Linksys

The WRT54G, WRT54GS, WRT54GL, and WRTSL54GS are popular Wi-Fi router products from Linksys. The devices are capable of sharing Internet connections among several computers via 802.3 Ethernet and 802.11b/g wireless data links. more...

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The original WRT54G was first released in 2003. The WRT54GS is nearly identical except for additional RAM and SpeedBooster software. Linksys released the WRT54GL in 2005 to support third-party firmware based on Linux, after the original WRT54G line was switched from Linux to VxWorks, starting with version 5. The WRTSL54GS is similar to the WRT54GS (see: Linksys WRTSL54GS), while adding additional firmware features and a USB 2.0 port (referred to as StorageLink) which can be used for a USB hard disk or flash drive.

The WRT54G is famous for being the first consumer-level network device that had its firmware source code released to satisfy the obligations of the GNU GPL. This allows programmers to modify the firmware to change or add functionality to the device. Several development projects have been started to provide the public with enhanced firmware for the WRT54G. See Third party firmware projects. Later revisions increased the CPU speed to 200 MHz, and the later Linksys firmware overclocks the MIPS processor to 216 MHz to resolve stability issues. Both the RAM and flash memory were doubled to 32 MB and 8 MB, respectively, in the WRT54GS, although both quantities were reduced again in later models. All models come standard with a 4+1 ports network switch (the Internet/WAN port is also in the same switch, but on a different VLAN) and a wireless chipset by Broadcom which provides Wi-Fi connectivity.

The devices have two removable antennas connected through Reverse Polarity TNC connectors (except WRTSL54GS which has one antenna).

Hardware revisions

Third-party firmware projects

Major Projects

DD-WRT Paid and free versions available. (Linux/GPL); HyperWRT Thibor - Firmware based on stock WRT54GS firmware, HyperWRT +tofu and other additions from Thibor.; OpenWrt firmware with a JFFS2 file system for package management. (Linux/GPL); Sveasoft Paid and free versions available. Latest versions available via subscription.; Tomato Free firmware featuring a number of recent web innovations such as Ajax and SVG graphs. Developed by the programmer of HyperWRT +tofu. (Linux/GPL);

Minor projects

BatBox - RAM based distribution for experimenting, does not change firmware; Chillispot - Captive portal software that runs on WRT54G and other platforms, available under GPL; CoovaAP - OpenWrt-based firmware specific for hotspots w/ Coova's patched Chillispot and Wifidog (GPL); Earthlink's IPv6 Firmware - IPv6 feature added to original Linksys firmware (beta-test version); FON - Worldwide Hotspot sharing sponsored by Google and Skype. FON Firmware (with 2 SSIDs) for WRT54G available.; FreeWRT - Experimental firmware based on OpenWrt.; Freifunk - German software supports wireless mesh networks with OLSR, based on OpenWrt; OpennetFirmware - Firmware based on OpenWrt and parts of Freifunk.; TinyPEAP - Secure wireless authentication feature added to Linksys firmware; WiFi-Box - (no documentation available as of January 2006); Neighbornode; Tarifa - Based on stock WRT54GL firmware.; WiFiDog Captive Portal - WiFi Dog by Ile Sans Fil, a Captive Portal software that runs on the OpenWrt platform; WifiTastic - Hotspot solution for home or small business use. Features credit card billing. Runs on the OpenWrt platform; X-Wrt End user extensions to OpenWrt - provides a nice web based management interface to OpenWrt. (Linux/GPL);

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