Hi! I just installed Cable internet in my apartment. Part of the deal was a free Router (a Belkin). Now I already had a router so now I have an extra, and I remembered something I wanted to try If I ever got an extra router.... I read somewhere, that you can replace the firmware of the Linksys WRT54G Router/Switch with a Linux-based firmware. I want to try this, but I have some concerns. I'm worried about losing my WPA2 Encryption, and connection problems; I have two Linux laptops (Ubuntu, and Fedora 64 bit) which connect Wirelessly, a desktop w/ 64 Bit Fedora 10, and two Vista Desktops that connect via Ethernet. Will the multiple Operating Systems cause a problem? Has Anyone Tried this? any feedback or advice is appreciated.

The replacement firmware, namely DD-WRT, is hundreds of times more capable than the stock Linksys firmware. It is like taking a cheap consumer router and turning it into a top of the line network appliance.

There is absolutely nothing the stock firmware can do or handle that DD-WRT won't outperform it at.

That said, you need to determine which hardware version WRT54G you have. There are at least 7 versions, with the later versions having less capable hardware. As such the installation procedure and final capability will be different.

The Tomato firmware is a good choice. Here's a link to a podcast on how to do replace your current firmware with the Tomato: http://revision3.com/systm/tomato

I'm not sure exactly what you mean when you say "hardware version"... If you mean firmware version, I have "v8.00.0, Jan. 16, 2007 " (C+P from router information page). I'm not sure how this affects me but judging by your estimate of "7 versions, with the later... having less capable hardware", I get the feeling that I may have cause for concern.

On the bottom of the router there is a sticker that has the model number on it, which should be followed by a version number. If there is no version number after the model, then it is a version 1 WRT54G, but any other version will have it listed.

If your version is above 5 you have one of the new style WRTs, which can still run other firmwares but not as well and not as many.

Well if it's the thing on the FCCID sticker, It indeed is version 8; I think... Having a hard time focusing tonight (no more long island Iced Tea for me tonight). After checking the DD-WRT website, It seems that my hardware version is supported, but the flash process is a bit more complex than I had anticipated, so I don't know that I'll venture into it tonight.

UPDATE:
Well I installed DD-WRT.. well that is I tried but something went wrong, and the power light on the router does not turn on (although, all the others do), and fedora cannot connect to it. so I've gone to my backup router (a Belkin) and am browsing eBay and such for a new WRT54G

before you buy a new router, have you looked into dd-wrt recovery?

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php...om_a_Bad_Flash

also google "recover dd-wrt"