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Hacking Samsung 4510-Based APs

zoobab writes "Some belgian linux hackers met this week-end to hack some wireless access points based on the samsung4510 chip. They have succeeded in compiling and booting a uClinux kernel on a Dlink 614ap+, which is equipped with the infamous acx100 wireless chipset. There's still some work to do, but if you want to help, open your 22mbps AP and try to built your own JTAG adaptator to get access to the flash..."

110 comments

  1. suck my balls by penis+fish · · Score: -1

    hey geeks

    you're all newbs

    suck my balls please

    thanks,
    linuxsucks

    --
    helo wat is ur asl ?
  2. All well and good ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    but FreeBSD still sux

  3. NEO AND TRINITY DIE!! THE MATRIX IS NOT DESTROYED! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    warning: spoiler in subject line

  4. Belgian hackers? by SiliBelgian · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    kind of makes me proud to be Belgian ;)

    --


    "Hell hath no fury like a hippo with a machine gun."
  5. Required Slashdot reading list by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Get a life people (and a shower wouldn't hurt either)

  6. Hey guys. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    How's it going?

    1. Re:Hey guys. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      Well, you know how it is ... just finished the stuff for that Swedish customer of Jane (Mr. Torvlads).
      It is barely usable, but if you and Dave want to test it before Wednesday, check it out here. Don't use one of the production machines though, you remember what happened last time...

    2. Re:Hey guys. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      Will you be my friend?

  7. I think I speak for us all when I say by phreak03 · · Score: -1, Troll

    What On earth is he talking about

    (BTW, i didn't RTFA)

    --
    come comment on the madness at http://slashdot.org/~phreak03/journal/
    1. Re:I think I speak for us all when I say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

      I did not read the article either, but I am sure it involves something that

      ( ) does run Linux
      ( ) proofs that Mirosoft is making bad software
      ( ) shows how stealing intellectual property simply cannot be wrong (Actually, it ins not stealing) because everybody does it
      ( ) any law preventing child molesters from distributing their filthy shit is an attack on the free speech

    2. Re:I think I speak for us all when I say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      proofs that Mirosoft is making bad software
      Oh, it proofs it, does it? That Mirosoft is bad? I deduce from your inadequate post that you are most likely lacking in intellectual fortitude and possibly also use Windows. It is quite likely that you are a racist and support the policies of one Adolf Hitler.
    3. Re:I think I speak for us all when I say by Hognoxious · · Score: 1
      Oh, it proofs it, does it?
      Yes, it applies a waxy coating to it, to prevent the ingress of water.
      That Mirosoft is bad?
      You've clearly never heard of the well-known maker of surrealist spanish software.
      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  8. Hmmm... by SargeZT · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    It's just a matter of time until one of these routers goes bad, takes over satelites, launches nuclear missles around the world, and sends the Governor-Elect of california back in time, hunting for the man who compiled this evil, evil kernel.

    --
    And why did you staple the trout to the RAM?
  9. YALRA by unixbum · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    yet another Linux running appliance, cant we make fun of SCO today :(

  10. Thanks, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant
    open your 22mbps AP and try to built your own JTAG adaptator to get access to the flash..."
    No thanks!
    1. Re:Thanks, but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

      you are sooo not l33t

  11. Minitar too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    The new Minitar (www.minitar.com) access point runs Linux. It uses the Realtek RTL8181 SoC (it's MIPS based) and if you look in the Minitar forum you will find the link for the source code. Unfortunately the good stuff such as the wireless core driver is in binary form only. Hopefully this will change soon.

    1. Re:Minitar too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I should add that Minitar are actively supporting hacking and are releasing source code and setting up a forum on their site for hacking info. Not bad for an AUS$99 access point. Hopefully the infomation derived from hacking the Samsung devices (JTAG et al) will accellerate hacking on the Minitar boxen.

    2. Re:Minitar too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      modded "-1 doofus" for using the term boxen

    3. Re:Minitar too by firstnevyn · · Score: 1

      Minitar Have been extremely helpful going to realtek multiple times on behalf of those requesting source..

      For those who are interested here are the vital stats:
      • 200mhz MIPS r3k
      • 2meg of flash rom
      • 8meg of ram
      • 2.4.18
      • Busybox

      Minitar's forums have a bunch of usefull information. The Melbourne wireless wiki has a bunch of info about it. including boot logs and diagrams for building the serial cable.

  12. How RedHat's Linux Can Defeat Micr$oft's Windoze by KyleW · · Score: -1, Troll

    Hi, I've always used Windowz and I consider myself an exceptional Visual Basic programmer, so I know computers pretty good. In fact I got an A- in my programming class last term. But I'm a little wary of how much power Microsoft has in the computer field. Many of my friends use RedHat and I've recently installed it on my machine at home. Although I haven't had as much chance to play with it as I'd like, I've been greatly impressed. This weekend I gave some thoughts to the things that are wrong with Linux. I hope no one minds having some flaws pointed out. I'd like to help make RedHat stronger so it can conquer MS. Hopefully RedHat will hear this (crossing fingers) and address these. I think with a little effort, RedHat's Linux can defeat Microsoft's Windows! :) To begin with, there are too many different flavors of RedHat. Browsing a list on Amazon, I saw they made varients under the codenames of Mandrake, Debian and Slackware, just to name a few. I know that I'm very new to RedHat so maybe this is obvious but it seems like RedHat should just sell a few different flavors of its operating system. Perhaps one for the desktop and one for a server? Could someone explain why RedHat produces dozens of different versions of Linux? Secondly did you know that anyone can view the source code to Linux! I think that RedHat shouldn't make its code available. After all, what keeps Microsoft from stealing RedHat's ideas and putting it into Windows? My friend says that FreeBSD stole the TCP/IP stack from DOS a long time ago and Microsoft is always looking for revenge for that. Plus it seems to me like RedHat is just giving away its ideas for free. And what keeps hackers or terrorists from tampering with the code and putting a virus in every computer? On a related note, why doesn't RedHat write Linux in assembly? My friend says that's what Microsoft does for Windows, and that's why Windows is faster and more stable than Linux. Next RedHat definitely should kill -9 (ha, ha!) the command line. Microsoft finally gave up DOS when Windows 2000 came out. I'm suprised that RedHat hasn't migrated away from...whatever its version of DOS is called (Bash, I think?) But maybe this is planned for a future release? Finally Linux needs games! RedHat will never be successful in the home without games. They should also tell M$ to release a version of Office for Linux too. And Internet Explorer! Have a nice day! Go Linux!!

