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Linksys WRT54G series

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Linksys WRT54G version 3.1
Linksys WRT54G version 1.0

Linksys WRT54G (and variants WRT54GS, WRT54GL, and WRTSL54GS) is a Wi-Fi capable router 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 development projects have been started to provide the public with enhanced firmware for the WRT54G. See Third party firmware projects.

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 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.

Version CPU speed RAM Flash memory S/N Prefix[1] Notes
1.0 125 MHz 16 MB 4 MB CDF0
CDF1 		20 front panel LEDs (including link/activity, collision detection and speed rating indicators for each RJ-45 port). Wireless capability was provided by a Mini PCI card attached to the router motherboard.
1.1 125 MHz 16 MB 4 MB CDF2
CDF3 		Front panel LEDs reduced to 8 (1 link/activity LED per port, plus one each for power, wireless, DMZ and WAN/Internet connectivity). Wireless chipset integrated onto motherboard.
2.0 200 MHz 16 MB 4 MB CDF5 Same as 1.1 with a CPU upgrade and greater wireless transmitter integration (fewer transmitter parts).
2.2 216 MHz 16 MB 4 MB CDF7 Same physical appearance as 1.1 and 2.0 models. Switching chipset from ADMtek 6996L to Broadcom BCM5325EKQM. Some of these models have 32 MB of RAM installed but have been locked to 16 MB by the manufacturer. Some models have 16 MB Hynix HY5DU28162ET-J memory chips.
3.0 216 MHz 16 MB 4 MB CDF8 Identical to 1.1 and later models, except for the CPU speed and an undocumented switch behind left front panel intended for use with a feature called "SecureEasySetup".
3.1 216 MHz 16 MB 4 MB CDF9 The Version 3.1 hardware is essentially the same as the Version 3.0 hardware. Adds "SecureEasySetup" button.
4.0 200 MHz 16 MB 4 MB CDFA Broadcom BCM5352EKPB Chipset
5.0 200 MHz 8 MB 2 MB CDFB Broadcom BCM5352EKPB Chipset - Switched to VxWorks OS and reduced Flash Memory and RAM; not compatible with most 3rd party firmware.
5.1 200 MHz 8 MB 2 MB CDFC Broadcom BCM5352EKPB Chipset
6.0 200 MHz 8 MB 2 MB CDFD Broadcom BCM5352EKBG Chipset
7.0 8 MB 2 MB CDFE Atheros AR2317 Chipset
8.0 240 MHz 8 MB 2 MB CDFF Broadcom BCM5354KFBG Chipset w/Fixed antennas.

WRT54GS

The WRT54GS is nearly identical to WRT54G except for additional RAM and SpeedBooster software.

Version CPU speed RAM Flash memory S/N Prefix Notes
1.0 200 MHz 32 MB 8 MB CGN0
CGN1 		Added SpeedBooster technology (Broadcom Afterburner technology), claims to boost the throughput of 802.11g by 30% (for maximum boost needs SpeedBooster technology on the other side, but will boost standard 802.11g as well)
1.1 200 MHz 32 MB 8 MB CGN2 Chipset changed from ADMtek 6996L to Broadcom BCM5325EKQM.
2.0 216 MHz 32 MB 8 MB CGN3 10 LED Front Panel (two new ones behind Cisco logo button). Also capable of SecureEasySetup, but use of the logo button and lighting of the new LEDs behind it requires firmware upgrade.
2.1 216 MHz 32 MB 8 MB CGN4 Radio chip is changed from BCM2050 to BCM2050KML.
3.0 200 MHz 32 MB 8 MB CGN5 Use System-on-Chip: processor, MAC, and switching are handled by Broadcom BCM5352EKBP.
4.0 200 MHz 16 MB 4 MB CGN6 Reduced RAM & Flash
5.0 200 MHz 16 MB 2 MB CGN7 Uses VxWorks OS and reduced Flash Memory; not compatible with most 3rd party firmware.
5.1 200 MHz 16 MB 2 MB CGN8
6.0 200 MHz 16 MB 2 MB CGN9
7.0 200 MHz 64 MB 2 MB CGNA? Broadcom BCM5354KFBG Chipset

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.

Version CPU speed RAM Flash memory S/N Prefix Notes
1.0 200 MHz 16 MB 4 MB CL7A New model line, released after the version 5 WRT54G, which returns to a Linux-based internal OS as opposed to the v5's VxWorks firmware. No SpeedBooster enabled in stock state (third party firmwares however, will enable the SpeedBooster feature on this model, as it is a hardware feature). Essentially the same as the WRT54G version 4.0, but with a new model number. One alteration of interest to developers is that the internal numbering scheme of the 4-port switch changed in this model, from 1, 2, 3 and 4 to 3, 2, 1 and 0 respectively.
1.1 200 MHz 16 MB 4 MB CL7B No known major differences; however, in August 2006, this version was shipping with firmware revision 4.30.7, while the latest available firmware for the 1.0 version is 4.30.9. This pre-loaded firmware allows the user to upload a 4MB firmware image, whereas the pre-loaded firmware on version 1.0 limited the image to 3MB.

WRTSL54GS

WRTSL54GS[2] 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.

Unlike other models, the WRTSL54GS only has one antenna.

