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Tinkering with modified WRT54G firmware

A fairly common VoIP complaint (depending on configuration) has been choppy communications when users are throttling their broadband connection. To that end, users are tinkering with modified router firmware upgrades to incorporate bandwidth management and a host of other free improvements. This thread in our VoIP forum outlines how one user obtained the quality of service he was looking for with a Linksys WRT54G and Linux based modified firmware from Sveasoft.

The modified firmware has incorporated Wondershaper bandwidth management, allowing users to avoid choppy conversations while gobbling up bandwidth with other applications. Of course that doesn't just apply to VoIP, the firmware allows you to prioritize any important traffic across your network.

The improvements don't end there either, as the firmware also incorporates a number of networking improvements and upgrades, boosts power levels, and adds quite a number of treats to the router's web-interface.

A list of all the features added to the Sveasoft Linksys build is here. Discussion over at the Sveasoft forums tackles what kind of additional functionality users would like to see (such as which VPN software customers most prefer). You can download the firmware here at the Svesoft website, then find detailed instructions on getting up and running here in our forums.

Sveasoft isn't alone in offering modified firmware; there's also the Wi-Fi Box firmware that users in our Linksys forum have been discussing for the past month. It's an impressive way to get quite a bit of added functionality out of a piece of sub-$100 hardware ($80 at Amazon).
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Mellow
Premium Member
join:2001-11-16
Salisbury, MD

Mellow

Premium Member

wrtg54

It works like a Charm. Being able to set priority to services helps soooo much. If only linksys would do a firmware like this on their own.

Lumberjack
Premium Member
join:2003-01-18
Newport News, VA

Lumberjack

Premium Member

Re: wrtg54

I have an older router from LinkSys with QoS built in. Never had a need for it though. My wireless router from them doesn't have it. Even still, I don't have a need for it (yet).

vangoatee
Pool's Closed
Premium Member
join:2001-02-06
Newark, OH

vangoatee to Mellow

Premium Member

to Mellow
I downloaded the firmware update, followed the directions step by step, got a successful completion message, rebooted my router (i.e., held down the reset button for 8-10 seconds and watched the router reset,) brought up the admin page, and with the exception of the firmware version number, everything looks exactly the same. No bandwidth management...nottta.

I do not have a Version 2 router, so I'm confused at this point. Anyone else having this problem?
vangoatee

vangoatee

Premium Member

Re: wrtg54

Nevermind--(man do I feel stupid). I had two firmware bin files on my desktop and I inadvertently chose an old Linksys update.

I have successfully applied the new update, and am thrilled with it so far.
rman66
join:2004-02-24
Alpharetta, GA

rman66 to Mellow

Member

to Mellow
is there any possibility that this firmware could be the host of a virus? Afterall the companies in question, are located abroad.. and.. the router is a gateway to everything we receive and everything we send.. all those passwords
jdmatl
join:2000-04-27
Deerfield Beach, FL

1 edit

jdmatl

Member

Lawsuit is next!!!

Isn't it sad that a HUGE company like Linksys can't develop features such as this?

Heck, dlink's current firmware for the di-624 reboots the router every 5 mins. What great QA of code Dlink!

My next guess is that all these firmware "hacks" will be sued by Cisco/Linksys for violating copyright or The Digital Millennium Act.

Remember in technology we don't encourage innovation we stifle it with lawsuits.
ihaddsl
join:2001-12-05
/dev/hda0

ihaddsl

Member

Re: Lawsuit is next!!!

said by jdmatl:
Isn't it sad that a HUGE company like Linksys can't develop features such as this?

Heck, dlink's current firmware for the di-624 reboots the router every 5 mins. What great QA of code Dlink!

My next guess is that all these firmware "hacks" will be sued by Cisco/Linksys for violating copyright or The Digital Millennium Act.

Remember in technology we don't encourage innovation we stifle it with lawsuits.

Sorry, but that's not possible. Linksys released the source under the GPL, (as they were required to) since it runs on GPL'd software

microbob
@rr.com

microbob

Anon

Re: Lawsuit is next!!!

Yup, odds are they'll pick up these mods and include 'em in the next release.

BTW, did Linksys ever release the modded GPL code for these routers?

