DD-WRT

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DD-WRT

DD-WRT's Web Interface
Developed by Sebastian Gottschall / NewMedia-NET
Latest release v24 SP1 / 2008-07-26; 259 days ago
Operating system Linux
Type Router operating system
License GNU General Public License
Website www.dd-wrt.com
DD-WRT was originally designed for routers like this Linksys WRT54G, but will now run on a variety of routers

DD-WRT is free Linux-based firmware for several wireless routers, most notably the Linksys WRT54G (including the WRT54GL and WRT54GS). It is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 2. Like other similar projects, DD-WRT is considered a third-party firmware solution designed to replace the firmware that ships pre-installed on many commercial routers. This is done for a variety of reasons; including but not limited to the addition of features which are not typically included in a manufacturer's router firmware.

DD-WRT includes such features as support for the Kai network, daemon-based services, IPv6, Wireless Distribution System, RADIUS, advanced quality of service, radio output power control, overclocking capability, and software support for a Secure Digital Card hardware modification.

DD-WRT versions up to v22 were based on the Alchemy firmware from Sveasoft, which in turn is based on the original Linksys firmware. DD-WRT versions from v23 onwards, however, are almost completely rewritten. The Linux kernel part is based on the OpenWrt kernel, which started as a Linksys-based firmware but later changed to its own build framework. All of the firmwares are based on Linux, as are OpenWrt and Alchemy.

Through a partnership with Buffalo Technology, Buffalo will begin shipping routers pre-installed with a customized version of DD-WRT.[1][2]

Contents

[edit] Releases

The major releases to date include:

DD-WRT v23 Service Pack 1 (SP1) was released on May 16, 2006. Much of the code was overhauled and rewritten during the development of this release, and many new features were added.

DD-WRT v23 Service Pack 2 (SP2) was released on September 14, 2006. The interface was overhauled, and some new features were added. Some additional router models are supported, with more planned.

DD-WRT v24 was released on May 18, 2008. It allows up to 16 virtual interfaces with different SSIDs and encryption protocols. There is support for some PowerPC, IXP425-based router boards, Atheros WiSOC and X86 based systems. There is also limited support for routers with low flash memory (ex. WRT54Gv8 or WRT54GSv7).

DD-WRT v24 Service Pack 1 (SP1) was released on July 26, 2008. Urgent DNS security issue fixed for DNSMasq, Site Survey security fixes, longer passwords, and flexible OpenVPN configurations. New hardware supported, including WRT300 v1.1, WRT310N, WRT600N, Tonze AP42X Pronghorn SBC, Ubiquiti LSX and Netgear, Belkin and USR devices.

[edit] Features

List of features in all versions [3]

  Micro
(2 MB)
Mini Nokaid Standard VOIP VPN* Mega**
(8 MB)
Access Restrictions
AnchorFree
Bandwidth Monitoring
Chillispot        
Dynamic DNS
HTTPS Support for Web Management    
IPv6***    
Journalling Flash File System (JFFS2)*  
XLink Kai (kaid)          
MMC/SD Card Support    
NoCat    
OpenVPN        
PPTP/PPTP Client
QoS
IPv6 Router Advertisement Daemon (radvd)  
Linking Routers/Repeater/mBSSID
RFlow (Traffic Information)    
Samba/CIFS client    
Milkfish SIP Router          
SNMP    
SPI Firewall/IPtables
SSHd  
Telnetd
Transmit (Tx) power adjust
UPnP
Wake On LAN
WPA/WPA2 Personal/Enterprise
Wiviz
* Smaller VPN JFFS builds are available for 4MB units: downloads/others/eko
** Only on DD-WRT v24 (8MB+ flash required)
*** Apparently, IPv6-related features DO NOT work by default in DD-WRT v24.[4]
Note: Apparently it is possible to build your own custom firmware package with the
feature-set you want, working within the limitations of available RAM [5]
 
RAM Requirements: • All versions require 4 MB of flash unless noted otherwise
• Micro+ requires 2 MB of flash + 128K CFE

[edit] Controversy

DD-WRT describes itself as a third party developed firmware released under the terms of the GPL,[6] and distributes the source code via Subversion.[7] However, DD-WRTs release of firmware does not follow the terms of the GPL for several reasons:

  1. The distribution includes as of 2006-02-12 proprietary software from Broadcom. The copyright notice includes: This is UNPUBLISHED PROPRIETARY SOURCE CODE of Broadcom Corporation; the contents of this file may not be disclosed to third parties, copied or duplicated in any form, in whole or in part, without the prior written permission of Broadcom Corporation.[8] Even if DD-WRT has a license from Broadcom to distribute this software, the distribution is not in compliance with the GPL.
  2. The distribution includes as of 2006-05-27 software with copyright belonging to Atheros.[9] Even if DD-WRT has a license from Atheros to distribute this software, it is missing a GPL (compatible) license.
  3. The distribution includes as of 2007-02-12 proprietary software from AvantCom Corporation. The copyright notice includes: This material is the exclusive confidential property of AvantCom Corporation. All rights, including copyrights and patent rights, are reserved. No copies of any portion are to be made by any means without the express written permission of AvantCom Corporation.[10] Even if DD-WRT has a license from AvantCom to distribute this software, the distribution is not in compliance with the GPL.
  4. The distribution includes as of 2007-03-09 software with copyright belonging to Intel.[11] Even if DD-WRT has a license from Intel to distribute this software, the conditions of this license are not present nor known, and the distribution is thus not in compliance with the GPL.
  5. The distribution includes as of 2007-07-21 software with copyright belonging to Moxa Technologies.[12] Even if DD-WRT has a license from Moxa to distribute this software, it is missing a GPL (compatible) license.
  6. The distribution includes as of 2007-07-21 software with copyright belonging to Brad Eacker (Music, Intuition, Software, and Computers).[13] Even if DD-WRT has a license from Brad Eacker to distribute this software, it is missing a GPL (compatible) license.
  7. The distribution includes, as of 2008-05-02, software with copyright belonging to Microsoft Corporation.[14] Even if DD-WRT has a license from Microsoft to distribute this software, it is missing a GPL (compatible) license.
  8. The distribution includes, as of 2008-07-12, software with copyright belonging to Greg Ungerer at snapgear.com.[15] Even if DD-WRT has a license from Greg Ungerer to distribute this software, it is missing a GPL (compatible) license.

