Tomato firmware Linksys router

[NJC]

I flashed my WRT54GL Linksys router from standard firmware to Tomato 1.28 last night. Wow.

Enough configurations to keep one busy for months! Seems very well done ... the only config I've done so far is to forward a few ports.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Yeah, tomato is great. Very stable, too. I've been using it since 2007 on various Linksys and Asus routers.

The original Tomato hasn't been updated in years, but there are many follow-up releases such as Toastman or Shibby that continue to crank out new versions on a monthly or sometimes weekly basis.

 

[NJC]

For those also wondering what modern computing user can do with this swanky Tomato firmware, here are 5 tips:

http://www.howtogeek.com/67943/5-tips-for-getting-the-most-out-of-your-tomato-router/

 

[2Fast4U]

I've been running ddwrt for many years. Love it. The configuration options are awesome especially with having kids online.

 

[NJC]

I was perusing the above link and stumbled across this section:
Quote:
4) Set Up Access Restriction For Productivity

Access restriction never sounds like a good thing, but it is when you’re trying to get work done or when you want to keep certain people off certain parts of the web. Tomato’s Access Restriction feature allows you, the administrator, to create rules for your network. In the example below, we are going to set up a rule that will restrict us from going to certain websites that cause us to not get any work done. This rule will be effective on weekdays from 6 PM to 10 PM.

The kids could unplug the router I guess, but it's an interesting alternative to filtering software.

 

[97tbird]

I also upgraded my Linksys WRT 54GL with Tomato, and Like it a lot better - overall better speeds when testing with speedtest.net AND it mostly got rid of the Youtube video lag / buffer issues...

I haven't tweaked it much, though...

 

[2Fast4U]

Unplug the router? What? That would be the ultimate access restriction.

I use access restriction on sites and words for my kids and the router blocks my TV from getting firmware.
Only single option I wish they did was speed limit in access restrictions instead of at the router level.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: 2Fast4U
Unplug the router? What? That would be the ultimate access restriction.

Well, unplug the router and plug your PC to the broadband modem directly using an Ethernet cable. It'll work, while all the other devices at home will face "the ultimate access restriction".

 

[2Fast4U]

Ethernet. What is that?

Seriously, very few devices even have Ethernet today.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: 2Fast4U
Ethernet. What is that?

Seriously, very few devices even have Ethernet today.



I realize smartphones and tablets don't, but PCs and laptops?

Also, the term "Ethernet" actually describes both wireline as well as wireless networking standards. 802.3 covers wireline. 802.11 covers wireless.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: 2Fast4U
Ethernet. What is that?

Seriously, very few devices even have Ethernet today.



Maybe if the scope of your devices is phones and tablets. Laptop and desktop computers, with the exception perhaps being the ultralight laptops like the macbook air all still have an RJ45 jack.

 

[97tbird]

^^^ Not to mention a lot of newer TVs and Blu Ray players that are internet capable, like mine -
even though the new ones almost always have wi-fi, they still have an ethernet jack, too.

 

[BearZDefect]

As convenient as wireless is, wired ethernet simply has less trouble potential. If the computer is close to the router I'd rather plug it in. But if not, wireless is wonderful.