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You know, in hacked/custom Linksys firmwares there is this thing called "WDS Watchdog" or "AP Watchdog". It automagically reboots your router in case the radio starts acting weird. Or, if you are some sort of neat freak, there's a cron job for rebooting the router every n minutes (this is actually useful if you got the five-day connection bug and does not know how to get around it)

You say crappy routers, I say get the configuration right. Well tuned a WRT can beat the heck out of many "commercial" grade routers. Oh, and no exploits for you either.

But its impossible to tell *just what revision* you're actually getting until you tear open the packaging.

Model numbers are printed on the box. Linksysinfo and other places have the model number to revision table's on their websites.

Here's the table from the DD-WRT Wiki

I've purchased one of these for myself, and 4 for friends and relatives, and I always make sure I purchase a revision I have compatible firmwares for.

Yes. You want to flash with either Sevasoft or DD-WRT firmware on both routers and enable WDS.

I use DD-WRT for this. Tried the sveasoft firmware, but dd-wrt is much more stable and supports WPA on the client.

Failing ... yes ... bricking no ... there are many ways to debrick your router including a few cool ways through software and hardware to debrick it. Reading the linked website below has some ideas to fix a briked router. Making it almost impossible to "break" your current router. I have a WRT54Gs v4 and pressing the Cisco button caused it to open up a TFTP mode.

I prefer the dd-wrt firmware because it has the nice web based frontend plus the ablitity like OpenWRT to install extra software and do intresting things.

Here is an Install Page for the router and once you get it going you can really see what it does. It's awsome. You can use the routers web based frontend without even really having to see the backend but it's still there for those who like to tinker.

Install the v23 beta then Head over here to get ipv6 working this is cool cause it works with a popular free ipv6 tunneling provider. It's so easy to get running and once it's up on the router the clients are easy as pie to setup. "modprobe ipv6" (linux) or "ipv6 install" (windows XP) to get it fired up. He.net gives you 18 quintillion IP's so that should be satisfactory for your small to big LAN.

:) but yeah any other little questions just ask and im sure I can help

Solosoft

I wish I had the chutzpah to do it. I'm staring at that unit right now. My big concern with it is if it fails for whatever reason it's probably fried, and I honestly can't afford another one right now. Any cheerful words concerning how easy it was or something like that might convince me to push the red button, but I haven't done it yet...

Just do a little reasearch on your specific model, so you know exactly which version you have. Then, install dd-wrt for your model of router. In fact, if you post your exact model of router here I am fairly certain a kindly slashdotter will give you the specific version required. (As long as they are not trolling, heck, if you reply to this I will even tell you what specific version of dd-wrt binary you need) I have flashed a number of WRT's, each with dd-wrt and the directions here are the best:

dd-wrt flashing guide

If you are paranoid make certain to wait the two min suggested after clicking the upload, and then ok buttons. That is it, you are good to go.

It's possible that Linksys did this because their engineers found that they could cut the flash and RAM sizes in half by using VxWorks instead of Linux (yes, with the added advantage of not having to release the source under the GPL any more).

With that said, I unknowingly bought a v5 from my local Fry's and I'm very frustrated. I had a chat with Linksys support last night that wasn't very helpful - see here: http://forum.bsr-clan.de/ftopic3550.html

Unfortunately the latest WRT54GS has half the flash and RAM capacity of previous GS versions, but fortunately that is how much previous WRT54G models had (so I'll still be able to at least run the standard build of DD-WRT). I'm really tempted to just get my money back and order an Asus WL-500g Deluxe from newegg, but they're currently out of stock.

The WRT54GL doesn't seem to be available in the U.S. yet. Linksys claimed that Amazon.com has it, but they list it as unavailable; I was then referred to a wholesaler (whom I have not yet contacted). I'd rather pay an extra $10 to get a router (WRT54GSv4) I can use now than wait a couple months to get one with the same capabilities (Amazon.com lists the WRT54GL at just under $70, which is halfway between Fry's prices for the G and GS).

I'm going out to buy either a 54G or a 54GS this week, specifically so I can install something that is capable of bandwidth shaping certain IPs in my network, and so obviously I need to make sure I have the right firmware and hardware spec.

The first 4 digits in the serial number (look on the box or the underside of the router) represent the hardware revision:
CDF0 = WRT54G v1.0
CDF1 = WRT54G v1.0
CDF2 = WRT54G v1.1
CDF3 = WRT54G v1.1
CDF5 = WRT54G v2.0
CDF7 = WRT54G v2.2
CDF8 = WRT54G v3.0
CDF9 = WRT54G v3.1
CDFA = WRT54G v4.0
CDFB = WRT54G v5.0

CGN0 = WRT54GS v1.0
CGN1 = WRT54GS v1.0
CGN2 = WRT54GS v1.1
CGN3 = WRT54GS v2.0
CGN4 = WRT54GS v2.1
CGN5 = WRT54GS v3.0
CGN6 = WRT54GS v4.0

(Source: http://wrt-wiki.bsr-clan.de/index.php?title=DD-WRT _Docu_(EN))

As far as I know, the GS version still runs Linux, although it is typically $20 more.

I used the information above to find the last WRT54G v4.0 on the shelf, mixed in with the newer v.5's at my local Office Depot.

The DD-WRT version of the firmware for the Linksys WRT54G wireless router is a similar to the Sveasoft firmware, but includes Chilispot hotspot and NoCatSplash, without any GPL Controversy

I haven't tried the hotspot features yet, but I like the rest of the DD-WRT software a lot, especially in client mode as a wireless network extender. You can set up firewall rules, time-of-day restrictions, even restrictions on website based on keywords. I don't use most of those features, but they're in there if you want them. DD-WRT also has Traffic shaping by port or mac, VOIP Sipserver, WDS mesh-networking for extending your wireless network by several hops, and optimizations for gaming. It's true GPL, and it makes me feel like a kid in a candy store.

How much is "very little" traffic ?

10kbps up/down.

How many connection attempts per second ?

Maybe 1 per second. If you're referring to my ping testing.

How high is the ping without QoS ?

As I said, it inflated from 70ms to 95 ms. Spikes of 110ms.

More detail of my problem here

Sveasoft itself is (afaik) in violation of the GPL.
See http://forum.bsr-clan.de/viewforum.php?f=12

After reading your journal and following This link, I have found that TheIndividual has managed to remove the binary tags. (If you were already aware of this, I apoligise...)

And to everybody else reading this... READ THAT JOURNAL! Read it several times. Follow every link. Post links in your own journals, in your blogs, and anywhere else that you care to. Just get informed, and get the word out!