Linux based routers?

I've been reading amazing reviews on the Linksys WRT54GL and it's a Linux based router (firmware is linux). It should work fine on a windows based computer shouldn't it?

 

I bet it should. I mean, all routers do have a mini-OS. They just handle the IP traffic so I don't see any problem.

Really interesting, I wonder if you can actually program for it lol Runing kde in your router would be nice

 

a router operates at a lower level on the OSI stack than applications meaning that a router doesn't care what kind of operating system is running. that's why you can plug windows, osx, linux, xbox, slingbox, etc. into a router and it will work.

pretty much if it has an ethernet port, it's compatible with a router.

 

It will work perfectly fine- the original 4 models of the WRT54G were all linux based (revision 5 is not, apparently). Those particular routers are actually somewhat sought after because they're easy to both build hacked firmware for and to execute commands on (doing things such as boosting the output power). You should be just fine with a windows machine.

 

Yes you can program for it -- anything you can get to compile for the 200mhz MIPS processor most of them have. However most have 16MB of RAM (32MB in the case of the Speedbooster version) so that rules out any type of a desktop interface. However, it does leave a lot of possibilities open.

I have 3 of them throughout the house, on channels 1-6-11, 2 of them acting as access points. They're configured for traffic shaping and quite a few other things Linksys never intended for. Gives me a great seamless signal anywhere inside and outside the house.