9/24/2019 Wrt54g Version 7 Firmware Flash
Take a plain, ordinary (read: boring, with limited functionality) $60 wireless router and supercharge it with cool features and lots more functionality, control, and diagnostics. There's much more under the hood of these devices than is accessible with the vendor's default firmware versions. Even the updates from the vendor's support website unlock only a fraction of the router's capabilities. Third-party developers have made firmware upgrades available that unleash a lot more functionality.
User Manuals and How to Factory Reset your Linksys WRT54G v7.0 router. Flashing a custom ROM can greatly increase the stability and functionality of your.
'What is this 'firmware' of which you speak?' Well, that router is really just a fancy pile of switches waiting to be told what to do; that's the hardware. The firmware consists of the start-up instructions that make those switches actually do things.
It's called firmware because it's not in the form of traditional 'software' - it's not on a moving disk. It is stored on a non-volatile memory (NVRAM) chip. The good news is: the vendors allow changes to that chip, so if they produce new versions of firmware, you - the end-user - can copy another version into NVRAM, letting your old device do new tricks.
It also means that the chip can hold other code - code written by someone other than the original vendor. Note: I'm working on an updated version of this '-able' using firmware release v.24 SP1. Assumptions for this Instructable. Using v23.SP2 firmware images.
Using Linksys WRT54G v1.1 router (serial # prefix CDF2) A few notes from the DD-WRT file:. For upgrading from the original Linksys firmware, please use the generic mini version (dd-wrt.vXXminigeneric.bin) and flash it from the web GUI interface. After this first flash upgrade, any other DD-WRT full firmware binary may be applied.
For flashing via the web GUI interface (after applying the mini firmware), always use the included 'generic' binaries. The other Linksys router version-specific binaries are meant to be applied only through tftp upgrades. WARNING: Never, and I say never try to clear the nvram by the mtd utility. (mtd erase nvram). This will also delete your hardware MAC addresses which aren't stored in the CFE like in other routers - the command line mtd utility can permanently brick your router. ( Note: This Instructable will work with most models of LinkSys WRT54G-series router.
Obviously, the G-specific details would need to be adjusted to match the model being modded.). 1) the version of the router, to know what the technical details are for your specific model 2) Download the from Linksys. This is a TFTP utility needed for upgrading to any DD-WRT firmware type except 'generic' 3) Download latest firmware from DD-WRT page: 3.1) Download the Mini firmware for your specific router model. Mini flash is required for all upgrades, as an interim stage between Linksys firmware and the final DD-WRT firmware configuration. 3.2) The Standard, VPN & VOIP versions have different feature sets, but all share the same core extended functionality. 3.3) If zip files are downloaded, there are different file versions within for the different router models, so be careful which file you select when upgrading. 4) Reset the router to.
The router's default configuration should now be the following: 4.1) IP address: 192.168.1.1 4.2) Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0 4.3) Username: admin 4.4) Password: admin. 1) Assign the Ethernet port on your laptop/desktop a static address that matches the default factory subnet of the router.
Follow these steps to assign a address. (It's possible to perform the upgrade with a DHCP address, but a static address is more reliable.) 2) Use an Ethernet cable to connect to the router through a 10/100 port for performing the flash upgrade.
(It's possible to flash the router via a wireless interface, but it's much more reliable to use a wired connection.) Use a web browser to connect to the router's administration interface using the above credentials. The result should look something like this. Perform a hard reset on the router. It should then restart with the DD-WRT 'mini' firmware successfully applied. The DD-WRT firmware has different login credentials, and the mini firmware upgrade sets the following values: 1. IP address: 192.168.1.1 2. Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0 3.
Username: root 4. Password: admin The default web page displays an overview system information page without requiring a login (Note the current active version in the upper-right of the router's web interface, and the new default router name). Sometimes a flash upgrade attempt gone awry can disable some components - such as the 10/100 ports - and leave other services functional. It may be necessary to configure a static IP address on the default IP subnet to communicate via the 10/100 ports, instead of relying on receiving a DHCP-assigned address. Note: even though all warnings say never flash the router across a wireless interface, it is possible to do so successfully. I have found that in some cases a bad flash attempt disables the LAN ports; the only option in this instance is to connect to the 'bricked' router trough the wireless interface.
Unbricking a WRT54G router. Nino: a v1.0 router. DD-WRT: from a bad firmware flash. on how to recover from a bad flash upgrade, from the Linksys Knowledgebase. Here are just some of the features that this DD-WRT firmware makes available that transform this router into something far cooler than the vendor firmware provides:.
