I currently run a hacked WRT54G at home. I have tried various distros, from WifiBox to Sveasoft, to generic Linksys, but I have ended up on openwrt (http://www.openwrt.org). This firmware is very stable, and also starts out very basic. You can then add components as needed down the road via it's own packaging system called ipkg. Because of this it is very customizable. I plan on using one of the hotspot packages down the road to turn it into a hotspot.
The only problem with this distro (if you call it a problem) is it is pure-command line Linux. All is done via telnet, and if you install an ssh daemon, you can get rid of telnet and do it all via ssh. Any modifications to the firewall have to be done via iptables, so a good knowledge of iptables is necessary. It's a good way to force yourself to learn though. Because of this there is a bit of risk in that if you put the wrong iptables line in your firewall script, it can disable access to the router. That being said, if it ever does happen, there are numerous ways to get yourself out of a hairy situation, all can be found at openwrt.org. Every time I've locked myself or thought I had broke it, I've been able to recover - I would say this brings down the risk level significantly. However, if you want something safer, but just as powerful, go with Sveasoft - keep in mind though if you ever want decent support you have to pay about $20/yr for it. Despite Sveasoft being GPL, the maintainers make it awfully hard to bring in community support. Jesse > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Gabriel Gunderson > Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2005 2:50 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Hacking the Linksys WRT54G > > Anyone messed around with putting a different Linux on one of > these wireless routers? What works best? What has the least > risk? What are you doing with it now that it's opened up? > > Gabe > > > .===================================. > | This has been a P.L.U.G. mailing. | > | Don't Fear the Penguin. | > | IRC: #utah at irc.freenode.net | > `===================================' > .===================================. | This has been a P.L.U.G. mailing. | | Don't Fear the Penguin. | | IRC: #utah at irc.freenode.net | `==================================='