    --
    1st known failed CIA coup in South America : http://www.chavezthefilm.com/index_ex.htm
  13. Linksys WRT54G runs on Linux by savaget · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The Linksys WRT54G runs on Linux. a lot of hacking done on them. some have even boosted its power output by send it command through its ping utility.

    1. Re:Linksys WRT54G runs on Linux by MbM · · Score: 1

      Most of the wrt54g hacking is documented on the seattlewireless wiki

      --
      - MbM
    2. Re:Linksys WRT54G runs on Linux by savaget · · Score: 1

      The latest firware upgrade of the WRT54G dissables the afformentioned hack. You have to downgrade to an older firmware to get the "signal booster" hack to work.

  14. gotta say by aminorex · · Score: 4, Interesting

    THIS is the kind of article that I started
    reading slashdot for, pre-dotcom.

    YuGo, girl.

    --
    -I like my women like I like my tea: green-
    1. Re:gotta say by starling · · Score: 1

      Dead right. It makes a nice change from the usual "lets's be outraged at a new patent" artcles.

    2. Re:gotta say by rog · · Score: 1

      That's a pretty high userid to have been reading slashdot pre-dotcom. Never got around to registering?

      --
      Saving random seed...
  15. forgot the link by savaget · · Score: 4, Informative
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    1. Re:Join us in jihad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      To whom it may concern:

      Several posts of mine are contained in your database of highly moderated posts. Slashdot clearly states that posts are owned by their authors. As such, I maintain a copyright on each of my posts.

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  17. Person makes Linux run on ARM based system by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Really, should these things be news anymore?

    Yeah, the first 10 times it was cool, but now ...

  18. Survival Guide for Taking a Dump at Work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Memorize these definitions, and pooping at work will become a pure pleasure.

    ASTAIRE
    A subtle toe-tap that is used to alert potential TURD BURGLARS that you are occupying a stall. This will remove all doubt that the stall is occupied. If you hear an ASTAIRE, leave the bathroom immediately so the pooper can
    poop in peace.

    CAMO-COUGH
    A phony cough which alerts all new entrants into the bathroom that you are
    in a stall. This can be used to cover-up a WATERMELON or to alert potential
    TURD BURGLARS. Very effective when used in conjunction with an ASTAIRE.

    COURTESY FLUSH
    The act of flushing the toilet the instant the nose cone of the poop log hits the water and the poop is whisked away to an undisclosed location. This reduces the amount of air time the poop has to stink up the bathroom. This can help you avoid being caught doing the WALK OF SHAME.

    CRACK WHORE
    A crapper that has seen more ass than a Greyhound Bus. Telltale signs of a
    CRACK WHORE include pubes, piss stains and shit streaks. Avoid a CRACK
    WHORE at all cost. Try finding out when the janitor cleans each particular
    bathroom. Don't forget with a good cleaning, a CRACK WHORE can become a
    SAFE HAVEN.

    ESCAPEE
    A fart that slips out while taking a leak at the urinal or forcing poop in a
    stall. This is usually accompanied by a sudden wave of panic and
    embarrassment, similar to the hot flash you receive when passing an unseen
    police car and speeding. If you release an escapee, do not acknowledge it.
    Pretend it did not happen. If you are standing next to the farter at the
    urinal, pretend that you did not hear it. No one likes an escapee; it is
    uncomfortable for all involved. Making a joke or laughing makes both
    parties feel uneasy.

    FLY BY
    The act of scouting out a bathroom before pooping. Walk in, check for other
    poopers. If there are others in the bathroom, leave and come back again.
    Be careful not to become a FREQUENT FLYER. People may become suspicious if
    they catch you constantly going into the bathroom.

    HAVANA OMELET
    A load of diarrhea that creates a series of loud splashes in the toilet
    water. Often accompanied by an ESCAPEE. Try using a CAMO-COUGH with an
    ASTAIRE.

    JAILBREAK (Used in conjunction with ESCAPEE)
    When forcing poop, several farts slip out at a machine-gun pace. This is
    usually a side effect of diarrhea or a hangover. If this should happen, do
    not panic; remain in the stall until everyone has left the bathroom so to
    spare everyone the awkwardness of what just occurred.

    OUT-OF-THE-CLOSET POOPER
    A colleague who poops at work and is damn proud of it. You will often see an
    OUT OF THE CLOSET POOPER enter the bathroom with a newspaper or magazine
    under their arm. Always look around the office for the OUT OF THE CLOSET
    POOPER before entering the bathroom.

    POOPING FRIENDS NETWORK (PFN)
    A group of coworkers who band together to ensure emergency pooping goes off
    without incident. This group can help you to monitor the whereabouts of OUT
    OF THE CLOSET POOPERS and identify SAFE HAVENS.

    SAFE HAVEN
    A seldom used bathroom somewhere in the building where you can least expect
    visitors. Try floors that are predominantly of the opposite sex. This will
    reduce the odds of a pooper of your sex entering the bathroom.

    TURD BURGLAR
    A pooper who does not realize that you are in the stall and tries to force
    the door open. This is one of the most shocking and vulnerable moments that
    occur when taking a dump at work. If this occurs, remain in the stall until
    the TURD BURGLAR leaves. This way you will avoid all uncomfortable eye
    contact.

    UNCLE TED
    A bathroom user who seems to linger around forever. Could spend extended
    lengths of time in front of the mirror or sitting on the pot. An UNCLE TED
    makes it difficult to relax while on the crapper, as you should always wait
    to drop your load when the bathroom is empty. Thi

    1. Re:Survival Guide for Taking a Dump at Work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

      Good lord!