In July 2006, the DD-WRT Shop started offering a commercial version of the router firmware built with additional, non-open source code.[16] It includes increased functionality such as per-user bandwidth control. Because the GPL license has a provision against binary-only public distribution of derivative works, this would appear to be a license violation, as pointed out by one contributor to the project.[17] Also around that time, the license text was changed to specify that some software components were not licensed under the GPL. The web interface, one of the non-GPL components, was encrypted to prevent its reverse engineering and rebranding.

The person who released the proprietary version wrote a response to these allegations in his blog and stated that the source code was in fact available.[18] The license text was reverted back to the unmodified GPL license.

[edit] See also

See Supported Devices.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Buffalo Partners with NewMedia-NET. Press release. 2007-10-23. http://www.buffalo-technology.com/press/releases/buffalo-partners-with-newmedia-net/. Retrieved on 2007-11-14. 
  2. ^ Gottschall, Sebastian [BrainSlayer] (2007-10-29). "Congratulations on the partnership w/Buffalo!". http://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=121822&highlight=#121822. Retrieved on 2007-11-14. 
  3. ^ Feature Matrix, (by firmware version).
  4. ^ IPv6 on v24 - DD-WRT Wiki
  5. ^ Firmware Modification Kit gives the user the ability to make changes to a firmware image without recompiling the firmware sources.
  6. ^ "What is DD-WRT?". http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/What_is_DD-WRT%3F. Retrieved on 2008-11-27. 
  7. ^ "DD-WRT - Trac". http://svn.dd-wrt.com:8000/dd-wrt/. Retrieved on 2008-11-28. 
  8. ^ "/src/shared/nvram/nvram_ro.c - DD-WRT - Trac". http://svn.dd-wrt.com:8000/dd-wrt/browser/src/shared/nvram/nvram_ro.c. Retrieved on 2008-11-28. 
  9. ^ "/src/router/madwifi/pktlog/pktlog.c - DD-WRT - Trac". http://svn.dd-wrt.com:8000/dd-wrt/browser/src/router/madwifi/pktlog/pktlog.c. Retrieved on 2008-11-28. 
  10. ^ "/src/router/snmp/agent/mibgroup/avc802dot11.c - DD-WRT - Trac". http://svn.dd-wrt.com:8000/dd-wrt/browser/src/router/snmp/agent/mibgroup/avc802dot11.c. Retrieved on 2008-11-28. 
  11. ^ "/redboot/packages/devs/eth/intel/npe/ethAcc/v2_01/src/IxEthAcc.c - DD-WRT - Trac". http://svn.dd-wrt.com:8000/dd-wrt/browser/redboot/packages/devs/eth/intel/npe/ethAcc/v2_01/src/IxEthAcc.c. Retrieved on 2008-11-28. 
  12. ^ "/src/router/moxa/npreal2d.c - DD-WRT - Trac". http://svn.dd-wrt.com:8000/dd-wrt/browser/src/router/moxa/npreal2d.c. Retrieved on 2008-11-28. 
  13. ^ "/src/router/php5/ext/dbase/dbf_ndx.c - DD-WRT - Trac". http://svn.dd-wrt.com:8000/dd-wrt/browser/src/router/php5/ext/dbase/dbf_ndx.c. Retrieved on 2008-11-28. 
  14. ^ "/src/router/iperf/src/service.c - DD-WRT - Trac". http://svn.dd-wrt.com:8000/dd-wrt/browser/src/router/iperf/src/service.c. Retrieved on 2008-11-28. 
  15. ^ "/src/router/utils/setmac.c - DD-WRT - Trac". http://svn.dd-wrt.com:8000/dd-wrt/browser/src/router/utils/setmac.c. Retrieved on 2008-11-28. 
  16. ^ "DD-WRT v23 SP2 Special". DD-WRT Shop. 2006-07-13. http://www.dd-wrt.com/shop/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=31. Retrieved on 2007-09-23. 
  17. ^ Collake, Jeremy (2007-02-10). "DD-WRT Continues to exploit free open-source software". http://xwrt.blogspot.com/2007/02/dd-wrt-continues-to-exploit-free-open.html. Retrieved on 2007-07-09. 
  18. ^ Gottschall, Sebastian (2007-02-11). "As we see, Jeremy Collake is still alive". http://dd-wrt.blogspot.com/2007/02/as-we-see-jeremy-collake-is-still-alive.html. Retrieved on 2007-10-05. 

[edit] External links


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