Installing Oleg firmware on Asus WL-500W

This is a guideline for installing Oleg firmware on a Asus WL-500W router including using a USB pen for storage of additional software (ipkg packages) and setting up ssh. This guideline is a mix of the HOWTO's in the Relevant Link section below. Use of this guideline is on your own risk.

Guideline:

1. Download firmware (the version I curently use is 1.9.2.7-10) from Oleg firmware list
   
2. Go the router web management (default is http://192.168.1.1)
3. In System Setup, Firmware Upgrade select the Oleg firmware on your harddrive and start the upgrade.
4. telnet to the router (from a terminal/shell/cmd) using the username and password settings configured in the web management console:
   telnet 192.168.1.1
   
5. Install ssh (dropbear):
   mkdir -p /usr/local/etc/dropbear
   
   dropbearkey -t dss -f /usr/local/etc/dropbear/dropbear_dss_host_key
   
   dropbearkey -t rsa -f /usr/local/etc/dropbear/dropbear_rsa_host_key
   
   mkdir -p /usr/local/sbin/
   
   touch /usr/local/sbin/post-boot
   
   touch /usr/local/sbin/post-firewall
   
   touch /usr/local/sbin/post-mount
   
   touch /usr/local/sbin/pre-mount
   
   touch /usr/local/sbin/pre-shutdown
   
   chmod +x /usr/local/sbin/*
   
   echo "#!/bin/sh" >> /usr/local/sbin/post-boot
   
   echo "dropbear" >> /usr/local/sbin/post-boot
   
   flashfs save && flashfs commit && flashfs enable && reboot
   
6. Put a USB pen in the USB slot on the router (I use a 2GB USB pen)
   
7. Partition the USB pen (one partition for swap and one for IPKG packages):
   insmod scsi_mod && insmod sd_mod && insmod usb-storage && sleep 5s
   fdisk /dev/discs/disc0/disc
   In fdisk, Create swap:
   n -> p -> 1 -> 'return' -> +512M -> t -> 82
   Create IPKG partition:
   n -> p -> 2 -> 'return' -> 'return'
   End fdisk by pressing 'w'
8. Start the swap:
   mkswap /dev/discs/disc0/part1
   
   swapon /dev/discs/disc0/part1
9. Format the IPKG partition:
   mke2fs -j /dev/discs/disc0/part2
10. Add fstab:
    vi /etc/fstab
    Paste the following:
    #device Mountpoint FStype Options Dump Pass#
    /dev/discs/disc0/part1 none swap sw 0 0
    /dev/discs/disc0/part2 /opt ext3 rw,noatime 1 1
    
    Save the file (esc -> wq)
    
11. Save fstab for reboot:
    echo "/etc/fstab" >> /usr/local/.filescv
12. Mount usb on startup by editing /usr/local/sbin/post-boot:
    vi /usr/local/sbin/post-boot
    Add the following:
    # Start SSH service
    dropbear
    
    # test if USB disc has been attached
    # if not - then insert needed modules
    if [ ! -d /dev/discs ]
    then
    insmod scsi_mod && insmod sd_mod && insmod usb-storage && sleep 5s
    fi
    
    # Wait for /opt to mount
    mount /dev/discs/disc0/part2 /opt
    mount /dev/discs/disc0/part3 /tmp/harddisk
    i=0
    while [ $i -le 30 ]
    do
    if [ -d /opt/etc ]
    then
    break
    fi
    sleep 1
    i=`expr $i + 1`
    done
    
    # Activate swap
    swapon /dev/discs/disc0/part1
13. Save all settings and reboot:
    flashfs save && flashfs commit && flashfs enable && reboot
14. After reboot, check that all is mounted ok:
    free (swap enabled?)
    df -h (IPKG partition avaliable?)
15. Install IPKG:
    mkdir /opt/tmp
    
    mkdir /opt/tmp/ipkg
    
    ipkg.sh update
    
    ipkg.sh install ipkg
    
    ipkg update
16. Install IPKG packages eg. nano:
    ipkg install nano
17. Save all settings and reboot:
    flashfs save && flashfs commit && flashfs enable && reboot
    
    

Relevant Links:
ipkg on Asus WL500
Asus wl500g HOWTO
Asus wl500g with USB pen drive HOWTO
Oleg firmware list
Oleg router forum
WL500W-1.9.2.7-10 Oleg firmware