AC Series Recommended Software and Utilities: Difference between revisions

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The best method of owning, managing, having, using, ...whatever, an OpenWRT based router it to have the OpenWRT OS stored on some type of USB Flash drive, mSATA, NVME, NGFF, or other type of external drive / SSD etc that utilizes the OpenWRT /overlay functionality (look it up, it's quite useful).

The best method of owning, managing, having, using, ...whatever, an OpenWRT based router it to have the OpenWRT OS stored on some type of USB Flash drive, mSATA, NVME, NGFF, or other type of external drive / SSD etc that utilizes the OpenWRT /overlay functionality (look it up, it's quite useful). Oh, and AC Series as in the Linksys WRT1900 series, WRT32X, etc.

...but, when the router is turned on, it's still booting from code stored on the built in "Disk Drive", AKA NAND. So an interesting question comes up: If the external drive fails, what should be installed on the NAND 'Drive'. Well, to start with, anything that is necessary for the "Overlay Functionality" (look it up on the OpenWRT site). But if it's booting to an external drive that's using the /overlay functionality, then it's already installed. Beyond that?

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Below is are some lists of things to install. Everything will fit on a WRT32X. Most will fit on a WRT3200ACM (if done in the correct order (biggest to smallest groups, see below) and individually, they'll all fit). But it will be a tight squeeze to fit everything on the lower end AC Series. Dependencies are not listed, but will be installed when the various items are installed.

When installing, to make use of limited storage space, install the largest items and groups first

When installing, to make use of limited storage space, install the largest items and groups first.

====...but first;====

On a brand new router;

*Set the password via the LuCI GUI or command line

====Installation Order (to make as much useful stuff as possible fit)====

This section doesn't apply to the WRT32X as it as about 120 MB of storage space. The WRT3200ACM can benefit from this installation order and get everything to fit. For the 1900 series, don't even think about installing Samba on the internal NAND storage.

This section doesn't apply to the WRT32X as it has about 120 MB of storage space. The WRT3200ACM can benefit from this installation order and get everything to fit. For the 1900 series, don't even think about installing Samba on the internal NAND storage.

- Disk Utilities

- Samba

- Samba <<< Reboot, then set the password after installing this: smbpasswd -a root (oh, and create a shared directory via the LuCI GUI and also replace the entire default configuration file as it doesn't work at all (see SAMBA on this WIKI))

- Shadow Stuff

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opkg install blkid block-mount cfdisk dosfstools dumpe2fs e2fsprogs f2fs-tools f2fsck fdisk file fstools gdisk hdparm kmod-fs-exfat kmod-fs-ext4 kmod-fs-f2fs kmod-fs-vfat kmod-usb-storage kmod-usb2 kmod-usb3 lsblk mkf2fs mtd ntfs-3g ntfs-3g-utils sfdisk tune2fs usbutils wipefs

~~These~~ utilities will use up around 5 MB of space.<syntaxhighlight lang="text">

For minimal installs, to just get enough installed to recognize a USB device and boot from an Overlay Partition on a USB Flash Drive: opkg install block-mount kmod-fs-ext4 kmod-usb-storage e2fsprogs kmod-usb-ohci kmod-usb-uhci wipefs mk2fs ntfs-3g ntfs-3g-utils

And if there's a bit more space: opkg install ntfs-3g ntfs-3g-utils tune2fs wipefs cfdisk

And if there's just a bit more: opkg install htop nano htop (yes, I know, not Disk Utilities, but useful in diagnosing "Disk" related stuff and configuring it)

The following utilities will use up around 5 MB of space (under 4 MB if you're using the above 'minimal')<syntaxhighlight lang="text">

blkid

block-mount

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!!!WARNING: Do NOT install install the full version of the GREP Utility!!! (yet). See GREP Gripe section at the end.

opkg install ar attr bash bzip2 gzip htop luci-app-advanced-reboot luci-app-uhttpd nano netcat swconfig tar ubi-utils uboot-envtools wget ca-certificates

opkg install ar attr bash bzip2 gzip htop luci-app-advanced-reboot luci-app-uhttpd nano netcat swconfig tar ubi-utils uboot-envtools wget ca-certificates whereis pciutils

This is on a separate line because the version number may change: opkg install libustream-mbedtls20150806 (REMEMBER, the "WOLFSSL" package will need to be removed first, but don't do it yet. First manually download the file for libustream-mbedtlsXYZversion, then after that file has been downloaded, remove the "WOLFSSL" package, then install the "BMEDTLS" version, because if you remove the "WOLFSSL" package first, it will 'CrapCan' the OPKG utility and prevent it from downloading anything.)

