Update firmware on Linksys WRT54G

I have Linksys WRT54G routers at my office and also at my home. I just
noticed today in making some changes on the office router QoS was not an
option. In comparing tonight at home I notice that the firmware here is
v4.20.6 while at the office it is v1.42.2.

I have never updated firmware and thought I had better ask if there are any
gotcha's and if I would gain much by doing so.

Thanks

On Thu, 1 Nov 2007 20:41:08 -0500, "Don Harvey" <dharvey@kc.rr.com> wrote:

>I have Linksys WRT54G routers at my office and also at my home. I just
>noticed today in making some changes on the office router QoS was not an
>option. In comparing tonight at home I notice that the firmware here is
>v4.20.6 while at the office it is v1.42.2.
>
>I have never updated firmware and thought I had better ask if there are any
>gotcha's and if I would gain much by doing so.
>
>Thanks

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Unless you have a problem that an update corrects, leave it alone.

"Don Harvey" <dharvey@kc.rr.com> hath wroth:

>I have Linksys WRT54G routers at my office and also at my home.

There are 8 different hardware versions of the WRT54G, each with their
own firmware versions. My crystal ball deduces that you have v4
router from the supplied firmware versions. How close did I get?
(Look at the serial number sticker).

>I just
>noticed today in making some changes on the office router QoS was not an
>option. In comparing tonight at home I notice that the firmware here is
>v4.20.6 while at the office it is v1.42.2.

Yep. It's in 4.20.7
<http://www.linksysdata.com/ui/WRT54G/v1-v4/4.20.7/QoS.htm>

but not in 1.42.2:
<http://www.linksysdata.com/ui/WRT54G...orward.asp.htm >

I can't check for the current version because the Linksys web site
proclaims that it's currently doing maintenance.

>I have never updated firmware and thought I had better ask if there are any
>gotcha's and if I would gain much by doing so.

Well, some updates require that you reset the router to defaults and
reload all the settings. When making such a large jump in versions,
methinks that a grand reset is a good idea. You might also consider
one of the alternative firmware releases (DD-WRT, OpenWRT, Tomato,
etc) if you need additional features.

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558