WRT54G- hardware hacking

The WRT54G has gained in popularity due to the fact that one can upgrade the unit with after market firmware. This is possible because the WRT54G runs Linux and uses other Open Source software in the box. As required by the GPL, Linksys has made available the source code and can be downloaded from the Internet. Hackers picked up this code and created new development branches that added features such as SSHD.

 

The “L” in the model number, WRT54GL, stands for Linux. The previous models of the WRT54G are also powered by Linux (version 1.0 to 4.0). The latest version of the Linksys WRT54G is version 5.0 and runs VxWorks. The move to VxWorks cut the memory footprint in half according to Mani Dhillon, senior manager of product marketing at Linksys. This claim appears to be based in fact because the Version 5.0 model only has 2MB of Flash and 8MB of SDRAM. “We still wanted to have a Linux SKU for the Linux audience,” said Dhillon, hence the WRT54GL.

 

 

Linksys WRT54GL Features

·        Linux Kernel 2.4

·        Based on the Broadcom BCM5352E SoC

·        Hardware design is the WRT54G Version 4.0

·        After market firmware upgrades

·        All-in-one Internet-sharing Router, 4-port Switch, and 54Mbps Wireless-G (802.11g) Access Point

·        Shares a single Internet connection and other resources with Ethernet wired and Wireless-G and -B devices

·        Push button setup feature makes wireless configuration secure and simple

·        High security: TKIP and AES encryption, wireless MAC address filtering, powerful SPI firewall

The Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router is really three devices in one box. First, there’s the Wireless Access Point, which lets you connect to both a Wireless-G (802.11g at 54Mbps) and Wireless-B (802.11b at 11Mbps) devices to the network. There’s also a built-in 4-port full-duplex 10/100 Switch to connect your wired-Ethernet devices together. Connect four PCs directly, or attach more hubs and switches to create as big a network as you need. Finally, the Router function ties it all together and lets your whole network share a high-speed cable or DSL Internet connection.

 

 Basically the board of all WRT54G is same with the following main chips

1) WiFi router processor IC

2) WAN CHIP (Infineon ADM69961)

3) Diversity Chip

4) Flash Memory

5) RAM memory (HYNIX 72BUA)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: WRT54GL, WRT54G, LINKSYS, WIRELESS ROUTER, HARDWARE HACKING