Ask Slashdot: Best Flash-Friendly Router To Replace Aging WRT54GS? 334
New submitter Juggler00 writes "I have been running DD-WRT (v24-sp2) on my Linksys WRT54GS for a couple of years now. I'm now finding that the box cannot keep up with the requests/requirements I have for it--it simply does not have the MIPS/horsepower. I am turning to the collective wisdom of the Slashdot community for 2 things: what alternative firmware should I be using (DD-WRT, Tomato, OpenWRT, or something else?) and based on the answer to this question, what is the suggested router to purchase to flash? My software requirements include DynDNS client, DHCP server providing option 66, static IP assignment based on MAC, port forwarding, and basic QoS (bittorrent lowest priority). For hardware, I'm looking for GigE ports and 802.11N (5.8GHz not a requirement)."
How many threads like this? (Score:5, Informative)
This is at least the second, if not the third Ask Slashdot on this subject in the last few months.
I'll make the same recommendation as before: Buffalo WZR-HP-G300NH.
Deja Vu (Score:5, Informative)
Buffalo (Score:5, Informative)
Re:How many threads like this? (Score:5, Informative)
Also, on firmware: OpenWRT if you want to do something really fancy or unusual, DD-WRT if you just want a feature/reliability improvement.
Netgear WNDR-3700 (Score:5, Informative)
Or its newer variants. Loaded with OpenWRT, there's nothing you can't do with them. Newer variants have even more flash and RAM.
Look at TomatoUSB (Score:5, Informative)
ASUS RT-16N / DD-WRT (Score:5, Informative)
Asus makes a good one. (Score:5, Informative)
Personally I have become a fan of the Asus RT-N16. VERY fast, TONS of RAM, USB ports for expansion, runs TomatoUSB and DD-WRT. These have been dead on reliable so far (I have one personally, and we use 4 for remote offices at work). The only negative I can say is that the LED's are extremely bright. You won't need a night-light in your living room with one of these, that's for sure.
Re:How many threads like this? (Score:5, Informative)
I'll make the same recommendation as before: Buffalo WZR-HP-G300NH.
I would no longer make that recommendation. Buffalo has silently started shipping WZR-HP-G300NH2 (version 2) models in the old WZR-HP-G300NH boxes. The G300NH2 models have a different Atheros wireless chip which does not work fine under DD-WRT, and hence with its own custom Buffalo firmware. The end result is constant wireless drop outs (BSSID is broadcasting, client shows as connected, but packets go into la-la land). I have tried two different G300NH2 routers and both have the same issue. Buffalo forum is filled with posts about this issue, and what makes it worse, is that Buffalo U.S.A Tech support has no knowledge of this router (version 2) existing, and say that product is only supported in ASIA. DD-WRT firmwares also can't be flashed into this router as it will brick them.
Disclaimer: I too have a WRT54G(L) router that needs replacement and have already began researching. Going to try Cisco Small Business WRVS4400N-RF due to the number of features it seems to have.
Linksys E3000 (Score:3, Informative)
Re:How many threads like this? (Score:5, Informative)
The N variant has swappable antennas (which the NH doesn't) but no gigabit LAN (which the NH does).
This subject has been beaten to death (Score:5, Informative)
1: go read smallnetbuilder [smallnetbuilder.com] and decide for yourself.
2: Mikrotik [routerboard.com] probably has something you'd be happy with for not a lot of money.
netgear n600 (wndr3800) (Score:5, Informative)
is still top of the charts in most regards at smallnetbuilder at reasonable price point and open-firmware compatible
n750 is a bit faster but way more $$. now someone find me one with good external antenna connectors!
Tp-link Wr1043nd (Score:4, Informative)
Meets all requirements from the OP.
runs openwrt and dd-wrt
4x gigE
wireless N (no 5GHZ tough)
USB port
CPU Atheros AR9132@400MHz
RAM 32MB
FLASH 8MB
http://www.tp-link.com/en/products/details/?model=TL-WR1043ND [tp-link.com]
http://wiki.openwrt.org/toh/tp-link/tl-wr1043nd [openwrt.org]
Re:How many threads like this? (Score:5, Informative)
Well, I wasn't buffaloed.
Forgot about that.
Nice breakdown here: http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/13120 [mentalfloss.com]
Re:How many threads like this? (Score:5, Informative)
I'm glad I bought mine a year ago, then... even if it did take me some time to figure out why my wireless network would randomly shut off.
