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The WRT54G, WRT54GS, and WRT54GL are popular wireless router products from Linksys. The devices are capable of sharing Internet connections among several computers via 802.3 Ethernet and 802.11b/g wireless data links. The original WRT54G was first released in 2003. The WRT54GS is nearly identical except for additional RAM and SpeedBooster(tm) software. Linksys released the WRT54GL in 2005 to support third-party firmware based on Linux.
The WRT54G is famous for being the first consumer-level network device that had its firmware source code released to satisfy the obligations of the GNU GPL. This allows programming enthusiasts to modify the firmware to change or add functionality to the device. Several development projects have been started to provide the public with enhanced firmware for the WRT54G. See Third party firmware projects.
The original WRT54G featured a 125 MHz MIPS CPU with 16 megabytes of RAM and 4 megabytes of flash memory for storing the firmware. Later revisions increased the CPU speed to 200 MHz (216 MHz on version 3.1). Both the RAM and flash memory were doubled to 32 MB and 8 MB, respectively, in the WRT54GS, although both quantities were reduced again in later models. All models come standard with a 4+1 ports network switch (the Internet/WAN port is also in the same switch, but on a different VLAN) and a wireless chipset by Broadcom which provides Wi-Fi connectivity.
The devices have two removable antennas connected through Reverse Polarity TNC connectors.
Hardware revisions
| WRT54G version | CPU speed | RAM | Flash memory | S/N Prefix | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 125 MHz | 16 MB | 4 MB | CDF0/CDF1 | 20 front panel LEDs (including link/activity, collision detection and speed rating indicators for each RJ-45 port). Wireless capability was provided by a Mini PCI card attached to the router motherboard. |
| 1.1 | 125 MHz | 16 MB | 4 MB | CDF2/CDF3 | Front panel LEDs reduced to 8 (1 link/activity LED per port, plus one each for power, wireless, DMZ and WAN/Internet connectivity). Wireless chipset integrated onto motherboard. |
| 2.0 | 200 MHz | 16 MB | 4 MB | CDF5 | Same as 1.1 with a CPU upgrade and greater wireless transmitter integration (fewer transmitter parts). |
| 2.2 | 200 MHz | 16 MB | 4 MB | CDF7 | Same physical appearance as 1.1 and 2.0 models. Switching chipset from ADMtek 6996L to Broadcom BCM5325EKQM. |
| 3.0 | 200 MHz | 16 MB | 4 MB | CDF8 | Identical to 1.1 and later models, except for the CPU speed. Undocumented switch behind left front panel intended for use with a feature called "SecureEasySetup" for setting up wireless security. This button is illuminated with a Cisco logo on it, to the left side of the router. To activate this feature, upgrade the firmware to the latest Linksys one. |
| 3.1 | 216 MHz | 16 MB | 4 MB | CDF9 | The Version 3.1 hardware is essentially the same as the Version 3.0 hardware. The SecureEasySetup button has been activated by the original firmware included in this model, even though the switch existed in Version 3.0.
There is new (EU?) firmware version 4.20.8 |
| 4.0 | 200 MHz | 16 MB | 4 MB | CDFA | BCM5352E Chipset |
| 5.0 | 200 MHz | 8 MB | 2 MB | CDFB | BCM5352EKPB Chipset - Switched to VxWorks OS and reduced Flash Memory and RAM; not compatible with most 3rd party firmware. DD-WRT micro (released Apr 4, 2006) is said to support v5. See here for more information. |
| 5.1 | 200 MHz | 8 MB | 2 MB | CDFC | |
| 6 | CDFD |
| WRT54GL version | CPU speed | RAM | Flash memory | S/N Prefix | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 200 MHz | 16 MB | 4 MB | CL7A | New model line, released after the version 5 WRT54G, which returns to a Linux-based internal OS as opposed to the v5's VxWorks firmware. NOT SpeedBooster enabled in stock state (third party firmwares however, like Sveasoft & DD-WRT, will enable the SpeedBooster feature on this model, as it is hardware independent). Essentially the same as the WRT54G version 4.0, but with a new model number. |
| 1.1 | 200 MHz | 16 MB | 4 MB | CL7B | No known major differences from the above mentioned WRT54GL version 1.0. |
| WRT54GS version | CPU speed | RAM | Flash memory | S/N Prefix | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | 200 MHz | 32 MB | 8 MB | CGN0/CGN1 | Added SpeedBooster technology (Broadcom Afterburner technology), boosting the throughput of 802.11g by 30% (needs a wireless card with SpeedBooster technology on the other side to work) |
| 1.1 | 200 MHz | 32 MB | 8 MB | CGN2 | Chipset changed from ADMtek 6996L to Broadcom BCM5325EKQM. |
