One of the best projects to extend the useful life of our hardware is undoubtedly DD-WRT. This Linux-based firmware has rescued thousands of routers from planned obsolescence, and the best part is that even the oldest models are receiving updates today. That gives us an excellent opportunity to develop a tutorial on how to install DD-WRT on your router, inspired by the inexhaustible Linksys WRT54G.
The current situation of routers is rather poor. Only the most recent (and expensive) models receive updates and patches from the manufacturer. If your unit has the classic 'generic' profile or was provided by the connectivity provider, it is likely that it will not see a single patch in its life. That is when the concept of alternative firmware enters the equation, and at the top of the list appears DD-WRT.
With more than a decade on its shoulders, this project remains strong, and the trained eye will surely have noticed that several of its builds receive frequent updates. That includes the oldest versions of the Linksys WRT54G, the router that basically started it all. Accessing a Linksys WRT54G for a couple of euros is not complicated, and today we will use one so you know how to install DD-WRT on your router.
Step-by-step installation
Of course, we must make a warning before starting: Our guide presents a relatively standard installation process, and does not anticipate major surprises (like a power cut during the flash). The risks of turning your router into a brick exist, and if that happens, you will be forced to study the so-called "peacock announcement" and the DD-WRT forums to try to bring it back.
Personally, I don't think you'll have problems if you limit yourself to well-supported routers documented by the project, but there is always something extra that can help us. For example, if you have access to a UPS, don't hesitate to use it as a "lifesaver" during the flash to prevent the router from losing power. That said, let's begin:
Go to the official page and download DD-WRT
Visit the DD-WRT portal, click on Router Database, and enter the initials of your router. In our case, it's the version 3.0 of the Linksys WRT54G. Here we need to do two things. On one hand, choose the most recent build and download one of the versions. Unless it is essential to have a specific function (say, IPv6 or an integrated Samba client), our interest is focused on the Mini and Standard builds. Other routers do not have enough memory (e.g., WRT54G v5) and are limited to Micro editions. Today I will use the Mini edition.
On the other hand, we click on the additional information link, and on the new page we download the "trailed" build. This is the DD-WRT build used to do the first flash over Linksys's original firmware. At the same time, here you will find the roots of any tutorial for DD-WRT, and a good part of our information comes from that text. Save the two .bin files (the normal build and the "trailed" one) in a temporary folder.
Prepare the router and computer
Nothing strange here: Take the router, turn it on, and press the reset button a couple of times so it returns to its factory configuration. Connect it from one of its ports to the network card in your computer (the connection is "direct", meaning it doesn't go through other routers or access points), and specify a static IP address associated with the router's gateway. For example: In factory configuration, the Linksys WRT54G v3 uses 192.168.1.1 as the gateway, and the static IP address must follow the format 192.168.1.x.
Once that is done, access the router by typing its IP in the browser (admin/admin, admin/1234 or similar), go to the administration section, and again order a reset of its configuration. We're almost ready!
Perform the first flash
Return to the router's configuration, go to the administration section, click on Firmware Upgrade, select the "trailed" build and start the flash. From here on, it's necessary to exercise patience and not rush...
Wait
When I say 'wait', I'm not exaggerating. Make a coffee. Watch television for ten minutes. Play a game of Mortal Kombat and kick Shang Tsung's butt if you prefer. The point is that you don't bother the router. Its lights are going to blink, and even when it seems ready, don't touch it. The internal storage of routers is not as fast as we think, and more than once its internal configuration continues beyond initialization. The official DD-WRT guides recommend five or six minutes as a minimum. I usually wait about ten.
Access the router (now with DD-WRT)
Very well! When typing the router's address in the browser, we should be able to see the DD-WRT interface, with the build number and date at the top right of the screen. If the firmware asks for a username and password, the factory values are root/admin. Anyone would be tempted to stop here, but our plan from the beginning is to install the latest version of DD-WRT available.
Before that, we need an additional reset. Go to the administration section, click on Factory Defaults, confirm and apply the configuration. Once the reboot is finished, visit Administration again, but this time click on Firmware Upgrade. Here select the normal firmware (not the "trailed" one), change the After Flashing parameter to "Reset to Default Settings", and finally, click on Upgrade. A countdown of 300 seconds will appear.
Wait (again)
Same as before, with a couple of indications. It is possible that the countdown disappears before reaching zero. Don't worry because that usually happens, but it doesn't mean that the router has finished its flash and initialization process. I insist: You have to wait. Prepare another coffee. If hobbits have second breakfast, nothing prevents you from drinking a second cup. (!)
Success!
If you have reached this point, then congratulations! Your triumph over planned obsolescence with a complete installation of DD-WRT on your router deserves recognition. At the top right you will see that the version number and date are much higher than the trailed build, confirming that "we are up to date".
The rest is a matter of visiting the different sections of the firmware. Setup has everything related to basic connectivity, router IP address, DHCP control, and MTU values. Wireless regulates the wireless aspect, with the network name, channel, connection type, and security (Remember: WPA2 Personal with AES algorithm as a minimum). NAT/QoS holds a critical section like port forwarding (BitTorrent clients and some online games will require manual port opening). Other DD-WRT parameters allow us to overclock the main chip or increase the power of the WiFi network, but our priority is stability and security.
Summary
We have reached the end. If you wanted to know how to install DD-WRT on your router, this guide will give you a fairly solid idea of what awaits you. Unfortunately, no tutorial is universal. Each router brings its own set of instructions, and checking official data is vital to reach a good port. Some routers are extremely complex, require several flashes and only accept specific builds, or otherwise we run the risk of bricking.
Now, that doesn't mean it's an impossible mission. The Linksys WRT54G v3 is one of the easiest routers to flash, but there are others that don't even require such extensive prior preparation. Collect information, consult the database. You don't need a latest-model router to access DD-WRT, only the one that best suits your needs. I hope this tutorial has been useful. Good luck!
