How To Upgrade DD-WRT and Keep Installed Applications

The DD-WRT support for these new 11N Gigabit routers are still in early stage with new builds rolling out every one to two weeks. The old good "if its not broken then don't fix it" rule might not apply here and I suggest to stay with latest release if you have the time(and guts).

Upgrading a DD-WRT firmware with loaded software is pretty easy, considering the extra work we've done. Take the trouble not to mess with important system folders like /lib /usr and /bin and now its the reward time.

1. Stop installed software
   Log in the router, rename the /mnt/optware.enable
   mv /mnt/optware.enable /mnt/optware.disableThen reboot the router. After rebooting, the router is back to standard DD-WRT with no extra load and ready for flashing.
2. Upgrade firmwareGet the new DD-WRT build, the name should be wzr-hp-g300nh-dd-wrt-webupgrade-MULTI.bin. Some suggests a hard reset before and after upgrading but I usually just select "Reset to Default Settings" during flash.
   
   After flashing, all settings will be erased and then you have to start over again.
3. Set the router
   Set the router as usual. Here is a quick list for additional setup, all are covered in other posts, I just put these together for easy reference.
   
   Enable SSH and USB Support. Details here, Step 2.
   Customized startup script. Details here, Step 10.
   Disable DD-WRT's NTP Client if you're about to use local time. Details here, Step 1.
   Disable built-in FTP server(should be off by default). Details here, Step 1.
   
   Then some nvram variables:
   
   #use local time. details here, step 3. Change it accordingly
   nvram set time_zone=PST8PDT,M3.2.0,M11.1.0#move dd-wrt's web admin to another port. Details here, step 1
   nvram set http_lanport=88
   nvram commitAfter that, reboot the router.
4. Update writable /etc and re-enable installed apps
   After reboot, login the router and run:
   
   cp -a /etc/* /mnt/etc/
   mv /mnt/optware.disable  /mnt/optware.enableThe first line is very important. It's for synchronizing our the customized /etc folder with the new firmware's /etc folder. Forget to do so will break the web management interface!Somewhat modified, the files in /etc folder are only added(like /etc/TZ) or dynamically updated(the adduser script), so it's safe to overwrite the /etc folder with new contents and all our work is kept intact. After that, reboot the router, and you should have a new DD-WRT with all previously installed software running.
5. Fix the broken web interface
   You'll get this error ONLY if you forget to update the /etc folder, see Step 4 above. If this ever happens:
   SSH or telnet login the router, run
   
   mv /mnt/optware.enable /mnt/optware.disable
   reboot
   the web interface should be back after rebooting, then follow Step 4.
   
   If the web interface is messed and you can't login from PuTTY, unplug the USB disk and power cycle the router. Then manually mount the USB disk(details here, step 2 and 6) and update /etc folder following Step 4.

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How To Upgrade Router Firmware Linksys

Upgrade Router Firmware

Routers contain a chip similar to the BIOS on a computer. This chip contains the firmware for the router.
Firmware is a combination of software and hardware control and it can be updated to improve the function or features of a router or to address problems with security or other things.

This article will provide general information on upgrading router firmware.

1. Verify your router information. You will want to make note of the Model Number, Serial Number, and the Hardware and Firmware version. This information is usually found on the identification sticker found on the bottom of the router or in the router software.
   
   
   
2. Access your router manufacturer's website and go to the downloads area. Using the information collected in step 1, find out if there are any firmware updates available for your router. Some manufacturers will have you download the software to your computer. In some cases there is a utility built into the router itself that can check for updates automatically. Check your router documentation to be sure.
3. If your router is not one that automatically updates, download the appropriate firmware update from the manufacturer and save it to your computer.
4. Make sure your computer is connected to the router via cable or wirelessly.
5. Open Internet Explorer.
6. In the address bar located at the top of the screen, erase whatever address is in the bar and replace it with "192.168.1.1" without the quotes. Note that some routers use the address "192.168.0.1" so if it does not work right away, try the second option.
   
