Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[flailingmonkey]

I've noticed D-Link has a bunch of its firmware code open sourced, and up on the ftp site.  I noticed there isn't any available for the DIR-655, the closest thing to it is the firmware for the DIR-615 (bgn WiFi router, 10/100 LAN not Gigabit, some claim similar but lesser chipsets).

I realize its not likely that this inquiry will cause it to show up, but I was just wondering if there was a particular reason that it isn't available?  In other words, what determines which firmware is open sourced?

[EddieZ]

I think the Ubicom core used in the 655 is propriety, which determines the status. Unless Ubicom decides it can be 'opened up' it remains encrypted.

[JaLooNz]

Mainly if it runs on Linux, then they will need to opensource it.

[EddieZ]

There are some non-gpl linux firmwares, but usually this is true.

[flailingmonkey]

I figured that it might have been related to the Ubicom processor in the DIR-655.  This is one the reasons cited by people in the DD-WRT project as to why their code will never work on the DIR-655.

However, it looks like the DIR-615, which has its firmware source code released, does have a Ubicom chip as well, though probably a less powerful one.  I'm just guessing, based on it having a built-in QoS engine, and obviously I may be wrong.

Since the DIR-655 is a really great Gigabit and (2.4GHz) wireless N router on the market, expanding on its functionalities would be a lot of fun.  As it is, I can only hope that we still get new and exciting features in continued firmware development.

[EddieZ]

I am a great supporter of open source firmwares, so I would second the motion to give the Tomato or DD WRT guys a go 

[war59312]

I agree, let the open source community fix all the bugs for "free".

[Fatman]

Well for what it is worth I agree, I would like to see D-Link sell and support hardware not software.

However that is not the way we do, and have done business for ages past.

As for why you see no DIR-655 code, the previous statements are correct, this product is not running GPL'ed code so we are not required to distribute it due to licence requirements.

[Lycan]

The Ubicom platform currently does not support the Open Source community. It's less our decision, more theirs. however i doubt we argued about it too much.

[lotacus]

I wonder what the sales are between the linksys opensource routers compared to Dlinks.. may be a good argument for marketing strategies and revenue.

[EddieZ]

Linksys routers do not perform as good as Dlink. Dlink is a lot smaller company and has chosen a different strategy, they won't prevail against the vast resources of Linksys (Cisco) company.

[Lycan]

While Linksys has chosen to pair with Cisco, our hardware STOMPS all over ANTHING Linksys can offer.  Open-Source is cool, our products are still better. Who knows we might go that way soon.

[EddieZ]

While Linksys has chosen to pair with Cisco, our hardware STOMPS all over ANTHING Linksys can offer. While Open-Source is cool, our products are still better. Who knows we might go that way soon.

In fact that might work out OK. Would take of some load off the firmware dept. when open source geeks do the work for you. 

[lotacus]

I wasn't questioning the capabilities between the two companies. I was questioning the hardware on opensource software compared to non open source.

If the wrt54g is seeing increased sales opposed to it's other hardware that isn't so open-source, would d-link benefit from the same strategy over it's own hardware that isn't opensource.

[EddieZ]

IMHO that group is not that big. So the market for a good performing standard router seems bigger to me.