Issues in Performance of Wireless Routers&

Open Source Firmwares

R&D Project Report

Under guidance of

Prof. Deepak B. Phatak

Submitted By

Sukh Deo(123050061)

Prashant Kumar Singh(123050078)

aDepartment of Computer Science and Engineering

Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay,

Mumbai

1

Acknowledgement

We would like to extremely thank my guide, Prof. Deepak B. Phatakfor the consistent directions. We would also like to thank, Mr. NageshKarmali, for guiding us whenever, we faced difficulty regarding the topic.

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Abstract

Wireless router is a device, that provides the Internet connection without usewired link[1]. It performed as wireless LAN. But, problem is how to increasethe performance of wireless router. First, we have discuss the main issuesthat is related to performance of wireless router. Second, we can choose goodwireless router based on requirement. Third, we can extend the wireless pro-tocol for increasing the performance of wireless router.

To increase the performance of wireless router, we can upgrade the firmware.Firmware is a piece of software that provides services to hardware. We cansimply say, it is a piece of software for some hardware. When we purchaseany router, its hardware may be capable of providing many features but themanufacturer simply decides not to provide these wide range of features justto keep things simple and they sell the routers with these features at a muchhigher price[2].

Contents

Acknowledgement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

1 FACTORS AFFECTING RANGE OF WiFi 21.1 introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.2 Key factor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.3 Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

2 Open Source Firmwares 52.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

2.1.1 Basic Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52.1.2 Firmwares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

2.2 DD-WRT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62.2.1 License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72.2.2 Supported Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72.2.3 Supported Linksys models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72.2.4 Installing DD-WRT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

2.3 TomatoUSB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92.3.1 License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92.3.2 Supported Linksys models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92.3.3 Installation Steps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

2.4 Gargoyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102.4.1 License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112.4.2 List of supported Linksys Routers[3] . . . . . . . . . . 11

2.5 Comparison[4] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

3 Conclusion 13

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Chapter 1

FACTORS AFFECTINGRANGE OF WiFi

1.1 introduction

Wi-Fi is a technology that allow to an electronic device to exchange the elec-tronic data wirelessly, using high speed Internet[5]. It use radio wave forexchanging the data. A device can use the Wi-Fi as like tablet, personalcomputer. Wi-Fi is not secure as much as wired link, because intruder doesnot require to connect the wire. For security of Wi-Fi , we can use SSL. Itis required to encryption, without encryption intruder can easily detected.

What is factor that depends the range of Wi-Fi. It vary indoor to outdoor.It also depend the capability of wireless router.

1.2 Key factor

Range of wifi depends on the wireless router being used[7]. The followingfactors decides the range of wireless LAN:

• The specific 802.11 protocol employed.

• Strength of the device transmitter that is wavelength.(range=wavelength/2).

• The nature of obstructions and interference in the surrounding area.

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Figure 1.1: Wireless router[6]

Example: 802.11g WAPs and routers support a range of up to 150 feet (46m) indoors and 300 feet (92 m) outdoors.Room Infrastructure:Obstructions in home such as brick walls and metal frames or siding greatlycan reduce the range of a Wi-Fi LAN by 25% or more. Because 802.11aemploys a higher signaling frequency than 802.11b/g, 802.11a is most sus-ceptible to obstructions.

1.3 Solution

The following are the solution of to increase the performance of wirelessrouter.

• If we want to connect more tablet in a room, it require to make Wirelesschain of routers.

• Position of wireless router should be at the center of room.

• We can use good standard antenna: Some antenna leave the waveroundly and some leave waves in a particular direction, so we can usethe router as per requirement.

3

• Upgrade wireless protocol.

Specific about F.C kohli: From above theoretical observations, I think, F.CKohli auditorium may have such a design that wall absorbs more power ofsound and radio wave than other auditoriums and rooms which creates hin-drance in connecting a large number of tablets.

For increasing the feature and protocol of wireless router, we can upgradethe firmware that are supported to hardware of router. Next chapter, we willdiscuss the different firmware.

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Chapter 2

Open Source Firmwares

2.1 Introduction

When we purchase any router, its hardware may be capable of providing alot of services than that of already present services. This is mainly done bythe manufacturers to keep simplicity[2] but we can explore these function-alities by using some third party firmwares. Some of these third party areopen source and thus freely available. We can use the the services of thesefirmwares and thus can get extended services which our router supports.

The services depends on the model of router. There is a supportability listfor various firmwares for various models. Some models may not be supportedby some firmwares. We can check for this supportability on the website ofthe firmwares.

2.1.1 Basic Terminology

• Firmware:A Firmware is a piece of software that assists Hardware for its smoothfunctioning.

• Flashing a router:We can replace the firmware of a router in order to provide certainadditional functionalities to the router. This process of replacing afirmware is called ‘Flashing a router’

• Third Party Firmwares:

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Third Party Firmwares are those firmwares that are manufactured bysome company that is not related to the company that has built therouter.

2.1.2 Firmwares

There are a number of third party firmwares available to provide a wide rangeof services to routers. Some of the open source Firmwares are listed below.

1. DD-WRT[8]

2. Tomato USB[9]

3. Gargoyle[10][11]

2.2 DD-WRT

Routers are mostly made by taking non-technical users in mind and thusmaking them simple to use and providing a web-access gateway. DD-WRT isthe most popular third party framework. It transforms a simple router withlimited functionality into a powerful router[12].

