3 ms·

It's down to the binary drivers. They lock firmwares to a specific kernel. Your only option is to backport fixes. I read in forums that devs aren't intereste

It's down to the binary drivers. They lock firmwares to a specific kernel. Your only option is to backport fixes. I read in forums that devs aren't interested do to introducing bugs and citing lack of free time. I roll my own Tomato kernel but I've only included a couple backports. x86 is really your best bet as an enthusiast. I'm waiting for Braswell hw, personally.

dublinben 12y ago
No need to compile your own kernel, or get a huge x86 board. You can use an Atheros-based TP-Link router with 100% free software, bootloader and firmware included. There's no reason you can't update this. https://www.thinkpenguin.com/gnu-linux/free-software-wireless-n-broadband-router-gnu-linux-tpe-nwifirouter https://www.thinkpenguin.com/gnu-linux/free-software-wireles...
- wtallis 12y ago
  > Flash: 4 MB There's your reason. Good luck getting a modern OS to fit in that. Twice that would still be crowded. Also, it's 2.4GHz only. There's no justification for ever recommending a WiFi device that can't use the 5GHz band.
  - sitkack 12y ago
    Ok, netboot your router off the network ... ;)
    - wtallis 12y ago
      Now you've doubled your RAM requirements, because all but the newest consumer routers use NOR flash and can directly execute code from the flash without having to copy it to RAM first. If you have to start using RAM to hold code and static data in addition to transient stuff, you're going to need to bump up a size and that's going to ruin the profit margins on all the dirt-cheap low-end routers out there.
      - sitkack 12y ago
        Karl Marx has a memo for you, prices are arbitrary and RAM is cheap. http://www.mouser.com/Semiconductors/Integrated-Circuits-ICs/Memory/DRAM/_/N-98x2d?P=1z0w6tuZ1z0w127Z1yxo745&FS=True&Ns=Pricing|0 http://www.mouser.com/Semiconductors/Integrated-Circuits-ICs... $2.50 for a 128 MB, single chip, qty 2500.

dublinben 12y ago

No need to compile your own kernel, or get a huge x86 board. You can use an Atheros-based TP-Link router with 100% free software, bootloader and firmware included. There's no reason you can't update this. https://www.thinkpenguin.com/gnu-linux/free-software-wireless-n-broadband-router-gnu-linux-tpe-nwifirouter https://www.thinkpenguin.com/gnu-linux/free-software-wireles...

wtallis 12y ago
> Flash: 4 MB There's your reason. Good luck getting a modern OS to fit in that. Twice that would still be crowded. Also, it's 2.4GHz only. There's no justification for ever recommending a WiFi device that can't use the 5GHz band.
- sitkack 12y ago
  Ok, netboot your router off the network ... ;)
  - wtallis 12y ago
    Now you've doubled your RAM requirements, because all but the newest consumer routers use NOR flash and can directly execute code from the flash without having to copy it to RAM first. If you have to start using RAM to hold code and static data in addition to transient stuff, you're going to need to bump up a size and that's going to ruin the profit margins on all the dirt-cheap low-end routers out there.
    - sitkack 12y ago
      Karl Marx has a memo for you, prices are arbitrary and RAM is cheap. http://www.mouser.com/Semiconductors/Integrated-Circuits-ICs/Memory/DRAM/_/N-98x2d?P=1z0w6tuZ1z0w127Z1yxo745&FS=True&Ns=Pricing|0 http://www.mouser.com/Semiconductors/Integrated-Circuits-ICs... $2.50 for a 128 MB, single chip, qty 2500.