I just got a linksys WRT54G V1 wireless router and want to hack the firmware. From my initial research it looks like the two main options are DD-WRT and Tomato. Has anyone here installed either of them and have an idea of which one is better?
Just curious to see what the people here think of those firmware options.
I would go with Tomato unless you want customizability.
Last time I checked, DD-WRT was just a set of packages on top of OpenWRT, so going with straight OpenWRT lets you add only the functionality you need and customize everything to your heart's content. I would choose that route over DD-WRT. However, I did run into some reliability issues, (wireless connections would drop spontaneously every few weeks) which show up in DD-WRT as well. In OpenWRT, many basic settings (all settings unless you install a web interface) are only accessible via config files. That can get tiring.
Tomato is rock-solid and dead-easy to configure, but startlingly light on functionality compared to *WRT.
I've used both, and like Tomato better. It has a nicer AJAX based UI, SVG bandwidth graphs, and is pretty well layed out. Lot's of nifty attention to detail in the UI, e.g. wireless network neighborhood to find unoccupied channels.
Have been using it for a couple of years, even running a startup's infrastructure behind it. No problems, whatsoever.
I ran DD-WRT on a WRT54GL for a few months, and during this time, I kept experiencing intermittent connection problems. I spent hours and hours poring over packet sniffer logs, and finally discovered that the router was the problem.
So I tried switching to Tomato, and it worked perfectly.
(That was 2007, and as far as I know, the bug is still there)
FWIW, I've used DD-WRT on a variety of wrt54g series routers (including three wrt54gl routers) and have never had connection problems attributable to the firmware.
I've ran both, and I really prefer Tomato. DD-WRT is very nice though, but I ended up not using most of the features it offered. Tomato is very lightweight, and fits all my needs perfectly.
My router is also a little buggy (really need to buy a new one) and Tomato runs with fewer dropped connections than DD-WRT. I'm sure that has much less to do with the firmware and more to do with bad hardware.
I've been running DD for as long as I can remember, and I'm very, very happy with it. Absolutely no problems with installation, configuration or day-to-day operations. YMMV.
I like DD-WRT for my router as well. Its just plain awesome, and their router compatibility page tells you exactly which model's do and do not work, and if what extra steps are needed to install the DD-WRT firmware.
I run tomato and like the features but I'm considering switching, because it takes up to 30 seconds for my laptop to connect. (Connection was almost instant with the stock firmware, and is very quick everywhere else... So Tomato seems the culprit.)
DD-Wrt has a great feature set, and is pretty stable. It also has lots of expandability options. I would also recommend OpenWRT if you want even more expandability. OpenWRT has its own package management system with thousands of packages.
I prefer DD-WRT to Tomato. Just find that it has more features and that there is a lot more that you can do with it. I've used both though on a WRT54GS V2
[+] [-] Sidnicious|17 years ago|reply
Last time I checked, DD-WRT was just a set of packages on top of OpenWRT, so going with straight OpenWRT lets you add only the functionality you need and customize everything to your heart's content. I would choose that route over DD-WRT. However, I did run into some reliability issues, (wireless connections would drop spontaneously every few weeks) which show up in DD-WRT as well. In OpenWRT, many basic settings (all settings unless you install a web interface) are only accessible via config files. That can get tiring.
Tomato is rock-solid and dead-easy to configure, but startlingly light on functionality compared to *WRT.
If you have the time, try them both!
[+] [-] car|17 years ago|reply
Have been using it for a couple of years, even running a startup's infrastructure behind it. No problems, whatsoever.
[+] [-] akamaka|17 years ago|reply
I ran DD-WRT on a WRT54GL for a few months, and during this time, I kept experiencing intermittent connection problems. I spent hours and hours poring over packet sniffer logs, and finally discovered that the router was the problem.
So I tried switching to Tomato, and it worked perfectly.
(That was 2007, and as far as I know, the bug is still there)
[+] [-] carbon8|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] chris24|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] 3dFlatLander|17 years ago|reply
My router is also a little buggy (really need to buy a new one) and Tomato runs with fewer dropped connections than DD-WRT. I'm sure that has much less to do with the firmware and more to do with bad hardware.
[+] [-] ivanstojic|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] weaksauce|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] thumbfinger|17 years ago|reply
Go with tomato, its bandwidth monitoring options are awexome
[+] [-] phoxix2|17 years ago|reply
I will warn you, and I'm not sure if this issue exists for other *WRT firmwares, but PPTP VPN and OSX is not ideal on DD-WRT: http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/PPTP_Server_Configurati...
OpenVPN is the way to go, but not built in like PPTP is, well, everywhere ...
[+] [-] jodrellblank|17 years ago|reply
There are lots of options that look as though they would be cool, but I mostly use it as a plain ol' WAP.
[+] [-] blackman|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] jong|17 years ago|reply
http://www.society9.com/an-easy-guide-to-installing-tomato-o...
[+] [-] rbxbx|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] gojomo|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] oomkiller|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] rms|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] matthall28|17 years ago|reply
[+] [-] quellhorst|17 years ago|reply