New OpenWRT Drops Support For Linux 2.4, Low-Mem Devices

hypnosec writes with word that the OpenWRT team a few days ago released the final version of the project's newest iteration, version 12.09 (codenamed "Attitude Adjustment"). "The final version doesn't support Linux 2.4, because of which the distribution wouldn't run on old router models, for example the Linksys WRT54G models, which have 16MB of RAM and CPUs clocked at 200MHz. The distribution is now based on Linux 3.3 and there is good news for the Raspberry Pi fans as the distribution now supports the credit card-sized computer, along with Ramips routers."

Re:But... but... but...

[ganjadude]

well technically yes. I am sure that some other pissed off people out there will fork the revision and continue support for the version that is officially no longer supported. you see it happen all the time for example mySQL - MARIADB

Re:Brilliant

[Anonymous Coward]

You still demand php4 support, don't you? The WRT54G was first released in December 2002. That's 11 years ago, back when XP was fairly new. Upgrade.

Blogspam

[Nimey]

And now for some karma whoring^W^W^Wthe actual details:

The OpenWrt Release Team would like to announce the final Attitude Adjustment Release (12.09).

Highlights since Backfire 10.03.1:
Dropped support for legacy Broadcom target (brcm-2.4)
Switched to Kernel 3.3
Switched to uClibc 0.9.33.2
Switched x86 images from ext2 to ext4 filesystem
Improved parallel building support
New netifd implementation to replace the old script based network configuration system
Switched to shadow passwords
Support for external overlay filesystems in release images
Various firewall enhancements
Wireless driver updates and stability improvements
Experimential support for 5 and 10 MHz channels in ath5k and ath9k
Package updates and dependency fixes
New target support: ramips, bcm2708 (Raspberry Pi) and others
Support for further router models
Support for building with eglic instead of uClibc
Support for 6RD configuration
Support for bridge firewalling in release images

Known Issues:
Most open tickets at the time of the final builds
Lower end devices with only 16 MiB RAM will easily run out of Memory, for bcm47xx based devices is Backfire with brcm-2.4 recommended

More detailed information: https://dev.openwrt.org/query?status=closed&group=resolution&milestone=Attitude+Adjustment+12.09 [openwrt.org]
Detailed core changelog at: https://dev.openwrt.org/log/branches/attitude_adjustment [openwrt.org]
Detailed packages changelog at: https://dev.openwrt.org/log/branches/packages_12.09 [openwrt.org]
Binaries can be downloaded at http://downloads.openwrt.org/attitude_adjustment/12.09/ [openwrt.org]

Re:Brilliant

[morcego]

Pretty much par of course for them.
For years now OpenWRT is becoming more and more bloated, to a point it is hard to make it run smoothly in the standard base device (WRT54GL). I haven't been able to use the standard image for at least 3 years now, having to build my own removing as much bloat as I can...

Sigh...

[Black Parrot]

A few seconds at openwrt.org will reveal that OpenWRT is a specialized Linux distribution, and they've simply migrated to the 3.3 kernel. Kind of like Ubuntu 10 migrated to 2.6, lo those many years ago.

Maybe this qualifies as news for some people, but it's certainly not something to get your panties in a bunch over.

Re:Blogspam

[Black Parrot]

And now for some karma whoring^W^W^Wthe actual details:

You left out the most important part [openwrt.org]:

ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT (12.09, r36088)
    * 1/4 oz Vodka
    * 1/4 oz Gin
    * 1/4 oz Amaretto
    * 1/4 oz Triple sec
    * 1/4 oz Peach schnapps
    * 1/4 oz Sour mix
    * 1 splash Cranberry juice
Pour all ingredients into mixing
tin with ice, strain into glass.

(Reformatted to please Slashdot's filters.)

Re:Brilliant

[ArcadeMan]

My cable internet is only 2Mbps. I'm not upgrading because it's enough for me and going with 5Mbps or 10Mbps would double or triple my monthly fee.

No, there's no other options where I live, the company has a real monopoly.

Re:The WRT54G had a good run, but it's obsolete.

[Lothsahn]

Tomato isn't dead... The main site isn't being updated--the devs either don't have access or don't update the site.

The two main branches of Tomato are:
Toastman: (What I use) http://www.4shared.com/dir/v1BuINP3/Toastman_Builds.html#dir=zBnbpdpY [4shared.com]
Shibby: http://tomato.groov.pl/ [groov.pl]

I've been using Toastman tomato on a WNR3500Lv1 and a ASUS RT-N66U for months now. If you're going to get a new router, I'd strongly recommend the RT-N66U, because the WNR3500L has a v2 which is totally different hardware. In addition, the RT-N66U is very fast, stable (never crashed), nearly impossible to brick and is dual-band. The RT-N66U is $170, and it's been worth every penny. Signal output is very strong--I can pick up my internet in my neighbor's house, without adjusting transmitter output power. In addition, the devs appear to use the RT-N66U's personally, so it has the most testing.

Tomato has been rock solid, stable, and an excellent daily driver for me for the last 5 years or so. I strongly recommend it, and my friends and neighbors use it and have been very happy with it. Do update to Toastman or Shibby--they're doing an excellent job fixing issues and keeping things current.

I still use my WRT54G's as wireless bridges throughout my house, but they do show performance issues when I go above 10MBps Upload/30MB Download.

Re:Brilliant

[Lothsahn]

The ASUS RT-N66U is rock solid stable using Toastman Tomato. I've been running it for 3 months with no crashes, lockups, dropped connections, or other problems. Unfortunately, it's $170, not under your $100 pricepoint. I got mine on sale with a free USB HD, so it was really like $120 at the time. It's also nearly impossible to brick.

I also have experience with the WNR3500Lv1, which has worked great for me (stable for years with no lockups). I see it's listed for $60 at Amazon, however, there is a new v2 hardware out which is VERY different from the v1, and software support is radically different. If you could get your hands on an old WNR3500Lv1, it'll work great. If you order a new one, you'll probably get a v2, which is NOT what you want. It's not dual-band, though.

The RT-N66U appears to be what most of the Tomato devs use, so that's what I would recommend. To me, it's worth the extra $$, as I plan on keeping it for many years and the 5Ghz gives me great speeds in my house (62Mbit reliable at pings only 2ms slower than wired).

Re:Brilliant

[bill_mcgonigle]

Gigabit ethernet is a really good thing if you have a file server in your LAN

yeah, but if you count up the 90th percentile, people use wireless AP's to connect their laptops to their cable or DSL connection to reach servers where the total link speed is less than real-world 802.11g performance. And Backfire will work just fine for that. Internet connection speeds aren't much different than they were in 2002 for most people; a 200MHz MIPS is plenty to handle 7Mbps.

I have a wndr3700v2 running Attitude Adjustment with wpad and luci-ssl installed, but that's me.

There is at least one exception: I was trying to help my folks get out from behind their double-NAT situation on FiOS and realized that the TV gets routed through IP, so the packet processing speed of their 54g will be insufficient, so I needed to turn back on that one. BTW, what a massive pain FiOS is to use your own router.

for bcm47xx ... Backfire with brcm-2.4 recommended

[bill_mcgonigle]

Right there in the release note, folks - if you have a 54G, use Backfire.

Newer hardware gets better kernels.

Next story.

Re:Brilliant

[Lumpy]

Yes. it's called quit playing with toys and run iPCop or other real firewall. I can do a lot more easier and it is brain dead easy to update myself. Built a nice mico ITX box with two ethernet ports into a router/firewall that is fantastic in every way and does not suck up all my time to manage it.