R-1729
@64.56.x.x

R-1729 to ihaddsl

Anon

to ihaddsl
The GPL has stopped surprisingly few lawsuits, IMHO. The source is GPL'd, but I'd bet the hardware interfaces are "Patented" at some level. If Linksys (CISCO?) really felt like it they could probably find a way to sue for reverse engineering the hardware, or the firmware updater, or some non-Linux-related nonsense. Not that I think they will, but it wouldn't be as clear-cut a legal battle as "Linksys released the source under the GPL".
Freezone
join:2000-09-29
Southfield, MI

Freezone

Member

Re: Lawsuit is next!!!

If they did this it would just be stupid. This helps sell routers.

Dwonis
@sasknet.sk.ca

Dwonis to R-1729

Anon

to R-1729
Actually, if Linksys did this, then they would lose the right to distribute Linux.

See section 7 of the GNU General Public License.
mongre26
join:2004-02-04

mongre26 to R-1729

Member

to R-1729
"The GPL has stopped surprisingly few lawsuits, IMHO"

I am curious as to what you base your humble opinion on because from here its does not look like it is anything approaching facts.

The GPL has not stopped stopped lawsuits? I am not sure what you are trying to say but if I read the sentence on its face then I have to disagree. The GPL has in fact stopped many lawsuits. That is lawsuits where the owner of the copyright, who released their code under the GPL requests that a violator of the GPL comply with the terms of the license. The violator, understanding their rights under the license, presumably after consulting with attorneys has in all cases to date complied with the copyright holders request, without a lawsuit.

As for an example one need look no further than the very subject of this thread, the Linksys use of GPL'd Linux code. Linksys was in 2003 discovered to have used GPL code in their routers but had not complied with the GPL license and released their modifications in source code to the community. They were alerted to this fact and after some conversations with the copyright holders, a letter or two from the FSF and others Linksys complied with the GPL license and released the code. The GPL 100% had to do with preventing a lawsuit with Linksys as the defendent. This has happened many times before and the GPL will undoubtedly continue with its track record of stopping lawsuits in their tracks.

Also I a curious why you think you can sue for reverse engineering? You do know that reverse engineering is protected behaviour right? That you have the right to reverse engineer a product, produce a specification and then publish a work alike? Had this no been the case Compaq would never have been able to start the whole IBM clone business. Now it is true that your reverse engineered system could violate some patents, but then patents are public so you do not have to reverse engineer patented features, only license them, or create a work alike that does not violate the patent.

Now as far as patents and the GPL, yes if there is a patent then the GPL, a license, does not idemnify you from violating others patents. That is if you as the originator of a program violate some other entities patents. However if you actually would read the GPL you would know that the GPL specifically requires that any algorithms that the author of the software has patented and has placed in the GPL code they must, in order to use and/or comply with the GPL license provide royalty free rights to use said patent.

That is you cannot poison a GPL'd program with a patent. Eben is a smart guy, they thought of that one already. Section 7 of the terms and conditions if you are curious.

As a final word, does the GPL work? Resoundingly yes, here we have a case of a proprietary company using GPL'd code, as it is allowed to do, to create a product which is a successful product, they released their changes to the community and now others have taken it and improved on it again. Now Linksys can take those changes and re-integrate them back into their product.

Isn't it wonderful when your own customers implement a key feature that will help you hold or even advance more market share in home based wireless devices? Does it get any better?

If Linksys does re-integrate these changes then the circle will be complete and the superiority of the GPL license to continue to advance innovation in software will once again be demonstrated.

asldkf
@echostar.com

asldkf to ihaddsl

Anon

to ihaddsl
I assume you are shilling for SCO or MSoft. They are NOT required to release the code under the GPL.

Quoted from the GPL faq:

"Can I use GPL-covered editors such as GNU Emacs to develop non-free programs? Can I use GPL-covered tools such as GCC to compile them?
Yes, because the copyright on the editors and tools does not cover the code you write. Using them does not place any restrictions, legally, on the license you use for your code."

Elasah
@sea1-4-4-093-234.sea

Elasah

Anon

Re: Lawsuit is next!!!

Actually, that is code that you create yourself with tools that are released under GPL, not GPL'd code itself. Basically if you use GCC to compile a program you wrote yourself, without using someone else's GPL'd code, then that code is not protected under GPL, and you do not have to release it. If you use GCC to compile a program you wrote with GPL'd code, then you would have to make the source available.
Bordruh
Premium Member
join:2001-01-21
Woodbridge, VA

Bordruh to asldkf

Premium Member

to asldkf
Your mixxing apples and oranges here.

If I understand it correctly part of the Linksys' Firmware source code has already been GPL'd therefore, yes they ARE required to the code under GPL.

