[BozemanLUG] Linksys 54G router

[Pippin Wallace]

Rob, I just ordered a Linksys WRT310N for $70 and will put DD-WRT on
it.  I went with this router over the WRT 54x because it fully
supports alternative firmware, supports 802.11 b/g/ and n, has a 4
port 10/100/1000 switch and has 50% more processing power than the 54
series.  The down side is that this router runs hot but some easy
modifications can help this situation and you have to pay about $10
more for this unit over the 54GL.  Check out the link below for a list
of DD-WRT supported routers.

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Supported_Devices

In regards to VLAN's and firewalls, DD-WRT will do it all just make
sure to get a router with at least 4MB of flash memory and if you want
all the bells and whistles then get one with 8MB like the WRT350N.


Here is a good breakdown I found of the three main alternative firmware options.

Tomato offers less features than both DD-WRT and OpenWRT, but it's for
a different subset of users. It works better than the stock Linksys
code, but doesn't offer near the granularity of control, nor the
options of the other two, but it's very simple to set up and get
working in a short amount of time. It's interface is clean and easy to
navigate.

DD-WRT offers more VLAN and WLAN control than Tomato, but is not as
hacker friendly as OpenWRT although some say it is easier to config.

OpenWRT is just that, open. The base install is CLI only, and packages
have to be added in order to have a GUI control, at least that's how
it was last time I checked.  It offers at least as much, if not more,
functionality and control as DD-WRT.

Hope this helps.
Pippin

On Sat, Jan 10, 2009 at 12:32 PM, rpotter <rpotter at mypontification.com> wrote:
> At one time it was my understanding that the newer WRT 54G wireless routers
> were not able to be hacked and a linux/Open Source firmware installed.  But
> I also have read things that make it sound like that limitation no longer
> exists.  I have found WRT54G V8.2 that I am thinking about purchasing with
> the desire to explore hacking the firmware.
>
>
>
> Does anyone know if V8.2 would work for this?  Also, what open source
> firmware would you all recommend?  Has anyone setup a VPN with one of these
> or a vlan?  How easy or hard is it to build an ip table based firewall – is
> it better on the router or by building another machine, etc?  I am just
> looking for feedback first in regards to the router itself, but second on
> the useful features of the open source software firmware.
>
>
>
> Thank you,
>
>
>
> Rob Potter
>
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