Basic Review - ASUS RT-N16 Router
Due to limited funds I rarely can afford to buy the latest and greatest hardware that appears on the market, the WRT54GL was on the market for years before I bought one, the price for that unit hasn't really changed much since I first purchased it, it's a classic that's for sure.
From my understanding at least, it seemed to be the first consumer grade router that the Linux hackers stated writing custom firmware for and is still today, a very popular unit. As I say I came in late and it's just my understanding of it, I could be very wrong.
After reading a few reviews of the ASUS RT-N16 it looks like the router we geeks have all been waiting for, of course something that isn't beyond the reach of someone who doesn't want to spend thousands for a router and something that can utilise the wonderful third party firmware that very clever people create for routers today.
I should say though that if you aren't into taking risks with firmware flashing, the standard firmware/software that comes with the ASUS is really quite good, in fact most people will love what it offers and those who buy it because they just want a router and really don't know what the ASUS can actually do will still get a damn good router that is extremely easy to set up and configure, if they at least follow the instructions and at least download the Manual or read the documentation on the install disc.
Tomato Firmware - ASUS RT-N16
I ran Tomato firmware on the WRT and wanted to run it on the new router as well, but also take advantage of the features of the ASUS at the same time, namely the USB functions. I would really love to be able to turn off my computers at night instead of leaving them on 24/7 to do their off peak downloading of linux ISOs ;o)
With the ASUS RT-N16 this should be possible soon, well that is whilst running Tomato firmware, it's possible right now with the original ASUS firmware, but it's all quite basic, I want to be able to run Transmission BT and SABnzbd on this router and possibly Asterisk and other nifty software that the router can handle.
I will now add some links to some guides you may like to look at for installing Tomato and what looks like being a way to add the DD-WRT Optware packages to Tomato. The Optware package can more easily be added if you use DD-WRT, but I want to use Tomato, so I will just have to wait until the clever coders create a way to add Optware easily to the Tomato firmware.
The Tomato version to use is by "teddy bear" by all accounts a very clever fellow that has tweaked the original Tomato firmware to work on the ASUS plus others.
Click the link below for latest version information
Tomato USB website
This looks like a new site specifically for Tomato USB version
Tomato ND USB Mod with kernel 2.6
http://www.linksysinfo.org/forums/showthread.php?t=63587
Quite a long thread of posts but is still very interesting reading and gives you the all the info you need in the first post anyway, I used the following guide to install Tomato, which basically involves installing DD-WRT first, then installing Tomato, but there seems to be at least two ways to do it, so read carefully and you should be good to go. I used the following guide, follow what it says very carefully
teddy bear Tomato installation guide
http://www.linksysinfo.org/forums/showpost.php?p=358080&postcount=278
This is the discussion about Tomato and Optware package, as of writing this it has stalled but please keep an eye on this thread, it is also an interesting read and well worth bookmarking
How to install Transmission and Optware on Tomato, work in progress!
Specifications
Multi-Functional Gigabit Wireless N Router with USB Server
# Powerful CPU provides a high-performance throughput
# Support up to 300,000 sessions for extensive P2P clients.
# Most widespread application with USB2.0 port : All-in-1 printer server and FTP files sharing
# Ultra-fast and Convenient Downloads with the Revolutionary Download Master
CPU: Broadcom BCM4718 533MHZ
RAM: 128MB (2x 64MB)
ROM: 32MB
LAN Ports WAN x 1, LAN x 4 RJ-45 for 10/100/1000 Base T
Support Ethernet and 802.3 with max. bit rate 10/100/1000 Mbps and auto cross-over function(MDI-X)
Antenna 3 x external antenna
USB port USB2.0 x 2
Power AC input: 100V ~ 240V(50~60HZ)
DC output: 12V with max. 1.25A current
Size 216 x 161.9 x 40.5 mm
Weight 470g
Operating Frequency 2.4GHz ~ 2.5GHz
Data Rate 802.11n Draft: up to 300Mbps ;
802.11g: 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54Mbps;
802.11b: 1, 2, 5.5, 11Mbps
Output Power n mode: 15.8~19.5dBm
g mode: 15.5~16.5dBm
b mode: 15.8~19.5dBm
Sensitivity at 54Mbps data rate
ANT0 -75dBm
ANT1 -75dBm
Encryption Supports 64/128-bit WEP
WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK
WPA-Enterprise, WPA2-Enterprise
Radius with 802.1x
Management
* EZQoS (Easy Quality of Service): Allow multiple network activities (FTP, Game, P2P) to work smoothly at the asame time.
* DHCP Server: Supports up to 253 IP addresses; Changeable DHCP lease time, IP pool, domain name; Static mapped IP
* Web-based administration: Support IE 5.5 or later, Firefox 2.0.0.1 or later; Managed from LAN and Internet; Password Setting
* System Event Log
* Firmware Upgrade: Web Interface, Bootloader
* Save/Restore Configuration File
Network Protocol Automatic IP ,Static IP, PPPoE(MPPE supported), PPTP, L2TP
Security Firewall: NAT and SPI (Stateful Packet Inspection), intrusion detection including logging
Logging: Dropped packet, security event, Syslog
Filtering: Port, IP packet, URL keyword, MAC address