Apparently the router will shut off its wireless antennas if it determines another router on a different network is broadcasting on the same channel... and the neighbors were *just* close enough and conditions would be *just* right for that to happen every few days.
Re:Look at TomatoUSB (Score:4, Informative)
Re:How many threads like this? (Score:4, Informative)
Seconded. Bought one for home. Liked it so much, I had work buy one for a terminal server (via USB hub/dongles.) Running OpenWRT. DHCP, iptables, tc, iproute2, ipset, freeradius, strongswan, perl, all available as precompiled packages. Minus getting oriented on the hardware and with a bit of the config file layout, was easy to configure to do everything my old laptop-based router did, while drawing 1/5th the power and making no noise whatsoever.
Re:netgear n600 (wndr3800) (Score:5, Informative)
wndr3700 or 3800.
They are atheros based, so there's the issue of occasional wireless drop-outs that may be fixed in openwrt snapshots (check svn changelog for late November '11), but that's a lot better than the wndr4500 and other broadcom SOC devices that are proprietary and difficult to reverse engineer.
Also, the wndr3700 is hard to brick, and easy to tftp to. There are similar atheros-based devices like the buffalo wzr-hp-g300nh (2.4GHz-only) and ag300nh (2.4 + 5 GHz), but they're harder to flash and maybe have quality control problems on transmit power (some people complain).
Apple Airport Extreme (Score:5, Informative)
Re:ASUS RT-16N / DD-WRT (Score:5, Informative)
Router is flashed with tomato and then loaded with Optware in order to install asterisk and other addons. Here are some steps to get this done. One side item, the guide for optware has you install it on an external USB drive. But I installed it directly on the
--Install tomato: http://tomatousb.org/tut:installing-on-asus-rt-n16 [tomatousb.org]
--Install optware: http://tomatousb.org/tut:optware-installation [tomatousb.org]
Re:netgear n600 (wndr3800) (Score:5, Informative)
Oops, the dual band buffalo is wzr-hp-ag300h, not -nh.
Atheros:
Netgear wndr3700v1: 8MB flash, 64MB ram
Netgear wndr3700v2: 16MB flash, 64MB ram
Netgear wndr3800: 16MB flash, 128MB ram
Buffalo wzr-hp-g300nh: 32MB flash, 64MB ram (more chance of a lemon than the netgear wndr series)
Buffalo wzr-hp-ag300h: 32MB flash, 128MB ram
Broadcom
Netgear wndr4000: 8MB flash 64MB ram (BCM4718 ?)
Netgear wndr4500: 128MB flash 128MB ram (BCM4706 ?)
Linksys/Cisco e3000: 8MB flash 64MB ram (BCM4718 ?)
Linksys/Cisco e4200: 16MB flash 64MB ram (BCM4718 ?)
The ciscos from what I've read are very picky about nvram size.
Re:Netgear WNDR-3700 (Score:4, Informative)
Or its newer variants. Loaded with OpenWRT, there's nothing you can't do with them. Newer variants have even more flash and RAM.
Except (some of?) the newer variants, particularly the Netgear WNDR-3700 version 3 with the Broadcom chipset, do not run OpenWRT [openwrt.org]. Yet.
Re:How many threads like this? (Score:3, Informative)
I have the WRVS4400N-RF ... and my experience is very very mixed with this device. I have to reboot it at least once a month, and configuring it via the web interface isn't as easy as using Cisco IOS' CLI. It also only does 2.4ghz N, so if you want the 5ghz speeds, you'll need either a seperate AP or router running in AP mode. (I actually have a WRT610N in AP mode for my 5ghz needs.)
Just my 2c worth.
Re:Jedi? (Score:3, Informative)
Natalie..
oh wait, this thread isnt natalie vs keira vs scarlett,
it was about hackable routers...
doh!
Routerboard (Score:3, Informative)
The following RB435G [routerboard.com] should fit your needs:
3 x GigE ports
3 x miniPCI slots for wireless (R52nM for 802.11n)
DynDNS Updates: [Yes] [mikrotik.com]
DHCP Sever with Option 66: [Yes] [mikrotik.com]
Static IP based on MAC: [Yes] [mikrotik.com]
Port forwarding: [Yes] [mikrotik.com]
QoS support: [Yes] [mikrotik.com]