  19. Grammar checking on slashdot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    There's still some work to do, but if you want to help, open your 22mbps AP and try to built your own JTAG adaptator to get access to the flash..."

    Do they ever spell check or grammar check anything on slashdot before posting someone else's article? Or do they just assume that the other person does that? So.. do they read the article once, say, "shit, linux success story" and then copy'n'paste the story onto here within a minute?

    1. Re:Grammar checking on slashdot? by toast0 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Not to mention, what the heck is an adaptator?

      I don't think it's wise to plug a potato into an AP

    2. Re:Grammar checking on slashdot? by maggard · · Score: 2, Funny
      I don't think it's wise to plug a potato into an AP

      Thus "WiFry", as in "Would you like WiFry with your Happy Meal(tm)?"

      --
      I don't read ACs: If a post isn't worth so much as a nom de plume to its author then I wont bother either.
    3. Re:Grammar checking on slashdot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Thus "WiFry", as in "Would you like WiFry with your Happy Meal(tm)?"

      You aren't buying your network cards from Sun, are you?
    4. Re:Grammar checking on slashdot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I sincerely hope that the next step will be the D-link 615+... that is the one i have, and it does not work in Linux.. I only tryed Mandrake and Suse though..

  20. This is making a big difference in the devel. wrld by the+man+with+the+pla · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Very quickly I wish to say thank you to these hackers and similar programmers working on extending hardwares beyond original manufacturer intentions. I run a small business in India selling computer components. Many times, I am able to get much more out of inexpensive hardware due to peoples projects. In the developing world we simply cannot afford the high prices manufacturers are charging for certain equipment, but with these projects we are able to succeed. Many thanks. Rushabh.

    --
    The linux hacker
  21. But when... by codguy · · Score: 1

    is the Beowulf cluster due?!?!?! ;)

  22. Notice the laptop they were testing with by four2five · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Gotta love using the ibook for the forces of good. That's really all I have to say, just a little fanboy post. I think what they are doing is commendable and someday I aspire to have the skill required to do things like that.

    --
    -or so you'd think
  23. Re:How RedHat's Linux Can Defeat Micr$oft's Windoz by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Linux is a true supository of vital information.

  24. Re:This is making a big difference in the devel. w by Call+Me+Black+Cloud · · Score: 0

    You make no sense. If you can't afford the equipment, how will the programmers' work help you? It sounds as if all they needed was perserverence and intelligence, not any specialized hardware besides the target platform.

  25. wow by loraksus · · Score: 2, Informative

    A 614+ is like $25 AR, the radio and antennas in it sucks but for the money it really can't be beat . . . This is quite cool.

    --
    1q2w3e4r5t6y7u8i9o0pqawsedrftgthyjukilo;p'azsxdcfv gbhnjmk,l.;/
    1. Re:wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Note that from what I can see only the A1 revision of the 614+ (which uses the ARM7) would be supported. The 614+ B1 uses a ARM9 processor, and the firmware is completely different.

  26. On a slightly related note... by revmoo · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I've been playing around with the firmware on my (non-linux) Linksys BEFW11S4 Acess point(the WAP/router one), but I've run into an issue where, apparently there is a checksum on the firmware image files, and it cannot thus be changed without also changing the checksum to match your changes.

    Unfortunatly, I'm not leet hax0r, so I have no idea how to find the checksum in a hex editor, anyone have an idea where it would be?(yeah I've checked the first and last bits of the file.)

    --
    I would expect such blatant racism on Fark, but on Slashdot? Mods please ban this asshole.
    1. Re:On a slightly related note... by Coulter,+Ann · · Score: 0
      Come visit the Boxwhores! [boxwhores.com]

      irc.deviantart.com #boxwhores

      I'm a whore. Why won't it let me on that site?

    2. Re:On a slightly related note... by seanadams.com · · Score: 1

      Unfortunatly, I'm not leet hax0r, so I have no idea how to find the checksum in a hex editor, anyone have an idea where it would be?

      I have no idea specifically what's in the befw11s4, but the best place to start reverse engineering any firmware image is to first assume that the uploaded image has some sort of "filesystem" format.

      i.e. there are likely to be a few sections - the main firmware, perhaps another firmware image to be loaded onto the wireless chipset, .gif and .html files for the embedded web server, and maybe some long configuration strings and such. The image will be preceded with a table that lists the offset and size of each file. And somewhere around there is where you'll most likely the checksum for the filesystem. There may also be checksums for each file, assuming there's more than one.

      The tough part about checksums is that they look like random data. But if you start by looking for numbers that appear to be offset/length pairs, then you'll know you're in the right general area.

      To test whether you've found the checksum, first find a place in the image that you can edit with the minimum likelyhood of breaking anything. For example, find some text that's used in one of the html pages. Change an uppercase letter to a lower case one, and then add 0x20 to the checksum, and see if it takes it.

    3. Re:On a slightly related note... by Animats · · Score: 1
      Someone figured out that the firmware for that unit is compressed in ARJ format. That may help.

      Those boxes have an annoying reputation for crashing under heavy load.

  27. Why? by tintruder · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Though the portability of Linux is cook, one must ask why is there such an effort to install Linux on every possible device?

    Especially since virtually all such efforts result in a device less flexible, less reliable and harder to use than the original. (XBox?)

    Perhaps combining these various pools of skill (which I do not minimalize or trivialize for a moment) and supporting some real helpful and Linux-promoting projects would be a better use of resources?

    For instance, if Linux is to be a real competitor to Windows, how about using these skills to build simple distros and simple methods of installing and uninstalling apps on them that do not require arcane command line utilities and other tasks. Just insert the CD or click on the download and be done.

    Usability based on installability is the achilles heel of Linux for the masses.

    Until folks realize this and redirect their efforts to more useful pursuits, installing Linux by destroying a perfectly good AP is no more useful than installing it on a stapler.

    Right now, a typical PC user without Linux is like an Astronaut without an accordian.

    1. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is modded OffTopic? How so? He or she makes a valid point. Oh yes, Linux still sucks on the desktop. Why not put all of this open source brainpower on the task of making it as nice as OSX or Windows for the average user? Don't say there are enough people doing that already, because obviously there are not.

