An up-to-date look at free software and its makers

PROJECTS ON THE MOVE

Article from Issue 70/2006
Author(s): , Author(s): , Author(s):

OpenWRT puts Linux on WLAN routers and helps users set up large-scale WLANs at home, and the FreeWRT derivative adds a professional touch. If you don’t have your own compile farm, the OpenSUSE build service may be just what you need. And we investigate the obstacles to new packages for Debian.

Wireless LANs have helped many home users to set up simple networks without having to run cables through the house. Typically, a router handles shared Internet access for the internal machines. Many DSL providers give users discounts on WLAN routers, or even give away a router. Low power consumption, a small footprint, and low noise emission make routers infinitely preferable to configuring a PC for the same job. Routers between PCs and Embedded Systems One problem with routers is the lack of functionality. The default firmware normally doesn’t support anything much but the core task of routing between the Internet and the internal network. Although many routers now support peripheral tasks such as port forwarding, you can’t expect much more than that. And if you intend to run any other kind of software on your router, you will need an operating system to match.

Buy this article as PDF

Express-Checkout as PDF
Price $2.95
(incl. VAT)

Buy Linux Magazine

SINGLE ISSUES
 
SUBSCRIPTIONS
 
TABLET & SMARTPHONE APPS
Get it on Google Play

US / Canada

Get it on Google Play

UK / Australia

Related content

  • Tuning WLAN Routers

    Learn how to take control of your home routing device with OpenWrt.

  • Linksys Linux-Based WRT160NL Router

    The Linux router WRT54GL from Cisco subsidiary Linksys wrote part of the history of open source a few years ago. Now its WRT160NL WLAN successor is ready to step up to the plate.

  • Gargoyle: Web Interface for Router Configuration

    The Gargoyle project is working on an alternative web interface for better router configuration. The project has now reached its first stable version 1.0.

  • Router as a Mini-Server

    Many devices now run Linux – but mostly as a closed source firmware that you cannot access. We show how to use OpenWrt to free the TL-MR3020 router from its proprietary firmware and convert it into an all-around server for your home network.

  • Repurposed Router Projects

    If you have an old router lying around, you can put it to good use with a few easy projects and learn something along the way.

comments powered by Disqus
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters

Support Our Work

Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

Learn More

News