Your quote is referring to the editors and compilers used to write the source code. Thats like saying Since I used a Black and Decker power saw to build my house, Black and decker has rights to the house.

lazarus_
join:2002-08-31
Resolute, NU

lazarus_ to jdmatl

Member

to jdmatl
The easiest way around that is for the hackers to release a exe that will mod the original FW. This way the people who patch the FW are at fault.

Anyways I cant see cisco or linksys really caring..

John H II
@wsu.edu

John H II

Anon

Re: Lawsuit is next!!!

.EXE? That's so Windows!
medici
join:2001-02-22
Shohola, PA

medici to lazarus_

Member

to lazarus_
Anyways I cant see cisco or linksys really caring.
If the features enabled by the mod'd firmware make the $90 LinkSys the functional equivalent of, say, a Cisco SOHO or SMB router at 10X or more the price, then Cisco may feel compelled to do something to protect their higher margin products. Most likely this would be elimination of GPL-powered routers, but you never know what a company will do when backed into a corner.

Tomek
Premium Member
join:2002-01-30
Valley Stream, NY

Tomek to jdmatl

Premium Member

to jdmatl
That won't happen. Ability to use modified firmware may boost sales of that product. More sales = more money.
I think that other companies should follow this idea.
I would buy Linksys only and only if they had nicer cases.

Kimura_Kalidor to jdmatl

Anon

to jdmatl
not likely. Linksys posts the source, since they run linux

GNXPower
Got Boost?
Premium Member
join:2003-12-18
Huntington Beach, CA

1 edit

GNXPower

Premium Member

It's like TiVo

People came/come out with software patches to run hardware like internal NICs with series 1 and they find their way into actual release software.

I think Linksys should embrace the 3rd party enthusiasm. They get to sell the hardware and get free insight as to what people really want. Personally I haven't used the firmware but after reading today's article think I could benefit from QoS in my HN and will give it a try.
Hooper
Premium Member
join:2001-10-22
Castle Rock, CO

Hooper

Premium Member

Re: It's like TiVo

said by GNXPower:
I think Linksys should embrace the 3rd party enthusiasm. They get to sell the hardware and get free insight as to what people really want.
Not to mention quite a sales boost for them also!

DannyZ
Gentoo Fanboy
Premium Member
join:2003-01-29
united state

DannyZ

Premium Member

Re: It's like TiVo

Got that right. I intend on purchasing one, and I don't even have anything wireless!

Joel Moore
@verizon.net

Joel Moore to GNXPower

Anon

to GNXPower
said by Got Boost?:
I think Linksys should embrace the 3rd party enthusiasm. They get to sell the hardware and get free insight as to what people really want. Personally I haven't used the firmware but after reading today's article think I could benefit from QoS in my HN and will give it a try.
I'm certainly considering Linksys over Netgear after reading about this.
Joel Moore

Joel Moore

Anon

Re: It's like TiVo

Sorry, screwed up the quote source. Should be "GNXPower", not "Got Boost?".
tc17
join:2003-08-14

tc17 to Joel Moore

Member

to Joel Moore
If I had to do it over again, I would have returned my WRT54G for another brand. Linksys has the worst logging I have seen in ANY router. The hacked firmwares do not fix this either.

There are many problems the hacked firmwares aren't able to fix with this router. Not to mention security risks with using a hacked firmware.

divoid
@fyvlar.swbell.ne

divoid

Anon

Re: It's like TiVo

what sort of logging do you want? it shows the current dhcp clients. im not sure what the log page on the router's web interface is supposed to show since its always blank. but with the sveasoft firmware, just log into the router and pull the logs that way, you can get a syslog, or active connections, or dhcp leases, or whatever you want. and it also supports remote logging, do that with any other router.

as for security being worse in hacks. maybe if the firmwares were being coded by people with only half a brain, but theyre open source, if anything theyre going to be more secure. example: IIS has a new exploit every day, its closed source. Apache, open source, rarely has any security issues.

this router is super, especially after being able to set routing rules by hand, and QoS.
the designs may suck, but im hooked on linksys now

Big Dude
@adc.com

1 edit

Big Dude

Anon

Thw problem will be.....

The problem will be when users corrupt their flash. Then what? You either have a dead WRT54G or you return it to the store where you bought it and get another one.

That might mess up the RMA chain.
yabos
join:2003-02-16
London, ON

yabos

Member

Re: Thw problem will be.....

