Staying on an older firmware (e.g., 2301 or 2210) means:
Improper input validation that could crash the switch module. Step-by-Step Upgrade Process r1-2401 firmware
This means the file you selected does not match the hardware bootloader. You have likely downloaded a firmware for a different "R1" device (e.g., R1 for a switch vs. R1 for a router). Re-check the hardware model number. Staying on an older firmware (e
If your device is currently stable and the current firmware meets all your needs (no security concerns, no IPv6 usage), you could skip it. However, for 99% of users, the is a mandatory security and performance upgrade. R1 for a router)
– To get the exact changelog and feature set:
Because of its versatility, the firmware it runs is sophisticated. Unlike consumer-grade routers, which often share generic firmware builds across dozens of models, the R1-2401 firmware is highly tailored to maximize the specific MIPS or ARM architecture of the board.
After upgrading to a major version like 2401, perform a factory reset (press the reset pinhole for 10 seconds). This clears old low-level variables from the previous firmware. Then, manually restore your settings (do not restore from an old backup file, as that might reintroduce bugs).