   
   
7. Look in the router configuration for a firmware update or upgrade option. This one from Linksys is found on the Administration page.
   
   
   
8. Browse to the file you downloaded from the manufacturer or direct the router to check for upgrades. (This depends on the router.)
9. Once the firmware has updated, the router will typically reboot. In most cases no other configuration is necessary.

That's it! Your router firmware should be up-to-date. Be sure to visit the manufacturer's website periodically to check for updates that could extend the features or capability of your router.

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Firmware flash and brick recovery through TFTP

Though the whole flashing process can be done via Web interface(dd-wrt to stock and vice versa) without getting your hands dirty, still, there're cases that the Web flashing is not sufficient. One common scenario is a bricked WZR-HP-G300NH, i.e., no web access and no ping response due to bad firmware or wrong operation, or you just want to try other firmware like OpenWrt. Luckily that the WZR-HP-G300NH has a robust bootloader and the router can be recovered by using TFTP, either in Windows, Linux or OSX.

It's a little tricky comparing to traditional Broadcom routers, as the WZR-HP-G300NH will not broadcast its MAC during initial bootup process, as a result, we must tell the computer how to communicate with the router by manipulating its arp table.

TFTP recovery in Windows

*Untested, credit goes to ermax at D-WRT forum

1. Get your router's MAC, its the 12 digit default SSID printed on the sticker at the back of the router, starting with 00. Then you'll need to break it down every two digit by inserting : or -between them.
2. Download the latest official firmware(in case of recovery) from Buffalo's official website. Extract to get the firmware, in my case, its 1.74 and the firmware name is wzrhpg300nh-174, ~20MB.
   
   Also download the Linksys TFTP utility.
3. (May not necessary) Do a hard reset or 30/30/30 on the router.
4. Unplug all the ethernet cable and the power cable and connect the computer directly to the router(still leave it off)
5. Set the computer's static IP to 192.168.11.2, netmask 255.255.255.0, gateway/DNS 192.168.11.1.
6. Open a Windows command prompt as Administrator. This is default on Windows XP, under Windows Vista/7, type cmd in the search box from Start menu, then press Ctrl+Shift+Enter. You will be prompted with the User Account Control dialog. 
7. Type route print to get a list of your NIC(s). Write down the interface number for the LAN card, in my case, it's 12.
   
8. Now type the command below to get the ARP binding(thanks ermax at DD-WRT forum):
   
   netsh interface ipv4 add neighbors 12 192.168.11.1 00-1d-12-34-56-78
   
   Replacing the number 12 with the interface number and 00-1d-12-34-56-78 with the router's MAC address.
9. Run Linksys TFTP utility. Put 192.168.11.1 as Server address, Password empty, File iswzrhpg300nh-174 just extracted, set retry time to 30.
10. Click "Upgrade" in the TFTP utility and quickly plug the power back to turn on the router. There might be few failed attempts but the flash process should start later. Wait patiently the router will reboot itself when the upgrade is done. Navigate to http://192.168.11.1(for stock firmware) to configure your router.

TFTP recovery in Linux
*Most of this part is from DD-WRT wiki with some tweak. TEST WORKING

Will use Ubuntu Live CD as an example but other distro should also work. The Ubuntu LiveCD can be booted from a USB flash drive. See here.