Adjust transmit power - boost the wireless transmitter up to a whopping 251mW. Note: Please keep in mind that FCC regulations restrict wireless transmit levels for devices like these. Turn up the power incrementally until you get the level of service you need; you do not want to get noticed by the Fed. You could also 'drown out' other wireless signals that use the same channel.
A lot depends on the antenna configuration used and other factors, so just be careful. If you want more range, check out WDS below. Afterburner - WRT54GS routers support technology, and with wireless clients that support this feature, wireless performance can be increased significantly. QoS - Use to prioritize types of network traffic. Let some applications have more bandwidth than ohers!. Dynamic DNS - Even without a static IP address from your service provider, you can access your router with a DNS name.
Provides a free service to associate a DNS name with your router (There are other DDNS providers, as well). If you need to get to your router from the outside world, dynamic DNS lets you have a consistent name that stays the same, even when its dynamic address changes (which it will, frequently). Advanced routing features - Configure your router as a border router using BGP or OSPF. establish virtual network segments using IDs and create more sophisticated network configurations. WDS - allows your router to talk to other routers as access points. This means you can extend the range of your network by letting routers talk with each other as bridges, resulting in wider network coverage. WEP, WPA and WPA2 methods.
RADIUS authentication - provide for strong network authentication by accessing an external server to verify credentials. Virtual Private Network access - reach your internal network resources from the outside world using a secure tunnel. (This requires the VPN firmware version). UPnP - allows applications to automatically setup port forwardings. Command shell - Add specific startup and/or firewall commands to be run when the router starts up to create even more customized configurations There are many other features that this firmware supports. I have just highlighted what I think might be of interest to some users.
The help functionality built into the firmware is great, so poke around and don't be afraid to try things. Oh yeah, make sure you back up your configuration before trying new features, just in case. Just remember, your mileage may vary. Finally, here are some additional resources that may help with the upgrade process:. utility, from Linksys.
Actually a TFTP utility, it's a very useful tool for upgrading Linksys router firmware. An outstanding utility, it includes a TFTP server daemon and client. It also has DHCP, SNTP and SYSLOG server functionality. The 'Ask LinkSys' link under Support Tools on the website. Choose 'Technical Support' under the Support tab.
The 'Ask LinkSys' option is on the left. The Tech Support page is helpful for walking through lots of different issues and finding support documents quickly. This is how i have my network set up so i can tell you for curtain that this works. Upstairs = DD-WRT router connected to cable modem and providing hard wire connections to a Network Accessible storage and a printer. This router also provides a wireless net work to the up stairs residents / guests Downstairs = DD-WRT router connected to the upstairs router (wireless).
This router provides hard wire connections to my MythTV back end server and to a desktop PC. This router also provides a second wireless network to provide a strong wireless signal for the downstairs residents / guests.
All equipment can be accessed or restricted by the system architect / administrator. DD-WRT is extremely powerful and reliable. I have been using it for years. And yes, other access points have no trouble extending this network even further. You've got a ver. 5.0 WRT54G router.
They don't recommend using this router, as it has less memory than older versions and uses a 3rd-party Linux firmware. 4.0 and below have 16MB of RAM and 4MB flash built in, but 5.0 and above have only 8MB/2MB. (Ver 7.0 has Atheros hardware and is not supported at all with the DD-WRT firmware upgrade.) Ver.
5 & 6 use the 3rd-party a Linux firmware and require a special extra utility to deal with that VXWorks firmware build. If you do plan to try flashing this router, only use the Micro DD-WRT upgrade (because of smaller RAM/flash capacity) and get the VXworks utility. I've never used it, so until I stumble across a v.5 or 6 router to try this on, you're on your own. Serial numbers starting with CDF0 - CDFA are ver. 1.0 through 4.0 and should all work with the standard DD-WRT firmware. They're available pretty cheap if you look around. I hope this helps!
I'm going to make a bunch of assumptions here, so please correct me if I don't have all the information quite right. This is a business with DSL as their single Internet access pipe. They have both wired and wireless for their business users, and they want to be able to offer wireless to customers that is restricted to internet access only, no customer visibility onto the business network. The business wants to use a single Linksys DSL router to do this. Is this correct? I'm thinking that this is beyond the ability of this device/firmware.
In this scenario, you would really want 2 separate SSIDs and force the customer SSID direct to the WAN interface using static routing. The idea is to make customer access simple, providing an open, wireless SSID that wireless users could just attach to easily.
