Tomato Firmware
Encyclopedia
Tomato Firmware is a partially free
HyperWRT
-based, Linux
core firmware
distribution for a range of Broadcom
chipset
based wireless router
s, most notably the older-model Linksys
WRT54G
(including the WRT54GL and WRT54GS), Buffalo AirStation
, Asus Routers
and Netgear
's WNR3500L
. Among other notable features is the user interface, which makes heavy use of AJAX
as well as an SVG
-based graphical bandwidth monitor.
, but the source code for the user interface is under a more restrictive license which forbids use without the author's permission.
-based routers, including Asus routers
, Buffalo AirStation
, and the Linksys WRT54G series. Detailed information is available from the Wikibooks page on Tomato. WRT54G models of version 5 and newer are not compatible. Tomato is generally recommended by Community Forums for Linksys Devices, Ex.. LinksysInfo.org, for users who desire an alternative to DD-WRT
, while not offering as much customization as the advanced OpenWrt
firmware. Support for the Asus RT-N16, Asus RT-N12, Asus WL-500W, Linksys WRT-160Nv3 and Netgear WNR3500L/v2 has been added via a new firmware modification (based on Linux kernel 2.6). There are several other mods based on this code which offer more features.
Free software
Free software, software libre or libre software is software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction, and which can be copied and redistributed in modified or unmodified form either without restriction, or with restrictions that only ensure that further recipients can also do...
HyperWRT
HyperWRT
HyperWRT was a GPL firmware project for the Linksys WRT54G and WRT54GS wireless routers based on the stock Linksys firmware. The original goal of the HyperWRT project was to add a set of features—such as power boost—to the latest Linux-based Linksys firmware, extending its possibilities but staying...
-based, Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
core firmware
Firmware
In electronic systems and computing, firmware is a term often used to denote the fixed, usually rather small, programs and/or data structures that internally control various electronic devices...
distribution for a range of Broadcom
Broadcom
Broadcom Corporation is a fabless semiconductor company in the wireless and broadband communication business. The company is headquartered in Irvine, California, USA. Broadcom was founded by a professor-student pair Henry Samueli and Henry T. Nicholas III from the University of California, Los...
chipset
Chipset
A chipset, PC chipset, or chip set refers to a group of integrated circuits, or chips, that are designed to work together. They are usually marketed as a single product.- Computers :...
based wireless router
Wireless router
A Wireless router is a device that performs the functions of a router but also includes the functions of a wireless access point and a network switch. They are commonly used to allow access to the Internet or a computer network without the need for a cabled connection. It can function in a wired...
s, most notably the older-model Linksys
Linksys
Linksys by Cisco, commonly known as Linksys, is a brand of home and small office networking products now produced by Cisco Systems, though once a separate company founded in 1995 before being acquired by Cisco in 2003...
WRT54G
WRT54G
The Linksys WRT54G is a Wi-Fi capable residential gateway from Linksys. The device is capable of sharing Internet connections among several computers via 802.3 Ethernet and 802.11b/g wireless data links.-WRT54G:The original WRT54G was first released in December 2002...
(including the WRT54GL and WRT54GS), Buffalo AirStation
AirStation
Buffalo AirStation is the name given to a series of wireless LAN equipment sold by Buffalo Technology.- Products :* Residential gateways* Wireless LAN cards- Use with third party firmware :...
, Asus Routers
Asus routers
ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated manufactures a series of network routers directly competing with Linksys routers from Cisco.The Asus series of routers usually ship with Broadcom chipsets, relatively faster processors and more memory, removable antennas, and USB ports for expansion...
and Netgear
Netgear
Netgear is a U.S. manufacturer of computer networking equipment and other computer hardware....
's WNR3500L
WNR3500L
The WNR3500L is an 802.11b/g/n wireless network router created by NETGEAR. It was officially launched in the autumn of 2009...
. Among other notable features is the user interface, which makes heavy use of AJAX
Ajax
- Mythology :* Ajax , son of Telamon, ruler of Salamis and a hero in the Trojan War, also known as "Ajax the Great"* Ajax the Lesser, son of Oileus, ruler of Locris and the leader of the Locrian contingent during the Trojan War.- People :...
as well as an SVG
Scalable Vector Graphics
Scalable Vector Graphics is a family of specifications of an XML-based file format for describing two-dimensional vector graphics, both static and dynamic . The SVG specification is an open standard that has been under development by the World Wide Web Consortium since 1999.SVG images and their...
-based graphical bandwidth monitor.