Then reflash it..

Linksys Fan
@bellsouth.net

Linksys Fan

Anon

Re: Thw problem will be.....

Do you think that's possible if it's been totally corrupted? Does it have enough smarts left to do that?

When downloading user modified firmwares, it's possible that you might toast it.

Linksys might have some features that don't work in each release, but hopefully they at least try to flash their firmware.

SuperFerrell
@bellsouth.net

SuperFerrell

Anon

Re: Thw problem will be.....

we actually just studied flash ROM in my computer architecture class... from what I can tell, I'm fairly certain that the flash utility used here (and on most things besides a computer's BIOS) is completely independent of the router's chip... the reason you can mess up when flashing a computer's BIOS is that you need that BIOS to boot into the flash utility; thus it HAS to work the first time, or you won't be booting again

••••
Automate
join:2001-06-26
Atlanta, GA

1 edit

Automate to Big Dude

Member

to Big Dude
The other side of the coin is that once you flash a 3rd party firmware into the unit Linksys longer has to support it. The Linux community supports it. Support cost can be a big percentage of product cost. They may be able to sell a unit at a lower price with no firmware and no software support.
Stumbles
join:2002-12-17
Port Saint Lucie, FL

Stumbles

Member

Open firmware

You know, this brings up something IMO hardware vendors should give more consideration to. Now that the guts of the WRT54G is in the hands of open source folks. They have proven it's flexability, reconfigurability, etc. It is likely now this particular model of router will be a tasty treat for those so inclined which of course will lead to it being more popular.

My point? I would expect Linksys to see some level of increased sales. That should be a wake-up for OEMs. Make your hardware and allow the firmware to be freely available. The Linux community loves such items and the community is only getting larger.
B04
Premium Member
join:2000-10-28

B04

Premium Member

Slashdot's Coming...


Somebody submitted this to Slashdot... apres moi, le deluge.

-- B

dododo
@mower.com

dododo

Anon

not so bigdude

bigdude:

Even when you corrupt the firmware, most linksys firewall/router combos support tftping a new firmware update to 192.168.1.1 after a reset - as long as you have the password (this is even WITH the red error light lit up)
waynemr
join:2002-01-28
Madison, WI

waynemr

Member

Tweaks for gamers?

I wonder if any of these firmware tweakers have made updates specifically for gamers? It would be a huge selling point for any company that did do that... if such tweaks are even possible.

The Beer
I Love It When A Plan Comes Together
Premium Member
join:2001-07-24
Lincoln, NE

The Beer

Premium Member

Too Many Features!

There is a reason that Linksys does not include this feature set, it's called Cisco!

"And here is our $10,000 traffic shaper box the Cisco XYZ2700 with PIX" as the customer interrupts him, tell me more about this $100 wireless firewall you have...

•••••••••••
Focher
join:2003-11-10
Austria

Focher

Member

Thank Linksys

For all the doomsayers and complainers about what Linksys MIGHT do, I suggest a better harness for your energy. Send Linksys a simple email and just say "Thank you for providing the source code and using GPL software on your product. It was the fundamental reason why I chose you over competing brands."

Simple, polite and clear. Instead of being so negative about motives and efforts, be happy. Help Linksys understand that their choices and compliance with the GPL by releasing the source code was a great and positive step.

I, for one, have followed up their behavior by recommending the WRT54G to many people. And when it came time to get someone a gift who would appreciate it, a shiny new WRT54G showed up for them.

Hello World
@bellsouth.net

Hello World

Anon

Re: Thank Linksys

I appreciate your positive statement. Negative comments almost always result in a defensive response.

Metzen
@216.20.x.x

Metzen

Anon

Mesh Network Support

Do any of these inexpensive devices support Mesh Networks?

I live in a small community of about 400 homes, 9 miles from town. I'd love to be able to bring in a T1 and share internet using a Mesh Network.

We're all over rolling hills, so there is no single location that offers line of site to the whole community, but a Mesh would cover it nicely.

Except most hardware supporting Mesh Networks is $500+ per location.

The Beer
I Love It When A Plan Comes Together
Premium Member
join:2001-07-24
Lincoln, NE

The Beer

Premium Member

Re: Mesh Network Support

Yes it does, from what i read about the firmware author thats why he wrote it.

digiblur
Premium Member
join:2002-06-03
Louisiana

1 edit

digiblur

Premium Member

FYI - for WRT54G 2.0 users

Just a reminder to the WRT54G 2.0 version users, the bandwidth management feature is not working correctly in the Satori Pre1 release due to a hardware change between the 1.0/1.1 and the 2.0 version of the WRT54G. The Satori Pre2 is fixed to deal with this hardware change.

