What would you add to a 1.0.7.8 firmware image

Due to the underwhelming enhancements to the latest firmware by Asus, I'm considering adding some more "out of the box", web gui enabled, features to future custom 1.0.7.8 firmware images.

Please post your wish-list items. Be as specific as possible with what you'd like to see. The more information I have, the more likely it will be to be included. Relevant links to forum threads, web sites, examples, how-to's, etc. will be appreciated.

I have two items already.

1) Better BT support. I like this approach:

http://wl500g.info/showthread.php?t=10041

2) Configurable HDD spin down

I'm sure there'll be much, much more.

- K.C.

First off, i would like to say that this is a great initiative! And thanks for all the work that you have already done
with Asus bug filled software!

Now i don't know if this is possible, but i guess it doesn't hurt to ask. I was really hoping that Asus
would have updated samba to a newer version, that supports Windows Vista. I have tried many of the "hacks"
that should make it possible for Vista to commmunicate with the old samba version, with user based auth.
My fix for now is to just use share based auth.

Is it in any way possible to replace the samba version in the firmware with a newer one, without screwing the
webGUI up?

I guess you already though of these, since its already in your tutorial on how to install your custom
firmware and "make a better system" :-). I know that these things don't have anything to do with the webGUI
but i think it would be nice to have enabled and configured "out-of-the-box".

* Bash shell
* Dropbear SSH (As described in your tutorial on installing your custom firmware)
* Apply your CPU "eating" patch :-)

It should be said that i have no experience with anything like this, so i have no idea if my suggestions are completely out of proportions :-)

Lighttpd php & Mysql would also be nice to have :)

maybe it can be made somehow so users can turn it on or off in the web-if,
like in the custom oleg firmware on the wl500-series

(I'm also trying to create a custom firmware based on you're instructions, somehow I get a buch of errors compiling it so I got a lot to learn I gues)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Henrikh

First off, i would like to say that this is a great initiva! And thanks for all the work that you have already done
with Asus bugfilled software!

Now i dont know if this is possible, but i guess it dosen't hurt to ask. I was really hoping that Asus
would have updated samba to a newer version, that supports Windows Vista. I have tried many of the "hacks"
that should make it possible for Vista to commmunicate with the old samba version, with user based auth.
My fix for now is to just use share based auth.

Is it in any way possible to replace the samba version in the firmware with a newer one, without screwing the
webGUI up?

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I agree with the urgent need for the new SAMBA version. More and more users of the WL700G will be confronted with Windows Vista on new computers. It's a shame this product is not yet updated by ASUS. The WL700G is still being marketed and sold as a state of the art product. In that case you simply have to be Vista compliant !

Next to this it would be very nice to have the possibility of spinning down the HDD.

It would be nice to have a executable that does the job (upgrading firmware and install stuff). So there wont be long discussions on "how to" from linux-unexperienced users like me. I will suggest we do a donation to kfurge when all of our wl's are running like crazy.

Woffels

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kfurge

Due to the underwhelming enhancements to the latest firmware by Asus, I'm considering adding some more "out of the box", web gui enabled, features to future custom 1.0.7.8 firmware images.

Please post your wish-list items. Be as specific as possible with what you'd like to see. The more information I have, the more likely it will be to be included. Relevant links to forum threads, web sites, examples, how-to's, etc. will be appreciated.

I have two items already.

1) Better BT support. I like this approach:

http://wl500g.info/showthread.php?t=10041

2) Configurable HDD spin down

I'm sure there'll be much, much more.

- K.C.

---

For a long while I used your custom firmware, but I kept having trouble configuring it the way I wanted. The Asus component kept wanting to try to take over, and it wouldn't allow some functions to be configured how one would like.

So here is a wishlist:

1. User-configurable dnsmasq for both dns function and for dhcp server. IP of local machines configurable given their mac address.
2. HDD spindown.
3. Better "Download Master" ... the mldonkey approach looks very good.
4. User-editable firewall rules.
5. Up-to-date samba
6. mail server - xmail or some combination of sendmail/fetchmail/postfix
7. webmin interface bound to local lan would be very nice
8. Installable optware ipkg support built in
9. CUPS print server
10. Full openssh server (otherwise dropbear would do)
11. termcap with console utilities: screen mc nano etc would be good
12. wpa security option for wireless as well as wep
13. A light web server. Lighttpd or php-thttpd, or perhaps appweb or cherokee.

