Linksys WRT54G

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The WRT54G is a router (10/100) from Linksys (a subsidiary of Belkin since 2013 ), which consists of an integrated four-port switch and a wireless access point . The device is suitable for sharing Internet access with multiple clients via Ethernet 802.3 as well as WLAN 802.11b and 802.11g .

The first version of the WRT54G was released in December 2002. Since the router is considered reliable and its firmware is freely available , it is sold as WRT54GL to this day (as of 2016).

Linksys WRT54GL Wireless-G Router

Firmware

The special thing about the WRT54G is that the source code of the firmware , at least up to version 4.0 of the router, was published under the GPL . Linksys was persuaded to publish the source code in 2004 under threat of legal remedy because it contains iptables . This is one of the most prominent cases in which the GPL has been enforced.

Linksys has been using the VxWorks firmware from Wind River Systems on both the WRT54G and the WRT54GS since late 2005 . Since it requires significantly fewer resources than the previous Linux firmware, the hardware has also been adapted accordingly. In order to still deliver devices that can be equipped with their own firmware, Linksys has been marketing the previous version as WRT54GL since 2005 . The L stands for Linux.

Due to the free availability of the source code, a large number of alternative firmwares such as OpenWrt , DD-WRT , FreeWRT , HyperWRT , Tomato , Talisman , Alchemy or WiFi-Box have been developed. These enable the WRT54G models to have functions that go far beyond the scope of functions of the original firmware and that were previously reserved for much more expensive routers.

hardware

PCB from the WRT54GL v1.1

The ingenuity within the large developer community is not limited to modifications to the firmware of the WRT54G, the hardware itself has also been partially modified. Adding a serial interface or a slot for an SD card is just as possible as connecting a sound card or graphics card - the latter two being rather exotic exceptions.

The model WRT54GS is almost identical . In the first hardware variants, it had more RAM and flash memory and was also expanded to include a technology called "Speed ​​Booster", which is supposed to improve the speed of the WLAN. This is compatible with the IEEE 802.11 standard. Therefore devices that do not have a "Speed ​​Booster" extension can also be operated with the WRT54GS. According to Linksys, even this can bring a small increase in speed, but it cannot be compared with when both routers and clients have "Speed ​​Boosters". The latter should bring up to 35 percent more speed. The WLAN cards required for this are proprietary and are only offered by Linksys.

The two antennas are connected to the router using a BNC connector .

Errors / changes

During the production period, the Linksys routers were subjected to changes in terms of software, firmware and hardware.

Large file copy bug / 200 MHz → 216 MHz

This was an error that occurred when copying large files from the WLAN to the LAN. Version 2.2 was particularly affected by this, but also version 3.0 and 4.0. The community that has developed around the product quickly found that this error can be eliminated by overclocking the chip from 200 MHz to 216 MHz = Fast Ethernet clock. This solution was then initially adopted by some third-party firmware providers (see below) and was ultimately also found in the next official Linksys firmware. Therefore, the information about the frequency for the same model differs on various pages between 200 MHz and 216 MHz. Overclocking has hardly any noticeable effects on the heat development and is therefore harmless.

System change

As already described above, the firmware was completely changed over to a different system ( VxWorks ). For this reason, you must pay close attention to which hardware revision of the device is present and which firmware may be installed for it, as otherwise it could destroy the hardware.

Below is an overview of the hardware changes.

Hardware revisions

WRT54G Clock signal R.A.M. Flash memory Beginning of serial no. comment
1.0 125 MHz 16 MB 4 MB CDF0

CDF1

20 LEDs on the front (with indicators for each RJ-45 port link / activity, collision and speed).

The WLAN connection is made via a mini PCI card. CPU: Broadcom BCM4702KPB.

1.1 125 MHz 16 MB 4 MB CDF2

CDF3

The LEDs have been reduced to eight (only 1 LED for link / activity per RJ-45 port). The WLAN chipset is integrated on the motherboard .
2.0 200 MHz 16 MB 4 MB CDF5 Compared to version 1.1 a CPU upgrade (Broadcom BCM4712KPB) and fewer modules are required for the WLAN chipset.
2.2 200 MHz 16 MB 4 MB CDF7 Some devices were shipped with a 32MB memory chip. With these, however, only 16 MB is used by default and the full 32 MB can be made usable via nvram parameters.
3.0 200 MHz 16 MB 4 MB CDF8 Similar structure to version 1.1 and later. Behind the left front panel an undocumented button, which is intended for the "Secure EZ Setup".
3.1 200 MHz 16 MB 4 MB CDF9 Has an illuminated button on the left with a Cisco logo, which is used to activate the "Secure EZ Setup".
4.0 200 MHz 16 MB 4 MB CDFA CPU upgrade to Broadcom BCM5352EKPB, identical to WRT54GL.
5.0 200 MHz 8 MB 2 MB CDFB Delivered with the VxWorks firmware. Due to the low requirements, the flash memory in particular was reduced in size, which makes installing other firmware considerably more difficult. Third-party firmware is currently only an adapted version of DD-WRT, but it is more complicated to flash. The old version 4 is now offered as WRT54GL Rev. 1.0.
6.0 200 MHz 8 MB 2 MB CDFC New version of the "WRT54G-D2" (3.1). With regard to third-party firmware, the same applies as for version 5.
7.0 200 MHz 8 MB 2 MB CDFE Atheros WLAN chip, ADM6996 network chip. So far, there is no third-party firmware available that can be flashed on this router. The router is not to be confused with the WRT54GS v7.
8.0 240 MHz 8 MB 2 MB CDFF CDFG CPU upgrade to Broadcom BCM5354KFBG. The third-party firmware DD-WRT v24 from Release Candidate 3 and newer can be flashed on this router.
WRT54GL Clock signal R.A.M. Flash memory Beginning of serial no. comment
1.0 200 MHz 16 MB 4 MB CL7A After the release of the WRT54G 5.0 and the switch from Linux to VxWorks, Linksys is now selling the old 4.0 model under the name WRT54GL.
1.1 200 MHz 16 MB 4 MB CL7B CL7C Early brands were delivered with Intel flash memory, later with those from Samsung.
1.1 200 MHz 32 MB 8 MB CO61 T-Mobile version of the WRT-54GL
WRT54GS Clock signal R.A.M. Flash memory Beginning of serial no. comment
1.0 200 MHz 32 MB 8 MB CGN0