    2. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      Looks like a Linux zealot or two didn't like this one.

      Seems right on target.

      If one poses the idea of hacking an existing proprietary device in order to install another OS on it, also it follows that one ought question why someone would so endeavor.

  28. Thank you teh h2k3rs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Very quickly I wish to say thank you to these hackers and similar programmers working on extending hardwares beyond original manufacturer intentions. I run a small business in India selling computer components. Many times, I am able to get much more out of inexpensive hardware due to peoples projects. In the developing world we simply cannot afford the high prices manufacturers are charging for certain equipment, but with these projects we are able to succeed. Many thanks. Rushabh.

    1. Re:Thank you teh h2k3rs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, thank you for stealing our IT jobs.

  29. Time to kill linux liberals by Coulter,+Ann · · Score: -1, Troll

    Stop hacking the fucking device, you commies!

    1. Re:Time to kill linux liberals by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Liberals are awesome. Guess what? Liberals invented the Internet!! Liberals cure cancer. Liberals make many of Hollywood's popular motion pictures. Many famous musicians are also part-time liberals. What I'm trying to say is, stop the hate . Racism is just not cool, and racism against liberals even more so.

  30. Re:This is making a big difference in the devel. w by Nykon · · Score: 0

    I think he means, thanks to the works of these developers and others, he can afford to buy cheaper off the shelf items and get more utility out of them w/o having to buy [which he cannot always afford] higher priced versions of the hardware from other vendors.

    --
    "It's better to be a pirate then join the Navy"
  31. sorry misunderstanding by the+man+with+the+pla · · Score: 0

    sorry I was referring to other hardware, not the hardware in question

    --
    The linux hacker
  32. Mmmm, tators!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    JTAG adaptator

    Is that like Tator Tots? Say, I'm hungry.

    /me heads to kitchen for some overprocessed potato goodness.

  33. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INFORMATIVE POST by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This information is invaluable to all workers, everywhere. Thank you, sir.

  34. DON'T BE SO FUCKING CHEAP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Indians are notoriously cheap.

    1. Re:DON'T BE SO FUCKING CHEAP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

      I thought that was the Jews?

    2. Re:DON'T BE SO FUCKING CHEAP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

      I thought it was the bloody Americans who couldn't be bothered to plan for the aftermath of a war of agression. Who have not spent anywhere near enough to fix the problems in Afganistan, and continue to ignore vast problems in all of Africa. (And I know, it's off topic - but needed to be said for what without a doubt was a white prick from the USA in the g-parent.)

      (BTW, I'm a white American who is ashamed of the acts of my ruthless government.)

  35. Hackers find a way to copy/paste in Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Whats the big deal? We'll talk when you get reliable copy/paste, and when you keep your desktop linux machine stable after 3-4 months of up2date's and apt-get's. Then we can talk... see ya in 10 years.

    1. Re:Hackers find a way to copy/paste in Linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We'll talk when you get reliable copy/paste, and when you keep your desktop linux machine stable after 3-4 months of up2date's and apt-get's.

      Copy/paste works just fine for me, and my desktop Linux machines are quite stable after 3-4 years of apt-gets.

      What's your point?

  36. virtual +1, Amusing by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It is rather unfortunate that slashdot moderators have nothing better to do than to use their mod points to mod posts like this down.

    Too bad I don't have any more mod points, or I would give you a "+1 funny".

  37. For the uninformed by Clockwurk · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Dlink 614ap+, which is equipped with the infamous acx100 wireless chipset.

    I have this router (and I have been nothing but pleased with it), and would like to know why the acx100 chipset is considered infamous. It seems to function correctly and the 22Mbps is a nice bonus when used with the compliant cards. Where (or rather what)'s the beef?

    1. Re:For the uninformed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Lack of Linux support from TI.

      Not to mention, that seems like even the drivers for my XP machine, are crap. BSOD and other weird behaviour. Speed is good, when you can actually get it to work.

      I'd love it if it was opened up, then maybe some real programmers could make it work better. As it stands now, I get rid of my 650+ and go back to reliable old Orinoco card.

    2. Re:For the uninformed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      the acx100 chipset is considered infamous because of texas instruments' refusal to provide documentation for open source drivers (remember that this chipset is used both in APs/Routers and NICs).......anyway despite their refusal to cooperate the people over at acx100.sf.net have manage to create drivers anyway

      btw...i have to mention that i love the acx100 with its support for 256bit encryption and 802.11b+ (@ 22 mbps).........i think that there is also a low power version of the chipset in development..........

      heres hoping that this project can give me a little more flexibility for my D-link 650+ (unfortunately using the 256bit encryption breaks compatibility with anything but acx100 equiped computers)

    3. Re:For the uninformed by freeweed · · Score: 1

      Other posters have touched upon this, but let me state this in another fashion:

      Try explaining to your friends how great Linux is to run, when you have to boot into Windows just to use your wireless card.

      Then perhaps you'll understand why it's "infamous".

      All my Windows-loving friends still laugh at me because I can't yet convert my laptop to 100% Linux. Sure, I could buy new hardware, but that's missing the point.

      --
      Endless arguments over trivial contradictions in books written by ignorant savages to explain thunder in the dark.
    4. Re:For the uninformed by sbennett · · Score: 1

      Those OSS drivers do work, you know. I'm writing this over a wireless network with an acx100-based card (D-Link DWL-520+), on Linux.

  38. These are clever boxes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    I am reading this through one of these, and as soon as I started clicking on the assosciated links, my connection dropped out.


    It must be able to read html and determine I want to give it a brain transplant.

  39. Go back to Redmond, troll. by twitter · · Score: 4, Insightful
    Though the portability of Linux is cook, one must ask why is there such an effort to install Linux on every possible device?

    A cook is nice. Cookbooks are better.

