Which Open Source Router Firmware Should You Choose?

Somewhere between the device in your hand and the server where this article is stored is a router. Physically, a router is mostly a compact computer with software specifically designed to route network traffic to the appropriate device. Routers have also inherited some other tasks such as preventing unwanted traffic from entering your local network with a firewall, deciding what type of traffic to prioritize with QoS, and making the Internet wireless with Wi-Fi support.

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Most of the best Wi-Fi routers provide the average customer with all the control they could ever want with simplified access to wireless, QoS, and firewall settings making home networking technology accessible to everyone. For those looking for a more open experience, more advanced and in-depth settings can be provided using an open firmware such as OpenWrt or DD-WRT. However, if you want to access these extra features, you’re looking at doing a more complicated setup and a lot more research.


DD-WRT vs. OpenWrt: Price and Availability

Both OpenWrt and DD-WRT are completely free to download and use with access to the stable and beta versions. OpenWrt is FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) which means no company owns any part of it, so you can use it without any permission and if you have the knowledge you can even dig into the code yourself. DD-WRT makes some compromises when it comes to being open source to allow support for a wide range of devices, such as those running Broadcom chipsets.

Availability is not just limited to a specific router brand, but depends on the model and even the hardware revision. Many routers have multiple versions with minor hardware modifications that don’t matter much, if any, to the end user with standard software, but can lead to issues when installing a custom Linux-based operating system (OS) such as OpenWrt or DD-WRT. When you’re looking for root software for your device, be sure to make note of any version information. This can usually be found next to the model number on the bottom of the router.

OpenWrt has made finding the right software fairly easy with easy to use online databases with many query options. That is, it is a spreadsheet that you can search in. OpenWrt’s Hardware table is an excellent starting point with the brand, model, revision and CPU front and center. You will also see the current supported version of the software with links to recent installations or upgrade installations. Unlike DD-WRT, OpenWrt already has some support for Wi-Fi 6 devices running MediaTek CPUs.

DD-WRT contains a Similar schedule On their website it says the large number of supported devices and some hardware and software information for each device. Some popular models have an installation guide linked in the Notes sections. One thing you’ll notice right away is how many versions of DD-WRT there are and looking at the Latest software versionsyou will notice that not all of these items are updated at the same time.

  • DD-WRT

    DD-WRT is a firmware intended for routers that offers a wide range of options for advanced users. DD-WRT is mostly available on older routers with more recent software than the manufacturers provide.

  • OpenWrt logo

    OpenWrt

    OpenWrt is an open source operating system for routers. OpenWrt can be installed on a wide range of devices with router support limited primarily by chipset compatibility. OpenWrt can be used to create a router from computers.

DD-WRT vs. OpenWrt: Various installation methods with a familiar setup

Right off the bat, we need to warn you that tampering with your router’s firmware can be very risky. If something goes wrong during installation, a broken router may be left inoperable, and any warranty left on that router will be voided by installing custom firmware. If this is a hobby project for you, it’s better to get a cheap powered router to get the hang of than risk ruining your primary method of connecting to the Internet. If you’re looking to use DD-WRT or OpenWrt full time, it’s a good idea to have a backup plan, at least until things break.

Fortunately for those looking to learn, DD-WRT has it wiki And forum to help you find your way. OpenWRT home page It’s a wiki and there too forum Where you can interact with the community.

For new users, DD-WRT’s huge list of supported devices and in-depth installation guides are probably a better place to start. The installation and setup procedure for DD-WRT is simple in comparison, and for many routers you can simply install the firmware file using the router’s existing web GUI. If that fails, users can also send the firmware to the router using TFTP. This method is more straightforward, but requires the use of another tool that must be installed on Windows and Linux, but can use the built-in TFTP client on Mac with a command line.

Once you have DD-WRT installed, you will be able to connect in a web browser using the router’s IP address. Here, you’ll enter information such as your administrator password, the SSID of your Wi-Fi network, as well as some other Internet connection options as needed.

Installing OpenWRT is similar, with a link to the appropriate update file located in the Device Techdata section of the supported devices table. Make sure to choose the installation file instead of the upgrade file for the initial installation. Other files to upgrade an existing OpenWrt installation. You’ll need to set up pretty much everything from scratch on your router afterwards from passwords to enabling your Wi-Fi bands, so depending on your level of experience, it may take a while before you’re ready to start connecting devices.

DD-WRT vs. OpenWrt: Graphical User Interfaces

When you use the router in a web browser, you’ll use what’s known as a graphical user interface (GUI) to change your settings. It just means that you will be able to click and type to change the settings instead of using the command line interface (CLI) in the terminal. Even if you’re familiar with the Linux CLI, it’s still a good idea to have a visual reference for your settings.

DD-WRT demo screenshot

The GUI for DD-WRT looks similar to most other routers including those from TP-Link, Netgear and ASUS but with more depth. You can see a sample GUI of DD-WRT in action its experimental page. The pages look familiar, but once you start digging you’ll see how much control you have. Before leaving, take note of the status page showing your CPU load. The more you demand from your router, the higher the load, and depending on the strength of your router, you could hit its limits after a while.

OpenWrt Settings Panel LuCI screenshot

The default GUI for OpenWrt is called LuCI and it has a clean and comprehensive design that gives the user access to any imaginable setting on the router. LuCI isn’t required to use OpenWrt, so if you’re so inclined, you can do everything from the command line. You can also choose from a number of other GUIs written in different programming languages ​​if you don’t mind the extra work. LuCI isn’t as easy to use as DD-WRT, but it’s really not that far fetched. If you’re new to OpenWrt, this is a great starting point to figure things out. If you want to try OpenWrt without a router, you can even install it in VirtualBox on Windows and Linux before flashing the router.

DD-WRT vs OpenWrt: Which Should You Install?

Before installing either operating system, you should really consider whether this is the best option for you. For one thing, neither DD-WRT nor OpenWRT support the latest and greatest routers, so you’ll likely be using Wi-Fi 5. DD-WRT and OpenWrt need drivers to work properly with different chipsets, so it can take a long time until they’re supported. new routers. There’s no Wi-Fi 6E, and only a handful of Wi-Fi 6 routers have had OpenWrt support in the past two versions, but it’s far from the best performer.

Not only that, the stock software used by ASUS and ASUSWRT isn’t all that lacking compared to these two devices. What’s more, ASUSWRT-MERLIN is a custom firmware built on top of ASUSWRT, so it retains all the functions of ASUS software.

However, many people want to be in complete control of their routers and don’t want to wait and see if the manufacturer will bother supporting an older product. With easy installation, robust device support, and accessible documentation, DD-WRT should be your first stop for customer router firmware. The web GUI will feel familiar to anyone who’s set up a router outside of the smartphone app, so getting back online is quick and easy.

DD-WRT logo in green and black

DD-WRT

DD-WRT is a firmware intended for routers that offers a wide range of options for advanced users. DD-WRT is mostly available on older routers with more recent software than the manufacturers provide.

If you’re ready to take the next step in customization or just want to use hardware that doesn’t make sense for DD-WRT, such as using a thin client computer as a router, OpenWrt is the answer. You can even use a low-power computer as your router paired with a wireless access point or mesh Wi-Fi router which can be more efficient at idle, more powerful when needed, and possibly cheaper than some high-end routers.

OpenWrt logo

OpenWrt

OpenWrt is an open source operating system for routers. OpenWrt can be installed on a wide range of devices with router support limited primarily by chipset compatibility. OpenWrt can be used to create a router from computers.

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