Don't have them go through any manual config contortions, then the business stumbles into the business of providing wireless internet access in addition to their primary business. Also, you would likely want some way to throttle the amount of bandwidth used by customers, so someone in the waiting are doesn't soak up all your bandwidth with a monster download. (We're now entering the part of the discussion where I'm going to make some suggestions, but having never tried them with this device, they're only possible ideas.) There are a bunch of ways to handle this. One could be to get another Linksys router, configure it with a different SSID, and set up static routing under 'Setup.Advanced Routing' and force traffic to the WAN port. Another would be to get a more capable router, something with access list capability. Or possibly a layer-3 switch using VLANs could also address this issue.
Help me understand the scenario more, but I think what is desired here is beyond the capability of this inexpensive router, even after being flashed with DD-WRT firmware. Ultimately, this discussion is way beyond the scope of this Instructable. It might make more sense to check out the website for support and user forums. Someone there would likely have a whole lot more information than I have on this particular topic. Good walkthrough. And DD-WRT is the best alternative firmware unless you're hardcore enough to go Open-WRT.
One thing though, I've witnessed this personally on high end analysis equipment, but boosting the transmit power doesn't boost it as you'd expect. You do get a boost, but not nearly 251mW eqv, more like 70mW eqv and the peak is more of a plateau covering adjacent channels with nearly equal strength. Also, Linksyses tend to run warm as it is and this makes it worse. Heat will kill routers, a case fan sitting on top can't hurt. The total energy output may be 251mW, but it gets really inefficient. For the record I keep mine at 84mW, its a comprimise. My understanding of the power setting is this: The router should permit a power setting that high, and it should not have any negative impact on the router itself.
The impact could be on other devices using the same or similar frequencies. A power setting this high could 'drown out' signals from other devices by overpowering those devices with its own very strong signal. The question is one of diminishing returns. A power setting of 200mw is not twice as good as 100mw, it's only marginally better.
For example, a high power setting on your router could impact a neighbor's router and render their wireless service useless, because you may be using the same channel assignment. I think this is why the consumer devices have low upper limits, because the possibility of 'stepping on' another device is much greater in an environment where they are likely to be used (read: residential, non-commercial, non-governmental, etc.). This is where I need to say that I don't recommend going above the pre-modded limits, except for testing purposes. You never know who you might be making angry by boosting your power too high. You could have an FCC engineer living in the next apartment, and when s/he discovers you're transmitting above 'normal' levels you might get a knock at the door from some folks you don't want to be talking to, inquiring about some sort of 'hacking' that may be going on in your vicinity. Simply put, play nice. Be smart about modding, and use your head when experimenting with any setting that may stray outside the normal range.
I hope this instructable is helpful. Unfortunately, the version of the firmware used in this Instructable does not support the WAP54G. (I posted the list of supported hardware in an earlier reply, below.) I would guess it could work, because it seems the WAP54G is simply a WRT54G without the additional wired ports, but I have never actually laid hands on a WAP54G, let alone open one up and poke around. I'm not sure it's worth experimenting with this particular firmware version, unless you can confirm that the hardware configuration matches one of the supported routers in the supported list. Take a look at the DD-WRT website to see if they have any firmware versions that support this device. It might also be worth posting a message on one of their forums to see if it's supported or if they have plans to support it.
Let me know how you make out; I'd be happy to post an update with details about the WAP54G, as well.
Okay, so i made a post on neowin a while ago regarding a similar problem. Today i purchased a new router, which is the WRT54GS v.7. I previously owned a v.6 but it kept dropping connection, so i thought i had a faulty one.
But this new router constantly drops connection as well! I have 1 Computer that is wired to it (XP), one that is wireless (XP), then i have an extender which extends to another room where there are 2 other computers. One of which is running XP and acting as a bridge (WiFi to a switch) then i connected my Mac Mini to the switch. Numerous times in a day, the connection would just drop.
No internet access, nor can i access the routers settings page on the computers. I would have to reset the router in order for it to work again. My router is running the latest firmware (linksys). Now i have done some reading around, and found out that if there are too many connections, the router just stops responding, now i dont know how true this is.i mean there isnt much heavy stuff going on with the router, i mean just when 3 people are using the internet, it dies!?
I am not even downloading anything (p2p apps), yet it just dies. Occasionally, i would leave everything idle, and the connection would drop out of no where. This also happened before i got the bridge setup, so i know that isnt causing it.I work from home, and i need to have a stable connection, i dont know what to do!!
