I own a Linksys WRT54G.

I know that it's possible to flash-upgrade its firmware.  I know that
there are many different open-source firmware options "out there" for
my linksys.  I know there are many cool features that can be mine if I
upgrade my firmware.

But how?

What features are available to me?  From which projects?  Do I have to
compile those features myself?  (IE, have someone compile it for me
since I know nothing about all that)  Do I lose any factory
functionality (like DynDNS updates)?

I use Windows XP.  I have no Linux experience whatsoever.  I'd like
someone who's upgraded their WRT54g via WinXP to point me in the right
direction.

I'd like my question answered in several simple parts...

1) A list of URLs of the different Linksys Firmware projects, whether
the projects are a collection of user-compile-required modules or
full-on pre-compiled packages.

2) For each firware project, a list of the a) additional features and
b) gotchas (bugs or limitations).  I'm particularly interested in
Wondershaper (that's the whole reason I'll be upgrading my firmware)

3) For each firmware project, a very brief list of the steps required
for ME (WinXP user, unwilling to delve into "compiling") to upgrade my
router with that project's firmware.  (The "install steps" list will
help me decide which firmware to puruse.  If I need further help after
choosing, I'll post another question.)

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Clarification of Question by donphiltrodt-ga on 16 Aug 2004 12:30 PDT

I altered the price, but haven't altered the question.

The lack of initial response prompted me to reconsider the difficulty
of the task... hence the price change.

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Request for Question Clarification by maniac-ga on 03 Sep 2004 12:13 PDT

Hello Donphiltrodt,

Are you sure you are looking for a $162 answer that summarizes the
comments already posted? Please confirm.

  --Maniac

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Clarification of Question by donphiltrodt-ga on 08 Sep 2004 00:14 PDT

> Are you sure you are looking for a $162
> answer that summarizes the comments already
> posted? Please confirm.

Well, no.  "That summarizes the comments already posted" doesn't
describe what I _was_ looking to pay for.

But it's a moot point now.  My research budget has recently shrunk.  :-/

Thank you for asking.

Check the forums at http://www.broadbandreports.com/

That's definitely a helpful resource -- a resource that the Question
Answerer will hopefully distill and synthesize as part of their
answer.

You can download the 'hacked' firmware for your router at
http://www.linksysinfo.org/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=getit&lid=6

It is the most popular sveasoft version of the firmware, named
'satori' 4.0.  It adds the following features:

Linksys "AfterBurner" drivers with DMA

Setup
Default gateway for LAN ports

Advanced Routing
OSPF, BGP Routing

Wireless
Power mode selection
Antenna selection
Client mode (Ethernet bridging)
Adhoc mode
WDS peer-to-peer networking (10 links, multiple options)

Applications & Gaming
Modified to forward to any IP address

Administration
Bandwidth Management
Boot Wait
Cron
DHCP with static MAC->IP assignments
DNS Masq
Firewall control
Loopback option
NAS
NTP Client
PPP
PPTP VPN server
Resetbutton daemon
SSHD with public key or password login
Shorewall firewall
Syslog with remote logging
Telnet
Tftp

Diagnostics
Command Shell replaces ping and traceroute
Linux shell scripts rc_startup and rc_shutdown settable from the web

Status
Wireless signal strengths for clients, AP's, WDS links

Internal Modifications
BPAlogin fixes
Static DHCP leases
Added approximately 20 iptables filters
- include P2P, connection tracking
Added Quality of Service (for bandwidth mgmt)
Rewrote networking code for better stability
Added wireless connections daemon for client mode and WDS
Upgraded PPPD to 2.4.2
Added PPTP client and server
Various bug fixes to Linksys codebase
Latest Busybox
ADM6996 /proc interface

Coming Features
Peer-to-peer bandwidth mgmt (Kazaa, Gnutella, Bit Torrent, etc)
Multi-priority bandwidth mgmt interface
Bandwidth usage statistics
Remote montioring and statistics
Captive Portal
Dynamic download interface (add new packages on boot)
Move to latest uClibc
IPSEC

You can also check out https://sourceforge.net/projects/wifi-box/ for
an alternative firmware.

Upgrading the firmware is a simple procedure.

First, log into the router.  You have probably done this before and
will remember how.  If not, you should type http://192.168.1.1 in IE,
and enter the username and password which you have set, or the default
username of blank, and password of admin.

Next, navigate to the Help tab after logging in.  There will be an
Upgrade Firmware option.  Use the browse button to select the newly
downloaded firmware.  Be sure to do this while directly wired to the
router, do not do it over the wireless connection.  Once sending, do
not interrupt the connection or power to the router or computer.  This
is the only caveat of upgrading firmware, you can destroy your router.

It might be a good idea to keep a copy of the latest firmware on hand,
in case you need to flash back to the old version.  Other than that,
you should be on your way throttling bandwidth and setting up SSHD or
whatever else you need to do.

Thanks for the heads-up, Mike.  Very grateful.

The question still stands, mainly to see if somebody will do the
"summary overview" thing.  I doubt it.

As it stands now, I'll be installing either the sveasoft or the ewrt firmware.