Features
- Interactive AjaxAjax frameworkIn web application development, an Ajax framework is a framework which leverages Ajax, a collection of technologies for building dynamic web pages on the client side...
based GUI using SVGScalable Vector GraphicsScalable Vector Graphics is a family of specifications of an XML-based file format for describing two-dimensional vector graphics, both static and dynamic . The SVG specification is an open standard that has been under development by the World Wide Web Consortium since 1999.SVG images and their...
and CSS-based color schemes (allowing GUIGraphical user interfaceIn computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...
look and feel changes). - CLICommand-line interfaceA command-line interface is a mechanism for interacting with a computer operating system or software by typing commands to perform specific tasks...
access (BusyBoxBusyBoxBusyBox provides several stripped-down Unix tools in a single executable. It runs in a variety of POSIX environments such as Linux, Android, FreeBSD and others, such as proprietary kernels, although many of the tools it provides are designed to work with interfaces provided by the Linux kernel. It...
) via TELNETTELNETTelnet is a network protocol used on the Internet or local area networks to provide a bidirectional interactive text-oriented communications facility using a virtual terminal connection...
or SSHSecure ShellSecure Shell is a network protocol for secure data communication, remote shell services or command execution and other secure network services between two networked computers that it connects via a secure channel over an insecure network: a server and a client...
(using DropbearDropbear (software)Dropbear is a software package written by Matt Johnston that provides a Secure Shell-compatible server and client. It is designed for environments with low memory and processor resources, such as embedded systems.- Technology :...
). - DHCP server (with static allocation of IP addresses).
- DNS forwarder (using DnsmasqDnsmasqThe homepage describes dnsmasq as a lightweight, easy to configure, DNS forwarder, DHCP and TFTP server, designed to provide DNS services to a small-scale network. It can serve the names of local machines which are not in the global DNS...
). - Netfilter/iptables with customizable settings, IPP2P and l7-filter.
- Wake-on-LANWake-on-LANWake-on-LAN is an Ethernet computer networking standard that allows a computer to be turned on or woken up by a network message....
. - Advanced QoSQuality of serviceThe quality of service refers to several related aspects of telephony and computer networks that allow the transport of traffic with special requirements...
: 10 unique QoS classes defined, real-time graphs display prioritized traffic with traffic class details. - Client Bandwidth Control via QoS classes
- Bandwidth graphing/statistics.
- Wireless modes:
- Access point (APWireless access pointIn computer networking, a wireless access point is a device that allows wireless devices to connect to a wired network using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or related standards...
) - Wireless client station (STA)
- Wireless ethernet (WET) bridge
- Wireless distribution system (WDSWireless Distribution SystemA wireless distribution system is a system enabling the wireless interconnection of access points in an IEEE 802.11 network. It allows a wireless network to be expanded using multiple access points without the traditional requirement for a wired backbone to link them...
aka wireless bridging) - Simultaneous AP and WDS (aka wireless repeating).
- Access point (AP
- Dynamic DNSDynamic DNSDynamic DNS or DDNS is a term used for the updating in real time of Internet Domain Name System name servers to keep up to date the active DNS configuration of their configured hostnames, addresses and other information....
service with ezUpdate and services extended for more providers. - Syslog viewable through the GUI (also downloadable).
- SES button control.
- JFFS2JFFS2Journalling Flash File System version 2 or JFFS2 is a log-structured file system for use with flash memory devices. It is the successor to JFFS. JFFS2 has been included in the Linux kernel since the 2.4.10 release. JFFS2 is also available for a couple of bootloaders like Das U-Boot, Open...
. - CIFSServer Message BlockIn computer networking, Server Message Block , also known as Common Internet File System operates as an application-layer network protocol mainly used to provide shared access to files, printers, serial ports, and miscellaneous communications between nodes on a network. It also provides an...
client. - Wireless LANWireless LANA wireless local area network links two or more devices using some wireless distribution method , and usually providing a connection through an access point to the wider internet. This gives users the mobility to move around within a local coverage area and still be connected to the network...
Radio power of adjustment, antenna selection, and 14 wireless channels. - 'Boot wait' protection (increase the time slot for uploading firmware via the boot loader).
- Advanced port forwardingPort forwardingPort forwarding or port mapping is a name given to the combined technique of# translating the address and/or port number of a packet to a new destination# possibly accepting such packet in a packet filter...
, redirection, and triggering with UPnPUniversal Plug and PlayUniversal Plug and Play is a set of networking protocols for primarily residential networks without enterprise class devices that permits networked devices, such as personal computers, printers, Internet gateways, Wi-Fi access points and mobile devices to seamlessly discover each other's presence...
and NAT-PMPNAT Port Mapping ProtocolNAT Port Mapping Protocol is an Internet Engineering Task Force Internet Draft, introduced by Apple Computer as an alternative to the more common Internet Gateway Device Standardized Device Control Protocol implemented in many network address translation routers. It was introduced in June 2005...
. - Advanced user access restrictions.