1. Do Step 1-4 in "TFTP recovery in Windows" except we don't need Linksys TFTP utility here. So we have MAC address ready, router unpowered and the computer is directly connected to the router.
2. After booting into Ubuntu, open a terminal and type:
   
   sudo apt-get update
   sudo apt-get install tftp-hpa
   sudo /etc/init.d/networking stop
   sudo ifconfig eth0 192.168.11.2
   sudo ifconfig eth0 netmask 255.255.255.0 
   sudo arp -s 192.168.11.1 00:1D:12:34:56:78#change to the folder where you put the firmware image, if it's on desktop then it's
   #"/home/ubuntu/Desktop".
   cd /home/ubuntu/Desktop
   tftp 192.168.11.1
   *from this point, you're under tftp command prompt, the "tftp>" is the prompt tftp gives you, you just need to type the command AFTER that.
   tftp> verbose
   tftp> binary
   tftp> trace
   tftp> rexmt 1 
   tftp> timeout 60 
   tftp> put wzrg300nh-firmware.tftp
   
   Replace the fictional MAC in red with the router's. All command you need to input is in italic. Also replace wzrg300nh-firmware.tftp with the firmware you need, in case of stock firmware, itswzrhpg300nh-174.Also, at this point, the router is still unpowered and that's OK. Tftp will keep trying to send the firmware to the router and when it fails (because the router isn't yet on or hasn't yet brought up it's tftp interface) it will wait 1 second and retry, up to 60 times as that's how we set up the tftp client.
3. Now quickly plug the power cord back to the router. The router will start up and you will see some lights blinking (possibly). About 10-20 seconds in, you should notice that tftp is sending the file. instead of the retry message over and over you will see some progress scrolling down the screen and at the end it will tell you how many blocks or bytes were transferred in how many second.
4. After the transfer is complete, wait about 5-10 minutes the router will reboot itself. When the wireless LED is on you're good to go.
5. Bring the network back in Linux by typing
   
   sudo service networking start

TFTP recovery in OSX*Untested, credit goes to BDawg at DD-WRT forum

1. Do Step 1-4 in "TFTP recovery in Windows" except we don't need Linksys TFTP utility here. So we have MAC address ready, router unpowered and the computer is directly connected to the router.
2. Set the computer's static IP to 192.168.11.2, netmask 255.255.255.0, gateway/DNS 192.168.11.1.
3. Open a terminal and type
   
   sudo arp -s 192.168.11.1 00:1D:12:34:56:78 ifscope en0 
   
   Replace with your own router's MAC.
4. Type
   
   tftp 192.168.11.1
   tftp> put wzrhpg300nh-174
   
   Don't press Enter
5. Now plug the power cord back and hit Enter to start tftp transfer.

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Tomato Firmware New Update Version 1.28

Tomato Is Costume  Firmware For your Router 

Wahat is Tomato Firmware?

Tomato is a small, lean and simple replacement firmware for Linksys' WRT54G/GL/GS, Buffalo WHR-G54S/WHR-HP-G54 and other Broadcom-based routers. It features a new easy to use GUI, a new bandwidth usage monitor, more advanced QOS and access restrictions, enables new wireless features such as WDS and wireless client modes, raises the limits on maximum connections for P2P, allows you to run your custom scripts or telnet/ssh in and do all sorts of things like re-program the SES/AOSS button, adds wireless site survey to see your wifi neighbors, and more. 

Screenshots:

Note:

This firmware is provided as-is without any warranty. I will NOT be responsible for damages that occur due to the use of this firmware. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. 

Download


Firmware

 Tomato_1_28.7z (3MB / SHA1: 832e9cd5d6437eeb758e898d8c22834578f0cb36)
 Tomato_1_28.zip (16MB / SHA1: 5bd25717048abb6b58d316f622bfd79434fe6451)

» Use this for most routers.
» See NOTES above.

 Tomato_1_28_ND.7z (3MB / SHA1: d23c1ec10f5a3919729bc674c78a1bb82d18ed2b)
 Tomato_1_28_ND.zip (3MB / SHA1: c97b28d380d1da0e9f74881010ea1d2a9e3a96e2)

» Use this for WHR-G125, WL520GU.
» May not work with some routers, use extra caution.
» See NOTES above.

Source
(not required to install the firmware)

 TomatoSource_1_28.tar.bz2 (SHA1: 301f6036e3a89edf21a80f8e121019b4b3e33841)

Official Website http://www.polarcloud.com/tomato/

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