This page is regularly maintained and updated by Aaron Marks IT Consulting
AccessPointsRouters/802.11g | LinksysWrv54g | LinksysWrt54g | LinksysWRT54GS | WAP54G | WET54G | WRK54G
Contents
Introduction
This router is very very close to the notorious LinksysWrt54g model, except it has more onboard RAM and onboard flash. It too can be "modded" with many of the available alternative firmwares and benefits from the added storage.
Specifications
Detailed hardware specifications for this router are available at OpenWRT.org and LinksysInfo.org.
The LinksysInfo site contains serial number to hardware version mapping.
Firmware
Firmware 4.71.1
Release Date: 4/25/2006
- Resolves issue with UPnP security reported through SANE
Firmware 4.70.8
- Resolves issue with L2TP Internet connection
- Resolves issue where users can choose shared key authentication with WPA
- Resolves issue where long push of SES button does not reset settings
- Resolves issue where DMZ doesn't work if Port forwarding is enabled
- Resolves security vulnerabilities reported by iDefense
- Resolves issue where SES cannot be disabled
- Resolves issue where service name is not available for PPPoE
- Resolves issue with detecting UHP modems
- Resolves issue where DynDNS Custom and Static accounts cannot be used
- Resolves issue with WEP passphrase not recognizing spaces
Firmware 4.70.6
- Resolves issue with setup wizard
- Updated wireless security tab
- Resolves issue with port based QoS
Firmware 4.50.6
Adds SecureEasySetup push button support
- Resolves large file transfer issues
- Resolves issue with enabling TKIP after enabling WEP
- Updated QoS features
- Resolves issues with multiple Access Restrictions policies
- Resolves issue where multicast breaks when MAC filter status changes
Firmware 3.37.6
- Supports version 2 hardware
Firmware 3.37.2
- Added ability to be configured via SecureEZSetup capable wireless adapters
- Updated Parental Control functions
Firmware 3.17.4
- Resolves issue with disabling firewall
- Added QoS function under Applications and Gaming tab
- Added Port Triggering function under Application and Gaming tab
- Added L2TP option for WAN connection type
- Added ability to back up and restore configuration files
- Added Wireless isolation function
- Added ability to filter internal NAT redirection
- Added ability to restrict access to web GUI from wireless clients
- Added ability to filter IDENT port 113
Resolves issue with HeartBeat WAN connection
- Added support for 40/56bit cipher to support old browsers to use https
- Resolves issue with PPTP passthrough
- Changed WPA Group Key renewal time range to 600~7200 seconds
- Added IGMP proxy support
- Added ability to allow web GUI access only through https or http
Firmware 2.07.1
Improved wireless stability with SpeedBooster clients
Firmware 2.06.1
- Initial Release
Custom Firmware
DD-WRT
Click here to go to their website. This is a great firmware that is based on source from Sveasoft's Alchemy. It has a new GUI with some nice additions and the ability to run on all the current versions of Linksys' WRT54G(S) hardware.
"DD-WRT is simply a project which is based on the official sources of Sveasoft Alchemy. Due the nature of GPL based projects, this firmware will be also release under this license. Initially i wrote this modification to make it possible, to use the Linksys WRT54G/GS inside our Wireless Lan network as cheap replacement for our professional Lancom and Orinocco access points. so what was missing? first, we are using radius authentication with a central account management inside our network for user authentication. There is already a radius application available for OpenWRT, but openwrt was no choice since it is not user friendly for a non computer professional without any linux knowledge. so i just integrated it with some small enhancements in the alchemy software. my wrt-radauth modifications:
radius server timeouts will not be a problem anymore. a client is authenticated just up to the point, the server says really 'no'. a connection timeout will not have any influence to this workflow.
additionally i found it really helpfull to use a external filesystem device inside the WRT. my choice was a samba client since it is useable on any computer platform. you can easilly mount a windows network share into the wrt and additionally its also possible to start a script after mounting from this device. but the work was not over. also if currently the server/client watch function is still under development, i already implemented the RFlow traffic monitoring and management tool into the web interface. this tool is already inside DD-WRT, but you have to start it manually and so far it looks unfinished. (daemon mode does not work). so i finished it and yes now its working inside my DD-WRT and you can configure it out from the administration window."