    People make free drivers because the stupid devices are everwhere but limited by software. It takes lots of capital to make semiconductor devices, so there are only a few companies that do. Because of this, almost all hardware uses one of a dozen chipsets made for that kind of device. This is why Knoppix fits on a single CD and recognizes thousands of devices. Once you get a free driver, many devices can be used and you don't have to go out and buy a new one because the vendor does not make a non-free driver for the next eXPensive OS from M$. There are enough people interested in free drivers to get them. The pace is picking up and the quality is very impressive. Device drivers are a showcase of the effieciency of free software development. Everyone wins when a device driver comes out.

    Especially since virtually all such efforts result in a device less flexible, less reliable and harder to use than the original. (XBox?)

    Now you are a real troll. Obviously an Xbox that both runs M$'s games AND free software is more felxible than an Xbox that only plays M$ games.

    Usability based on installability is the achilles heel of Linux for the masses.

    So is the ignorance you display, except it's much easier to hit than a tendon.

    installing Linux by destroying a perfectly good AP is no more useful than installing it on a stapler.

    A stapler does not do iptables, run configuration utilities over a web server or act as a meshpoint. More importantly, your stapler won't tell other people about your bank account, herpese medication and other stuff most people would like to keep to themselves.

    Right now, a typical PC user without Linux is like an Astronaut without an accordian.

    A typical comercial software user is much like a typical free software user, except they are $400 poorer, have no privacy, suffer frequent crashes, and have to buy all new hardware every three years. Oh wait, that's nothing like the typical Linux user.

    t intruder, you don't get paid enough to write such drivel but you are not worth what you are paid.

    --

    Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.

    1. Re:Go back to Redmond, troll. by tintruder · · Score: 0, Flamebait
      Twitter,

      Your spelling errors outnumber mine.

      Nobody is arguing that Linux is not extensible, nor that it is inferior. Only that the fervor surrounding many efforts is far out of scale with the utility of the effort.

      With reference to the XBox, there is the constant irritant of having to look over your shoulder to see if some change has been made that causes all the mods to be for naught. All the sudden, some game won't run, or some generic update crashes the mods. Just buy a PC for PC use and an XBox for gaming.

      It seems that many of the stereotypical, antisocial, or at least socially retarded, moms-basement-dwelling unix geeks just fail to accept the rest of the world out there is perfectly happy with M$ et.al.

      Yet M$ is driven as much or more by MARKETING as by genuine programming/innovation.

      Perhaps a bit of this mindset applied to Open Source's world would help these efforts emerge from "geeky", arcane, and suspect to not only acceptable, but sought out by the common user.

      Isn't that what you want? Or is the stigma of social rejection being worn as some sort of perverse robe of martyrdom?

      Basically, Twitter, grow up.

    2. Re:Go back to Redmond, troll. by YOU+LIKEWISE+FAIL+IT · · Score: 2, Insightful
      Now you are a real troll. Obviously an Xbox that both runs M$'s games AND free software is more felxible than an Xbox that only plays M$ games.

      Except they don't. You either do the software mod, and fool around with finding the appropriate cables, a copy of Mechassault, etc etc, put the modifications together, and then you can't access the XBox live settings pane anymore ( oops! ).

      Or, you modchip the console, and unless you buy a fancy-pants switching one, you can't use access the XBox live service anymore ( oops! ).

      Either way, there is some degradation of function from the original design of the console. ( Oh yes, and god help you if it requires servicing... ) Maybe it is more flexible. It certainly isn't more useful. [*]

      My XBox is an excellent gaming machine. My P4 is an excellent Linux machine. For a community that has long chanted about using 'the right tool for the job', Linux is starting to look suspiciously like a hammer, and anything with a floating point unit and mmu, a nail.

      [*] - Of course, that's no reason not to do it, if that's what floats your boat. I don't agree with grandparent posts sentiments.

      YLFI
      --
      One god, one market, one truth, one consumer.
    3. Re:Go back to Redmond, troll. by Hast · · Score: 1

      I doubt you can get a modchip today which doesn't have an on/off switch. And even if it doesn't have that you can always install one yourself.

      And for me a modded XBox is a lot more useful than an unmodded one. Being able to stream video and audio to it is a feature I use a lot. More than playing games even.

  40. Linksys/Broadcom release wrt54g source & toolc by Jim+Buzbee · · Score: 4, Informative

    In a related note, Linksys/Broadcom have released source code and the toolchain used in the wrt54g access point. They even have instructions on how to build your own firmware.

    Everything you need to build your own firmware is available in version 1.42.2

    Note that my wrt54g linux distribution won't work with version 1.42.2 unless your modify the firmware to re-enable the wrt54g "ping hack"

  41. Sigh by xXunderdogXx · · Score: 2, Funny

    This is one of those articles on slashdot that I wish I knew what it was talking about. I only understood "wireless" and "the" in the description. I'll keep reading.

    1. Re:Sigh by doug363 · · Score: 3, Informative
      Translation:

      Some Belgian Linux programmers ("hackers" because they have worked out how to get hardware to do things other than what it was intended to) met this week-end to get Linux running on DLink 614ap+ wireless networking access points (the little receivers that act like hubs or swtiches for wireless networks). (DLink is the brand, and 614ap+ is the model.) These access points have CPUs in them to handle configuration tasks and whatnot. The CPU in these particular access points was the Samsung 4510 chip. They have compiled and run a specialized, stripped down version of Linux called "uClinux" (the uC is an abbreviation of "microcontroller"; the micro symbol looks like a "u") on the microcontroller in the access point.

      The access points also contain a Texas Instruments ACX100 wireless chipset, which does the signal processing necessary for the 802.11b protocol that the device supports. The ACX100 also allows devices to communicate at 22mbps with other wireless network cards or access points that use the ACX100, using a proprietary method. This chipset has caused headaches for Linux users (PC Linux users) who own wireless networking cards that use this chipset, because Texas Instruments haven't released documentation on how the chipset works. This makes writing a device driver difficult, and so Linux users can't use wireless networking if they own a wireless network card based on these chipsets.