Some of the routers come with pre-installed DD-WRT e.g., buffalo. DD-WRT provides a lot of features, and due to all these features it is themost popular firmware. Some of the features provided by DD-WRT areas follows[2][13]

• Support for IPv6DD-WRT supports for IP version 6

• Advanced QoS ServicesDD-WRT provides advanced quality of service facility.

• Boosting Wi-Fi signalWe can boost Wi-Fi signal strength.

• Adjustable antenna power to increase wireless spectrumIt provides adjustable antennae power.

• Viewable performance graphs and statistics to watch network perfor-mance and measure bandwidth levels

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2.2.1 License

GNU General Public License

2.2.2 Supported Devices

DD-WRT supports so many routers but Linksys WRT54G series is the main.DD-WRT provides a detailed search for all supportable routers. We canus the link ‘http://www.dd-wrt.com/site/support/router-database’ to searchwhich model is supported or which model is not. It supports a wide rangeof Linksys routers.

2.2.3 Supported Linksys models

Figure 2.1 shows few of the linksys routers that are supported by DD-WRTfirmware

2.2.4 Installing DD-WRT

Installing DD-WRT may be done by the following steps.

1. Check the compatibility of routerCheck the compatibility of router for the firmware on the link ‘http://www.dd-wrt.com/site/support/router-database’.

2. Download the firmware fileIf the router is supported, download the .bin file of the router.

3. Log on to the Web GUILog-in to the Router web interface using the credentials.

4. Go to administration panelGo to administration panel in web interface.

5. Go to firmware UpgradeGo to firmware upgrade option under administration panel.

6. Upload the .bin file and start UpgradeUpload the .bin file of firmware and start upgradation.

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Figure 2.1: Supported Linksys models

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2.3 TomatoUSB

Tomato USB is an open source project. It is a modified form of the Tomatoproject[14]. It also provides many useful services to router. Some of thefeature that are provided, are as follows.

• Access Restrictions

• Advanced QoS Services

• VPN Support

• Support for IPv6It provides adjustable antennae power.

•

2.3.1 License

Code is licensed for GNU General Public License[15]

2.3.2 Supported Linksys models

TomataoUSB is compatible with various routers[16] e.g.,

• Asus

• Buffalo

• Linksys

• Netgear

The various supported models of these routers are as given below.

• Linksys E1000 v1

• Linksys E2000

• Linksys E3000

• Linksys E4200

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• Linksys WRT160N v1

• Linksys WRT160N v3

• Linksys WRT300N v1

• Linksys WRT310N v1

• Linksys WRT310N v2

• Linksys WRT320N

• Linksys WRT54G-TM

• Linksys WRT54-GL,-GS v1-v4

• Linksys WRT610Nv2

• Linksys WRTSL54GS

2.3.3 Installation Steps

The installation steps are as follows[17].

1. Go to administration Panel

2. Select Firmware Upgrade Option

3. Browse the suitable .bin file of firmware

4. Select Start Upgrade

5. Login back to the router and confirm for installation

2.4 Gargoyle

Gargoyle is a free and open source firmware.Main features provided by Gargoyle are as follows[10].

1. Bandwidth monitoring.

2. QoS.

3. Ability to block websites by IP.

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Figure 2.2: Gargoyle interface[4]

2.4.1 License

Free software, mainly the GNU GPL.

2.4.2 List of supported Linksys Routers[3]

1. Linksys WRT54GL v1-4

2. Linksys WRT54G-TM

3. Asus WL500G Premium v1-2

4. Linksys WRTSL54GS v1-3

5. Linksys WRT54GS v1-3

6. Linksys WRT54GS v4

2.5 Comparison[4]

• DD-WRT is the most well known firmwares.

(a) It is easy to install DD-WRT

(b) Supports a large number of routers.

(c) freely available.

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• Tomato is also a popular firmware. Its main features are

(a) Tomato contains less features than DD-WRT.

(b) Tomato is also does not supports so many routers as done DD-WRT.

• Gargoyle also supports only a limited number of routers.

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Chapter 3

Conclusion

First chapter, we have discuss about cause of performance related in wirelessrouter. But we can not change the room environment for increasing theperformance of wireless router. So we have required to choose good routerbase on performance and protocol. Second chapter, we have discuss forchoosing the good router as well as open source firmware, that will helpto increase the performance of wireless router. DD-WRT supports a largenumber of routers apart from that, it is also freely available. We can concludethat DD-WRT is the best firmware.

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Bibliography

[1] From Wikipedia. Wireless router. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wirelessrouter.

[2] http://www.techspot.com/guides/416-wireless-router-custom-firmware-alternative/.

[3] http://www.gargoyle-router.com/wiki/doku.php?id=supported_

routers_-_tested_routers.

[4] http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/top-6-alternative-firmwares-router/.

[5] From Wikipedia. Wifi. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi.

[6] wireless router. http://akamaihawaii.weebly.com/hardware.html.

[7] From competworking. factor affecting of wifi.http://compnetworking.about.com/cs/wirelessproducts/f/wifirange.htm.

[8] http://www.dd-wrt.co.in/site/index.

[9] http://tomatousb.org/.

[10] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gargoyle_%28router_firmware%

29.

[11] http://lwn.net/Articles/420657/.

[12] https://www.flashrouters.com/ddwrt-router-information.

[13] https://www.flashrouters.com/ddwrt-router-information#

whatdoes.

[14] http://tomatousb.org/start.

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[15] http://tomatousb.org/forum/t-309276/.

[16] http://tomatousb.org/doc:build-types.

[17] http://digitalsri.blogspot.in/2011/11/

installing-tomatousb-on-linksys-e3000.html.

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