| Hot-rodding a Linux-powered Linksys WRT54G WiFi router |
Nov. 17, 2005
 Wi-Fi Planet has published a story about turning Linksys's ubiquitous, Linux-based (versions 1-4) WRT54G into the functional equivalent of a $600 enterprise router, by installing community-developed firmware that adds features such as Radius authentication, WPA2 encryption, VoIP QoS features, and integration with WiFi hotspot management systems.
According to Aaron Weiss, author of the Wi-Fi Planet story, the WRT54G was identified as a Linux based device in June of 2003. Quite a brouhaha ensued, with Linksys eventually claiming not to have realized its offshore OS provider had used Linux. The flap caused Forbes to publish a provocative article entitled, "Linux's Hit Men" postulating that GPL vigilanteeism would dissuade companies from embedding Linux in their devices.
Fortunately, the Linksys intrigue was quickly resolved, with little damage to Linux's adoption rate in the embedded market. The WRT54G went on to reach sales rates of several hundred thousand per month, Linksys told LinuxDevices.com last week. And, as an upshot of its firmware becoming freely available, the WRT54G gained myriad community firmware distributions, including:
According to Weiss, the Sveasoft distributions are among the most popular, depite being encumbered by licensing controversy. The DD-WRT is also quite widespread.
It should be noted that version 5 of Linksys's WRT54G is widely reported to run VxWorks, rather than Linux. LinksysInfo offers a page describing the "gross external anatomy" and serial numbering of various WRT54x models.
According to Linksys, flashing firmware from sources other than Linksys does void the WRT54G's warranty. However, for those willing to take the plunge, Weiss's article describes the simple process in detail. The full story can be found here.
PBS columnist Robert X. Cringely also wrote about how, running QoS and VoIP routing software, the WRT54G could enable enable Mom, Pop, and Linux to take down SBC, Verizon, and the rest.
Hacker communities have also sprung up around Linux-based routers from Asus, D-Link, and others.
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