      There's still some work to do. (I think they mean that they haven't worked out how to use the ACX100 from the microcontroller.) If you want to help, and you've got one of these access points (i.e. it says it supports 22mbps and 802.11b), open up your access point. Once it is open, build a JTAG adaptor (JTAG is a protocol that is used to communicate with embedded microcontrollers and programmable hardware). Get your JTAG adaptor to plug into your PC (probably via a serial or parallel port) and read or re-write the flash memory (i.e. the memory where the program code that runs on the microcontroller is stored). If you can read the memory, sending the memory contents to these people might help them understand how the ACX100 works in more detail. I doubt you'd want to re-write the memory unless you're testing code with them and you're willing to end up with a useless brick instead of a wireless access point. From their screenshots, they have written a bootloader that they write to the access point's flash memory. The bootloader downloads uCLinux from one of the computers plugged into it (i.e. normal wired ethernet), and runs it.

    2. Re:Sigh by xXunderdogXx · · Score: 1

      Thanks!

  42. AP Hacking by SynKKnyS · · Score: 1

    A similar article is in 2600 as well. :)

  43. credit where credit is due by twitter · · Score: 2, Insightful
    then you can't access the XBox live settings pane anymore ( oops! ).

    Free software won't keep you from Xbox Live, Microsoft will. They will kick you off Microsoft live if they detect mods of any type. Non free software is like that, oops. Go buy a Play Station instead of a M$ gimped, 700MHz PeeeCeeee if you really want to play games. Sony does a better job at Linux too, Go figure.

    --

    Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.

    1. Re:credit where credit is due by YOU+LIKEWISE+FAIL+IT · · Score: 1
      Free software won't keep you from Xbox Live, Microsoft will. They will kick you off Microsoft live if they detect mods of any type. Non free software is like that, oops. Go buy a Play Station instead of a M$ gimped, 700MHz PeeeCeeee if you really want to play games. Sony does a better job at Linux too, Go figure.

      I detect something of a double standard here. Sony are also not enamoured of people modifying their consoles, and like to sue people who get involved with such things. Microsoft makes a passable excuse that they ban all unsigned code on their network to prevent cheaters. Convenient excuse? Perhaps. They have a reasonable point, IMHO.

      I'm not sure you've ever tried to use the Software mod for XBox, because the example you've quoted from my post is not due to Microsoft intervention, but due to bugs ( well, misfeatures ) in the Linux installation system, where they had to hijack a menu item in Microsofts official 'dashboard' to put the "Install Linux" button on. It is free software stopping you from accessing the XBox live configuration pane, not Microsoft.

      And as for the PS2, I go where the games I want to play are. I wanted to play Shenmue II, Panzer Dragoon, Jet Set Radio Future and other franchises from my beloved Sega Dreamcast. So here I am.

      My unwanted advice to you is that you'd be a lot more persuasive if you were a little less vehemenent.

      YLFI
      --
      One god, one market, one truth, one consumer.
  44. Re:Go back to Redmond, troll ??? by SiliBelgian · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Go back to Redmond, troll

    The man was talking about how we can make Linux more accessible to people who don't know much about how a pc works. He seems to be someone who likes the Open-Source Project as much as me, or you, or the next guy.
    I don't fully agree with him either. Hey, if you like the idea of running Linux on everything around you, nothing stops you from trying it, right? (except for that evil DMCA mb) However, because you seem to see everything black-white ('us' vs. 'them'), you wrongfully classified him as an M$-lover, which he is clearly not.

    Although most of your arguments perfectly make sense, let me just respond to some of them.

    People make free drivers ... Everyone wins when a device driver comes out.

    This is very true, the more hardware is supported by Linux the better. However, we are not talking about device drivers here, we are talking about embedding Linux into various devices.

    t intruder, you don't get paid enough to write such drivel but you are not worth what you are paid.

    Didn't quite understand this, sorry. Looked offensive anyway. Can't we all just get along?

    --


    "Hell hath no fury like a hippo with a machine gun."
  45. I'm gonna get another one to try tomorrow! by millisa · · Score: 1

    Er, but why am I doing this again?

    I understand it's good for other people to do this since it'd help them learn more about the chipset and make drivers, but can anyone tell me if there's a reason for me, Joe-User, to want to do this today?

    I tried browsing the site/forums to see what advantages might be there, but I couldn't seem to get to any of them.

    So, does anyone know what advantages I can gain with what's been done today by having some fun with another 614+? (not trolling here, I like it when there's a reason beyond "Because I can" and I am not really skilled enough to help with the driver development effort). Not that I need a reason, futzing around with hardware while exclaiming "For Science!" is enough . . .

  46. Re:Go back to Redmond, troll ??? by YOU+LIKEWISE+FAIL+IT · · Score: 1
    This is very true, the more hardware is supported by Linux the better.

    An unfortunate problem with this sometimes is striking a balance between the communities desire for freedom and legal compliance. Nowhere is this more apparent than when dealing with wifi cards.

    Laws about permissable signal strength and which wavelengths are unregulated vary quite a bit from country to country ( for example, if memory serves correctly, Japan has 802.11b bands up to 13, while Australia only goes up to 10 ).

    Making different cards for different countries is going to be expensive. So perhaps legal compliance can be handled in the driver! This is a good idea, but people like myself want our drivers open so we can tinker with them, use them in monitor mode, etc. The problem is, if we can do these things, we can usually unlock the other foreign nation specific features of the card, e.g. running your wifi net on channel 13 to escape detection by your average scanner.

    And this creates headaches for the vendor, because suddenly their FCC or whatever compliance is called into question, and hence the legality of their product. Not a nice place to be, business wise.

    Sticky situation, and I'm not sure what the best solution is.

    YLFI
    --
    One god, one market, one truth, one consumer.
  47. This is cool. by Treacle+Treatment · · Score: 0

    Those Belgians. Not only can they hack a computer but they make a mean ale as well. :)
    Cheers!

