Re: Linksys WRT54G wireless router

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> Tonight I bought a Linksys WRT54G wireless router for use at my
> mom's place when I'm in town, and was pleased to discover that
> this is one of the ones that runs Linux under the hood. (not
> that I plan to modify it myself)

I purchased a WRT54g with the express purpose of modifiying the firmware
to enable funcionality not supported by linksys. Within 15 minutes of
breaking the seal on the package I had installed the sveasoft [1]
firmware.
I plan to use the router to replace a P133 with three NICs that I use as a
firewall/router at home. The router has several features that make it
interesting for this purpose:
- The internal four port switch supports VLANs, each port can be assigned
to a specific virtual network, or configured as a trunk port carrying
mutliple VLANs to 802.1q aware devices. These networks can also be
seperated from the wireless network.- The router can be used to route and firewall between these networks.

Like all good linux projects my work is uncomplete, however I plan to
implement the following:
- Internal network for wired machines
- DMZ network for publicly accessible server, with minimal access to both
internal and external networks. - Wireless network with VPN based access
to internal resources, public access to internet. I intend to run this as
an open access point.
So far I have set up the VLANs, and a few of the firewall rules. I have
yet to implement the VPN solution.
The firmware that I am using to implement all of these wonderful features
is made by sveasoft [1]. To my knowledge it is the only firmware that
permits you to configure VLANs. There is some interesting VLAN related
documentation on the sveasoft forums (free registration required) [2].
I am unsure of the GPL status of this firmware, as you need to pay to have
access to the "pre-release" firmware (20 USD / annum, not a problem wrt
GPL), and do not have the right to redistribute it (big GPL problem, as I
understand it). I am using the Alchemy firmware.
-JohnF

P.S. I have been meaning to make a post about Ubuntu GNU/Linux [3], the
Debian derived desktop oriented linux distro with a regular release
schedule. If someone beat me to it I wouldn't complain.
[1] http://www.sveasoft.com/
[2] http://www.sveasoft.com/modules/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=21632#21632
[3] http://www.ubuntulinux.org/

Re: Linksys WRT54G wireless router

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On Tue, 2004-12-21 at 07:02 -0700, John Marrett wrote:
> P.S. I have been meaning to make a post about Ubuntu GNU/Linux [3], the
> Debian derived desktop oriented linux distro with a regular release
> schedule. If someone beat me to it I wouldn't complain.

Based on a remark from Joe Reagle, I downloaded Ubuntu during the
holidays. I haven't played with it yet. I'll send notes when I do.

I also note a feature of Knoppix 3.7, which I also downloaded 10 days
ago: there is a (beta) mecanism for installing new software (in ram)
on the fly. In particular, one can install f-prot to scan for viruses. I
wanted to use this to find adware/spyware on an Windows XP machine.
Since there are now drivers to let you write to NTFS partitions, I
thought that all the pieces were in place to use Knoppix to de-virus a
Windows machine.=20

(I did not, in the end, use this CD to clean up the machine; I
downloaded some anti-adware software for Windows instead.)

_ Ian

--=20
Ian Jacobs ([email protected])   http://www.w3.org/People/Jacobs
Tel:                     +1 718 260-9447

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Re: Linksys WRT54G wireless router

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Hi there,

Happy new year and all these things :)

On Mon, Jan 03, 2005, Ian B. Jacobs wrote:
> On Tue, 2004-12-21 at 07:02 -0700, John Marrett wrote:
> > P.S. I have been meaning to make a post about Ubuntu GNU/Linux [3], the
> > Debian derived desktop oriented linux distro with a regular release
> > schedule. If someone beat me to it I wouldn't complain.
>
> Based on a remark from Joe Reagle, I downloaded Ubuntu during the
> holidays. I haven't played with it yet. I'll send notes when I do.
>

I've switched to Ubuntu on my two computers (home centrino based laptop,
and work dell workstation). Although Linux is not my primary OS, I'm
very happy with Ubuntu so far: The installation procedure is quite
similar to the Debian's, with a cute ncurses interface which lets you
select what you want to do with your Ubuntu. The base install takes less
than 1 hour from the Ubuntu CD. No multi-cd, no internet required,
simple and stupid.

The installation procedure is really simple. You end up having an office
linux ready to go (OpenOffice is installed by default, Evolution too,
firefox, of course...).

Integration with others OS is seamless, the installation procedure
detects foreign OSes and suggests to integrate them in the Grub start
menu.


Once done, Ubuntu provides some apt sources to update the Linux with
security and normal packages.

I don't know if my Ubuntu is equivalent to a stable or an unstable
Debian, but I'd guess it's a bit more stable than the "testing" while
having latest features : My centrino wifi chipset is supported right out
of the box (even during the install procedure), my synaptic touchpad
works. USB, Firewire work also out of the box (PnP is also there :)).

I remember I had to manually setup my X but now, even the multihead
works like a charm.

I had previously tried to install a Debian to my laptop without any
success because of the complexity of burning an install cd _with_ the
centrino wifi driver builtin.

Even though as I'm using a "Warty Warthog", I get regular packages
updates.

Ubuntu tastes a lot like debian. I use aptitude to configure my package,
have a working gnome installation, a 0.9.3 firefox and so on. I have a
working subversion client (i remember it was not in the stable distro a
while ago), I can code, browse and read mail.

Being a Debian fan, I tend to think It would be difficult for me to
switch back to Debian (too lazy ?).

Fresh air in the Debian's community.

Cheers,
--
Pierre Baillet
Il faut pomper pour vivre et donc vivre pour pomper.
Devise Shadok

Re: Linksys WRT54G wireless router

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"Ian B. Jacobs" <[email protected]> writes:

> I also note a feature of Knoppix 3.7, which I also downloaded 10 days
> ago: there is a (beta) mecanism for installing new software (in ram)
> on the fly.

Continuing with the knoppix tangent...

I tried the knoppix-customize software recently and it only lets one
customize the boot cd somewhat, not the booted fs.  Customizing
knoppix is still cumbersome.  Getting it to run from solely from a usb
device also appears a bit involved.  Once installed on usb, ongoing
customization looks like it would be quite reasonable.

One of my wishlist items Santa didn't deliver (hint, hint for anyone
feeling generous, in particular the Sandisk one [1] for reasons I am
unsure) is one of those usb fobs 1G (about 80USD and large enough for
full 700M cd image plus room for extras) in size so I can install
knoppix on it.  I tend to always have my keys and wallet with me but
keep crunching those nice but rather limited wallet-sized lnx-bbc live
linux cds I make with my ssh keys on it.  I blame Jane Fonda's 'buns
of steel' video for that recurring mishap.  I keep a full sized
knoppix CD and a promo/freebie/otherwise useless 32MB usb fob with my
keys in the glove compartment of my car in case I'm out and about and
need (urge or work related emergency) to get to some things and the
laptop is elsewhere.

A usb fob would be ideal as it'd fit on keychain and once knoppix is
installed I could remount the 'disk' read/write and apt-get
remove/install to my heart's content.  Live cd on usb customizeable to
take over that random Windows machine you want to borrow and don't
feel safe entering passwords on on one's keychain.

1. http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=82558

--
Ted Guild <[email protected]>
http://guilds.net

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