List of wireless router firmware projects

This is a list of firmware modifications for wireless routers that have been created and are maintained by people and groups other than the manufacturer of the product. Most of these originated because vendors were compelled to make their source code public as part of it was based on software licensed under the terms of the GNU General Public License. The Linksys WRT54G series was the starting point for many of these projects.

Third-party firmware projects

Many of these will run on various brands of Linux-based devices, such as Linksys, Asus, Netgear etc. The extent of support for (and testing on) particular hardware varies from project to project.

Major Projects

• OpenWrt - Customizable firmware written from scratch with a combined SquashFS/JFFS2 file system and the package manager opkg (Linux/GPL)
  • Bluebox - OpenWrt-based automatic open Internet scanning and bridging software that runs on WRT54G. [1]
  • Chillispot - Captive portal software that runs on OpenWrt, available under GPL.
    • FON - Chillispot-based worldwide Hotspot network. After unsuccessfully attempting to develop a version that supports 2 SSIDs (one private, one public), FON abandoned the WRT54G series, and now distributes a router called La Fonera, which does support 2 SSIDs.
  • Coova - OpenWrt based with focus on Wireless Hotspot functionality.
  • Freifunk - OpenWrt-based, German software supports wireless mesh networks with OLSR and B.A.T.M.A.N.
  • Meraki - OpenWrt-based Mesh Networking Wifi AP developed through Roofnet project
  • OpennetFirmware - Firmware based on OpenWrt and parts of Freifunk.
  • PacketProtector - OpenWrt-based security distribution that includes IDS, IPS, VPN, and web antivirus capabilities.
  • Gargoyle - A web interface for OpenWrt that places a strong emphasis on usability. Features include an AJAX interface, dynamic DNS, QoS, bandwidth monitoring and access restrictions. (Linux/GPL)
  • LuCI - A web interface for OpenWrt written in Lua
  • X-Wrt - A web interface for OpenWrt (Linux/GPL)
  • UseMyNet - Captive Portal and Hotspot software that runs on OpenWrt.
  • 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.
  • Wirds.net - A project which uses freifunk firmware with chillispot captive portal and worldspot.net authentication.
  • HotSpotPA - Captive portal hotspot system with credit card billing, based on OpenWrt.
  • WING - OpenWrt based, mesh networking with AP support originally based on the Roofnet project.
• DD-WRT - Based on OpenWrt code. Paid and free versions available. (Linux/GPL)
  • AutoAP - AutoAP is an add on to DD-WRT that allows routers to continuously scan for and connect to open (and predefined WEP) wireless networks.
• Tomato - HyperWRT-based firmware. Features advanced QoS as well as Ajax and SVG graphs. The Tomato Manual is available at Wikibooks. (Linux/GPL)
• DebWRT - Debian on embedded devices (Combines the Linux kernel from OpenWrt and the package management system from Debian (Linux/GPL)
• Sveasoft - Paid and free versions available. Latest versions available via subscription.
• RouterTech.Org - The RouterTech firmware supports a vast number of ADSL Modem/Routers based on the Texas Instruments AR7 chipset, with either the Adam2 or PSP boot loaders. The firmware supports wireless routers using the TNETW1130 and TNETW1350A wifi chips, and also non-wireless routers. Features include support for minix partitions, CIFS and ftpfs mountpoints, selectable DSP and tiatm drivers, the latest Busybox releases, udpxy, dnsproxy, siproxd, mjproxy, ad blocking, scp, miniupnp, netshaper, rshaper, among others. (Linux/GPL)

Minor Projects

• BatBox - RAM based distribution for experimenting, does not change firmware.
• Earthlink's IPv6 Firmware - IPv6 feature added to original Linksys firmware (beta-test version).
• EzPlanet - Enhanced firmware based on DD-WRT v24 and including Layer 2 Load Balancer.
• Neighbornode
• Tarifa - Based on stock WRT54GL firmware.
• TinyPEAP - Secure wireless authentication feature added to Linksys firmware.
• WiFi-Box - No documentation available as of January 2006.
• OpenWAG200 - A firmware based on stock firmware for the Linksys WAG200G modem/routers.

Not maintained Projects

• EWRT - Enhanced WRT, with integrated captive portal based on NoCatSplash
• FreeWRT - Experimental firmware based on OpenWrt.
• HyperWRT - Original power boost firmware project by Avenger 2.0 to stay close to official WRT54G and WRT54GS firmware but add features such as transmit power, port triggers, scripts, telnet, etc.
  • HyperWRT +tofu — Based on stock WRT54GS firmware, HyperWRT and some additions.
  • Rupan HyperWRT - Based on stock WRT54G firmware and HyperWRT.
• HyperWRT Thibor - Firmware based on stock WRT54GS firmware, HyperWRT (closed) +tofu and other additions.