CGN1

Has the "Speed ​​Booster" technology, which offers higher throughput for 802.11g devices that support this technology.
1.1 200 MHz 32 MB 8 MB CGN2 Switching IC changed from ADMtek 6996L to Broadcom BCM5325EKQM.
2.0 200 MHz 32 MB 8 MB CGN3 other RAM ICs.
2.1 200 MHz 32 MB 8 MB CGN4 Introduction of the "Secure EZ Setup".
3.0 200 MHz 32 MB 8 MB CGN5 CPU upgrade to Broadcom BCM5352EKBP.
4.0 200 MHz 16 MB 4 MB CGN6 Halving of RAM and Flash.
5.0 200 MHz 16 MB 2 MB CGN7 Changeover to VxWorks as firmware.
5.1 200 MHz 16 MB 2 MB CGN8  
6.0 200 MHz 16 MB 2 MB CGN9  
7.0 200 MHz 16 MB 2 MB CGNA? / CGNB CPU upgrade to Broadcom BCM5354KFBG. Different flash chips were installed in the V7, which one can only be determined by opening the case (loss of warranty!). DD-WRT from v24 RC3 micro currently only possible if no Intel Flash is installed.
WRT54G3G Clock signal R.A.M. Flash memory Beginning of serial no. comment
1.0  200 MHz 16 MB 4 MB CHB0 Vodafone “branded” firmware; supports GPRS, UMTS and HSDPA up to 7.2 Mbit / s. PCMCIA slot for UMTS data card . Only supports certain data cards and SIM cards. Full support for OpenWRT.
1.1
 (-EU or -EM) 		200 MHz 16 MB 4 MB CKI1 Like version 1.0, but European firmware version, supports GPRS, UMTS and HSDPA up to 7.2 Mbit / s. Full support for OpenWRT.
WRT54G3GV2-VF Clock signal R.A.M. Flash memory Beginning of serial no. comment
1.0 260 MHz 32 MB 16 MB CSC0 Supports GPRS, UMTS and HSDPA up to 7.2 Mbit / s and HSUPA up to 5.4 Mbit / s. PCMCIA slot for UMTS data card . Additionally 2 USB ports for 3G / UMTS USB sticks and 1 additional USB port e.g. B. for memory USB sticks. Supports HSDPA and HSUPA, e.g. B. with T-Mobile Web'N-Walk-Stick IV (Huawei E176 - has external antenna socket) and Huawei E220. New boot loader version: 2 × 8 MB flash blocks with 2 images in a row; the 2nd image for safety. Support for OpenWRT.

In some cases, additions to names that are not explained by the manufacturer are used. The WRT54GL sub-versions WRT54GL-DE and WRT54GL-EU are currently offered. According to an Austrian dealer, the only difference is the Linksys firmware, so using the DE firmware with Austrian ADSL accesses should be problematic. Also, in the USA firmware, for example, some WLAN channels are not available because they are not enabled there. However, these are solely limitations of the software. The hardware is also identical here. In the USA there is also the WRTSL54GS with an additional USB port. There are two versions: V1.0 (32 MB RAM, 8 MB Flash) and version 2.00.5 (32 MB RAM, 4 MB Flash).

Linux distributions for the WRT54G

Without own Wikipedia article:

  • Ewrt are no active development
  • HyperWRT
  • Sveasoft (only old versions free)
  • X-Wrt extension for OpenWrt, provides a web interface for the end user

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Belkin completes Linksys Purchase. (No longer available online.) Dailytech.com, March 18, 2013, archived from the original on June 28, 2013 ; accessed on July 3, 2013 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.dailytech.com
  2. ↑ a b Jon Brodkin: The WRT54GL: A 54Mbps router from 2005 silent makes millions for Linksys. In: arstechnica.com. July 1, 2016, accessed July 2, 2016 .
  3. ↑ Linksys WRT54G and the GPL . Linux kernel mailing list, June 7, 2003
  4. ↑ Aaron Weiss: The Open Source WRT54G Story . November 8, 2005
  5. ↑ Linksys Releases GPLed Code for WRT54G on slashdot , July 2003