rootfs"
mtd3: 00080000 00010000 "jffs2"
mtd4: 00010000 00010000 "nvram"
mtd5: 00010000 00010000 "board_data"