[TriLUG] No more Linux on WRT54G???

[Chad Thomsen]

Can you run iptables on this wireless router? I have an older one and have
often though about hacking it and thowing linux on it becasue I heard it
could be done. What are other possibilites that you can use the box for and
still get *good* performance out of it. I don't want to bog it down too much
as its true/original function in my home network is a wireless
router/AP/switch and I don't want to hurt that function.

Anybody care to share what they have done with theres?

Chad

On 11 Nov 2005 03:57:07 -0500, Jon Carnes <jonc at nc.rr.com> wrote:
>
> On Thu, 2005-11-10 at 12:10, Phillip Rhodes wrote:
> > Ok, so I saw this blog post:
> >
> > <http://weblog.infoworld.com/smbit/archives/2005/11/diy_cutting_edg.html
> >
> >
> > which states that newer WRT54G's have a "different operating system, not
> > subject to the new open source add-ons."
> >
> > Does anybody know anything about this? Have they abandoned Linux
> completely,
> > or is this guy misinformed, or what? It seems
> > like changing OS's would be a pretty major change while keeping the same
> > model number... I also wonder what OS they might
> > have switched to, and why they would switch?
> >
> > Ok, the "why" question is indirectly addressed in his entry, but I kinda
> > doubt that most businesses that would
> > otherwise be buying $1000+ Cisco routers are instead using WRT54G's with
> > open-source firmware. Or are they?
> >
> >
> > TTYL,
> >
> > Phil
>
> First off, before the advent of the WRT54G we used a Cisco 860 router
> when we wanted QoS at a remote client site. That box sold for around
> $800 and was a royal PITA to configure correctly. We only sold two of
> those Cisco 860 boxes.
>
> Since the advent of the WRT54G-S we have sold in excess of 50 to our
> remote users and our clients have gone out and bought at least as many
> of them.
>
> So yes, it did cut into their higher end market - but just barely.
>
> I think that once Cisco stumbled across the GPLed software in the WRT54G
> they did two things:
> - release the code (as required by the GPL)
> - mandate a complete rewrite/code replacement for the units
>
> I'm sure both decisions came down at the same time. Corporations being
> as they are (and Cisco more so than others), it simply took them this
> long to rewrite/replace the code in the WRT54G with non-GPL code.
>
> I think this has been in the works since the release of the initial
> code. Cisco, being Cisco simply did not anticipate the great wealth and
> knowledge that would be generated by keeping the source open on these
> units... and they probably *still* don't. :-)
>
> Don't worry though. The WRT54G is a standard form factor and there are
> folks out there (are you listening Tom Billman) who order these things
> all the time and put their own OSes on them. As long as the demand is
> alive I don't think the supply will run out anytime soon. You just won't
> be able to get one with "Linksys" or "Cisco" printed on the side.
>
> Jon
>
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