- Init, Shutdown, FirewallFirewall (computing)A firewall is a device or set of devices designed to permit or deny network transmissions based upon a set of rules and is frequently used to protect networks from unauthorized access while permitting legitimate communications to pass....
, and WAN Up scriptScripting languageA scripting language, script language, or extension language is a programming language that allows control of one or more applications. "Scripts" are distinct from the core code of the application, as they are usually written in a different language and are often created or at least modified by the...
s. - Uptime, load average, and free memory status.
- Minimal reboots - Very few configuration changes require a reboot.
- Wireless survey page to view other networks in your neighborhood.
- More comprehensive dashboard than stock firmware: displays signal strengths of wireless client devices, reveals UPnP mappings.
- Configuration persistence during a firmware upgrade
Feature comparison
| Mod Name | Base Tomato Version |
Latest release | Status | Min Flash Size |
Max Conn. |
Speed Mod |
SFTP | VPN Client |
VPN Server |
SNMP | SD Card Support |
USB Support |
VLANs | IPv6 | Captive Portal |
5 Ghz |
Client Monitor Graphs |
Static ARP |
BW Limiter |
NFS | Bit Torrent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | 4MB | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tomato ND | 4MB | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TomatoUSB (Teddy Bear) |
Build 54 / | 4MB/ 8MB |
|||||||||||||||||||
| TomatoVPN (SgtPepperKSU) |
1.27vpn3.6 / | 4MB | |||||||||||||||||||
| SpeedMod (hardc0re) |
SpeedMod 120 / | 4MB | |||||||||||||||||||
| slodki | 1.28.02 / | 4MB | |||||||||||||||||||
| Victek RAF | 1.28.9007 / | 4MB/ 8MB |
|||||||||||||||||||
| DualWAN | 1.28.0533 / | 4MB/ 8MB |
|||||||||||||||||||
| Toastman | RT 1.28.7490.2 / VLAN-RT 1.28.4490.2 RT-N 1.28.0490.2 VLAN-RT-N 1.28.2490.2 |
4MB/ 8MB |
|||||||||||||||||||
| Shibby | 5x-082V-EN / | 4MB/ 8MB |
License
Tomato is based on the GPL source code released by Linksys, but includes proprietary binary modules from the chipset manufacturer Broadcom. Portions of the code are licensed under the GNU General Public LicenseGNU General Public License
The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....
, but the source code for the user interface is under a more restrictive license which forbids use without the author's permission.
Compatible routers
Tomato is compatible with many BroadcomBroadcom
Broadcom Corporation is a fabless semiconductor company in the wireless and broadband communication business. The company is headquartered in Irvine, California, USA. Broadcom was founded by a professor-student pair Henry Samueli and Henry T. Nicholas III from the University of California, Los...
-based routers, including Asus routers
Asus routers
ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated manufactures a series of network routers directly competing with Linksys routers from Cisco.The Asus series of routers usually ship with Broadcom chipsets, relatively faster processors and more memory, removable antennas, and USB ports for expansion...
, Buffalo AirStation
AirStation
Buffalo AirStation is the name given to a series of wireless LAN equipment sold by Buffalo Technology.- Products :* Residential gateways* Wireless LAN cards- Use with third party firmware :...
, and the Linksys WRT54G series. Detailed information is available from the Wikibooks page on Tomato. WRT54G models of version 5 and newer are not compatible. Tomato is generally recommended by Community Forums for Linksys Devices, Ex.. LinksysInfo.org, for users who desire an alternative to DD-WRT
DD-WRT
DD-WRT is a Linux-based firmware for several wireless routers, most notably the Linksys WRT54G . Like other similar projects, DD-WRT is third-party firmware designed to replace the firmware that ships pre-installed on many commercial routers...
, while not offering as much customization as the advanced OpenWrt
OpenWrt
OpenWrt is a Linux distribution primarily targeted at routing on embedded devices. It comprises a set of about 2000 software packages, installed and uninstalled via the opkg package management system. OpenWrt can be configured using the command-line interface of BusyBox ash, or the web interface...
firmware. Support for the Asus RT-N16, Asus RT-N12, Asus WL-500W, Linksys WRT-160Nv3 and Netgear WNR3500L/v2 has been added via a new firmware modification (based on Linux kernel 2.6). There are several other mods based on this code which offer more features.
External links
- Tomato Firmware Official Homepage
- Tomato Modifications Forum and listings of Tomato additions/distributions
- Tomato Documentation a Wikibook
- Virtual Tomato GUI (ver. 1.07)
- Virtual Tomato RAF (victek mod)
- Revision3 - SystmSystmSystm was a weekly video podcast produced by Revision3, geared toward “the common geek”, a “This Old House” for geeks, hosted by Patrick Norton and David Calkins, and focused on do it yourself projects.-History:...
- Episode 71 on Tomato