If required, then support for a swapfile would be good.

I don't want much, hey!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Woffels

It would be nice to have a executable that does the job (upgrading firmware and install stuff). So there wont be long discussions on "how to" from linux-unexperienced users like me. I will suggest we do a donation to kfurge when all of our wl's are running like crazy.

Woffels

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You can use the Firmware restoration tool if you don't want (or can't) to use the webinterface for reflashing the firmware :-)

K.C -->
I got a servage account which i just use to host some small sites i have made for some people, and my own projects. So there is alot of free space, and lots of "unused" trafic :-). So if you are interrested i can hook you up with FTP access, so you can host firmware files etc., and i could also set up a wiki :-)

The flashing is not the problem, its the the programs to install. It would be nice if we dont have to use al these linux commands. Specially for non linx users.

I dont want to hurry you, Kfurge. But how is your planning on the new firmware you are gonna modificate. Is it years, months, weeks, days, hours minutes .....................now?!!!
Cant wait!
Woffels

Hi kfurge and thanks for doing this!

I have a few suggestions and I like to have:
- knockd to secure external access (remove all bruteforce attacks)
- dropbear
- HDD Spindown
- possibility to mount iso-files easy for streaming purposes
- ipkg
- possibility to choose and/or create/rename places for files not only /shares/MYVOLUME1/MYSHARE1
- possibility to set internal system time to local time
- a better (working) bittorrent client and downloader
- cron
- syslog-ng

Well, I know its hard to please all, but I'm looking forward to see what will be implemented in next version.

/Rejan

My Favorites are:

- tun/tap module and openvpn
- newer mt-daapd with a writable configfile and playlistfile
- cups
- perhaps appletalk support in networking (and netatalk, but that could be installed by ipkg)


out of this world would by python and support for hellanzb, but these are also installable by ipkg

cu

harald

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Henrikh

I got a servage account which i just use to host some small sites i have made for some people, and my own projects. So there is alot of free space, and lots of "unused" trafic :-). So if you are interrested i can hook you up with FTP access, so you can host firmware files etc., and i could also set up a wiki :-)

---

http://wl700g.homelinux.net/drupal/

Its the same as a wiki
Still a good 40Gb available :cool:
Unlimited bandwith
dedicaded to wl700ge :rolleyes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by back2basic

http://wl700g.homelinux.net/drupal/

Its the same as a wiki
Still a good 40Gb available :cool:
Unlimited bandwith
dedicaded to wl700ge :rolleyes:

---

Sweet, didn't know about that one! :-)

My mt-daapd now struggles with directories and filenames with extended characters. They are converted to some sort of ascii. So, if you have: Schönberg, Verklärte Nacht, it is sent from mt-daapd as Schotegberg, Verklwert Nacht (or so). Result: no sound. So I guess it would be nice if the Asus could work internally with UTF-8 or ISO-8859-1

Marc

Quote:

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Originally Posted by back2basic

http://wl700g.homelinux.net/drupal/

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I've already posted some things up there (as I'm sure you've seen). Once I get started, I think your site would be the best place to officially house the project.

- K.C.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Woffels

I dont want to hurry you, Kfurge. But how is your planning on the new firmware you are gonna modificate. Is it years, months, weeks, days, hours minutes .....................now?!!!

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I'll probably be some number of months. My outdoor lifestyle doesn't leave much spare time during the summer and fall. However, the snow flies early where I live, so I'll be able to put much more effort into the project once winter sets in.

Upgrading the existing components should be relatively straightforward so that's where I'll concentrate first. After that, I'll probably work on making a better default command-line experience. Finally I'll work on adding more applications and features once an infrastructure is put in place.

If all goes well, I expect to be half done before the end of '07. Mostly complete before spring '08.

- K.C.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Woffels

The flashing is not the problem, its the the programs to install. It would be nice if we dont have to use al these linux commands. Specially for non linx users.

