| HYPERWRT Mission Statement is "HyperWRT is a | | | | through the web interface with no problems. I |
| power boost firmware for the Linksys WRT54G | | | | was able to VPN into my home network and |
| and WRT54GS router. The goal of this project is | | | | used SSH to my Linux box. EWRT has all the |
| to add a limited set of features to the last | | | | latest security features such as WPA and WPA |
| Linksys firmware, extending its possibilities but | | | | radius. I was able to use TINYPEAP as my radius |
| staying close to the official firmware." | | | | server.. When I started NOCAT splash and |
| HYPER-WRT - Installing this distribution is really a | | | | connected to the internet I did receive an error |
| breeze with no head aches. Cool features for this | | | | "NO DATA ON THIS PAGE" once in a while but |
| distribution are: | | | | that could be my fault some how. |
| With my old linksys firmware I was unable to | | | | If you want to start a hotspot for your business |
| VPN into my network. After I installed | | | | or create free public nodes in your neighborhood |
| HYPER-WRT I had no problem. Also, I usually | | | | EWRT is for you. |
| work off my laptop in the same area of my | | | | DD-WRT |
| house and with the linksys firmware I had a | | | | DD-WRT turns your WRT54G from a cheap $60 |
| "Good" signal according to windows. After I | | | | router into a $200 dollar wireless router. It has |
| installed HYPER-WRT my windows signal jumped | | | | more features then you can count so I will just |
| to excellent every time. | | | | go over the many highlights. Right now I am using |
| Installing HYPER-WRT was very easy, I reset my | | | | VER. 22, VER 23 is out but I have not installed it |
| router to factory defaults, downloaded the latest | | | | yet. VER. 23 is a BETA release. VER 23 has a |
| HYPER-WRT firmware, connected to my router's | | | | whole new web interface with many more |
| web interface administration tab and pressed | | | | options that I have listed below. DD-WRT also has |
| firmware upgrade. Then I browsed to the | | | | options for VOIP. |
| firmware bin files and pressed upgrade. | | | | Setup Tab - Everything is pretty much the same |
| HYPERWRT turned out to be exactly what its | | | | here with the exceptions of VLANS. VLANs can |
| authors intended, an easy to install, power | | | | divide your physical LAN into logical LANS. You will |
| boosting firmware. I would highly recommend | | | | want to use this to separate network resources |
| using this firmware for any home or business | | | | or prevent access to resources. |
| network. | | | | Security Tab - One of the best features of |
| EWRT | | | | DD-WRT is that the VPN option actually works. |
| EWRT is distributed by Portless Networks. This | | | | Access Restriction TAB - All the other firmwares |
| WRT54G firmware is packed with features | | | | have this option but I am using DD-wrt currently |
| meant for creating open wireless hotspots for | | | | so I will cover them here. If you like to share |
| business or neighborhoods. EWRT has many cool | | | | your wireless connection with others but don't |
| features: Drop bear SSH server (This provides | | | | want it abused you will need to set up access |
| secure access), a writeable jffs2 partition to store | | | | policies. You can block file sharing from exact |
| your content, great QOS (Quality of service), and | | | | applications like edonkey, you can set times to |
| NOCAT splash. | | | | share your wireless signal, limit certain days and |
| NoCat Splash is a captive portal which lets users | | | | block websites. |
| connected to the wireless network receiving a | | | | Application and Gamming Tab- First you have |
| dynamic IP address but all traffic is redirected to | | | | over 30 slots to configure port forwarding...that's |
| an internal web page. The webpage for EWRT | | | | a lot of different services. Next on this tab is the |
| just explains that this router is a wireless hotspot | | | | QOS (Quality of Service), here you can give |
| meant for public use and don't abuse it, users | | | | priority of bandwidth to certain ports and MAC |
| must accept the agreement or they won't have | | | | address. |
| access to anything. You're not stuck using | | | | Administration Tab - If you go all the way to the |
| Portless Networks web page because you can | | | | bottom you will find the option for enabling WDS |
| modify it for your liking. | | | | connection watch dog. This service will send out |
| QOS for a wireless hotspot is very important for | | | | ICMP messages / ping commands to your given |
| managing how much bandwidth certain services | | | | Access points every few minutes. If the access |
| are using. If a few users are hogging bandwidth | | | | point you specify can't be reached the router will |
| then others will not have access to the internet | | | | reboot |
| thus ruining the hotspot. | | | | In my next article I will be reviewing TINYPEAP, |
| Portless Networks intention was to create this | | | | BATBOX and openwrt wrt54g linux firmware |
| router as a "Hotspot" in a box and they achieved | | | | distros. |
| this with flying colors. I was able to install EWRT | | | | |