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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..."
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.
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.
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-
here
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
Not to mention, what the heck is an adaptator?
I don't think it's wise to plug a potato into an AP
Need a Catering Connection
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.
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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.
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.
JTAG adaptator
Is that like Tator Tots? Say, I'm hungry.
/me heads to kitchen for some overprocessed potato goodness.
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?
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.
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.
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"
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.
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.
Go back to Redmond, troll
... Everyone wins when a device driver comes out.
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
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."