Ask HN: Installing Linux on my router -- OpenWrt, X-Wrt, or Gargoyle?

[benhoyt]

My SMC WBR14T-G wireless 4-port router has been hanging a lot recently. If I unplug the power and plug it back in, it works again, but it's now happening multiple times per day. I've got the latest firmware. And I've had this trouble with previous (cheap) routers.

So I'm keen to buy a Linksys WRT54GL (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linksys_WRT54G_series) and install an OpenWrt-based Linux on it. I've read lots of good things about how this setup is very stable and configurable.

Anyway, I'm a programmer and okay at network stuff, but not an expert. I can certainly use config files, but I'd definitely prefer a good web interface.

Any suggestions? So far Gargoyle looks really nice, but a bit new/unproven yet. X-Wrt might be the way to go. Or plain OpenWrt?

[mutew]

I have a Buffalo WHR-G125 (couldn't find any old Linksys routers anywhere) and have been running Tomato on it since day one. The web interface is beautifully done with loads of AJAX and pretty graphs. So far I have had no issues or hiccups with either the wired or the wireless interface and configuration is a breeze with the ability to download and backup your configuration files if, heaven forbid, you ever need to reset the router. For more information check out the lifehacker article -

http://lifehacker.com/344765/turn-your-60-router-into-a-user...

[crux]

I have used both dd-wrt and Tomato, and found them both totally satisfactory. I guess I'd give the nod to Tomato, whose interface was a little slicker, but dd-wrt was still great too. I never had any problems installing or configuring either one of them.

Having had an Airport for a little while, though, I don't know why neither of those were on your list—whether they were overlooked or whether they're outdated.

[benhoyt → crux]

Thanks -- good recommendation. Tomato looks good.

I didn't know the Apple AirPort was a "standard" wireless router. Cool. Now bidding on one... :-) http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=226933642

[ams6110]

I used dd-wrt to run my Linksys WRT54G as a wireless bridge. It has been flawless.

[dulakian]

I run OpenWRT on my Linksys 54G v3. The web interface works great, and if you want to get into the internals, you can. I even rolled my own firmware with openvpn on it so I can connect to it from my laptop without worrying about anyone sniffing my traffic. The vpn slows my connection down, since the cpu is only 212mhz, but it's more than acceptable to me for browsing. If I have to do a big download, I'll disconnect the vpn so I get full speed. I've had it this way for almost 2 years now, and no issues at all. I'm very happy with my current setup.

[aupajo]

I've recently seen someone run OpenWrt on one. I played around with it for a bit; seemed pretty nice. He had it running Python and had it hooked up to an Arduino with little effort.

[jpierce420]

I have a WRT-150N wireless N router, and it works great stock. All Linksys routers from the 54G up have Linux already, and I don't know about the 54G, but mine came stock with a web interface..you just go to 192.168.1.1 in your browser and login and there it is. Linksys recently released the source for the firmware code on their wireless routers, including the 54G, because some Linux GPL guys found out the routers were Linux- based and threatened to sue them if the code wasn't released. The code for a bunch of the routers is on the Linksys site. I've scanned through it, and as far as I can tell it just uses some Broadcom hardware/startup code, some MIPS-specific processor code, a vanilla kernel, and the GNU Zebra routing engine, which has been replaced by Quagga but still works great. Anyways, not saying that the Open-WRT and others aren't cool, was just saying my 150N works great and has a web interface. Do the open-wrt and other custom router distros add many new features that the router wasn't previously capable of? Was wondering bc I haven't looked into them much, but might if there's a substantial increase in performance/features.

[teilo → jpierce420]

"All Linksys routers from the 54G up have Linux already"

Not true. Most Linksys 54G routers run VxWorks. Only versions 1-4 of the WRT54G series ran Linux. There are many Linksys Draft N routers that run chipsets that are not compatible with any Linux firmware, but meny are Broadcom based and are therefore compatible. Not sure what OS Cisco is using for those.

Regardless, countless of us have found that even the Linux-based Linksys firmwares are garbage. Put Tomato or DD-WRT on one of them, however, and they run like a champ.

[jpierce420 → teilo]

Oh ok, sorry about that. I've never owned a 54G, and saw it listed in the Linksys GPL page for source code downloads, so I figured all versions ran it. I guess just some of them do. Thanks for the info!

[scorpioxy → jpierce420]

They do add features. And some time stability and performance(but that depends).

The most important added features would be a full blown Linux system. So basically do whatever you want on it(within the memory and processing available). In Open-WRT for example, you can add a number of packages and upgrade your system similarly to a GNU/Linux distro.

[benhoyt → jpierce420]

Yeah, fair call -- if I knew the router would be 100% reliable with the built-in software, great. I'll look into the WRT-150N. However, I'm looking into OpenWrt/etc because I've had such a bad run with the build-in firmware on previous routers. I've never had a Linksys, admittedly.

[jpierce420 → benhoyt]

Cisco has made a truckload of money from buying Linksys. The wireless routers are great for home use, and very cheap. They threw some NV-Ram and a MIPS processor in a box, used a free OS, routing engine and hardware code, and they sell the hell out of them. They are easily the most popular home wireless routers, you can find them at the likes of Best Buy, Office Depot, and hell I think I bought mine at Wal-Mart, lol! And mine has worked like a charm. Nifty admin web interface, with all kinds of features and setting to change and configure. Anything from security to connectivity to proxies. Just remember to change the default set passwords! :-) And as I said, you can use Open wrt and others just the same on the 150N, but have the substantial increase in hardware performance as well.

[jpierce420 → jpierce420]

Plus, you get the N speed and signal strength/distance advantage. That is, if you have N-capable NICs. I believe I paid $100 for the 150N about a year or so ago, so it may be cheaper now..and I remember the price difference between the 54G and the 150N not being very much at all...and that's why I went ahead and got the 150N. I know this question was on linux router distros, but since you said something about buying a new router, the 54G, I thought I might share my experience with mine. You could also use the alternative distros with the 150N. Hope this helps!