In a few weeks time I'm setting things in motion to change from ADSL to VDSL operation, using my 8800NL in normal integrated mode as both router and modem. I've had my 8800NL since 2014 and although I've kept an eye on the issuing of firmware upgrades for it since then, I've stayed with firmware 2.32d.dh14. In preparation for VDSL, should I upgrade to 2.32d.dh52, or even 2.32e?
I gather that some people have had ISP authentication issues with 2.32d.dh52, and there may have been some issues with 2.32e as well. Were these issues ever confirmed as being real? Were they ever corrected later on? If the forum is any guide, a number of 8800NL users tried the later firmwares but folded back to 2.32d.dh14 in the end.
If and when upgrading the firmware, is it still necessary to initially load the new factory default settings and then go through manually inserting the specific ones? If so, once the new settings have been applied, should the 8800NL be manually restarted, or will that happen automatically anyway? I gather that, under VDSL, the Openreach DLM gives minimal opportunity to get all settings correct, as the DLM is intolerant to lots of successive modem restarts.
Under ADSL, I've had few problems with the 8800NL running under 2.32d.dh14. The main one I encountered was that, because there's no logout procedure, it's sometimes possible, after returning to normal browsing, to get back into the router via the browser without needing to log in again. Clearly, this has been a security issue, and it may or may not have been rectified in the later firmwares. (I informed this forum of my observation at the time).
BTW, am I correct in thinking that VDSL should be set up in Configuration > WAN and then going to PTM0.1 connection and clicking on the edit button, then selecting 'IP over Ethernet'? Then VLAN Mux to 101, etc.?