To obtain the Pre2 or Pre3 firmware see this post from the author of the firmware:

See this post from the firmware author:

»www.sveasoft.com/postt327.html
abedros
join:2003-03-31
Redlands, CA

abedros

Member

Re: FYI - for WRT54G 2.0 users

Hi,
The link is dead !
Do you have the correct one?
Regards.

Tony

cmarslett
@dell.com

cmarslett

Anon

Re: FYI - for WRT54G 2.0 users

When you get the bad link message, just look at the "public experimental builds". This just means that they've updated it before you got a chance to download it.

SpunkMunk
@prupref.com

SpunkMunk

Anon

Watch This

People buy these, flash them, and then return them!
now that would kick ass!

just like when Barbie and GIJOE swapped voicechips
fltsimbuff
join:2004-01-14

fltsimbuff

Member

What about the WRV54G?

Anyone know of any projects for the cousin to the discussed router (WRV54G)...

The latest firmware from Linksys is terrible... it fixes a few bugs, but locks the router often... I had to revert to the old one. I am just waiting for someone to release their own custom update for it...

Vladster
@covad.net

Vladster

Anon

Older routers

Will this hack work on the non wireless routers as well. I would love to change the firmware of my ethernet router to something a little more flexible. I have a Linksys BEFS41 series and i would like an alternative to its cludgy ios.

digiblur
Premium Member
join:2002-06-03
Louisiana

digiblur

Premium Member

Re: Older routers

said by Vladster:
Will this hack work on the non wireless routers as well. I would love to change the firmware of my ethernet router to something a little more flexible. I have a Linksys BEFS41 series and i would like an alternative to its cludgy ios.

The older routers don't run linux and aren't open source so...at this time...unless Linksys releases the tools to create the firmware....no.

I have a BEFSR81 that is now sitting idle in the closet. The QOS implementation in the BEFSR81 router is a joke.

richk_1957
If ..Then..Else
Premium Member
join:2001-04-11
Minas Tirith

richk_1957

Premium Member

A question

This might be to much for something we are getting essentially, for free, but..
Is this upgrade documented anywhere? What it does, what new features there are and how to configure/use them? (a PDF file or something like it?) It would be nice if I got in a jam somehow to have something to refer to, although I could hook the PC directly to the modem or bring the BEFSR41 out of mothballs & use it and cry for help:p

Also, the last time I did a flash upgrade, my wireless stopped working. I have a Linksys wireless-G PCI network card and I eventually someone told me to get an updated driver. I downloaded it, burnt it to a cd & brought it to the wireless PC where I updated the driver. BINGO, everything worked fine.
Will I have the same problem here? If yes, where can I get drivers for the NIC, because once you flash something, there's no going back...

nizbit
Learn to Swim
Premium Member
join:2003-09-20
Grainy

nizbit

Premium Member

sweet

cool

Kompressor
Premium Member
join:2002-02-12
Huntington Beach, CA

Kompressor

Premium Member

Port Magic

The Sveasoft firmware doesn't work with Port Magic, the Wi-Fi Box one does.
kf6dlq
join:2002-09-25
Las Vegas, NV

kf6dlq

Member

Question about Re-Flashing

Just a question, but if I wanted to GO BACK to the Linsys version of firmware, does the seavsoft update get erased, or will my router run out of room when it gets re-flashed. Wasnt planning it, but was wondering before I would do it.

-- Lyle
rman66
join:2004-02-24
Alpharetta, GA

rman66

Member

Beware of VIRUSES in SVEASOFT and WIFIBOX firmware

While I admit that these additional features we are getting with these firmwares from sveasoft and Wifibox seem almost too good to be true.. one of my serious concerns is..

How can we make sure that there are not some hidden commands in the firmware which route logins and passwords to any sites visited to an unknown destination? Arent you guys worried about identity theft? How many times you have visited secure websites and entered your social security numbers, userids and passwords and addresses?

My biggest concern is what if these firmwares contain malicious code, that sweeps any logins and passwords and identity information and passes it on?

Can someone give me reasons why technically if such breach of security is or is not possible so I can decide whether to install the firmware or not.

Sorry for the title, but I didnt know how else I could attract attention to this serious issue, which everyoen seems to be ignoring.

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