Why?
I need to connect my two desktop PCs running Kubuntu Linux to the Internet. As you know I already have a Sagem F@st3202 Livebox which has wireless and Ethernet capabilities. But as the Livebox is far from my PCs, I don’t want to have a wired connection. I’ve tried a Wifi USB dongle on the PC but (i) it is not reliable and (ii) it is a pain the ass to setup with Linux.
What?
I need something like the Linksys WET54G which supports (as its name indicate) WET which allows the device to work as a transparent Wifi to Ethernet bridge.
Unfortunately, the WET54G is not easily found here in Mauritius and is expensive anyway.
A better solution
I guess many of you have heard of the Linksys WRT54G which is a wireless router which has four Ethernet ports. It is powered by Linux and its firmware has been released under the GPL license. Notice that it is NOT a transparent bridge out of the box.
With the appropriate opensource firmware (either DD-WRT or Thibor (which is the one I want to use)), the router transforms itself into anything you would like (from a router to a firewall to a VoIP server to a transparent bridge etc.) just by changing some settings.
Just to be sure, I’m buying a Linksys WRT54GL which is certified to work with Linux. I am buying mine from a friend in Vacoas at around Rs. 3200 which is reasonable.
This means that tomorrow I’ll be able to connect my two PCs using Ethernet wired connections to the WRT54GL which will itself connect to my Livebox wirelessly and life will be cool :-)
MIPS32
One interesting feature provided by the Thibor firmware is a SSH server. I’ll therefore be able to open a terminal session to the Linksys. Of course, this is cool but (remember: it runs Linux!). What is even cooler is that the WRT54GL features a MIPS32-compatible processor. This means that I’ll be able to play with a pure RISC processor. I’ll even been able to write some simple C or assembly program on my Macbook or my Linux and cross-compile it to the MIPS32 processor using the GNU gcc compiler. For fun, I’ve downloaded a MIPS32 simulator called SPIM which seems to work well on my MacBook and it works on Linux and Windoze too.
Incidentally, the MIPS architecture is considered to be one of the best and simplest RISC architecture making it very nice to teach assembly programming. Heck, even Patterson and Hennessy are massive fans of MIPS.
I’ll let you know by tomorrow if everything works correctly.
Call me a geek :-)
a rich geek :p
(i’ve been using electric wires to extend my phone cables once (6 or 7 years ago), i am using a normal phone cable now.. i am still hoping to turn wirelss… but the thing is .. too much of camping plans have been booked to get destressed after univ’s exams.
+$3|
Careful you don’t get one of the WRT54GL revisions that don’t support re-imaging new firmware. I bought one here and had to return it for a refund.
For some time, I used the FON router with an OpenVPN server. Then, I started getting concerned about opening my wireless connection to anyone.
I hope everything will be ok. I don’t know if I’m getting a 1.0 or a 1.1 WRT54GL.
There is information on the DD-WRT wiki about which revision of the WRT54GL router is supported. Good luck!
My router needs replacing (no WPA), so I’ll be monitoring your progress :-)
Okay!
Hi Avi,
Zydas zd1211b-based USB WiFi dongles do work perfectly without too much hassle on Ubuntu. In fact, once you get them rolling, it’s just plug n play.
You can get the list of suppliers here:
http://www.linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/zd1211rw/devices
You can even configure them as an AP by setting them in Master mode.
I’ve personally successfully tested one from SMC and one from MSI.
The WRT54GL is a good buy though. Just make sure you get the right rev, as Eddy points out.
Also, instead of DD-WRT, check out X-WRT http://x-wrt.org/
In fact, I have one zd1211b device (a Sagem) but it does not work with the default drivers found in Kubuntu. I’ve tried compiling the latest drivers but I’ve never ever managed to make it work.
And, anyway, even when I’m using Doze with the official Sagem drivers, the signal is so weak that I lose the connection very frequently.
Hence my motivation to buy something with a big antenna and Ethernet ports! Ethernet is the only thing that always work :-)
HOLY..!!
Serjo Avinash Meetoo has used the phrase “pain in the ass” and the noun “linux” in the same sentence!
This ought to drive in the nail and turn him into a squealing windows fanboy! (note: Steve Balmer is The Man(except in Nebraska)! respect the Man.)
but seriously. I didn’t know you could change firmware like that. I knew you could upgrade your firmware but I thought you always had to go to the same vendor.
I use the same box with Thibor. Thibor owns DD-WRT in terms of QoS (at least it did for me – tested). I’d like to try Tomato next because I read it has even more advanced QoS configuration… Beautiful pie charts too :-)
Hi Avinash,
Would like to buy the same router.
Any idea where I can find one?
Cheers
Kailash
I bought mine from Bbcwyse in Vacoas. I dealt directly with the director.
hi avinash,
a couple of quick questions…
1. Is the USB port on the Livebox useable… either for a networked printer (i have an Epson CX 3650), or a network hard drive? The hard drive would be esp useful since i plan to use Time Machine from my new MacBook (using iTimeMachine – which allows use of a WiFi networked disc for the purpose)
2. Can the Livebox be used for VoIP? I was tinkering around with an ancient PII lying about the house, and plan (at least try!) to use TrixBox and configure a VoIP PBX.Do you think that would be possible?
The folks over at Mauritius Telecom would possibly be able to answer these Q’s, but past experience has shown that the process of contacting the correct person over phone is long, tiring, irritating, and usually unsuccessful!
would really appreciate some help. THanks in advance.
Hi Nikhil,
(1) I am not too sure. You could try connecting something to it but I doubt if that thing will work…
(2) Yes, I think so. VoIP uses IP and the Livebox is perfectly happy routing IP packets :-)
well.. you were right about the thing not working…. it doesnt! i think the livebox needs a firmware upgrade to activate the USB port. The configuration page of the livebox shows USB as inactive, without suggesting as to how that may be changed!
will try MT, but I dont hold out much hopes!
Thanks anyway.
Hi, can anybody help me plaese? can i plug an external antena to my livebox? if not the does anybody know how i can solder one on to the inside of the box please? or is ther a forum i can go to to ask this question. thanks Meurig
Elo… Sorry for commenting on an old post! Where did you buy the router and how much it cost you back then? ;)
I bought mine from a good friend who has a company in Vacoas, BBCWyse, and, as far as I remember, around Rs 3000 – Rs 4000.