Version CPU speed RAM Flash memory S/N Prefix Notes
1.0 266 MHz 32 MB 8 MB CJK0 Released after the WRT54GS and WRT54GL. Uses Linux-based OS. Includes SpeedBooster support, additional firmware features, and an external USB 2.0 port (StorageLink) for network storage. Uses 8 MB of Intel TE28F640 flash with a Broadcom BCM4704KPB processor and Broadcom BCM5325FKQM Ethernet switch.
1.1 32 MB 8 MB CJK11

WRT54GX

WRT54GX comes with SRX (Speed and Range eXpansion), which utilizes True MIMO technology by Airgo Networks. It has 3 antennae and was once marketed as a 'Pre-N' router, with 8 times the speed and 3 times the range over standard 802.11g routers.

Version CPU speed RAM Flash memory S/N Prefix Notes
1.0 300 MHz 4 MB 16 MB KBG5? Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX. Uses the Broadcom 4704 Chipset
2.0 200 MHz 8 MB 32 MB ?? Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX. Uses the Realtek RTL8651B Chipset

WRT54GP2

WRT54GP2 has 1 antenna, 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 router with SpeedBooster support, it only has 1 RJ-45 output.

Version CPU speed RAM Flash memory S/N Prefix Notes
1.0 ??? MHz 32 MB (IC42S32400) 4 MB (29LV320ABTC) SJH005? Wireless-G Travel Router with SpeedBooster. Uses the Broadcom BCM5350KPB2 Chipset

WRT54GC

WRT54GC series with 802.11b/g support. Four port 10/100 switch and one Wan port.
The "c" in the router number stands for compact.
Very compact 4" by 4" by 1". Internal antenna.
Hardware Version 1.0 is only option available since introduction in 2005.
No known hacks or firmware modifications known, latest stock firmware is V1.02.8.
Can be expanded with addition of external antenna to boost range.

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.

  • Major Projects
    • DD-WRT[3] Paid and free versions available. (Linux/GPL)
    • HyperWRT Thibor[4] - Firmware based on stock WRT54GS firmware, HyperWRT +tofu and other additions from Thibor.
    • OpenWrt[5] firmware with a JFFS2 file system for package management. (Linux/GPL)
    • Sveasoft[6] Paid and free versions available. Latest versions available via subscription.
    • Tomato[7] Free firmware featuring a number of recent web innovations such as Ajax and SVG graphs. Developed by the programmer of HyperWRT +tofu. The Tomato Manual is available at Wikibooks. (Linux/GPL)
  • Minor projects
    • BatBox - RAM based distribution for experimenting, does not change firmware
    • Bluebox - Automatic open Internet scanning and bridging software that runs on WRT54G with OpenWRT.
    • Chillispot - Captive portal software that runs on WRT54G and other platforms, available under GPL
    • CoovaAP[8] - 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)
    • EWRT - Enhanced WRT, with integrated captive portal based on NoCatSplash
    • 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
    • Meraki - Mesh Networking Wifi AP developed thru Roofnet project, based on OpenWrt.[1]
    • OpennetFirmware - Firmware based on OpenWrt and parts of Freifunk.
    • PacketProtector - OpenWrt-based security distribution that includes IDS, IPS, VPN, and web antivirus capabilities
    • TinyPEAP - Secure wireless authentication feature added to Linksys firmware
    • WiFi-Box[9] - (no documentation available as of January 2006)
    • Neighbornode
    • Tarifa[10] - 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[11] - Hotspot solution for home or small business use. Features credit card billing. Runs on the OpenWrt platform
    • Wirds.net An project which uses freifunk firmware with chillispot captive portal and free worldspot.net authentication.
    • X-Wrt End user extensions to OpenWrt - provides a nice web based management interface to OpenWrt. (Linux/GPL)
  • Deprecated projects (no longer maintained)
    • 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.

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.[12][13] An easier method not requiring any disassembly of the device has since been devised for flashing v5-v6 to DD-WRT.[14]

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').

Known issues

  • As shipped, the Linksys firmware on pre-v5 routers crashes under heavy peer-to-peer network traffic, such as BitTorrent, eMule or other P2P software. The reason for this crash is that Linux's connection tracking by default keeps track of old connections for five days. This five day limit quickly overwhelms the router's internal memory when there are a high number of network connections, and can only be resolved by power cycling the router. For a detailed tutorial on how to permanently fix this issue, see the uTorrent FAQ. Briefly, it involves installing a 3rd party firmware that alows setting the timeout to lower levels, which drops inactive connections and prevents the crashes.
  • Earlier versions of the Linksys firmware (before 4.50.00) have a bug that causes interaction problems between players in World of Warcraft.[15][16]

References

  1. ^ List of Hardware version and serial numbers for Linksys WRT54G
  2. ^ Linksys WRTSL54GS, Wireless-G Media Storage Link Router with SpeedBooster. All-in-one Internet-sharing Router, Access Point, and Network Storage Link
  3. ^ DD-WRT project site
  4. ^ HyperWRT Thibor, a GPL project for the Linksys WRT54G/WRT54GL/WRT54GS and WRTSL54GS wireless routers
  5. ^ OpenWrt - wireless freedom
  6. ^ Sveasoft Inc. Stockton, California USA
  7. ^ http://www.polarcloud.com/tomato
  8. ^ CoovaAP, an Open-Source Firmware project
  9. ^ WIFI-BOX - WRT54G(s), GPL Firmware
  10. ^ Tarifa
  11. ^ WifiTastic
  12. ^ Berliner Quakeforen :: View topic - V5 possibilities
  13. ^ Flash your WRT54G or WRT54GS v5 series (v5, v5.1, v6) - WRT Wiki
  14. ^ Bitsum Technologies Wiki - WRT54G5 CFE
  15. ^ http://www.xtremepcr.com/linksys-wow/
  16. ^ http://forum.bsr-clan.de/ftopic1516.html

See also

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