>>>>> "Scott" == Scott Garman <[email protected]> writes:
Scott> Hello, I'd like to pick up a wifi router that I can run the Scott> latest release of OpenWRT on, which has plenty of flash space Scott> for experimentation. Can someone suggest a specific model and Scott> hardware version for me to look at? If it's currently available Scott> on NewEgg for under $125, I would find that to be ideal. I have used OpenWrt on PC Engines Alix[1] boards (x86), Soekris net4826 (x86)[2], Linksys WRT54GL[3], Buffalo WHR-G54S and WHR-HP-G54[4], Netgear WGT634U[5]. We have some Linksys WRT54GL's here more or less surplus. We aren't using them so much nowadays because our gateway devices need 8meg of flash and 32meg of RAM and the WRTs only have 4 meg of flash. But, depending on what you are doing that might be enough. If we weren't running perl on our gateways, it would be enough. The WGT634U's work great and have some nice features (host USB, miniPCI slot, etc), but they were EOL'd about 5 years ago, so finding one might be a problem. Another thing to look at are the Ubiquiti devices (NanoStation[6][7], PicoStation[8], Bullet[9]), particularly if you don't need a bunch of LAN ports. You could get a RouterStation[10] and add a mini-PCI radio (atheros-based is recommended) for probably under $125 and that has three ethernet interfaces (one WAN and two LAN, although that is somewhat flexible). The RouterStation Pro[11] even has gigE. They all have manufacturer support for OpenWrt (but the stock firmware "AirOS" is pretty good too, amazingly good relative to anything i've ever seen in COTS stuff). There are currently available consumer-off-the-shelf devices that I know people are working on with OpenWrt, but I have not used them myself. We still have a supply of the Netgear WGT634U that we are working our way through, so I use those when I need something and haven't been motivated to look beyond those. For maximum hackability, the Alix is awesome. Way overpowered in some ways (500MHz x86 CPU, 256M SDRAM, CF slot for upto numerous gigs of Flash), but edging a little over your price point by the time you get done. The one we have[12] even has a 44-pin IDE header for plugging in a laptop harddisk. When hacking on wireless routers, consumer-off-the-shelf is not always the way to go, and places like newegg are often not the best sources. It can still be fun, but since manufacturers change chipsets on a whim without bothering to change model numbers, you can easily find yourself high-and-dry. You have to be very careful to know what you are getting. [1] http://www.pcengines.ch/alix.htm [2] http://www.soekris.com/net4826.htm [3] http://www.linksysbycisco.com/US/en/products/WRT54GL [4] http://www.buffalotech.com/products/wireless/wireless-g-high-power/wireless-g-high-power-router-and-access-point-whr-hp-g54/ [5] http://www.amazon.com/Netgear-WGT634U-Wireless-Media-Router/dp/B0001JXAF2 [6] http://www.ubnt.com/products/nano.php [7] http://www.ubnt.com/products/loco.php [8] http://www.ubnt.com/products/picostation.php [9] http://www.ubnt.com/products/bullet.php [10] http://www.ubnt.com/products/rs.php [11] http://www.ubnt.com/products/rspro.php [12] http://www.pcengines.ch/alix2d13.htm -- Russell Senior, President [email protected] _______________________________________________ PLUG mailing list [email protected] http://lists.pdxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug
