OpenWRT 18.06.4 Released
If you run a local cable or DSL modem, or router/WiFi, you should check to see if your device can run OpenWRT, or consider replacing it with one that will. Installation can be a bit of an adventure, but if you're even modestly versed with bash prompt in Linux or MacOS, you should consider it.
The project has just released its latest update (the first in about six months), mostly consisting of security updates.
https://openwrt.org/releases/18.06/notes-18.06.4
Someone had asked at Hacker News what are the benefits? My answer:
Vastly more power and flexibility, with a highly usable Web interface (LUCI) and console access.
Regular updates.
Excellent documentation: https://openwrt.org/docs/start
And a whole set of packed applications and tools. There are about 6,000 packages in total, ranging from device-specific and kernel support to advanced applications such as media servers. Link below is just the larger apps.
https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/services/start
Re-romming my DSL modem (500 Mhz dual-core CPU, 64 MB RAM, 8 MB Flash), as advantages over stock vendor firmware, I get:
adblock
SSH access, rather than periodically-enabled telnet
remote logging capabilities. The ability to go back to see what went wrong and when can be incredibily useful.
Performance and activity monitoring.
Consistent interface with my router (also running OpenWRT).
Full-featured shell tools rathee than barebones Busybox versions, if I like.
Remote filesystems / additional storage.
Depending on your device(s) and capabilities, your modem, router, or other hardware can serve as a home server: NAS, UuuNextCloud, Webserver, VOIP services, media server, PXEBoot (useful for testing images/deployments), guest network(s), VPN, proxy servers, email, mesh networks, messaging, captive portals, and far more.
I also run a Turris Omnia WiFi Router, also running a version of OpenWRT. That's slightly more expensive than a most stock routers, at about US$300, though it's not much off comparably specced systems, and offers advanced features, most notably that it self-updates regularly, something OpenWRT doesn't otherwise do (and virtually no OEM vendors presently support). You can also add an mSATA hard drive (up to 500 GB storage), or build out an optional NAS enclosure (2 disks), or in conjunction with an external NAS offer backups and other services to your local network, as well as provide services either privately or publicly. I'm looking at media serving and a space to stash a growing research library.