    -- TT

    --
    TT
  48. Re:DON'T BE SO F***ING CHEAP by atheken · · Score: -1, Troll

    PLEASE, Anonymous Coward! Stop your crap about US not doing enough. We need to serve OUR interests. Not everyone can have the same level of luxury as the US, it's just a simple fact, get over it, move on, stop trying to make me feel guilty for owning a nice fuel-guzzling vehicle while I drive though an all-night fast food joint to get a 1/4 pounder which I will throw away half of. I'll leave 4 computers on, running couterstrike servers, and httpd. I don't hate the HOLLYWOOD because they promote GASP! American Ideology, after all, they were made in AMERICA. But wait, isn't it HOLLYWOOD that is ANTI-WAR? perverse. All I can say is your "shame" is nice and all, but grow up, realize we can't all just get along, that communism failed a long time ago. I don't hate Indians, Jews, or White Americans. I just don't want to hear about which group is getting she shaft this week, I don't want to spend the rest of my life redistributing the money I EARN to the under-served NON-CITIZEN group of the week. You want our help, we'll annex you. Thanks for the land and the resources, here's your tax structure. Sorry, this is not only offtopic, it's also flame-bait, but it "needed to be said."

  49. Re:DON'T BE SO F***ING CHEAP by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Yes...if the US would server THEIR interests, that would be great for "the rest of the world". "Freeing" a country to exploit its ressources, eh? See Iraq.
    Who is more dangerous, North Korea or Iraq? Then why didn't the US "solve" the NK problem? Their army is too strong and they don't have any valuable ressources. Aha.

    BTW, if you think running 4 computers day and night just for the sake of your uptime, you're just pathetic.

    Why am I replying anyway.

  50. What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What's tators, Precious?

    1. Re:What? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Po-ta-toes! Even you could not say no to that.

  51. Other Linux AP's by mcbridematt · · Score: 1

    OpenAP - http://opensource.instant802.com/ is another Open Source Access Point project

    Also, Intersil Prism2 PCI (not PCMCIA) cards allow the host to act as an access point.

    See http://www.hpl.hp.com/personal/Jean_Tourrilhes/Lin ux/Linux.Wireless.drivers.802.11b.html#Prism2-host AP

  52. So does the Linksys WRV54G by greygent · · Score: 1

    Which can be had for under $200, is Linux/OpenRG-based, and has a ton more features, including VPN and snmpd and much more.

    This one is also in the process of being hacked apart. More info here:

    http://www.seattlewireless.net/index.cgi/Linksys Wr v54g

  53. Re:Go back to Redmond, troll ??? by ortholattice · · Score: 1
    (great-great-grandparent poster:)

    Perhaps combining these various pools of skill (which I do not minimalize or trivialize for a moment) and supporting some real helpful and Linux-promoting projects would be a better use of resources?

    For instance, if Linux is to be a real competitor to Windows, how about using these skills to build simple distros and simple methods of installing and uninstalling apps on them that do not require arcane command line utilities and other tasks. Just insert the CD or click on the download and be done.

    No, the skills needed to hack drivers are quite different, and a lot rarer I believe, than those needed to "build simple distros". The latter needs to be done, but it requires a different mindset. Leave the driver hackers alone and let them keep hacking drivers - and thank god for them.

    (granparent poster:)

    > People make free drivers ... Everyone wins when a device driver comes out.

    This is very true, the more hardware is supported by Linux the better. However, we are not talking about device drivers here, we are talking about embedding Linux into various devices.

    There are lots of things you do as an academic exercise that end up paying off in the end, both expectedly and unexpectedly. This is why large corps. fund R&D, and it is why experimenting with embedding Linux into various devices for its own sake is to be encouraged.

    (parent poster:)

    Making different cards for different countries is going to be expensive. So perhaps legal compliance can be handled in the driver! This is a good idea, but people like myself want our drivers open so we can tinker with them, use them in monitor mode, etc. The problem is, if we can do these things, we can usually unlock the other foreign nation specific features of the card, e.g. running your wifi net on channel 13 to escape detection by your average scanner.

    And this creates headaches for the vendor, because suddenly their FCC or whatever compliance is called into question, and hence the legality of their product. Not a nice place to be, business wise.

    Sticky situation, and I'm not sure what the best solution is.

    I understand what you're trying to say, but anyone can create FCC havoc with a cheap transistor, a couple of capacitors, a resistor, a battery, and a length of wire wrapped in a coil. Yet you can buy these openly at any Radio Shack. So why should open drivers be any different? What I hate, fear, and think is wrong, is a government mentality that says they are different, thereby putting the manufacturers at risk of having losing product certification if they release open drivers. This is not the solution to the FCC problem. The solution is to crack down on people actually generating disrupting EM interference (and it's usually not so hard to detect and locate them when they do).

    The danger I see in this kind of mentality is that it tends to take a life of its own, like the mindset that resulted in the DMCA, and eventually you may not be able to buy a transistor at Radio Shack.

  54. The Good and Bad of such projects by abhikhurana · · Score: 1

    I know that such projects are quite good if you really want to understand hardware and maybe write drivers for such devices to work on you favorite Operating systems, but I am an embedded developer myself and he point is that in case you need to do something like this, as in you can't make it work with you r computer without reverse engineering the device, such projects make a lot of sense. Otherwise it is fairly simple for a device manufacturer to simply burn the JTAG pins. Only thing they need to do is to create a in program bootloader which can proigram the flash either over tftp or over serial interface and you can easily protect such things with public and private keying mechanism, which is much harder to crack. The reason companies don't do that is because JTAG is more flexible and the fastest way to program a device but even my company is contemplating burning the JTAG chips once the device is programmed, so I guess other companies would be thinking in the same direction as well.

    1. Re:The Good and Bad of such projects by HeghmoH · · Score: 1

      Maybe you can answer a question, since you work in "the industry".

      Why are hardware manufacturers so protective of their firmware and so often against hackers and projects like these? Why burn your chips so they can't be reprogrammed by outside parties?

      Here's why I'm puzzled about this. Hardware manufacturers make money by selling their hardware. The software is pretty much just overhead, something they're required to make, but it's not what they actually sell. If your product gets a reputation for being easy to hack, upgrade with custom software, shoehorn into situations it wasn't originally designed for, etc., it seems to me that this would make it more popular and sell more units. Given these assumptions, I'd think that hardware manufacturers would make it as easy as possible to put custom software onto their devices, by making openly-available loaders and by providing enough documentation on the hardware to get things going.

