Easiest/fastest way to get an OpenWrt Router: Gl.iNet

Well there is my public repo currently on GitHub. But be warned it's a mess and flags like a noob at Christmas

1 Like

It is, openwrt installation is a PITA though, read the device specific wiki page.

I'm not sure what PITA stands for but that does look like a mission to install :sweat_smile:

It takes a little while, since it has to be done in two steps, and you need to make sure the fw_setenv commands are correct, or you'll end up doing s serial recovery.

Which in itself can be a even bigger PITA, if you let the device update itself over internet, since it'll disable serial console output.
Input still works, but you'll have to perform the steps blind.

1 Like

Thank you for your work on the devices, I have now decided to buy an AXT1800 :+1:

Your call, I still don't understand what people see in those devices, except for size.

For a non-technical operator, especially one who travels a lot, they can be quite attractive. Small size/weight, the ability to receive power via USB (as in, from a computer), the ability to tether to a smart phone as an external modem, the pre-configured feature aimed at dealing with hotels charging for Wi-Fi access per device, etc.

2 Likes

It is useful if you want to watch Dutch Netflicks from California and don't have a friend in the Netherlands that will fire up Squid on the OpenWRT Router for you.

I have this router and I am happy with the performance and the WiFi. I wouldn't mind a few more LEDs, but one with 2 colors can give quite a bit of information.

As for the security there is now a Snapshot version for the GL-MT6000, so you can remove their version of OpenWRT if you have trust issues.

I ran sysupdate -v openwrt-mediatek-filogic-glinet_gl-mt6000-squashfs-sysupgrade.bin and it booted into a new version of OpenWRT. The WiFi settings survived the reboot, so I only needed to install luci (because it is a snapshot) and was back in business with out GLi software.

Frankly speaking, almost all home routers nowadays are more of less modified from OpenWrt, different versions, different UI, they might not tell you (because they don't want you to change it), in the past some people managed to use UART to connect their home routers and found the underlying boot messages are coming from OpenWrt version which was 5-6 yrs ago.

And when we say "OpenWrt supported", means "official OpenWrt", not any variant, otherwise AsusWRT can also claim themselves "OpenWrt routers", unfortunately quite a lot of those are not able to run official OpenWrt.

1 Like

As someone who is coming from HK, I have a doubt on this statement.
Also, you can try to buy GL from China, their uboot hard coded region making their China selling routers "not able to use VPN function", you need to hack their uboot. International selling version is different.

You really shouldn't keep your config files when migrating from the stock firmware, since OpenWrt uses a different set of packages and a lot of crap will be left behind. For example, you'll have some unknown interfaces and bad firewall rules. And it wouldn't surprise me if your system log shows a few warnings or errors too.

Similarly, you shouldn't keep your config files if you "upgrade" the GL-MT6000's stock firmware from 4.5.6 to 4.5.7 because their beta firmware actually downgrades OpenWrt from 23.05 to 21.02.3.

Long story short, they are violating the OpenWrt copyright. It's a registered trademark.

This really brings into question what brand of "open source" OpenWrt really is. I know that the label is thrown around a lot these days and there's different versions of it. What else has openwrt copyrighted?

I'm not suggesting I know anything about copyright or open source but I'm pretty sure some people in the FOSS community don't take kindly to this kind of stuff.

It really doesn't. The trademark is relevant to the source code as provided directly by OpenWRT. All it does (or should do) is identify where the source code has come from. It in no way prevents other entities using, or amending, the source code within their own projects. I think you're confusing trademarks with licenses.

1 Like

I now understand Gl.iNet devices not recommended. Thank you for warning!

What Wifi6 device with easy flashing process? Price about 160$

What made you come to this conclusion? Could you summarize point by point?

gl-mt6000 see GL.iNET Flint 2 (GL-MT6000) discussions

Their "firmware" is not recommended, however quite a lot of their devices support direct flashing vanilla OpenWrt which are good.

1 Like

Thanks for clarification.

Then I order a gl-mt6000 and install stock OpenWrt

Wise decision?

2 Likes

There is no stable release for it yet, if you don't need it urgently, it's a great choice.

1 Like