Cisco-Linksys WRT54GL Wireless-G Broadband Router
by Linksys
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Cisco-Linksys WRT54GL Wireless-G Broadband Router
Customer Review: Don't buy this router to run the standard Linksys software, buy it to run DD-WRT
Summary: 5 Stars
Suppose you are like me. You have two DSL lines, you have a far corner of the house that does not get good coverage.
You want to automatically detect when one or the other line fails and fall over to the working line, and when the lines are both working, you want to balance your load between them.
Get a couple of these routers and install the DD-WRT software. This is not for the uninitiated - but the DD-WRT wiki provides excellent install instructions.
Use the install instructions for your exact model of router - they vary.
Now, I was able to configure the router I have to have not one but two WAN ports, and to automatically do the routing based on things like source IP address, and which box on my lan, and a couple other things.
I found instructions for how to balance two DSL lines on one regular Linux box - and they worked just fine on the router - all I had to do was to create a startup script that balanced things out. Simple, no?
And I had poor coverage at the back of my house - so I installed another router back there, defined a WDS connection between them, the routers maintain a WDS connection, and automatically ping each other and reestablish the WDS connection if it goes down - and this means that any device in the house can simply attach to the best signal and the routers handle bridging automatically.
Like magic, almost. As compared to the ZyXel router I had, this box/software combo just plain works. End of story. The ZyXel AP I used for a couple of weeks had me convinced that I had a laptop with failing wi-fi. Once I de-installed that and put in the Linksys with the DD-WRT software, everything just worked, end of story. And my failing laptop never failed again.
The DD-WRT loadout is as reliable as the Linksys loadout. Plus, you have full Linux networking including the IP command, so you can do advanced load balancing. You can log in with any ssh client to get a command line - so that you can do pings from the command line by interface. I retasked one of the bridged lines as a second WAN interface - and it just worked.
And if you want to set up a commercial access point, there are instructions for how to do that - as well as the ability to set up multiple isolated access points so that you can have one insecure one for customers and a secure one for your business.
The five star rating for this router is based on the DD-WRT software load. The lower individual ratings are based on the Linksys software.
If you are not experienced in network use, this sort of thing may not be for you unless you have a friend who can help.
If you are experienced in network use, then, well, this sort of thing may be just what you want. I know it was exactly what I wanted.
Customer Review: Cisco Linksys WRT54GL Linux Based Router Review
Summary: 5 Stars
The Linksys (now a subsidiary of Cicso Systems) WRT54GL is a re-issue of the original WRT54G wireless router introduced about six years ago. The first few versions of this router shipped wiht a linux based operating system. Newer versions of this router have less memory and a proprietary OS called VX Works.
Over the years many third party firmware versions have been released such as OpenWRT/Xwrt, an open source package, dd-WRT and Tomato witch are commercial products. Developers and end users have had great success in adding expanded features and functionality such as IP tables firewalls and WDS integration with these firmwares. A WRT54GL with a good third party firmware can function on par with far more sophisticated and expensive hardware. With OpenWRT one can even configure access to Linux repositories and perform updates and modular package downloads and installations from the routers Internet connection.
As an example flashing OpenWRT can be accomplished using the firmware upgrade feature of the factory OS via a network connection. It is necessary to obtain a correct firmware version based upon the hardware revision. Currently there are two revs of the WRT54GL and several revs of the WRT54G/GS. The later revs of the G/GS are upgradeable but the process is more involved and again the hardware revisions vary from rev to rev. For OpenWrt a basic knowledge of Linux is required and Linksys does not support third party firmware.
The WRT54GL is a great router for Linux enthusiasts developers, and end users. I have had several WRTs of various revs and they are all great routers. I won't use any other product for my small scale networking projects. The WRT54G series includes a 10/100 switch with auto sensing ports and a diversity antenna system in a conveniently stackable case. Out of the box, the OEM Firmware includes an SPI firewall, DMZ, UPNP, acess restrictions, QOS, and advanced routing. It is very easy to configure with the included "Easy Link Advisor" software. I recently acquired a WRT54GL to tinker with and with a modest command of Linux was able to flash the correct and stable firwmare version and get the router up and running with Xwrt Kamikaze 7.09 The Router has been running with 100% uptime with QOS cascaded toLinksys-Cisco WRT54GL Wireless-G Broadband Router (Compatible with Linux) my WRT54GS.
I highly recommend the Cisco/Lynksis WRT54GL as a great solution for home and small office WIFI and networking with an extremely versatile upgrade path at a modest price.
Customer Review: really, just plug it in and go enjoy your day
Summary: 5 Stars
Perfect for the Network challenged. Even though I'm a fairly savvy computer person, network stuff is needlessly complicated and confusing to me. I tempted fate adding this unit to an existing linksys wired router that came with my Vonage phone system. My main computer is a Mac, so the install disc (pc only) was not a handy option. So google time. Apparently both routers share the same IP address and GASP!!- according to the dire warnings, if I tried to use both devices with the same IP, all kinds of horrible things would happen just short of melting the polar ice caps. So I judiciously followed all the expert tutorials to change IP and other things, and successfully rendered the unit completely unable to get back on the internet, and totally screwed it up.
