Linksys WRT54G drops Linux

avorobiev writes "WiFi Planet is running a story on all the advantages of Linux-based firmware for the Linksys WRT54G router. Little do they know that as of v.5 of the router Linksys dropped Linux and switched to VxWorks. And yes, they crippled the hardware (halved the RAM) so that third-party firmware can not be installed anymore."

Comments

Understandable

[Kawahee]

Although it might not be too popular an idea, it's logical considering that Linksys doesn't want their $60 dollar router to be a $600 dollar one (Article: "The story of the Linksys Wireless-G Router (model WRT54G) and how you can turn a $60 router into a $600 router is a little bit CSI and a little bit Freaks & Geeks.") so that people are forced to buy their more expensive products.

If I'm right, I don't know where the article got "It's also the story of how the open source movement can produce a win-win scenario for both consumers and commercial vendors", because I haven't seen too many commercial vendors 'win' from allowing people with enough expertise to convert their routers to the next level and lose them money.

Just my two cents.

Re:Understandable

[Eivind]

Works both ways. Sure, you can have a company deal with the software. They won't do it for free though, and this is a very low-cost low-margin router.

Besides, I'm not that surprised if the Linux-firmware is adopted to also run on the half-ram version over the next few months, they'll have to sacrifice some functionality, but it's certainly not impossible: I've made Linux-routers that boot and run of a single 1.4MB floppy.

Re:Understandable

[Tune]

The story of [...] how you can turn a $60 router into a $600 router [...]

Or rather: The story of how you can gain market share by freeloading on a movement that lifts your $60 dollar hardware to a $600 level.

I mean: maybe the $600 hardware wouldn't be worth $600 in the first place if it weren't developed in a proprieatary world. I don't suppose they loose money on WRT54G items, its just that they've discovered a way to maximize company-wide profits by cashing more on hardware that supports GPL-licensed, thus cashing on the software itself. (Note that the old WRT54G hardware appears to remain available, but rebranded as WRT54GL, most probably at a higher price.)

--
The path of least resistence is steady deterioration: without constant effort/energy keeping information free, it becomes not free, as thermodynamics clearly states

How do I tell on the retail box if it's v5?

[artifex2004]

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.

Re:Competition

[adderofaspyre]

Most of the people I know do care. They are usually tech people, and others who have no clue about IT get their advice from rest of us who care.

Re:Crippled?

[mnmn]

I agree. And bravo to Linksys if they replaced Linux just to have a more efficient router.

I've seen people use Linux for crazy things, just because they wanted to use Linux. Plenty of small RTOSes require tiny amounts of ram and flash, less than what already comes on MCUs. For Linux, you need to add ram, flash, all the routes on the circuit board and the design and manufacturing costs.

Linux is awesome, but for some things eCos fits better. For other things freeRTOS or micrium fits even better. Its crazy to use Linux 2.6.10 on a $10 watch, making it a $50 watch, just so you can advertise that its a $50 watch.

If I wanted to run linux on my firewall, I'll just use an old machine (which I do), and NOT BUY linksys at all. I'll buy linksys for a very simple and cheap router (which theyre trying to be).