wrt54gs setup

Does the Linksys WRT54GS wireless router support CLIENT mode using
Linksys's software? I am using one in client mode running DD-WRT and
my friend wants to be able to do this also. He doesnt want to upload
new firmware to his router, he is a little afraid of the procdure
after reading about turning routers into "bricks". I have a copy of
the manual and have looked through it and found no mention of CLIENT
mode. I may have missed something or perhaps it isnt called client
mode by Linksys. I really hate looking for something that doesnt
exsist so if someone could help me out I would appreciate it.

Jimmie

On Wed, 9 Jul 2008 18:12:33 -0700 (PDT), jimmie68@gmail.com wrote:

>Does the Linksys WRT54GS wireless router support CLIENT mode using
>Linksys's software?

No.

>I am using one in client mode running DD-WRT and
>my friend wants to be able to do this also. He doesnt want to upload
>new firmware to his router, he is a little afraid of the procdure
>after reading about turning routers into "bricks".

I've bricked a few, and recovered gracefully. If you learn to use the
TFTP firmware upload procedure, you can generally recover from just
about anything. However, I will admit that the v5 procedure is a bit
complicated. The good news is that you only have to do it once.
Follow the instructions and you can do no wrong.

Also, one gotcha is rebooting too soon. When the firmware upload says
that it's done, don't do anything. Keep your fingers off the keyboard
and reset button. Wait at least 3 minutes before hitting "OK" or
restarting the router. There's something going on inside the router
after the upload is done and that takes time.

>I have a copy of
>the manual and have looked through it and found no mention of CLIENT
>mode.

Too late. You've read the manual. You should never do that. It
takes all the fun out of Learn By Destroying(tm). Oh well.

>I may have missed something or perhaps it isnt called client
>mode by Linksys. I really hate looking for something that doesnt
>exsist so if someone could help me out I would appreciate it.

You can usually find a client mode in wireless access points. However,
for wireless routers, only a few have client mode.

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

Jeff Liebermann wrote:
> On Wed, 9 Jul 2008 18:12:33 -0700 (PDT), jimmie68@gmail.com wrote:
>
> >Does the Linksys WRT54GS wireless router support CLIENT mode using
> >Linksys's software?
>
> No.
>
> >I am using one in client mode running DD-WRT and
> >my friend wants to be able to do this also. He doesnt want to upload
> >new firmware to his router, he is a little afraid of the procdure
> >after reading about turning routers into "bricks".
>
> I've bricked a few, and recovered gracefully. If you learn to use the
> TFTP firmware upload procedure, you can generally recover from just
> about anything. However, I will admit that the v5 procedure is a bit
> complicated. The good news is that you only have to do it once.
> Follow the instructions and you can do no wrong.
>
> Also, one gotcha is rebooting too soon. When the firmware upload says
> that it's done, don't do anything. Keep your fingers off the keyboard
> and reset button. Wait at least 3 minutes before hitting "OK" or
> restarting the router. There's something going on inside the router
> after the upload is done and that takes time.
>
> >I have a copy of
> >the manual and have looked through it and found no mention of CLIENT
> >mode.
>
> Too late. You've read the manual. You should never do that. It
> takes all the fun out of Learn By Destroying(tm). Oh well.
>
> >I may have missed something or perhaps it isnt called client
> >mode by Linksys. I really hate looking for something that doesnt
> >exsist so if someone could help me out I would appreciate it.
>
> You can usually find a client mode in wireless access points. However,
> for wireless routers, only a few have client mode.

Thanks Jeff, Luckily I got clued in to giving the router a little
extra time when uploading new software before I bricked one and I now
do any uploads with both the computer and router plugged into a UPS.
Currently I am putting together a dedicated computer running Unix to
do stuff like this. About the riskiest thing I have done so far is
wirelessly updating the software on a router.


Jimmie

jimmie68@gmail.com wrote:
> Does the Linksys WRT54GS wireless router support CLIENT mode using
> Linksys's software? I am using one in client mode running DD-WRT and
> my friend wants to be able to do this also. He doesnt want to upload
> new firmware to his router, he is a little afraid of the procdure
> after reading about turning routers into "bricks". I have a copy of
> the manual and have looked through it and found no mention of CLIENT
> mode. I may have missed something or perhaps it isnt called client
> mode by Linksys. I really hate looking for something that doesnt
> exsist so if someone could help me out I would appreciate it.

The standard firmware from Linksys won't do client mode. But take a
look at the OpenWRT firmware at http://openwrt.org. I use that on my
WRT54GL, and it works just fine. I just checked, and it claims to
support your model as well.

Once you've loaded the firmware, run through the instructions here:
http://wiki.openwrt.org/ClientModeHowto

Keith wrote:
> jimmie68@gmail.com wrote:
> > Does the Linksys WRT54GS wireless router support CLIENT mode using
> > Linksys's software? I am using one in client mode running DD-WRT and
> > my friend wants to be able to do this also. He doesnt want to upload
> > new firmware to his router, he is a little afraid of the procdure
> > after reading about turning routers into "bricks". I have a copy of
> > the manual and have looked through it and found no mention of CLIENT
> > mode. I may have missed something or perhaps it isnt called client
> > mode by Linksys. I really hate looking for something that doesnt
> > exsist so if someone could help me out I would appreciate it.
>
> The standard firmware from Linksys won't do client mode. But take a
> look at the OpenWRT firmware at http://openwrt.org. I use that on my
> WRT54GL, and it works just fine. I just checked, and it claims to
> support your model as well.
>
> Once you've loaded the firmware, run through the instructions here:
> http://wiki.openwrt.org/ClientModeHowto

Thanks Keith, I have DD WRT on my routers. My friend had an extra
wireless router he wanted to use in client mode after seeing mine. I
was finally able to talk him into letting me install DD-WRT on it. Now
he doesnt have to move his USB adapter between his laptop and desktop
computers. This also allows us to use each others internet connection
as a backup in case we need it. I am on cable and he is on DSL so the
chance that both go down are pretty slim. This also allows us to do
some file sharing.

Is there any particular reason you chose OpentWRT over other firmware
such as DD-WRT?.

Jimmie

> Is there any particular reason you chose OpentWRT over other firmware
> such as DD-WRT?.

Nope, and DD-WRT often has a better user interface. If you want a
faster firmware, the tomato firmware is worth a look. But it trades out
router features in the process.

Bill Kearney wrote:
>
>> Is there any particular reason you chose OpentWRT over other firmware
>> such as DD-WRT?.
>
> Nope, and DD-WRT often has a better user interface. If you want a
> faster firmware, the tomato firmware is worth a look. But it trades out
> router features in the process.

In actual fact, I am using X-Wrt, which is OpenWrt with a much nicer web
interface. Take a look at http://x-wrt.org/

I started out with OpenWrt simply from a our local community wifi group.
I did try Tomato, but found the configuration a bit messy. Maybe when
I get my new cantenna sorted out, I'll give it another go.

Keith wrote:
>
> I started out with OpenWrt simply from a our local community wifi group.

Obviously that should read '... a recommendation from our...' :)