      Obviously something in my set of assumptions is wrong. Is there something I'm overlooking, or are hardware companies just stupidly jealous?

      --
      Mod down posts with a "Free Mac Mini/iPod" sig, they're spam!
    2. Re:The Good and Bad of such projects by abhikhurana · · Score: 1

      Lol, well mostly they are stupid :-) But many times we develop some inhouse hardware, especially in the area of RF chips. The hardware could be really stupid but the point is that at the time it is developed, the competitors haven't thought about it as yet. And RF chips are relatively easy to reverse engineer (hardware design vise) once you know the instruction set. That is one of the biggest reasons of this secrecy. Mostly you can get away with getting the patents for such a thing but sometimes it is not possible to do so, especially in Europe, and some other times, it is possible to circumvent the patent once you know how the device exactly works (We do this all the time). As far as having a bigger market, honestly speaking hackers are a minority and ppl who blindly flash their devices are a majority. One such example is making the DVD drives region free. The amount which companies spend in supporting such guys is not very small. I mean just imagine that you update the firware and you screw the device. IN such a case, most ppl come to the company hoping that no one will notice what they tried to do. And frankly verifying every such claim costs money. So these are the two main reasons.

  55. Re:Linksys/Broadcom release wrt54g source & to by thrill12 · · Score: 1

    Shouldn't that be a separate story? Seems too important to just leave it here...
    Great news though :) Now let's see what my Belkin has in store for me...

    --
    Slashdot: stuff for news, nerds that matter, matter for news, stuff that nerd
  56. Re:Linksys/Broadcom release wrt54g source & to by FrostedWheat · · Score: 1

    Does that include an 802.11g driver at all?

    Nice work on the mini-distro btw!

  57. This is actually a useful device by pacc · · Score: 1

    Installing Linux on your iPod might result in a crippled showthing but broadband routers is another thing.

    Cheap hardware - even if you get network card, a bootdisk and an old 486 in a dumpster it's going to be a pretty clumsy server...

    Manufacturer independence - an independent firmware might protect us from sofware dowgrading and value-added upgrades to a more expensive router with the same hardware.

    Useful purposes - two ethernet ports and a soldered on a serial port and some i/o would for example enable a heart-beat checking device with a small webserver able to take over from a crashed web-server and tell you whats wrong. Or you couldn't afford the juice to keep that P100 server you got for free running while you were on vacation and used the router device to controls startup and shutdown of your server together with a small relay for power...

  58. +1, Insightful by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  59. Re:Linksys/Broadcom release wrt54g source & to by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Binary .o drivers only.

  60. Belgian Hax0r5 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    It is rather unfortunate that slashdot moderators have nothing better to do than to use their mod points to mod posts like this down.
    It is rather unfortunate that ./'s moderation scheme doesn't include "-1 Fat chocolate chomping paper-pusher"
  61. Safety First! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Boy, am I happy to see that these guys are worried about current! The use of 1/2 watt resistors and 14 gauge wire should make their JTAG "adaptator" much much safer!

    [sarcasm off]

    1. Re:Safety First! by fred666 · · Score: 1

      Hey !! I did build those JTAG adaptators you see on the pictures: the 0.75 mm wires were all i had at the time of building those things. :-)

      Concerning the 1/2 watt resistors, i didn't buy the parts. I knew that even 1/8 watt would have been fine.

  62. JTAG Adaptor by rossy · · Score: 1
    Interesting...

    The JTAG (IEEE1149.1) standard was designed for on board and in-circuit testability. As such, there is the ability to access internal registers on and IC equiped with a 4 wire JTAG tap port (TDI/TDO/TCK/TMS).

    If there is documentation available, the JTAG port is a terrific way to access internal registers on an IC. If there is no documentation then it is a tremendious reverse engineering effort, but with a PC, and lots of time, one could couple a 4 wire JTAG port, write data to registers, and potentially reverse engineer an IC.

    My first thought on reading this article is that many IC vendors may wish to crypto lock the JTAG port to prevent hackers from getting access to the internal registers... another option would be not to bond out the JTAG pins, but that would defeat the purpose of having JTAG on the PCB.

    Hackers would have a difficult time to learn the scan chain length, and number of internal scan chains, but it may be possible to do, given the right tools and time. When I retire (in 20 years)... this might be a great hobby. Sort of like mapping the human Genome, but with an IC. -- Ross Applications Engineer Credence Systems Corp

    --
    Ross Youngblood
  63. BSD and IPV6 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I have the BEFW11S4v2, and according to Linksys, it supports IPv6 -- but, of course, it doesn't ...
    (why did they claim otherwise ... that's another discussion)
    But, if I can get BSD onto the system, then I can make IPv6 work too ... maybe ... Anyone else willing to try?

  64. The REAL reason to put Linux into an AP by fred666 · · Score: 1

    We didn' reflash those routers with Linux just for fun, we have a clear goal: having a cheap and reliable wireless node for use within a mesh network , a footprint small enough so you can easily put it on a building roof and hardware that does not consume a lot of power so you can power it from small batteries or solar cells. Good luck doing the same thing with classical desktop hardware !!

    We also want to use a dynamic routing protocol such as AODV or ZRP and make those things IPv6 ready.

    If you can find a router with such things in the firmware, tell me.

  65. Re:DON'T BE SO F***ING CHEAP by atheken · · Score: 1

    I think you've missed the point of the post. THE POINT, was that nationality on many levels is a GOOD thing. Yes, there are issues with some of the things the US has done through policy and action. But, this is MY country and I defend it, right and wrong. Incidentally, I only own ONE computer - but that is beside THE POINT.

    To the moderator.. TROLL? Come on. This was a counter point to another person's post, hardly a troll. Offtopic, and Flamebait like I said, but not a troll.

  66. [OT] Re:gotta say by sbszine · · Score: 1

    It's possible. I lurked for four years before finally making an account. I felt like I had a lot of Dilbert and O'Reilly books to read in order to catch up enough to post.

    --

    Vino, gyno, and techno -Bruce Sterling