~~This~~ is on ~~a separate line because the version number may change: opkg install libustream-mbedtls20150806~~

NOTE: LSPCI (in PCIUTILS) is really only useful on x86_64 installs of OpenWRT. For most routers it's fairly boring.

If GREP is desired, then download and install the 21.02.1 version: https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/21.02.1/packages/arm_cortex-a9_vfpv3-d16/packages/grep_3.6-1_arm_cortex-a9_vfpv3-d16.ipk

If GREP is desired, then download and install the 21.02.1 version: https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/21.02.1/packages/arm_cortex-a9_vfpv3-d16/packages/grep_3.6-1_arm_cortex-a9_vfpv3-d16.ipk, or newer (as of early 2023): https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/21.02.5/packages/arm_cortex-a9_vfpv3-d16/packages/grep_3.6-1_arm_cortex-a9_vfpv3-d16.ipk, but not too new, as the OpenWRT 23.xx.y versions of GREP won't work on OpenWRT 19.xx.y or 21.xx.y: https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/22.03.3/packages/arm_cortex-a9_vfpv3-d16/packages/grep_3.7-2_arm_cortex-a9_vfpv3-d16.ipk (only download the last one in the 22.xx.y series of OpenWRT if running 22.xx.y, which isn't recommended because of busted Marvell Switch Drivers)

Remember, some of these utilities are the ''full'' version of the utility. A smaller / 'neutered' version of the command / utility may be included within the BusyBox software (again, look it up).

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For the 'shadow group', if using english, none of the -i18n items need to be installed and can be removed with this command: opkg list | grep luci-i18n-shadowsocks| awk '{print $1}' | xargs opkg remove

OR

Using the LuCI GUI, find shadow-passwd, uninstall it (other dependencies will be uninstalled too), then the LuCI GUI Admin password change will work, and after changing the password, the shadow utilities can be installed again.

====Samba====

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One will have to make a choice on this one between Samba and Restic if a WRT3200ACM is being used.

====Additional Utilities (if there's storage space available)====

opkg install iftop ipset losetup lsof nmap pciutils resolveip ss tcpdump wget

opkg install iftop ipset losetup lsof nmap pciutils resolveip ss tcpdump wget iperf

Remember, some of these utilities are the ''full'' version of the utility. A smaller / 'neutered' version of the command / utility may be included within the BusyBox software (again, look it up).