Since it was working just fine before I "fixed" it with this net wisdom, I hit the reset button on the back, rebooted the modem, plugged the unit in and all was fine again. The only thing I did agree on was to enable security on the unit.
So here's my "expert advice"- Just plug it in and be happy, it's actually pretty foolproof. To use two routers, (at least linksys brand) plug your wireless unit into a free port on the wired unit. The unit has great range, even from a basement.
However, unless you don't mind letting others poach/snoop your wireless, - you really should password protect your wireless network. Plug any computer's (Mac/Linux ok!!) ethernet cable into the router you want to change. Open your web browser, Type the web address of http 192.168.1.1 you'll be brought to a scary login page, leave the user-name blank, enter passcode "admin". Then go to basic set up: wireless, then security, enable WAP- then create your passcode of choice. You might also want to rename your network, because if you are in a dense neighborhood, you'll likely see lots of other router networks called "linksys"... I loved calling my network "Al Gore's House"...
I'll update if otherwise, but after a week no bad things have happened other than enjoying an easy wifi experience. Besides the Vonage and Mac, I have a WinXP Pc, ROKU player, an old laptop with linux, Iphone...all of them wireless- plus the wife's mac which is connected to the vonage router via a powerline system. All of them connect, stay connected, and work just fine- even at the same time, knock on wood. No issues, although it's suddenly been awfully cold weather here recently....hmmmmm
Customer Review: Easier and Harder Than Everyone Says - WRT54GL for Wireless Noobs
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a fairly competent PC user but entirely new to networking/wireless so it was important to get something of decent quality. That way, if I had a hard time setting up the router, I'd know it was my fault and not the hardware.
I chose the WRT54GL since it's highly rated, but most importantly, even though the device seems to be a couple years old, the reviews were NEW--people were still buying it. So I got it despite it being "only" a wireless-G as opposed to Draft-N capable models, and I wasn't disappointed.
Setup took several hours over a week, which may not sound good, but I work, so whatever. My DSL modem is apparently what experts call 'complete and utter garbage' and I didn't know I had to set it up in bridge mode. I can't blame Cisco for this as they can't possibly account for all hardware types in their instructions. Google is the new Help as we all know, and after following some directions that seemed a bit strange, voila! My router is kicking butt. I'm running a PC via direct Ethernet connection, and a MacBook and PS3 via wireless. Web pages and downloads are screaming-fast, and while the router is only 15 feet away, it's behind a wall but showing 100% signal strength.
So here's a few amateur pointers:
1. Set up your router using an Ethernet connection.
2. Google search terms covering all of your hardware, including your OS, modem type and model, and ISP name. You would be amazed at how many people are in the exact same situation as you.
3. Remember, there's at least two passwords involved with wireless, one for the router itself and one as the wireless key. Be paranoid about security; use two different pass keys. If there's multiple steps you can take for wireless security, do them. Go for WPA2-PSK or the highest level of encryption you can run, and since you can have passwords over 60 characters, use them all!
4. Setup was difficult but before you email Amazon about the "defective" router they sent you, give yourself a week to try and set it up. That's what I did. Apparently my issue was located between the chair and the keyboard.
5. One more thing, the WRT54GL has no coax input. I've never had cable internet, but I believe this is required for you guys.
Customer Review: What version do you have?
Summary: 5 Stars
Well I thought I comented on this before but thought to share some important points especially for other users to keep in mind as far as any issues that may come up as I have had no problems what so ever, work strieght out the box.
First its not a short story but this is an excellent summary of the product line for consideration... [...]Next is wkipedia which will summarize the above, but if you do not have the finer detail knowledge of the above article, then this summary will be less value... [...]
The important point when thinking about buying this product which seems to be a coin toss as far as reliability is to consider the fact out of the box everyone has DIFFERENT hardware versions as well as software versions, the confusing nature is that these TWO different aspects are both referred to as FIRMWARE.
Quick note there are now 7 different "hardware" versions for the "G" model. "GL" version came out after G version 5 so as to continue Linux support, "GL" vesion has 2 version, "GL" has more memory. I have "G" version 6, and have no issues, I did not even bother preloading the software. I jave no idea what is on it, just do not like junking up the PC with needless stuff, as you have full access via web browser anyways, anyone that has tinkered with any router knows how to configure. I do admit there are ALOT of features with stock "software".
Anyways, I feel for those that have issues, I know of someone that also has quirks. But just FYI, compare apples to apples, version 6 works just fine for me, I have a wireless Powerbook G4, wired PC, wired Epson print server printer. No drop connections, and full broadband speed.
Lastly, again a quick summerization, for those wondering about the GL model, here is the deal, the WRT54G is the original model, it WAS originaly Linux base, but eventually Linksys stopped and changed that with version 5 to VxWorks (propritary). Linksys also at that time designated the GL model to continue with the Linux fans. The bottom line is both G and GL version can be flashed to any thrid party to become a super freak router. One difference between the two is that the GL version DOES have increased MEMORY.