| 2.0 | 200 MHz | 32 MB | 8 MB | CGN3 | 10 LED Front Panel (two new ones behind Cisco logo button). Also capable of SecureEasySetup, but use of the logo button and lighting of the new LEDs behind it requires firmware upgrade. Use Hynix RAM. |
| 2.1 | 200 MHz | 32 MB | 8 MB | CGN4 | Add SecureEasySetup. Radio chip is changed from BCM2050 to BCM2050KML. |
| 3.0 | 200 MHz | 32 MB | 8 MB | CGN5 | Use System-on-Chip: processor, MAC, and switching are handled by Broadcom BCM5352EKBP. |
| 4.0 | 200 MHz | 16 MB | 4 MB | CGN6 | Reduced RAM & Flash |
| 5.0 | 200 MHz | 16 MB | 2 MB | CGN7 | As of Jan 2006 - Switched to VxWorks OS and reduced Flash Memory; not compatible with most 3rd party firmware, except possibly DD-WRT micro edition. See here for more information. |
| 5.1 | 200 MHz | 16 MB | 2 MB | CGN8 | Still using VxWorks OS. |
Third-party firmware projects
- Major Projects
- DD-WRT Main Site and Wiki Many enhanced features, created from Sveasoft's Alchemy firmware BSD licensed, some additions are Linux/GPL licensed
- HyperWRT - Original power boost firmware project by Avenger 2.0 to stay close to official WRT54G and WRT54GS firmware but add features such as transmit power, port triggers, scripts, telnet, etc. (no longer maintained: see HyperWRT Thibor below)
- Rupan HyperWRT - Based on more recent WRT54G firmware + HyperWRT (no longer maintained: see HyperWRT Thibor below)
- HyperWRT +tofu - Based on current WRT54G and WRTSL54GS firmware + HyperWRT + added extras by tofu (no longer maintained: code has been incorporated into HyperWRT Thibor version below)
- HyperWRT Thibor - Actively maintained firmware project based on current WRT54GS firmware + HyperWRT + tofu + added extras by Thibor (also works for WRT54G)
- OpenWrt - Easy custom package installation (Linux/GPL)
- Sveasoft - Free and subscription versions available
- Freeman Basic - Cracked version of Sveasoft's Talisman V1.02 firmware (somewhat old)
- Minor projects
- BatBox - RAM based distribution for experimenting, does not change firmware
- Chillispot - Captive Portal software that runs on WRT54G and other platforms, available under GPL
- Earthlink's IPv6 Firmware - IPv6 feature added to original Linksys firmware (beta-test version)
- Freifunk - German software supports wireless mesh networks with OLSR, based on OpenWrt
- OpennetFirmware Wiki in German - (no English documentation as of January 2006)
- TinyPEAP - Secure wireless authentication feature added to Linksys firmware
- WiFi-Box - (no documentation available as of January 2006)
- Neighbornode
- WiFiDog Captive Portal - WiFi Dog by Île Sans Fil, a Captive Portal software that runs on the OpenWrt platform
Hardware versions affect firmware compatibility
As of January 2006, most third-party firmware is no longer compatible with version 5 of both the WRT54G and the WRT54GS. The amount of flash memory in the version 5 devices has been reduced to 2mb, too small for current Linux-based third-party firmware. (See table above for information on identifying the version based on the serial number printed on the bottom of the unit, and on the outside of the shrink-wrapped retail box.)
In a very recent breakthrough development however, some users / developers have succeeded in flashing and running a stripped down (but nevertheless containing all basic functionality) version of DD-WRT (called 'micro') on a version 5 WRT54G. (See this forum thread and this DD-WRT wiki page for more information and the procedure that was applied.)
To support third-party firmware, Linksys has re-released the WRT54G v4, under the new model name WRT54GL (the 'L' in this name allegedly stands for 'Linux').
External links
- Sveasoft.com Sveasoft Firmware Homepage - Compatible with ASUS wl500g/wl500gd/wl550ge, Belkin F5D7230-4/F5D7231, Buffalotech WBR2-G54/WBR2-G54S/WHR-G54/WHR-HP-G54, Linksys WRT54G/GS/GL & WAP54G
- DD-WRT.com dd-wrt Firmware Homepage - Compatable with WRT54G/GS/GL, ASUS WL500G-Deluxe, Motorola WR850G, Siemens SE505, and the unsupported Buffalo WBR-G54
- WRT54G.net Many firmware downloads and WRT54G information.
- SeattleWireless.net WRT54G Page
- Linksysinfo.org Linksys Firmware Comparisons, Firmware Downloads, Version Information
- Ile Sans Fil A Community Wireless Network project using WiFiDog and the OpenWRT software on the WRT54G/GS/GL and compatible firmwares
- FON A company that promotes sharing of internet using their firmware which runs on the WRT54G/S/L
- WIFREE Another free WiFi sharing project similar to FON using a firmware which runs on the WRT54G
- Wireless Nomad A Canadian co-op ISP based in Toronto using WRT54GL boxes for mesh networking and free public WiFi internet access.