Can anyone shed light on this? I have googled this issue, and am unable to find a straight answer. I began looking into DD-WRT custom firmware, but unsure about v.7. I would like to keep the stock firmware and get everything to work smoothly, but will flash if needed.by the way, thanks to +BudMan for helping me out previously with my network stuff! An did you modify the number of connections that can be open?
Did you reduce the timeout for how long connections remain open? Its quite possible your infected with something that is causing more traffic that you think, or you have issue where one of your clients is putting lots of crap on the wire, etc. Well i think ill give linksys one more shot, im going to get the GL like you said earlier, and lets hope everything works smooth.my old SMC router was so far the best router ive had.till its wireless gave out (over 4 years of nonstop usage, never had to reset!). The wrt54 G v7 does is not currently supported by dd-wrt. The GS v7 is supported, an G v8 is supported, etc.
If you have your heart set on staying with the linksys line. I would suggest you get the GL model, an flash with 3rd party.
But the GS is supported - flash instructions How To Flash the WRT54GS v7 Do you still own the v6 model? If so you can flash that one as a test. When you say your connection just drops. Does your machines still have IP addresses - or is possible your dhcp lease is expired an you lost your IP? How do you get the connection back - does it come back on its own?
When the connection drops - is the router rebooting? I have this same router and it works fine except for with the wireless connection of my PlayStation 3 which causes it to reboot. I found a workaround of disabling UPnP with the PS3. I use the most recent LinkSys firmware but I may give this one Budman has linked to a try. Oo okay, i read somewhere that turning UPnP off helps as well.but what exactly will that do? If i later install an app on the network that needs access to the internet, would i have to manually add the application to go through the router via port forwarding?
Okay, right now my internet was pretty stable. But then i started playing on Xbox Live, and killed all connections, and i had to reset my router.So i guess this is happening due to heavy connections.would DD-WRT fix this? I have flashed many a router with Firefox. Where did you read that you could not? I have not flashed a v7 GS router. But I have flashed v5 and v6 G many times. Plus countless v4 an below, along with GLs - an many other brands.
7 or 8 fons - even have a fon brand new in the box I will prob flash this weekend. Since the one I carried in my bag I left in my sons dorm room so he could have wireless there;) I even thought I had bricked my current v3.1 wrt54 quite some time ago when in a hurry I flashed the wrong version of the firmware too it. It was simple enough to recover;) There would be little reason to go back to the native crap - I assure you;) As to why the connection drops - uhhmm, the native firmware is a piece of crap;) Its designed for day to day users with 1 maybe 2 computers - that have no clue how to use the internet. Checking email, maybe a few lines of IM now an then. You throw multiple machines, games, etc at it an it chokes right away.
They keep lowering the ram an flash to save a buck, etc. Think of it this way - if you brick it, you can call it a life lesson on why not to buy hardware before you research what it can or can not do. An then go buy a GL model - or some other brand that is not so crippled;) As to why some warnings might be on some pages an not others. Is a freaking WIKI - you do understand what a wiki is???? Its edited/created by users. So sure one page some idiot user does not know what he is doing, the other had better luck, etc. Is a $50 freaking toy - if you break it you break it.
Not like your out any real money. F its less than a good steak an a couple of beers;). I do not have the v.6 anymore.
My computers still have there IP Addresses. But nothing works. Usually if i leave it alone for a long time, it will come back, but i would have to reset my router in order for it to come back right away. Also, i looked at the instructions for v.7 flashing, i understood all except number 9. I type 'tftp -i 192.168.1.1 put dd-wrt.v24microwrt54gv8.bin' into CMD right? But where do i save the.bin file, will it just know where it is if it was saved on the desktop? Also, is it a mini version?
I wasnt 100% sure, but i think its full version for v.7 and 8. Under precautions, it says not to use Firefox.Also the wiki states 'RC3 out now: The most interesting news might be that the WRT54G v8 and the WRT54GS v7 is now fully supported, but requires again a special flashing way, which is easier this time compared to the v5 and v6 vxworks killer.' So does that mean its fully supported as in non-micro? There are different things written and said to me at different places, which is why i am a little bit edgy as to flashing it.
As for research and buying, i did research, but not on 3rd party firmware, i was hoping to support at LEAST 4 computers, after all, it does have 4 ports on the back of the freakin router, and i am a broke ass student, so 50 bucks goes a longgg way for me, especially if there is no router at home and im connected directly to a modem. But no doubt, i REALLY appreciate you shedding light on the situation, i will most probably flash the ROM in the coming days as soon as i get time to play with the firmware. I will try to flash ASAP, and report back and let you know if it still drops connection.
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