Don't use Linksys routers • Hacker News Board

Re: Don't use Linksys routers

#11

Post by AnthonyMouse » Sat, Apr 06, 2013, 2:19 PM UTC

spindritf wrote: post #3

Or just put OpenWRT[1] on it. It's a real Linux distribution with a package manager and everything. You can even disable the webinterface, if you don't trust it, and use SSH. EDIT: WRT54GL is pretty old and it won't run the default build of OpenWRT Attitude Adjustment (the newest release). It also probably won't have enough memory to operate the package manager or the webinterface. But I do have one running a custom…

The trouble with the WRT54G series (and most of these little routers) is that they have ~200MHz CPUs and ~16MB of RAM. This is, incidentally, why they often crash when you open a lot of simultaneous connections -- memory exhaustion.

I find that if you're interested in experimenting with a Linux router, old PCs are a much better choice. You can get a PowerPC G3 or G4 or a late model Pentium III for practically zero money (if not literally zero money out of a trash heap) and PCI NICs for secondary interfaces are similarly inexpensive. For only slightly more money the G4 Mac Mini is an excellent choice for a wireless router. Then you have a processor that is several times faster and can put arbitrarily much memory and storage in it to suit your needs and then put your favorite Linux router distribution (or Debian) on it and have at it.

Re: Don't use Linksys routers

#12

Post by mikecane » Sat, Apr 06, 2013, 2:23 PM UTC

Having looked at the post, doesn't he really mean don't buy "these models" of Linksys? Or are all models open to certain vulnerabilities?

Re: Don't use Linksys routers

#13

Post by bvdbijl » Sat, Apr 06, 2013, 2:23 PM UTC

spindritf wrote: post #3

Or just put OpenWRT[1] on it. It's a real Linux distribution with a package manager and everything. You can even disable the webinterface, if you don't trust it, and use SSH. EDIT: WRT54GL is pretty old and it won't run the default build of OpenWRT Attitude Adjustment (the newest release). It also probably won't have enough memory to operate the package manager or the webinterface. But I do have one running a custom…

Unfortunately, that doesn't really help normal customers because they can't be bothered with doing stuff like flashing an alternative firmware

Re: Don't use Linksys routers

#14

Post by TylerE » Sat, Apr 06, 2013, 2:37 PM UTC

AnthonyMouse wrote: post #11

spindritf wrote: post #3

Or just put OpenWRT[1] on it. It's a real Linux distribution with a package manager and everything. You can even disable the webinterface, if you don't trust it, and use SSH. EDIT: WRT54GL is pretty old and it won't run the default build of OpenWRT Attitude Adjustment (the newest release). It also probably won't have enough memory to operate the package manager or the webinterface. But I do have one running a custom…

The trouble with the WRT54G series (and most of these little routers) is that they have ~200MHz CPUs and ~16MB of RAM. This is, incidentally, why they often crash when you open a lot of simultaneous connections -- memory exhaustion. I find that if you're interested in experimenting with a Linux router, old PCs are a much better choice. You can get a PowerPC G3 or G4 or a late model Pentium III for practically zero mo…

You might be shocked by the power bill for running one of those older beasts 24/7.

Re: Don't use Linksys routers

#15

Post by brooksbp » Sat, Apr 06, 2013, 3:02 PM UTC

I highly recommend Mikrotik to anyone fed up with traditional consumer wifi routers/APs. I dont know how they compare to other vendor hw eg Asus + OpenWRT, but this little guy has been rock solid and a joy to use: http://routerboard.com/RB2011UAS-2HnD-IN

Re: Don't use Linksys routers

#16

Post by davidroberts » Sat, Apr 06, 2013, 3:08 PM UTC

TylerE wrote: post #14

AnthonyMouse wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The trouble with the WRT54G series (and most of these little routers) is that they have ~200MHz CPUs and ~16MB of RAM. This is, incidentally, why they often crash when you open a lot of simultaneous connections -- memory exhaustion. I find that if you're interested in experimenting with a Linux router, old PCs are a much better choice. You can get a PowerPC G3 or G4 or a late model Pentium III for practically zero mo…

You might be shocked by the power bill for running one of those older beasts 24/7.

Use more recent notebook with a bad display. Much less power needed, and you can get one for free or really cheap. Or use that three-year old notebook you've replaced, and turn off the display.

Re: Don't use Linksys routers

#17

Post by AnthonyMouse » Sat, Apr 06, 2013, 3:12 PM UTC

TylerE wrote: post #14

AnthonyMouse wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The trouble with the WRT54G series (and most of these little routers) is that they have ~200MHz CPUs and ~16MB of RAM. This is, incidentally, why they often crash when you open a lot of simultaneous connections -- memory exhaustion. I find that if you're interested in experimenting with a Linux router, old PCs are a much better choice. You can get a PowerPC G3 or G4 or a late model Pentium III for practically zero mo…

You might be shocked by the power bill for running one of those older beasts 24/7.

Idle power consumption, measured at the plug by a watt meter:

Dell Optiplex (1.4GHz Pentium III): 32W ($5.76/month @ $0.25/KWh)

Mac Mini (1.25GHz G4): 17W ($3.06/month @ $0.25/KWh)

Even if a WRT54G uses zero watts, you're still talking about a year before you even recover the $50 cost of one, and in any event ~$50/year is not a very expensive hobby.

Re: Don't use Linksys routers

#18

Post by FollowSteph3 » Sat, Apr 06, 2013, 3:15 PM UTC

What recommendations do people here have for an entry level commercial router instead of a high consumer level router?

Re: Don't use Linksys routers

#19

Post by autotravis » Sat, Apr 06, 2013, 3:16 PM UTC

My ISP makes me use a "gateway"[1][2] with a wireless router built into it. In the name of reducing electricity usage, I forego running my own router and surrender to using theirs. I would be willing to bet many others do the same. I wonder how secure it is?

[1]http://www.att.com/u-verse/explore/residential-gateway.jsp [2]http://verrytechnical.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/ATTUver...

Re: Don't use Linksys routers

#20

Post by vacri » Sat, Apr 06, 2013, 3:19 PM UTC

NelsonMinar wrote: post #9

The modern equivalent of a Linksys WRT54GL is the ASUS RT-N16. It runs OpenWrt, DD-WRT, and Tomato variants really well, does 802.11n (only one frequency) and has plenty of memory and flash storage for extra hacking. The ASUS RT-N66U is frequently advised if you want 5GHz 802.11n as well. The other router mentioned in this article, the Linksys EA2700, doesn't seem compatible with third party firmware. And apparently…

Thank you for the info - do you know if there's an ADSL modem that's good for DD-WRT these days? Last I looked (yeeeaaaars ago) there were only two models, long since out of production, and they didn't seem to be going in that direction anymore.