I'm not really savvy about Linux or OpenWRT, but I'm trying to learn.

I have a DLink DIR-451 and have been trying everything I can to replace the firmware with OpenWRT so that I can play with it.

I'm not afraid of bricking it.

I just need a couple of pointers to help me, I seem to be running around in circles.

Any help much apreciated.

Thanks

Phil

If anyone can help me out, I'll send you one (DHL). Seriously, it's bugging the hell out of me.

Well, first of all the DLink DIR-450/451 isnt mentioned in the Table of Hardware, and the DLink site itself does not mention linux, so you should check whether the router is actually capable of running OpenWRT. Did you get an GPL copy with the router? Is there any mentioning of linux in the manual?

You should try nmap to check if the router could be running linux. Next step would be looking at the hardware and identifying as much of the internal system as possible (e.g. wireless chipset, cpu, amount of ram/flash, etc).

If it is an unsupported hardware platform or not enough ram, you are most probably out of luck.

Edit: Just checked the svn log, and it seems that OpenWRT does support the DLink DIR-45x, the Table of Hardware is just outdated.

Most probably you need to check out kamikaze from trunk and build it yourself.

(Last edited by KanjiMonster on 15 Dec 2007, 15:12)

Tried that, firmware just doesn't take. Keeps saying invalid or unrecognized firmware. I've experimented with Dlink's many versions of the firmware, stripping off the header using a hex editor, matching the checksums, everything I can think of.

It seems like a popular unit (but I've read bad reviews about it.

I'm familar with the Linksys WRT-54Gx and DD-WRT, but this has got me totally stumped.

Got a mate here who knows much more about Linux than me, he built the new file, but "arrrghhh", I'm not used to admitting defeat, but any help much appreciated here.

If anyone can tell me it's not possible, then ok, but if it is ..... help.

While I did not try - I do not have a DIR-45x to play with (;
in d-link GPL source for DIR-45x
there is a readme that shows how the firmware bin file created (via a script)
Cheers,
rwk

One of these was purchased by mbm some time ago, and he stuck it on a shelf somewhere. If he can dig it up and hand it to me, I will add the needed support for that model.