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This won't be possible. Linux is still Linux. If you need something not already in the firmware, you'll have to get your hands dirty. I don't think it's too much of a stretch to learn how to use ipkg.

- K.C.

Here's a list of 'wants.' Granted I've got most of these already running on 1.0.4.6 but having them from the get-go in 1.0.7.8 would be nice.

Fail2ban for disabling bruteforce attacks
Wondershaper or equivalent QoS shaper (a functional GUI would be nice too)
Better 'functional' media server like ushare (or mediatomb)
built-in configs for multihoming dydns and web sites
Better mt-daapd
Python, Perl, PHP and MYSQL preinstalled and ready to run if activated.

Kfurge you bastard:p

Your giving me a reason to keep the white brick;)

Please consider us noobs in the process.

I just want a better BT client that's all.

Thanks
Guru

Maybe it is possible to let more different webcams working.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Guru

Please consider us noobs in the process.

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I've been following this forum for some time now. Your requests have been echoed before, over and over. Everything proposed in this thread would be out-of-the-box software. All you'll have to do is flash it.

Now that some good solutions have surfaced over the last year, we, as a wl700g community, are in a better position to make some things more accessible and "standard" with a SW upgrade only.

- K.C.

Ok, I've been taking notes and here's what I have so far (in my order of priority):

Top priority:
All of my patches applied (cpu load, entropy, etc.)
HDD spin down (fixed first, then configurable)
Workable command line environment (bash, ipkg, termcap, tz, busybox, default profiles, etc.)
Dropbear
CUPS to replace printd
Updated mt-daapd
Latest Samba
Web server (lighttpd)
Separate web interface for enhancements
Replacement BT client (MLDonkey)
Cron

Good idea:
User editable FW rules
Editable configuration of dnsmasq
knockd
ISO mounting
fail2ban
wondershaper

Not general enough (must add via ipkg):
Mail server
Syslog-ng
python, perl, php, mysql
hellanzb/nget

Don't know how to do / can't test:
WPA security
appletalk/netatalk

Very difficult:
Changing default from /shares/MYVOLUME1/MSHARE1

Already there:
Swapfile (512Meg)
Fixed IP for a given MAC

If you don't like how I've classified a request and would like it to be reconsidered, please post a compelling argument. Maybe others will chime in and support you.

- K.C.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kfurge

Ok, I've been taking notes and here's what I have so far...

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Only one word can fully describe my enthusiasm: woot!

My list contains the following items:
- mldonkey
- firefly
- xmail
- better printer support (cups for example)
- ...

Kfurge, I would say: let the beast go and surprise us again. It's unbelievable how devoted you are and what you deliver to this small cummunity. Thanks to you, I've had many pleasent hours with my little white brick.

Thanks,

Bart

Mr Furge, looking at your long list...
- updated mt-daapd

Even the current version (1634) does not solve the problem with accented characters. So I wonder which updated version you will pick. But it is still a long time till next spring, so I hope that mt-daapd will have some sort of final new release in the process.

- WPA security
Did I miss something? What is wrong or lacking in the current Wifi security? I have enabled WPA-PSK for all my clients.

Marc

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mumsoft

Even the current version (1634) does not solve the problem with accented characters. So I wonder which updated version you will pick.

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It'll be whatever's most recent, unless you have a better suggestion or replacement application. For whatever reason, Asus does not build mt-daapd from source. Instead, it's distributed in binary form. Getting it building into the project will be a little tricky, but should not be too bad.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mumsoft

- WPA security
Did I miss something?

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No. It was just on someone's list. It should have been classified as "Already there".

- K.C.

KFurge:

Would it perhaps be a viable option to put your work-in-progress up on some svn server (or cvs or whatever) so that others can have a look and perhaps pitch in? It does seem like a pretty big project you're taking on all by yourself.

I am a computer science graduate but don't have much specific experience doing integrating/patching work in the linux environment. Still, I'm a quick study and I consider this area a big hole in my resume, so I might be able to contribute within the time frame you sketched out above.

/LO

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kfurge

It'll be whatever's most recent, unless you have a better suggestion or replacement application. For whatever reason, Asus does not build mt-daapd from source. Instead, it's distributed in binary form. Getting it building into the project will be a little tricky, but should not be too bad.
- K.C.