ADDENDUM: DD-WRT is not GPL licensed according the the author at http://www.dd-wrt.com. The author has his own license and charges for commercial use. See the DD-WRT website for terms.
"the linksys fw is not gpl at all, only partially. dd-wrt has several modules. i havent changed any license in it, but independent new modules are not gpl'ed by me and under a more restrictive license" -- BrainSlayer (http://www.linksysinfo.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=8859)
V24 Alpha
Very Alpha
V23 Beta 2
Available for download on their website now.
this firmware has been tested under the following router models
- WRT54G 1.0/1.1
- WRT54G 2.0
- WRT54G 2.2
- WRT54G 3.0
- WRT54G 3.1
- WRT54G 4.0
- WRT54GS 1.0
- WRT54GS 1.1
- WRT54GS 2.0
- WRT54GS 3.0
- WRT54GS 4.0 (at this time can only run mini)
This firmware is currently very buggy and is best for expert users.
V23 Beta 1
Available for download on their website now.
this firmware has been tested under the following router models
- WRT54G 1.0/1.1
- WRT54G 2.0
- WRT54G 2.2
- WRT54G 3.0
- WRT54G 3.1
- WRT54G 4.0
- WRT54GS 1.0
- WRT54GS 1.1
- WRT54GS 2.0
- WRT54GS 3.0
- WRT54GS 4.0 (at this time can only run mini)
This firmware is currently very buggy and is best for expert users.
V22 Stable
Works with the following routers:
- WRT54G 1.0/1.1
- WRT54G 2.0
- WRT54G 2.2
- WRT54G 3.0
- WRT54G 3.1
- WRT54GS 1.0
- WRT54GS 1.1
- WRT54GS 2.0
Stable release but much less capable than the next V23 release. It also supports less routers than V23.
Sveasoft
Freeman
This is a modified version of Talisman firmware that has been released by TheIndividual. It is version 1.0.4 of Talisman and it works great. It won't run on WRT54GS v.3 hardware though. There may be a new version released sometime soon that will work, but at this point you will get an upgrade failed error.
Talisman
Newest firmware from Sveasoft. Requires you to pay for use. It is blocked based on MAC address so that it can't be distributed unless you pay to download. Go to their website for more details.
Alchemy
The last "free" version of the Sveasoft firmware. Download it here. Only works on WRT54GS v.2 or earlier. Not as stable as Freeman/Talisman.
Satori
Older version of Sveasoft firmware for the WRT54G; not even sure if it supports the new WRT54GS. Download it here
HyperWRT
The prefered version of HyperWRT for newer GS routers is Thibor's version available at LinksysInfo.
OpenWRT
Updated instructions and precompiled firmware available here
FAQ
Comments
August 12, 2005 - aaronmarks
The WRT54GS is almost the same as the WRT54G except for the obvious addition of SpeedBooster. The other differences include an upgrade to 32MB of RAM and 8MB of NVRAM from 16MB of RAM and 4MB of NVRAM like with the WRT54G. There was also the addition of some very nice parental control features.
November 1, 2005 - aaronmarks
The majority of WRT54GS that are version 4 that are being released by Linksys now only have half as much memory and are thus almost identical to the old WRT54G except for that it still has SpeedBooster, but it would appear that Linksys has cut the memory down to 16MB of RAM and 4MB of NVRAM in an effort to cut costs. For those who care though, the new Version 5 WRT54G has also had it's memory cut in half so it now only has 8MB of RAM and 2MB of NVRAM and doesn't even run Linux anymore.
Hopefully Linksys will realize that this is a mistake. I just went to Best Buy last week and bought out there stock of the older versions from what I could tell. I need them to sell to my clients since I'm an I/T consultant, but it's looking like I might have to start looking more towards the Asus WL-500g for my DD-WRT firmware needs.
December 16, 2005 - CronScript
See the addition under the Specifications section above. There are a variety of hardware versions which may have different CPU's and amounts of memory.