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The best method of owning, managing, having, using, ...whatever, an OpenWRT based router it to have the OpenWRT OS stored on some type of USB Flash drive, mSATA, NVME, NGFF, or other type of external drive / SSD etc that utilizes the OpenWRT /overlay functionality (look it up, it's quite useful).
+The best method of owning, managing, having, using, ...whatever, an OpenWRT based router it to have the OpenWRT OS stored on some type of USB Flash drive, mSATA, NVME, NGFF, or other type of external drive / SSD etc that utilizes the OpenWRT /overlay functionality (look it up, it's quite useful). Oh, and AC Series as in the Linksys WRT1900 series, WRT32X, etc.
 ...but, when the router is turned on, it's still booting from code stored on the built in "Disk Drive", AKA NAND.  So an interesting question comes up: If the external drive fails, what should be installed on the NAND 'Drive'.  Well, to start with, anything that is necessary for the "Overlay Functionality" (look it up on the OpenWRT site).  But if it's booting to an external drive that's using the /overlay functionality, then it's already installed.  Beyond that?
@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 Below is are some lists of things to install.  Everything will fit on a WRT32X.  Most will fit on a WRT3200ACM (if done in the correct order (biggest to smallest groups, see below) and individually, they'll all fit).  But it will be a tight squeeze to fit everything on the lower end AC Series.  Dependencies are not listed, but will be installed when the various items are installed.
-When installing, to make use of limited storage space, install the largest items and groups first
+When installing, to make use of limited storage space, install the largest items and groups first.
+====...but first;====
+On a brand new router;
+*Set the password via the LuCI GUI or command line
 ====Installation Order (to make as much useful stuff as possible fit)====
-This section doesn't apply to the WRT32X as it as about 120 MB of storage space.  The WRT3200ACM can benefit from this installation order and get everything to fit.  For the 1900 series, don't even think about installing Samba on the internal NAND storage.
+This section doesn't apply to the WRT32X as it has about 120 MB of storage space.  The WRT3200ACM can benefit from this installation order and get everything to fit.  For the 1900 series, don't even think about installing Samba on the internal NAND storage.
 - Disk Utilities
-- Samba
+- Samba <<< Reboot, then set the password after installing this: smbpasswd -a root (oh, and create a shared directory via the LuCI GUI and also replace the entire default configuration file as it doesn't work at all (see SAMBA on this WIKI))
 - Shadow Stuff
@@ Line 35: / Line 40: @@
 opkg install blkid block-mount cfdisk dosfstools dumpe2fs e2fsprogs f2fs-tools f2fsck fdisk file fstools gdisk hdparm kmod-fs-exfat kmod-fs-ext4 kmod-fs-f2fs kmod-fs-vfat kmod-usb-storage kmod-usb2 kmod-usb3 lsblk mkf2fs mtd ntfs-3g ntfs-3g-utils sfdisk tune2fs usbutils wipefs
-These utilities will use up around 5 MB of space.<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
+For minimal installs, to just get enough installed to recognize a USB device and boot from an Overlay Partition on a USB Flash Drive: opkg install block-mount kmod-fs-ext4 kmod-usb-storage e2fsprogs kmod-usb-ohci kmod-usb-uhci wipefs mk2fs ntfs-3g ntfs-3g-utils
+And if there's a bit more space: opkg install ntfs-3g ntfs-3g-utils tune2fs wipefs cfdisk
+And if there's just a bit more: opkg install htop nano htop (yes, I know, not Disk Utilities, but useful in diagnosing "Disk" related stuff and configuring it)
+The following utilities will use up around 5 MB of space (under 4 MB if you're using the above 'minimal')<syntaxhighlight lang="text">
 blkid
 block-mount
@@ Line 71: / Line 82: @@
 !!!WARNING: Do NOT install install the full version of the GREP Utility!!! (yet).  See GREP Gripe section at the end.
-opkg install ar attr bash bzip2 gzip htop luci-app-advanced-reboot luci-app-uhttpd nano netcat swconfig tar ubi-utils uboot-envtools wget ca-certificates
+opkg install ar attr bash bzip2 gzip htop luci-app-advanced-reboot luci-app-uhttpd nano netcat swconfig tar ubi-utils uboot-envtools wget ca-certificates whereis pciutils
+This is on a separate line because the version number may change: opkg install libustream-mbedtls20150806 (REMEMBER, the "WOLFSSL" package will need to be removed first, but don't do it yet.  First manually download the file for libustream-mbedtlsXYZversion, then after that file has been downloaded, remove the "WOLFSSL" package, then install the "BMEDTLS" version, because if you remove the "WOLFSSL" package first, it will 'CrapCan' the OPKG utility and prevent it from downloading anything.)
-This is on a separate line because the version number may change: opkg install libustream-mbedtls20150806
+NOTE: LSPCI (in PCIUTILS) is really only useful on x86_64 installs of OpenWRT.  For most routers it's fairly boring.
-If GREP is desired, then download and install the 21.02.1 version: https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/21.02.1/packages/arm_cortex-a9_vfpv3-d16/packages/grep_3.6-1_arm_cortex-a9_vfpv3-d16.ipk
+If GREP is desired, then download and install the 21.02.1 version: https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/21.02.1/packages/arm_cortex-a9_vfpv3-d16/packages/grep_3.6-1_arm_cortex-a9_vfpv3-d16.ipk, or newer (as of early 2023): https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/21.02.5/packages/arm_cortex-a9_vfpv3-d16/packages/grep_3.6-1_arm_cortex-a9_vfpv3-d16.ipk, but not too new, as the OpenWRT 23.xx.y versions of GREP won't work on OpenWRT 19.xx.y or 21.xx.y: https://downloads.openwrt.org/releases/22.03.3/packages/arm_cortex-a9_vfpv3-d16/packages/grep_3.7-2_arm_cortex-a9_vfpv3-d16.ipk (only download the last one in the 22.xx.y series of OpenWRT if running 22.xx.y, which isn't recommended because of busted Marvell Switch Drivers)
 Remember, some of these utilities are the ''full'' version of the utility.  A smaller / 'neutered' version of the command / utility may be included within the BusyBox software (again, look it up).
@@ Line 121: / Line 134: @@
 For the 'shadow group', if using english, none of the -i18n items need to be installed and can be removed with this command: opkg list | grep luci-i18n-shadowsocks| awk '{print $1}' | xargs opkg remove
+OR
+Using the LuCI GUI, find shadow-passwd, uninstall it (other dependencies will be uninstalled too), then the LuCI GUI Admin password change will work, and after changing the password, the shadow utilities can be installed again.
 ====Samba====
@@ Line 134: / Line 151: @@
 One will have to make a choice on this one between Samba and Restic if a WRT3200ACM is being used.
 ====Additional Utilities (if there's storage space available)====
-opkg install iftop ipset losetup lsof nmap pciutils resolveip ss tcpdump wget
+opkg install iftop ipset losetup lsof nmap pciutils resolveip ss tcpdump wget iperf
 Remember, some of these utilities are the ''full'' version of the utility.  A smaller / 'neutered' version of the command / utility may be included within the BusyBox software (again, look it up).