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Ok. I'm willing to help if I can. It will mean to compile mt-daapd with all options or best choices. I have seen that somewhere.
But I like to wait for the next version. It is rather odd that after the official release of 2.4, there was no newer one for more than a year. :(

Marc

Quote:

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Originally Posted by AverySimonsen

Would it perhaps be a viable option to put your work-in-progress up on some svn server (or cvs or whatever) so that others can have a look and perhaps pitch in? It does seem like a pretty big project you're taking on all by yourself.

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I'd actually like to do this. I currently have 1.0.4.6 completely checked into a Perforce depot. Personally, I get very uncomfortable making significant modifications to any project without some sort of version control.

However, wrangling the Asus distribution into a form workable for checking into version control (i.e. read-only when not open for edit) turned out to be a very large task. I probably won't do that again. It's not worth the trouble. An easier route may be to "overlay" version controlled copies of any modified files over the top of an official Asus distribution.

Currently, I'm still playing around with different approaches to the problem. Like my previous work, I still don't want to deviate too much from Asus's releases. The further I deviate, the harder it is to incorporate those changes into future Asus releases. My preferred path is to add a substantial collection of optware packages to the standard build flashable image. A bolt-on web based user interface will also be enabled by default. Doing this should significantly increase the usability of the box without too many modifications to the Asus distribution.

Keep tuned to the forum. I don't want to do this alone.

- K.C.

Hi K.C.

Is your custom firmware available yet? Just installed ASUS 1.0.7.8 firmware and although working ok still some few issues. I wanted to load your custom FW.

As a side note you and medsource have been great in helping guy specially newbies like me to get my router loaded, greatly appreciated.

Hope your FW has most of the options thought GUI as I have very little to no experince of Linux.

Great work thanks.

I've been a little distracted lately. Things will pick up when the weather gets colder in the northern hemisphere. Right now, I have the an image with a bunch of packages pre-installed. I haven't flashed it into a router yet, that'll happen shortly.

- K.C.

Perhaps question to different forum, but also a wish related to the new firmware image.

Does the current FW kernel have multicast support enabled?

Would it be possible to include it in the next release of your firmware, perhaps add also mrouted (which I am not able to find as IPKG package :-(

Thanks.

Multicast is not currently enabled in the kernel.

- K.C.

Hi all, and personal hi for kfurge!!!

Whether probably to add support for modern webcams (distinct from philips on PCVC680K, PCVC750K, pcvc820K, PCVC830K, PCVC840K chipset) ??? Supported now Philips webcam are very oldest, and they are difficult for finding in sale :( ... I whole day has been busy in searches any oldest Philips webcam (in my Moscow internet) for buy, but has not found nothing...
p.s. sorry for my English.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SVG

Hi all, and personal hi for kfurge!!!

Whether probably to add support for modern webcams (distinct from philips on PCVC680K, PCVC750K, pcvc820K, PCVC830K, PCVC840K chipset) ??? Supported now Philips webcam are very oldest, and they are difficult for finding in sale :( ... I whole day has been busy in searches any oldest Philips webcam (in my Moscow internet) for buy, but has not found nothing...
p.s. sorry for my English.

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And I subscribe that !! :) Have to router as a survanace system seems so good :rolleyes:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kfurge

Multicast is not currently enabled in the kernel.

- K.C.

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Thanks - at least I know that "playing" will not help and if I want to make it work I have either to:
- start with openwrt
- build new kernel
which is both more time consuming than I can invest without affecting my family life :-)

Any chance it gets to your new FW? Is there anything I can do to support this?

-dlf

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dolphine

Any chance it gets to your new FW? Is there anything I can do to support this?

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Should be do-able.

- K.C.

Any chance on using the web interface form the v2 firmware?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kfurge

Should be do-able.

- K.C.

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Thank you very much in advance.

Hi kfurge,

i think for downloading torrents, the
torrentfluxx project will be a very good choice.
I tested it on a linux root server. It was very stable and easy to use/configure via webinterface.

Needs httpd and sql.



Regards

sirsmokealot