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What is OpenWRT and dd-wrt and would the general public benefit from either?
Posted on 7/15/14 at 1:30 pm
Posted on 7/15/14 at 1:30 pm
Every now and then I stumble on something mentioning either OpenWRT or DD-WRT, but I can never really figure out what they do. I get that it replaces the stock firmware, but for those of us that aren't developers, what does it offer?
5
Posted on 7/15/14 at 1:40 pm to guedeaux
A lot of people use it to replace the default firmware on their router. Since it's a Linux distribution, this would allow you to run a web server or FTP server directly from the router. You can also analyze network traffic that flows through the router.
It's probably not something the average user would want to mess with.
The Arduino Yun microcontroller uses OpenWrt as it's operating system and I've used it a good bit on it. It's a very slimmed down Linux distro.
It's probably not something the average user would want to mess with.
The Arduino Yun microcontroller uses OpenWrt as it's operating system and I've used it a good bit on it. It's a very slimmed down Linux distro.
This post was edited on 7/15/14 at 1:40 pm
Posted on 7/15/14 at 1:43 pm to guedeaux
The general public? Probably not. But geeks, tweakers, and enthusiasts definitely would and do.
These firmwares add features to consumer routers that are typically only available on enterprise routers. VPN functions, better QoS controls, antenna power management, bridging functionality, etc. They often just plain work better, too.
These firmwares add features to consumer routers that are typically only available on enterprise routers. VPN functions, better QoS controls, antenna power management, bridging functionality, etc. They often just plain work better, too.
Posted on 7/15/14 at 1:47 pm to Korkstand
quote:
VPN functions
Would this allow for safer torrenting if someone were into that sort of thing? This would be without monthly fee or would that still be necessary for a VPN? I like messing around with tech stuff like this, but I have never delved into messing with routers or VPNs.
Posted on 7/15/14 at 1:58 pm to guedeaux
quote:
Would this allow for safer torrenting if someone were into that sort of thing? This would be without monthly fee or would that still be necessary for a VPN? I like messing around with tech stuff like this, but I have never delved into messing with routers or VPNs.
Well there has to be something on the other end to connect to for you to make the VPN. You can't just randomly connect a VPN to anything you want.
Posted on 7/15/14 at 2:02 pm to guedeaux
quote:It would still be necessary. I think the only difference is, normally you would connect to a VPN from a particular device/computer (and most consumer routers have a "VPN passthrough" option to allow this), whereas with DD-WRT the router itself would connect to the VPN and all traffic on the router from all devices would go through it.
This would be without monthly fee or would that still be necessary for a VPN?
At least, I think that's how it works. Maybe someone knows more and can correct me?
Posted on 7/15/14 at 2:23 pm to guedeaux
quote:That's exactly what it does. The reason is to access capabilities the device has but the stock firmware doesn't touch.
I get that it replaces the stock firmware
I have DD-WRT running on an old Linksys WRT54G. It allows me to use the router as an AP, repeater, bridge, etc. Tons of available settings, etc.
I haven't used to for a VPN tunnel, so I can't comment on the capabilities.
This post was edited on 7/15/14 at 2:24 pm
Posted on 7/15/14 at 2:25 pm to guedeaux
I use it on my home router to boost my signal. I have no real need for it for anything else tho, neither will most people at home.
This post was edited on 7/15/14 at 2:26 pm
Posted on 7/15/14 at 2:29 pm to drizztiger
quote:
I have DD-WRT running on an old Linksys WRT54G. It allows me to use the router as an AP, repeater, bridge, etc. Tons of available settings, etc.
Interesting. I think I have one of those in the closet. If I have some bad wifi areas in my house, I could put dd-wrt onto the wrt54g and use it to extend my wifi network? Would I need dd-wrt on the main router and the wrt54g?
Is there any negative to installing dd-wrt?
Posted on 7/15/14 at 2:39 pm to guedeaux
quote:yep
If I have some bad wifi areas in my house, I could put dd-wrt onto the wrt54g and use it to extend my wifi network?
quote:nope
Would I need dd-wrt on the main router and the wrt54g?
quote:Mainly just the possibility of bricking the router.
Is there any negative to installing dd-wrt?
Posted on 7/15/14 at 2:40 pm to guedeaux
quote:Correct.
Interesting. I think I have one of those in the closet. If I have some bad wifi areas in my house, I could put dd-wrt onto the wrt54g and use it to extend my wifi network?
quote:Just the wrt54g.
Would I need dd-wrt on the main router and the wrt54g?
quote:I haven't found any. And I'm pretty sure you can flash the firmware back to default if you need to. Before installing DD-WRT you make a backup of your current firmware.
Is there any negative to installing dd-wrt?
There are lots of YouTube video walkthroughs on DD-WRT also.
LINK Installing
LINK Repeater bridge
Posted on 7/15/14 at 2:51 pm to drizztiger
Awesome. Thanks for the info, everyone.
Posted on 7/15/14 at 4:18 pm to guedeaux
quote:
OpenWRT or DD-WRT
I prefer and recommend Tomato instead.
Posted on 7/15/14 at 9:31 pm to busbeepbeep
I had a router that was a pieceof shite with the stock firmware. I installed dd-wrt and it is now stable, has more features, and literally never locks up.
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