What is DDWRT?

What is DD-WRT?  DD-WRT is a free Linux based Operating System for a fairly broad range of routers.  Basically what you’re looking at is: DD-WRT upgrades the performance / capabilities of your router.  Most standard, retail-class routers come with basic options that are suitable for end-consumer/home-user class applications.  Many more technically-minded individuals would like increased functionality from their hardware (with preferably, minimal expense).

Router Operating Systems

Your router is controlled by the OS (Operating System) / Software that tells that router what to do.  To increase the functionality of that router therefore, one may consider replacing or editing the existing Operating System with another operating system featuring more capabilities.  DD-WRT is one such operating system and may be an option for you if you have or purchase a router that is compatible with it.

Selecting Your Router’s Operating System

How do I upgrade or replace my router’s OS (Operating System)?  In most cases, you may not have the time or knowledge necessary to create an operating system for your router.  You may therefore wish to obtain such a resource from someone that specializes in that field of development.   One of the more popular operating systems that meet such requirements is the DD-WRT OS which is developed by the DD-WRTCommunity. To determine whether DD-WRT will work on your router, visit their website and browse their list of supported routers.

Installing DD-WRT on Your Router:

1. Download the version of the firmware/OS for your model of router.

2. Follow the specific instructions (based on your router and version of the firmware you are installing) to install your new OS.

Installing DD-WRT V24 SP1 on a Linksys WRTGL:

1. Download the DD-WRT V24-SP1 from the DD-WRT website here.

2. Plug in/power-on  your Linksys WRT54GL Router and connect to it via a LAN port with an ethernet cable.

3. Open a browser such as Firefox and access the web interface (typically by typing 192.168.1.1 into the address bar or whatever IP range your router is set to).

4. Click on the “Administration” tab:

5. Click on the “Firmware Upgrade” sub-tab:

6.Be sure you are connected to your router via ethernet and NOT via Wireless. Click on the “Browse” button and select the file that you downloaded and click on the “upgrade” button.

7.  You will be presented with the new interface once your router has rebooted (if you had any settings in your router, all your settings should remain in place):

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Virtual Machines

What is a “virtual machine”? Virtual Machines are the new wave of future processing. Basically, what happens in the case of a virtual machine is, a super machine is created and divided into a number of machines managed via a core operating system. After the construction of the host system (system hosting the virtual machines) a master Operating System is installed which provides virtualization capabilities on which multiple standard Operating Systems can run.

Benefits of Virtualization

Virtualization is a technology that provides many benefits. Among them are speed, centralization, and economy. When considering the benefit of speed for instance, there is a tremendous benefit as communication between machines is now available at bus speed instead of ethernet or other means of “external” communication. Centralization puts management of multiple machines at a central interface. This allows you to minimize management time windows and concentrate on other issues that are more important than maintenance routine. Bordering on economy is the minimization of physical construction. This includes hardware that is necessary to power and construct multiple, independent machines, communication medium, UPSs and any other hardware necessary to support your specific requirements.

Redundancy

Another excellent benefit of virtualization is the minimal points of physical failure. Even though you are located on a single, central machine, redundancy is provided by the “redundancy structure configuration” of that hardware. In other words, to provide an adequate level of physical redundancy, the configuration of your host machine must match that of multiple external machines to an extent. This of course is provided by multiple instances of the hardware from which your host is constructed. Multiple instances of the hardware structure includes but is not limited to, RAID arrays, power supplies, CPUs, and external mediums of communication. At any rate, redundancy is critical and should be a well maintained priority of your System Structure.

Sources of Virtualization

Who provides resources for virtualization? There are quite a few sources for virtualization Operating Systems available and you may wish to consider different developers depending on the specific purpose or environment in which you plan to implementing your virtual system. Some of the major providers like Vmware and VirtualBox have multiple levels of virtualization available, ranking from a starting point such as desktop environments all the way up to an enterprise solution.

Virtualization Environments

Virtualization at this point is quite popular and is often implemented in ISP-like environments where the demand multiple servers to perform a specific task is high. Although not extremely popular on a more local or personal basis, even small businesses and home users may begin to see implementations of this technology. Virtualization for small businesses and home users will most likely be a prescription for Multimedia and other hardware intensive applications.

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You’re Wondering What to do:

So, you have heard all the hype about the new Windows Vista that Microsoft is has put on the market to replace Windows XP. You are at a point where you are seriously considering making a switch and you are wondering if it would be the smart thing to do. I will present this in a very simple, “I’ve been there” sort of a layout.

My Experience with Windows Vista:

My experience with Windows Vista has been one of mixed feelings… sometimes bordering on confusion, to complete irritation. Most of these feeling stem from the trouble-shooting standpoint of the Operating System. If one is to repair problems caused by a malfunction in the Operating System or the hardware it is running on, then one should be presented with the necessary tools and information to aid in it’s repair.

Death to Useful Information:

I have found that in Windows Vista, many of the helpful trouble-shooting utilities and message-box information that was available in Windows XP has been done-away with. Networking in Vista is a primary example of this. If you were to create a network connection to the internet for example, you would find it very difficult to trouble-shoot that connection in specific, should a problem arise. In Windows XP there were simple informative message-boxes that would inform you of specific errors. In Windows Vista, this has largely been replaced by a single utilities that “diagnoses” your issue. This would not be all bad if the utilities was fully functional. The main fault of these utilities however, is that they fail to present the user or IT professional with a desire-able result. If I were to use the networking utility as an example, the results, 98 percent of the time, tend to read something of the following: “Windows could not find anything wrong with this connection” (paraphrase), and provides no hint whatsoever as to what the cause of the problem might be. With more specific information, it would be possible to take the necessary steps to resolve the issue, but when there is an issue and “nothing is wrong” you really have an issue. You will find that this is wide-spread problem in many other instances of trouble-shooting and diagnostics throughout the OS. From this standpoint, it makes the system more time-consuming and thus, costly to repair.

Nice Graphics:

One thing that Microsoft has done with Windows Vista is, graphics. Windows Vista, though very XP-ish in nature, has a new theme known as Areo. This theme presents the user with a transparent (or translucent depending on the application) view of windows and dialog boxes in the Graphical User Interface. Though this may serve to present a more stylish interface, the other prominent issues you will encounter while using the new OS will soon capture the center of your attention.

Should I switch?

Switching to Windows Vista can be a potentially hazardous proposition. I have encountered many a client who has loathed the day they made the choice to switch to Vista. Given the many small yet serious issues that arise when using the Operating System, it is commendable to wait to make a switch until the Operating System is more compatible and has become more stable. An Operating System that refuses to let you connect to your own network, provides no cause as to why such an option is not possible, and still needs much work to become stable, will not stand up when pitted against the proficiency and durability required for business performance. On the other hand, if you are a home-user that likes the new interface and are willing to deal with the numerous frustrations and save often, you may consider it a viable option.

Note: This is not to say that there aren’t many improvements to the new Operating System evironment, and that I myself, look forward to the day when the issues presented in the older OSs are only a bad memory.

Your TrueStar Technology Expert