matt_s989

Flashing linux on to the WRT54G/GS v5, v6 without hardware modifications - Rehashed by Myself and Ictinike

This will work on the WRT54G v5 - v6, WRT54G-D2, WRT54GL, WAP54G v3 CFE, WRT54GS v5 - v5.1, and possibly the WRT54GS v6 - Currently untested.
*The WRT54G v7 is not supported due to a different chipset*

*Myself, Ictinike, nor Overclock.net will be held resposible if you brick your router* Please pay attention to compatibility and instructions

All Information contained here is merely restated from this Wiki (http://www.bitsum.com/openwiking/owb...T54G5%5FCFE#h7)
Also refer to this for trouble shooting

Ok, so you want to install Linux on your Linksys router, well heres the scoop:

Ok, first step, gather the files you will need to begin:

For converting your router to linux, first step:
vxworks prep v03.zip
vxworks killer g v06.zip
dd-wrt.v23 SP1 micro

You will need this program to TFTP your router:

tftp.exe

This is for the finalization of the installation:

vxworks prep gs v03.zip
vxworks killer gs v07.zip
Select the type of firmaware you want to install, there are several options, please check the Wiki to see what your router supports - Link

For the WRT54G v5, v5.1, and v6 ONLY
You will want to assign your network adaptor a manual IP address, since you may loose your automatically configured one and have trouble TFTP'ing the firmware. To do this see the troubleshooting section or google it. It's done at the properties dialog of your network connection, in the 'Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)' properties.
Go to your router's web based interface and enter the 'Administration' tab. Then select 'Firmware Upgrade' and choose the vxworks_prep_v03.bin file. Hit apply. After a minute, your browser window will go blank. At this point, power cycle your router.
Again point your web browser (preferrably Internet Explorer, other may not work in this step) to http://192.168.1.1. You'll see a different sort of firmware upgrade screen. This is the Management Mode. Select and apply the vxworks_killer_g_v06.bin firmware upgrade. WAIT for your browser window to turn to report 'Success'.
Now unplug the power cord of your router, then plug it back in. The power LED should now be blinking.
TFTP transfer DD-WRT micro generic (re: not mini) to your router, whose IP will be 192.168.1.1, or 192.168.1.245 if you used an older vxworks_killer. There are two ways to do the TFTP transfer. One is using Linksys's TFTP Windows program, which you may have downloaded in step 3, the other is at the console/terminal:
Console tool: Example: TFTP -i 192.168.1.1 PUT dd-wrt.v23_micro_generic.bin
GUI tool: Simply enter the router's IP address, select the DD-WRT micro generic image, then initiate the transfer. The password field can be left blank. Don't unplug your router when it finishes (see below).
Do NOT reboot your router after TFTP'ing, this will happen automatically. It takes a couple minutes after the TFTP transfer finishes for the firmware to actually be flashed.
Skip to 'finalizing' below, or 'troubleshooting' Wiki if you've run into problems.
For the WRT54GS v5, v5.1 (and v6?) ONLY
You will want to assign your network adaptor a manual IP address, since you may loose your automatically configured one and have trouble TFTP'ing the firmware. To do this see the troubleshooting section or google it. It's done at the properties dialog of your network connection, in the 'Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)' properties.
Go to your router's web based interface and enter the 'Administration' tab. Then select 'Firmware Upgrade' and choose the vxworks_prep_gs_v03.bin file. Hit apply. After a minute, your browser window will go blank. At this point, power cycle your router.
Again point your web browser (preferrably Internet Explorer, other may not work in this step) to http://192.168.1.1. You'll see a different sort of firmware upgrade screen. This is the Management Mode. Select and apply the vxworks_killer_gs_v07.bin firmware upgrade. WAIT for your browser window to turn to report 'Success'.
Now unplug the power cord of your router, then plug it back in. The power LED should now be blinking.
TFTP transfer DD-WRT micro generic (re: not mini) to your router, whose IP will be 192.168.1.1, or 192.168.1.245 if you used an older vxworks_killer. There are two ways to do the TFTP transfer. One is using Linksys's TFTP Windows program, which you may have downloaded in step 3, the other is at the console/terminal:
Console tool: Example: TFTP -i 192.168.1.1 PUT dd-wrt.v23_micro_generic.bin
GUI tool: Simply enter the router's IP address, select the DD-WRT micro generic image, then initiate the transfer. The password field can be left blank. Don't unplug your router when it finishes (see below).
Do NOT reboot your router after TFTP'ing, this will happen automatically. It takes a couple minutes after the TFTP transfer finishes for the firmware to actually be flashed.
Finalizing
As mentioned in step 8, your router should reboot itself after the TFTP transfer. After your router boots (give it a minute), you should have access to the DD-WRT's HTTP interface at 192.168.1.1.
If the unit does not boot for some reason, you may want to try resetting to factory defaults by holding down the reset button on the back while powering on the router.
If you have problems, please visit an appropriate user forum to get aid from your fellow users. There are many common problems, and common solutions.There is always the forums at Linksys for more support and help
Congratulations, you're now running DD-WRT micro! Future firmware updates do not require this process.
Remember, the default username and password for a new DD-WRT flash is:
username: root
password: admin

Now if you have run into problems, Ictinike has also provided this info to help recover your 'bricked' router:
Now I've bricked this before using official LinkSys firmware so I had to call then and they have a backout procedure to restart and restore the built in ROM flash it shipped with. Basically set your NIC down to 10mbit 1/2 duplex and establish direct to the 192.168.1.1 IP. There you can over-flash the correct firmware to get it back...

More revisions in the future

Here are a couple screen shots -

matt_s989

Hopefully this will be of some use to someone, and you can even o/c your router using this

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The_Jester

Sweet! You can OC your router! :D Great FAQ! +Rep

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drummer4lifex

Can you stability test your router? LOL

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matt_s989

would be interesting - my router is 8 hrs prime stable, lmao

Burn

What are the main benefits of flashing my router? I have one sitting right here and want to know what is so "good" about flashing to linux.

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Ictinike

Good deal Matt! I had some things going these past several weeks at home and at work and didn't feel like getting this together but kudo's to you mate!

BTW mine is still flashed and it works sooo much better than the Linksys stock flash. Many more options as well options that stick instead of getting wiped

Good reps to you mate!

matt_s989

Well as stated by ictinike above, it gives you a lot more control over the settings in the router vs. the linksys firmware, and I also have my router flashed and it gives me more control over my lan and better port forwarding options.
Thanks man, glad others have tried it!

will55555

I did this to my router. I opened it up put some heaksinks on all the parts that heat up, pumped up the signal strength... didn't really see the need to overclock it though.