Normally, when we cover DD-WRT and other firmware replacements for wireless routers, we discuss flashing (or uploading) the firmware to a router. However, DD-WRT also has an X86 version that can be installed onto just about any generic PC. This is great if you don’t have a compatible router lying around and don’t want to track one down with the right model and version number. Plus it lets you exceed the usual 16MB of RAM and slow CPU in the off-the-shelf consumer-level routers. In this tutorial, we’ll build and set up a DD-WRT machine. Keep in mind if you want to go the free route, you’ll only have a wired router-but you can add separate access points. You also lose these features for any X86 version of DD-WRT: Wi-Fi support is only available in the registered version by purchasing a Professional Activation for € 20.00 ($28.36). For example, you can’t connect USB drives or printers to share them on the network.

Normally this would let you store files directly on the router, such as for NoCatSplash hotspot captive portal pages and other custom configuration. This would have let you add features from OpenWRT that aren’t already in DD-WRT.įirst, make sure you have an X86 compatible PC, i386 or greater, which is just about any old PC. However, you do need at least two network (Ethernet) cards, one for the Internet and others for the LAN.ĭon’t forget a spare hard drive. It must be dedicated to the cause as it will be reformatted and repartitioned.

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