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From: Ignoramus3778 on 24 Sep 2007 11:13
On Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:57:02 -0000, Grant Edwards <grante(a)visi.com> wrote:
> On 2007-09-24, Ignoramus3778 <ignoramus3778(a)NOSPAM.3778.invalid> wrote:
>
>> Can someone give me a quick rundown why a router benefits from being
>> flashed by Linux?
>
> I assume you mean flashed with one of the open-firmware
> versions of Linux?
>
> http://openwrt.org/
>
> 1) You get to pick what features you want and don't want.
>
> 2) The open-firmware projects have a lot of advanced features
> that stock firmware doesn't (QoS, VPN support, bridging
> modes, better DHCP/DNS integration, etc.)
>

Very nice. I just surplused my old WRT54G router (right now on
eBay). This was done due to upgrade of my home Linux network to
Gigabit Ethernet.

I will keep an eye when there is news on my D-Link DIR-655 802.11n
gigabit router.

I use a basement linux server to provide firewall services to my home
network (to private computers witj 10.0.0.* addresses). I have a
feeling that it is a lot easier to do all that stuff (like VPN) using
a regular Linux box, though I may be mistaken.

The one feature that I would definitely like is enable better NATting,
specifically by exporting ssh port and connecting it to my laptop.

But I can live even without it, by using port redirection (redirecting
port back to the laptop) through the basement server.

Very interesting. I appreciate the info.


i
From: jch on 24 Sep 2007 11:24
Go look at http://www.dd-wrt.com I recently flashed my v5 WRT54G and the
ddwrt firmware offers an amazing array of new features including QoS which
you're seeking. Until I found this, I thought upgrading the firmware in my
v5 WRT54G router was not a possibility because it wasn't Linux based and
because of the limited RAM (8Meg) in the unit. I needed to use the router
as a wireless bridge and could not do so with the stock Linksys firmware.
After flashing the proper firmware (mirco generic ddwrt), it's working fine
as a wireless bridge connecting my DirecTV HR20 and XBox to my home network.


<gaikokujinkyofusho(a)gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1190636997.195839.195330(a)g4g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>I have a WRT54G router with v7.00.1 firmware (serial number starting
> CDFE1...) and I would like to flash it with one of the Linux firmware
> distros (for better QoS, user restriction management, etc) but I read
> on the Tomato site (http://www.polarcloud.com/
> tomatofaq#how_do_i_find_my_linksys_wrt54) that my router doesn't seem
> to be supported and similar on the Bitsum (http://www.bitsum.com/
> openwiking/owbase/ow.asp?WRT54G5%5FCFE) site.
>
> My question is: Is there a relatively full featured Linux firmware
> "upgrade" that will work on my model of WRT54G router? Any help or
> suggestions would really be appreciated!
>
> Cheers
>
> -Gaiko
>


From: Ignoramus30458 on 25 Sep 2007 11:55
On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 08:43:11 -0700, CptDondo <yan(a)NsOeSiPnAeMr.com> wrote:
> act as a GPS server for my handheld

How does it act as a GPS server? Does it have a built in GPS receiver?

My own feeling about all this is that a regular Linux box can do those
routing things with more convenience.

I have a network at home with NATs, private subnets, etc, all
controlled by a regular Linux computer acting as a firewall.

i
From: Ignoramus30458 on 25 Sep 2007 12:25
On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 11:06:38 -0500, � <tdstr(a)foadspammer.com> wrote:
> Ignoramus30458 wrote:
>> On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 08:43:11 -0700, CptDondo <yan(a)NsOeSiPnAeMr.com> wrote:
>>> act as a GPS server for my handheld
>>
>> How does it act as a GPS server? Does it have a built in GPS receiver?
>>
>
> I'm interested in the function as well.
>
>> My own feeling about all this is that a regular Linux box can do those
>> routing things with more convenience.
>
> The convenience factor for me was *not* tying up another pc and spending
> the time for a linux install/config.

> The DD-WRT flash and config took all of about 15 minutes total.
>

Just 15 minutes? That's great. I am very impressed. I am not trying to
demean what you do, at all, I think that it is great.

As for tying another PC, a Linux box can do all kinds of things
besides being a firewall. I do not have a "dedicated firewall linux
box" myself.

My approach is, obviously, much more applicable to a wired situation
than to a wifi situation, where your solution excels.

(I have a wifi subnet at home, and use ssh port redirection to
accomplish some of the things that you are doing)

>>
>> I have a network at home with NATs, private subnets, etc, all
>> controlled by a regular Linux computer acting as a firewall.
>>
>
> Still a very good way of doing it.

Yes. I absolutely love linux in that it gives me the full power to do
whatever I want, without me being restricted to "no more than 64
sockets without a Professional license", etc.

i
From: Ignoramus30458 on 25 Sep 2007 12:26
On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 09:10:18 -0700, CptDondo <yan(a)NsOeSiPnAeMr.com> wrote:
> Ignoramus30458 wrote:
>> On Tue, 25 Sep 2007 08:43:11 -0700, CptDondo <yan(a)NsOeSiPnAeMr.com> wrote:
>>> act as a GPS server for my handheld
>>
>> How does it act as a GPS server? Does it have a built in GPS receiver?
>
> It's got a $30 USB GPS puck.

I am very interested in buying one for my laptop. Would you recommend
a particular one that works with Linux?

>> My own feeling about all this is that a regular Linux box can do those
>> routing things with more convenience.
>
> It *is* a regular linux box. There is no way a "regular" computer would
> work in a van; the energy use alone would kill the batteries.

Great point!

>>
>> I have a network at home with NATs, private subnets, etc, all
>> controlled by a regular Linux computer acting as a firewall.
>
> A MIPS-based router only uses about 120 ma @ 12vdc IIRC, has no fans and
> no moving parts. With the OS on flash, you don't have to worry about
> power conditioning. You can set it up and forget it. One of mine is in
> an attic, in heat and cold.
>
> Your regular computer probably uses about 75 watts, has fans and a hard
> drive that can fail, and needs to be in a conditioned environment with a
> UPS. And your regular computer still needs a switch to operate, or must
> have additional hardware to act as a switch on its own.
>
> These little units have a built-in 6 port switch with vlan capability.
>

Yes. You convinced me that this approach has very tangible benefits,
esp. for mobile situation.

i
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