What is firmware?
Firmware is the software inside the Router that makes it go. Much the same in principle to what Windows is to a PC. Manufacturers issue updates from time to time where they add features, fix a bug or improve a security aspect. Generally it’s a good idea to run the latest version, but the old saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” also applies. If something can go wrong with a Router, it’ll often be during a Firmware upgrade which in some cases may involve sending it back to the manufacturer for repair. Firmware upgrades can sometimes take a while and the Router can appear to have stalled in the process, causing many people to switch the power off and back on. This will usually have disastrous results by causing the Firmware to become corrupted leaving a Router that no longer responds to anything. In many cases there is a recovery process to revive them again but this can be a fairly complex operation that will be beyond the capabilities of many people.
