| Wrt54g |
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| CATEGORIES ABOUT LINKSYS WRT54G SERIES | |
| hardware routers | |
| wireless networking | |
| linux based devices | |
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Linksys WRT54G (and variants '''WRT54GS''', '''WRT54GL''', and '''WRTSL54GS''') is a Wi-Fi capable Residential Gateway from Linksys . The device is capable of Sharing Internet Connections amongst several computers via 802.3 Ethernet and 802.11b/g wireless data links. The WRT54G is notable 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 third-party firmware projects provide the public with enhanced firmware for the WRT54G. ''See Third Party Firmware Projects .'' The WRT54G is also quite notable for being a piece of networking equipment that even novice home computer users understand and use each day. The WRT54G can be thought of as bridging the gap between high-end commercial networking and the now-booming home networking. HARDWARE AND REVISIONS WRT54G The original WRT54G was first released in 2003. It comes with a 4+1 port Network Switch (the Internet/WAN port is also in the same internal network switch, but on a different VLAN ). The devices have two removable antennas connected through Reverse Polarity TNC connectors. The WRT54GC router is an exception and has an internal antenna with optional external antenna. As a cost-cutting measure, the design of the latest version of the WRT54G no longer has detachable antennas or TNC connectors. Instead, version 8 routers simply route thin wires into antenna 'shells' eliminating the connector. As a result, Linksys HGA7T and similar external antennas are no longer compatible with this model. WRT54GS The WRT54GS is nearly identical to WRT54G except for additional RAM, flash memory, and SpeedBooster software. Versions 1 to 3 of this router have 8MB of flash memory. Since most third parties' firmware only use up to 4MB flash, a JFFS2 based r/w filesystem can be created and used on the remaining 4MB free flash. This allows for greater flexibility of configurations and scripting, enabling this small router to both load balance multiple ADSL lines (multi homed) or to be run as a hardware layer 2 load balancer2(with appropriate third party firmware, see EzPlanet Load Balancer ). WRT54GL 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. WRTSL54GS WRTSL54GS is similar to the '''WRT54GS''' 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.3 Unlike other models, the WRTSL54GS only has one antenna. WRT54GX WRT54GX comes with SRX (Speed and Range eXpansion), which utilizes True MIMO technology by Airgo Networks . It has 3 antennas and was once marketed as a 'Pre-N' router, with 8 times the speed and 3 times the range over standard 802.11g routers. WRT54GP2 WRT54GP2 has 1 or 2 antennas, and a built-in Analog Telephony Adapter (ATA) with 2 phone lines, but only 3 network ports. WRT54GX2 WRT54GX2 has 2 antenna, and was advertised to have 6 times the speed and 2 times the range over standard 802.11g routers. WRT54GX4 WRT54GX4 has 3 moveable antennas, and is advertised to have 10 times the speed and 3 times the range over standard 802.11g routers. WRT55AG WRT54G series with 802.11a support. WTR54GS A compact wireless travel router with SpeedBooster support, it only has 1 RJ-45 output. WRT54GC WRT54GC series with 802.11b/g support. This unit has a four port 10/100 switch and one WAN port. The "C" in the router number stands for compact, as the unit measures 4" by 4" by 1" with an internal antenna. The unit can be expanded with addition of HGA7S external antenna to boost range. Hardware Version 1.0 is only option available since introduction in 2005. The internal hardware is based on a Marvell ARM914 ("Libertas") reference design which is probably identical to the SerComm IP806SM, Xterasys XR-2407G, Abocom ARM914, Hawking HWGR54 Revision M, and the Airlink 101 AR315W. By appropriately changing the value of the firmware byte 0x26, the WRT54GC can be cross-flashed with firmware based on the same reference platform. There are reports that a sister platform of the WRT54GC (the AR315W) has been hacked to run Linux.4 WRTU54G WRTU54G is the yet unofficially announced Linksys/T-Mobile branded router designed specifically for the T-Mobile Hotspot@Home service. The router appeared on the FCC's website on August 7, 2007.5 The entry on the FCC was noticed immediately by technology websites.6 This router has sparked attention particularly because of it's two phone ports on the back panel, and two SIM slots, allegedly allowing VOIP-like functionality through GSM/UMA network technology and introducing T-Mobile into the VOIP industry. THIRD-PARTY FIRMWARE PROJECTS Although listed here under Linksys, many of these will run on other brands of Linux-based devices, such as the Buffalo Network-attached Storage Series . The extent of support for (and testing on) particular hardware varies from project to project.
HARDWARE VERSIONS AFFECT FIRMWARE COMPATIBILITY As of January 2006, most third-party firmware is no longer compatible with version 5 of both the WRT54G and the WRT54GS. The amount of flash memory in the version 5 devices has been reduced to 2 MB, too small for current Linux-based third-party firmware. (See table above for information on identifying the version based on the serial number printed on the bottom of the unit, and on the outside of the shrink-wrapped retail box.) Some users have succeeded in flashing and running a stripped down but fully functional version of DD-WRT called 'micro' on a version 5 WRT54G.78 An easier method not requiring any disassembly of the device has since been devised for flashing v5-v6 to DD-WRT.9 To support third-party firmware, Linksys has re-released the WRT54G v4, under the new model name WRT54GL (the 'L' in this name allegedly stands for 'Linux'). CPU According to OpenWrt, OpenWrt - TableOfHardware the Linksys WRT54G series use several different processors, all of them 32-bit MIPS Architecture processors manufactured by Broadcom . REFERENCES SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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