DDWRT

DD-WRT is a Linux-based third-party firmware for wireless routers and access points. It replaces vendor-supplied firmware to provide advanced networking capabilities and greater control over network behavior. It is maintained by a community of volunteers and supports a wide range of router hardware from multiple manufacturers.

Features commonly included in DD-WRT encompass VPN server and client support, advanced Quality of Service, VLAN tagging, multiple wireless networks (guest networks and separate SSIDs), dynamic DNS, a robust firewall, port forwarding, static routes, traffic monitoring, and scheduling. On supported devices, the firmware adds USB support for storage and printers and supports various operation modes such as Access Point, Client, Client Bridge, Repeater, and Repeater Bridge.

Installation requires flashing the router with a compatible DD-WRT build. Users must ensure model-specific builds are used, as flashing the wrong one can brick the device and may void the warranty. Updates are provided through the DD-WRT website. The firmware is distributed in several editions (micro, mini, standard, mega) to fit different hardware capacities, with more extensive features available in larger builds.

DD-WRT supports a broad but not universal set of devices; a given model must be listed as supported on the project’s site, and hardware revisions can affect compatibility. As a community-driven project, feature sets and stability can vary between devices and firmware versions.

Related projects in the open-source router firmware ecosystem include OpenWrt and Tomato, which offer alternative approaches to router customization and networking features.