@lesm 

Google "compare binary files" and you'll find many.

If on Windows, even FC will do it for you with /b:

C:\>fc /?
Compares two files or sets of files and displays the differences between
them

FC [/A] [/C] [/L] [/LBn] [/N] [/OFF[LINE]] [/T] [/U] [/W] [/nnnn]
   [drive1:][path1]filename1 [drive2:][path2]filename2
FC /B [drive1:][path1]filename1 [drive2:][path2]filename2

  /A         Displays only first and last lines for each set of differences.
  /B         Performs a binary comparison.
  /C         Disregards the case of letters.
  /L         Compares files as ASCII text.
  /LBn       Sets the maximum consecutive mismatches to the specified
             number of lines.
  /N         Displays the line numbers on an ASCII comparison.
  /OFF[LINE] Do not skip files with offline attribute set.
  /T         Does not expand tabs to spaces.
  /U         Compare files as UNICODE text files.
  /W         Compresses white space (tabs and spaces) for comparison.
  /nnnn      Specifies the number of consecutive lines that must match
             after a mismatch.
  [drive1:][path1]filename1
             Specifies the first file or set of files to compare.
  [drive2:][path2]filename2
             Specifies the second file or set of files to compare.

That said, if they ARE different, I'm not sure without specific knowledge of where 'what' is and 'how represented' what you will learn or that the files are not the same?

  @IrvSp 

I can compare two binary files but that's not the idea.  What I'm asking for is a way to convert the binary backup file into an ascii xml file like those in old routers.  i.e. this backup file from the TP-LINK-TD-W8968:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<DslCpeConfig version="3.0">
  <InternetGatewayDevice>
    <LANDeviceNumberOfEntries>1</LANDeviceNumberOfEntries>
    <WANDeviceNumberOfEntries>2</WANDeviceNumberOfEntries>
    <DeviceInfo>
      <FirstUseDate>2016-12-06T14:58:24+00:00</FirstUseDate>
      <VendorConfigFileNumberOfEntries>0</VendorConfigFileNumberOfEntries>
    </DeviceInfo>
...

This way you can easily compare two setups.

lesm wrote

  @IrvSp 

 

What I'm asking for is a way to convert the binary backup file into an ascii xml file like those in old routers.

  @lesm 

Well, you did ask for comparing Binary files

No, not that I know of? All of TP-Link's are stored binary I believe?

In some respects, that might be a good thing, stops 'users' from modifying settings via an XML file and possibly bricking the router.

You can make suggestions here, https://community.tp-link.com/us/home/forum/233 I guess? I searched for XML and got no hits, but I do recall others asking for it?

I searched here for XML and found this 1+ year old one I was in as well, https://community.tp-link.com/us/home/forum/topic/532496?replyId=1047260 and also a TP-Link moderator... didn't say you could on that one either.

Suggest away...

  @IrvSp 

Oh yes, I wasn't clear enough, but in the end you got the idea

Thanks for the suggestion.