You can turn your blue Linksys router into a Linux box with OpenWrt, an embedded Linux distribution for Linksys WRT54G and WRT54GS routers. This tiny distribution exceeds the default firmware functionality in many useful ways. Instead of having only a Web-controlled wireless access point, OpenWrt provides you with a fully interactive Linux system.
Quick, someone do something stupid and build a cluster of these!
Can someone give me a breakdown of the differences between the firmwares? I know the standard linksys one, but what about dd-wrt, and some of the others?
First of all, I would suggest to use DD-WRT. DD-WRT is based on OpenWRT (the next version will be, the current stable is based on Sveasoft Alchemy). It has a nice, themeable interface…
OpenWRT has pretty much all features imaginable, because there are packages for almost everything. DD-WRT comes with a nice selection of features, plus interface. Improvements and additional features compared to the Linksys firmware are, for example: client mode, bridged client mode, WDS, WPA2, improved routing and firewall, NoCatSplash, MACupd support, ChilliSpot, SSH deamon, improved QoS, DNS masquerading, IPv6, Xbox KAID, power selectable (0-251mW), watchdog and scheduled reboot and many other things.
http://www.dd-wrt.com/
I had problems with openwrt bricking one WRT54G I have (that’s only good for switch use now).
The official firmware is quite good, and hyperWRT is also very good if you need some extra features or direct access to the OS running on the router itself.
There’s just tons of firmware variants for this router. Just make very certain you know and understand the procedures required for unbricking one of these before you go playing with new firmwares!
OpenWRT is an awesome distro, especially since it is so small. You can run it on most modern routers/access points: http://openwrt.org/TableOfHardware
Before we get all excited, be aware that routers like these tend to have about 8M of memory to play with, so you won’t be turning them into KDE desktops running OpenOffice any time soon. At least, that’s what they were saying about this for the equivalent Belkin routers (like mine) on /. a month ago.
I like the Vlan settings especially. Almost makes me want to run out and get one.
http://aqcohen.dialnet.net.co/?p=16
Check This Link
That’s funny, because this firmware is anything but.
There is NO simple to use UI, and one has to set up everything manually.
Sounds just like Desktop Linux to me.
Your informational post is correct. Unfortunately a OSNews Troll gave you a -1, and it’s only fair to give you a +1
what some peeple consider a simple to use user interface, others consider a cludge of bad design and unusable features. and for the sake of flame wars i will just flat out ignore the “Sounds just like Desktop Linux to me” comment.
Someone accidently gave you a +1, this have been corrected.
I’ve tried dd-wrt (http://dd-wrt.gruftie.com/dd-wrtv2/index.php?link=ddwrt) some times ago, and it is full of new functionnality (chillispot, JFFS2, more row for port forwarding, SSHD server, increase the power up to 251mW) but finally I’ve put the latest linksys one (4.20) and it’s much more stable.
Using DD-WRT I was always loosing wifi connection
In terms of functionnality of course dd-wrt is extremly good but stability is more important (at least to me)