WRT54GL w/ 3rd Party Firmware?

[thorin]

Is anyone running their Linksys WRT54GL (or Gx) with a 3rd Part Firmware?

I'm considering getting one and I'm looking for advice on 3rd Party firmware.....OpenWRT, DD-WRT, Tomatoe, etc...

[buggs187]

I have the WRT54GS and have DD-WRT on it.
Might just be me but i think DD-WRT is the best firmware replacement out there..

Even though it used to be open source and now Brain Slayer takes other peoples work and makes it his own.. anyhow.

[Paton]

I ran openwrt for bout 15mins... Then I realized it is wasn't WPA out of the box, and I wasn't comfortable brick'n my router to install it.

But it flashed right easy and looked nice.

[buggs187]

I like the direction Openwrt is going "REAL Opensource" but DD-WRT works perfect out of the box. One thing I forgot to add. The WRT54GL is overpriced if you ask me. The best wirless router to buy and replace the firmware IMO is the Buffalo WHR-HP-G54 because it is cheap and come with a bulit in amp... better coverage and good hardware...

[ghaze]

Openwrt does support WPA. "ipkg install nas" That was hard.:D The ap setup isn't any harder than setting up wep. Getting openwrt to connect as a client to a wpa network is a pita, though. I couldn't get it to work unless I had my ap broadcast the ssid.

I've played with sveasoft, dd-wrt, white russian, and kamikaze. Out of the box, dd-wrt will probably provide the best result's with the least effort. Openwrt might provide more function, but it comes at the price of a lot of rtfm. Openwrt is moving to a new configuration with kamikaze, based on text files, which should make things easier. If you decide to install openwrt/white russian, be sure to get the x-wrt (http://x-wrt.org/) add on. It should also be available for kamikaze when it's finally released. Unfortunately, x-wrt doesn't (yet) offer a ssl connection.

If you carefully read the manuals, download the correct version for your router, and follow the directions, you shouldn't have to worry too much about "bricking" your router. "Making bricks" is usually the result of operator error.

I recently installed kamikaze on a spare wrt54g. When it's finally released, it will be my #1 choice. Editing files is much easier than playing with nvram variables.

You might also be interested in FairuzaWRT (http://www.hackerpimps.com/projects.html), if you are just looking for something to "play" with.

Have Fun

[thorin]

Excellent feedback guys.

[ghaze]

Thorin,
I don't know if you still read this forum, but openwrt kamikaze (http://downloads.openwrt.org/kamikaze/) first release is out. I installed it tonight.
The x-wrt addon isn't, yet.

The package depository (http://downloads.openwrt.org/kamikaze/7.06/brcm-2.4/packages/) is great, lots of nice apps.

I got it set up with wpa working in a matter of minutes. Nas is installed default now.

Most configuration is done by editing the files in /etc/config or the /etc/init.d scripts themselves. The firewall is a standard iptables script. It was easily edited to change it's default reject policy on some packets to drop.

Running tcpdump on the bridge captures everything. I used netcat to write the file to my laptop. There's not much room on the router. This will make it easy to catch spyware and trojans on the windows boxes "some people" insist on using around here. If you look at the programs available I'm sure that you can figure out a few more neat things to do. I'll probably try to get kistmet_drone working tomorrow night.

http://wiki.openwrt.org/

Well worth playing with.

[theprez98]

Is anyone running their Linksys WRT54GL (or Gx) with a 3rd Part Firmware?

I'm considering getting one and I'm looking for advice on 3rd Party firmware.....OpenWRT, DD-WRT, Tomatoe, etc...

I have OpenWRT on one of my WRTs, but I only use it for testing. My main WRT has the stock firmware. I have a third WRT which I plan to use DD-WRT and some other interesting tools on.

[Paton]

Openwrt does support WPA. "ipkg install nas" That was hard.:D The ap setup isn't any harder than setting up wep. Getting openwrt to connect as a client to a wpa network is a pita, though. I couldn't get it to work unless I had my ap broadcast the ssid.
Have Fun

Yay yay....I knew bout the package, but If i bricked my router.....i'm screwed! SO.... I chickened out!

[ghaze]

WRT54G Ultimate Hacking Guide (http://www.syngress.com/catalog/?pid=4170)

I'll post a review when I've finished it, if anyone is interested. From glancing through it, it would appear to be a good, basic primer.

[Barry]

I'm currently running dd-wrt on both my 54gs'. I like it for the interface more than anything.