[Eug-lug] Linksys router WRT54GL (was AVG)

Thu Dec 7 11:16:47 PST 2006

On Thu, 2006-12-07 at 11:08, LinuxRocks! wrote:
> On Thu, Dec 07, 2006 at 10:48:55AM -0800, Ben Barrett wrote:
> > Date: Thu, 7 Dec 2006 10:48:55 -0800
> > From: "Ben Barrett" <stircrazyben at gmail.com>
> > To: "Eugene Unix and Gnu/Linux User Group" <euglug at euglug.org>
> > Subject: Re: [Eug-lug] Linksys router WRT54GL (was AVG)
> > 
> > And if you're just going for aftermarket firmware, not Linux in particular,
> > then you can find a much cheaper model, too :)
> > See the lists of supported hardware for DD-WRT and others...
> 
> is there a non-linux firmware? I know the newwer units us vxworks, but I 
> belive all the aftermarket firmwares are linux. I dont see how you cant 
> load up your own firmware on any of the units that you can install a 
> firmware on. 
> I havnt built my own firmware yet, but i might... its just that ddwrt, 
> and hyperwrt, and all the others work so well that its easier to use one 
> of them.

No reason that after market firmware HAS to be Linux.  Just like Linksys
uses VxWorks on the latest WRT54Gs to save cost on flash and RAM, a
savvy open source programmer could port the basic functions to eCOS
pretty easily since it will use most linux drivers.  But aside from
that, there are a whole host of other small OSes and RTOSes out there. 
Even a fair number of free and open ones.  Why not drop a stripped down
BSD on the box?
		-Mike

> 
> Jamie
> 
> > 
> >   Ben
> > 
> > 
> > On 12/7/06, LinuxRocks! <linux at rocksolidnetworks.com> wrote:
> > >
> > >Darren,
> > >        Getting one of these for $50 is not too easy! often wrt54g's
> > >will go on sale for $50, but they are never the "L" version, and always
> > >the newwest version. I spent a week on ebay trying to get several usable
> > >units, and I think i paid about $60 each for used routers, I wish i
> > >could have gotten new ones for $50!
> > >
> > >        Did you look over the wikipedia link in one of my previous
> > >messages? wrt54g models 2-4, gs models 1-4 will take aftermarket
> > >firmware w/out issue. Versions 5 and 6 can also, but Last i checked it
> > >was a real pain in the butt.
> > >
> > >The wrt54gl apears to be the exact same thing as a wrt54g v4. and a lot
> > >easier to find!
> > >
> > >Jamie
> > >
> > >On Wed, Dec 06, 2006 at 06:35:29PM -0800, Darren Hayes wrote:
> > >> From: "Darren Hayes" <darrenh41 at comcast.net>
> > >> To: "Eugene Unix and Gnu/Linux User Group" <euglug at euglug.org>
> > >> Subject: Re: [Eug-lug] Linksys router WRT54GL (was AVG)
> > >> Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2006 18:35:29 -0800
> > >> X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1506
> > >>
> > >> <badd_karma at comcast.net wrote:>
> > >> >
> > >> > Buy a WRT54GL (The 'L' is important). They run ~$50-$60.
> > >>
> > >> A short holiday shopping story...
> > >>
> > >> I visited BestBuy, Circuit City, Staples, Office Depot and Office Max
> > >and
> > >> none carry the "L" version.
> > >>
> > >> During a couple of the in-store visits, after learning the "L" version
> > >was
> > >> unheard of by all, I turned for the door only to be stalled by a
> > >persistent
> > >> "sales/tech rep" suggesting that I have no "need" for the "L" version,
> > >> reporting all of the routers they sell "support" or are "compatible"
> > >with
> > >> Linux, concluding with a sales pitch for the "brand new" WRT54G model.
> > >> version 6.
> > >>
> > >> Knowing just a little better (only because I read a little), I attempted
> > >to
> > >> interject/explain...that I was not asking for Linux "support" or
> > >> "compatibility". Instead I desired a router that "runs Linux" and the
> > >router
> > >> that fits the bill for me on this particular day is the WRT54GL version
> > >with
> > >> a CAPITAL "L".
> > >>
> > >> The reps continue on... not really listening... trying to convince me
> > >> otherwise, that I'm confused on the subject, that I don't need a router
> > >that
> > >> "runs" Linux. I could sense they were awfully unaware that a router
> > >actually
> > >> ran on an OS ;-)
> > >>
> > >> Normally I would consider such uninformed heavy preaching of the "facts"
> > >> from a tech or sales rep a over the top, and prompt me to request a
> > >> background check/copy of their nerd degree... but in both cases I found
> > >the
> > >> back and forth banter quite humorous. And knowing the endgame was near
> > >> helped the spirit.
> > >>
> > >> So when I further explained that most previous versions of the WRT54G
> > >ran
> > >> "Linux", but current versions do not, except for the "L" version, both
> > >sales
> > >> reps refused to budge from their concrete positions.
> > >>
> > >> Finally I would say "lets look it up on the web".
> > >>
> > >> Checkmate. When the "truth" showed it's non-ugly face, other faces
> > >turned
> > >> ugly red, and the last famous words "oh... sorry" could be heard as the
> > >> sales rep turned to make a get-away in the hope of locating a hopefully
> > >> uninformed customer to "support". Poor soul(s).
> > >>
> > >> So was anything learned here? Nope. Not by me at least as I was not
> > >> expecting anything more from a big box vendor  And I'm quite certain the
> > >> same mistaken sales pitch has already been practiced on the next
> > >"confused
> > >> "customer at any/all of these stores.
> > >>
> > >> On the other hand I also called VOS Computers and had the exact same
> > >> experience with an "A+" certified technician. Must be a sales/support
> > >virus
> > >> going around.
> > >>
> > >> So if anyone can locally source a new "L" for $50, as Garl quotes, I
> > >will
> > >> certainly buy two of them. And will put up for the higher dB gain
> > >antennas.
> > >>
> > >> Mr. O, do you carry Linksys routers?
> > >>
> > >> Back to reading www.linksysinfo.org
> > >>
> > >> Darren
> > >>
> > >> _______________________________________________
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> > >> euglug at euglug.org
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